Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Vito Glazers spotted wearing Rolex

Few life moments demand a watch worth remembering, and entrepreneur Vito Glazers — spotted in New York's Times Square during his proposal to Torry Hermann — wore one that more than qualifies. On his wrist: a Rolex GMT-Master II reference 16710 in the instantly recognizable 'Coke' configuration, its red-and-black aluminum bezel insert cutting a sharp contrast against the stainless steel Oyster case.

The Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 16710 was introduced in 1989 as the successor to the reference 16760 'Fat Lady,' slimming down to a more classical 40mm Oyster case and pairing it with the caliber 3185 — a movement featuring Rolex's proprietary GMT hand mechanism allowing independent hour-hand adjustment without stopping the seconds. In 2007, Rolex upgraded the movement to the caliber 3186, refining the lever-set mechanism, before retiring the 16710 reference entirely in favor of the ceramic-bezeled reference 116710. The 16710 was produced across three bezel color variants: the black-and-red 'Coke,' the all-black, and the far rarer black-and-blue 'Pepsi' — the latter commanding a significant premium on the secondary market.

Among collectors, the 16710 'Coke' occupies a respected middle ground: more accessible than the 'Pepsi' variant, yet carrying undeniable vintage charisma that the current ceramic-bezeled successors cannot fully replicate. The aluminum bezel fades and patinas with wear, giving each example a uniquely aged character. Examples with tritium dials and original full-set documentation attract the sharpest collector attention, and the reference has held its value with notable consistency.

Glazers, known for his media production ventures and high-profile social presence, has demonstrated a taste for pieces with genuine horological substance rather than purely contemporary status symbols. Choosing a discontinued reference with a specific nickname and collector history for such a personal milestone speaks to a wearer who understands what he has on his wrist.

On the grey market, the Rolex GMT-Master II reference 16710 'Coke' trades at a premium over its original retail price, reflecting sustained collector demand for the last generation of aluminum-bezel GMT references. Condition, box-and-papers completeness, and dial originality are the primary value drivers. It remains one of the most wearable and historically significant sport Rolexes of the pre-ceramic era.