Description

The present watch is a rare, special‑order Rolex GMT‑Master II reference 116710LN created to commemorate the Westland Sea King helicopter, a mainstay of British military aviation from 1969 until its retirement in 2018. Limited to just 123 pieces, the edition was exclusively offered to serving or former members of the Armed Forces with a direct connection to the aircraft, and was never available to the public.

Executed in stainless steel with the classic Oyster bracelet and Oysterlock safety clasp, the watch retains the signature 116710LN profile: a 40 mm case with a 24‑hour rotatable bezel featuring a black Cerachrom ceramic insert, a black dial with date at 3 o’clock, and the green 24‑hour hand for a second time zone. Power comes from the Oyster Perpetual automatic movement with GMT function, renowned for durability, accuracy, and ease of use—ideal traits for service personnel operating across multiple theaters and time zones.

The defining commemorative detail lies on the engraved caseback, depicting the Mk‑1 Sea King helicopter and the inscriptions “Fear God, Honour the King” and “Sea‑King since 1969,” together with the individual edition number. Many examples were worn on duty, including flights with Royal Marines in Arctic conditions, deployments aboard Royal Navy vessels, mountain training in the Alps, and over 100 search‑and‑rescue missions in the Scottish Highlands—history etched into the metal as much as the engraving itself.

As a modern, military‑linked limited edition sanctioned for a tightly defined cohort, the Sea King GMT‑Master II occupies a compelling niche in Rolex collecting: the proven, do‑everything 116710LN platform paired with a deeply authentic narrative of British service aviation. With only 123 made and distribution restricted to Sea King personnel, it stands as a coveted artifact of operational history and a fitting tribute to an aircraft that served in every major British conflict since 1969.

Rolex – bio

Founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, initially as Wilsdorf & Davis Ltd. Renamed Rolex by 1908 and moved its base of operations to Geneva, Switzerland in 1919.  Their success is due to their innovation namely the legendary “Oyster” case – first water resistant watch and their extremely reliable movements.
The most famous models are Datejust, Day-Date, Daytona, Explorer, GMT-Master, Submariner and many more.
The company is owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a family private trust.
One story, never confirmed by Wilsdorf, recounts that the name came from the French words “horlogerie exquise”‘è, meaning “exquisite clockwork”