The present watch is a rare, special\u2011order Rolex GMT\u2011Master 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2011hour rotatable bezel featuring a black Cerachrom ceramic insert, a black dial with date at 3 o\u2019clock, and the green 24\u2011hour 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\u2014ideal traits for service personnel operating across multiple theaters and time zones.<\/p>\n
The defining commemorative detail lies on the engraved caseback, depicting the Mk\u20111 Sea King helicopter and the inscriptions \u201cFear God, Honour the King\u201d and \u201cSea\u2011King since 1969,\u201d 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\u2011and\u2011rescue missions in the Scottish Highlands\u2014history etched into the metal as much as the engraving itself.<\/p>\n
As a modern, military\u2011linked limited edition sanctioned for a tightly defined cohort, the Sea King GMT\u2011Master II occupies a compelling niche in Rolex collecting: the proven, do\u2011everything 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.<\/p>\n
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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.\u00a0 <\/span>Their success is due to their innovation namely the legendary \u201cOyster\u201d case – first water resistant watch and their extremely reliable movements.
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\nThe most famous models are Datejust, Day-Date, Daytona, Explorer, GMT-Master, Submariner and many more.
\nThe company is owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a family private trust.
\nOne story, never confirmed by Wilsdorf, recounts that the name came from the French words “horlogerie exquise”‘\u00e8, meaning \u201cexquisite clockwork\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n