1983 Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 16750 "Pepsi" – "Mark 1" Dial + Patina

The reference 16750, produced from 1980 to 1988, holds a special place in the history of the GMT-Master. Succeeding the legendary 1675, it retains its vintage aesthetic – matte dial, plexiglass crystal, painted hour markers – while introducing the caliber 3075 with its quickset date function. The matte dials from the early years of production, often replaced during servicing, are now rare and sought after.
This 1983 example features a matte Mark 1 dial. The tritium hour markers and hands have developed a beautiful and warm patina. The 40mm case is well-preserved with defined chamfers. The "Pepsi" insert is a genuine Rolex replacement in vibrant colors. The original Oyster bracelet, reference 78360 and clasp code "H" from 1983, is in very good condition. The Rolex caliber 3075 that powers it has been fully serviced by one of our watchmakers and is running perfectly.
A 16750 "Pepsi" with a matte dial: the perfect balance between vintage charm and technical improvements that appeared in the 1980s.

The story of the GMT-Master begins in 1954, when Pan American World Airways asked Rolex to develop a watch that would allow its pilots to simultaneously read two time zones during transatlantic flights. Rolex's solution—a fourth hand completing a full rotation of the dial every 24 hours, combined with a two-tone rotating bezel—became a standard for professional watches. The red and blue colors of the bezel gave rise to the nickname "Pepsi," which still accompanies the GMT-Master today.

The reference 16750, produced from 1980 to 1988, holds a special place in the history of the GMT-Master. Succeeding the legendary 1675, it retains its vintage aesthetic – matte dial, plexiglass crystal, painted hour markers without white gold surrounds – while introducing significant technical improvements. The caliber 3075 now beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (compared to 19,800 for the caliber 1575) and, most importantly, offers the "quickset" function, allowing the date to be set independently of the hands.

From 1984-1985, Rolex introduced the 16750 with glossy dials featuring white gold-rimmed hour markers (known as "White Gold Surrounds" or "WGS"), which became the standard on subsequent references and remains so to this day. The matte dials of the early production years, often replaced during servicing with glossy dials, are now rare and sought after by collectors who appreciate their distinctly vintage aesthetic, a direct continuation of the 1675.

The example we are offering, dated 1983 (serial number 754xxxx), is equipped with a matte Mark 1 dial signed "SWISS – T < 25" at 6 o'clock. The tritium-based luminescent hour markers and hands have developed a beautiful, warm, and pronounced patina, uniform between the dial markers and the hands.

The 40mm steel case is well preserved, with the chamfers on the lugs still defined. The "Pepsi" bezel insert is a genuine Rolex replacement part, in vibrant colors. The steel Oyster bracelet, reference 78360, with 580 end links, is original, as evidenced by the "H" buckle code, which corresponds to a 1983 production. It is in excellent overall condition.

The caliber 3075, used exclusively by Rolex on the reference 16750, has undergone a complete overhaul by an experienced watchmaker and operates within the strictest tolerances.

A GMT-Master 16750 “Pepsi” with a matte dial, an increasingly rare configuration: the perfect balance between the vintage charm of the 1675 and the technical improvements of a more modern watch.

This Rolex GMT-Master reference 16750 produced in 1983 is preserved in very good overall condition.
The rare and sought-after matte dial known as the "Mark 1" variant is a dark anthracite typical of vintage Rolexes, and the luminescent material of its hands and painted indices (tritium base) has developed a very beautiful warm and pronounced patina, uniform between the dial markers and the hands.
The date disc is original and features open 6s and 9s.
The steel case retains its original proportions and finishes, with visible chamfers and a clear alternation between matte/brushed/satin and glossy/mirror-polished surfaces. The case back, engraved 16750 on the inside, is in excellent condition, as is the winding crown. The reference and serial numbers, engraved between the lugs at 6 and 12 o'clock, are perfectly legible, clear, and deep.
The red and blue bezel insert, known as the "Pepsi" colorway, was replaced during a Rolex service with a more recent, authentic model. Its vibrant colors complement the striking yellow of the hour markers and hands particularly well.
The original Rolex Oyster steel bracelet, reference 78360, 580 end pieces, buckle code H (produced in 1983) is in very good condition, and all its engravings as well as the stamped crown on the buckle are crisp.
The self-winding mechanical movement, caliber Rolex 3075, has been fully serviced by one of our watchmakers specializing in vintage Rolex calibers, and operates within the strictest tolerances.
A very fine example!

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