Watch Paparazzi

Television presenter Richard Hammond spotted wearing Rolex

Richard Hammond, co-host of Amazon Prime's The Grand Tour alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May, was recently spotted with a Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116710LN secured to his wrist — a discontinued stainless steel model that continues to command serious respect on the secondary market long after Rolex retired it from the catalogue.

The GMT-Master II ref. 116710LN was produced from approximately 2007 to 2019, when Rolex phased it out in favour of the two-tone Cerachrom bezel successors. Its defining feature is a 40mm Oyster case in 904L stainless steel paired with a monochromatic black Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert — the first generation of GMT-Master to use this material. The bidirectional rotatable bezel displays a 24-hour scale for tracking a second time zone, powered by the calibre 3186 movement: an in-house automatic with a Parachrom hairspring, 28,800 vph beat rate, and approximately 50-hour power reserve. The black lacquered dial carries the characteristic GMT hand — a separate red-tipped arrow hand that completes one rotation every 24 hours.

Among collectors, the 116710LN holds a particular position. Its single-colour bezel reads as the purest, most tool-oriented interpretation of the GMT concept — no two-tone 'Pepsi' or 'Batman' showmanship, just a clean instrument watch with genuine functionality. The ceramic bezel resolved years of complaints about aluminium inserts fading under UV exposure, and the switch to the calibre 3186 brought magnetic resistance and improved accuracy. Many purists still prefer the 116710LN over its flashier successors.

Hammond's taste in watches has always leaned toward purposeful, driver-friendly pieces — appropriate for a man whose professional life revolves around high-performance machinery. The 116710LN's understated black-on-black aesthetic fits that sensibility precisely. It reads as a serious watch without demanding attention.

On the grey market, discontinued references in strong condition have appreciated considerably. The 116710LN in full set commands premiums well above its last known UK list price of approximately £6,550. Current secondary market values in the United States typically range between $10,000 and $13,500 depending on condition, box and papers, and service history — a meaningful return for early buyers and a solid argument for the enduring desirability of the reference.