Rolex GMT-Master II 116758 SARU
GMT-Master → 116758 SARU
The 116758 SARU is the yellow-gold GMT-Master II with a bezel set with sapphires, rubies, and diamonds. Rolex's 2008 catalogue describes a 40 mm case set with 76 diamonds and bracelet 78208. Its 2012 list gives a black dial with bracelet 78208, and also prices a pavé dial with 78208 and a diamond-set bracelet, reference 74768.
Core facts
| detail | value |
|---|---|
| reference | 116758 SARU
|
| family | GMT-Master II |
| production | introduced around 2006; final year unknown |
| movement | Cal. 3185 and 3186 both appear in auction catalogues; see movement notes |
| case | 40 mm, 18k yellow gold, set with 76 diamonds |
| bezel | rotatable 24-hour bezel with 23 diamonds, 18 rubies, and 18 sapphires |
| crystal | sapphire |
| bracelet | 78208 listed in 2008 and 2012; 74768 diamond-set option in 2012 |
Where it sits in the line
Christie's dates the gem-set 116758 variants to the 2006 launch of the redesigned GMT-Master II. The 116758 SARU followed the five-digit 16758 SARU in the gem-set GMT line. The references use different cases and movements. Rolex listed the 116758 SA and SANR separately in 2008, each with a different bezel layout; this page covers the SARU.
Production outline
Revolution and Japanese specialist retailer Okuraya place the 116758 SARU in the 2006 launch generation. Christie's records examples dated circa 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010; Sotheby's dates another to circa 2007, and Phillips dates one to circa 2009. Rolex's March 2008 price list and June 2012 German list include the reference.
Rolex still catalogued the 116758 SARU in June 2012; the production end date remains unknown.
Movement notes
Auction catalogues disagree. Christie's attributes Cal. 3185 to examples dated circa 2006 and 2007. Sotheby's records a circa-2007 ref. 116758 with the SARU gemstone layout and attributes Cal. 3186; Phillips and Christie's also give 3186 to examples dated circa 2009 and 2010. Rolex's 2008 list specifies a 31-jewel chronometer without naming its calibre. A serial-based changeover remains undated.
Dial map
Rolex's June 2012 list gives the SARU a black dial and also prices a pavé-dial option with bracelet 78208. Auction records show both: Christie's describes pavé dials on circa-2007 and circa-2010 examples, while Sotheby's records a circa-2007 ref. 116758 with the SARU bezel and a black "stick dial". The catalogue and lots establish these options and examples; they do not give a full dial chronology.
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Black dial and gem bezel on the BQ Watches example, stock 51503 -
Pavé dial on Christie's circa-2010 lot V446396 -
Luminous display on the same photographed example
Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes
Rolex's 2008 list gives a 40 mm, 18k yellow-gold case with 76 diamonds and a sapphire crystal. The bezel carries 23 diamonds, 18 rubies, and 18 sapphires around the 24-hour scale. Christie's notes diamond-set lugs and crown guards on its circa-2007 example. Rolex lists different stone layouts for the separate 116758 SA and SANR references.
The photograph records the stamp visible on this example; it does not establish the watch's provenance or authenticate its components.
Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes
Rolex lists yellow-gold Oyster bracelet 78208 with the SARU in 2008 and 2012. The 2012 list also prices bracelet 74768, a 13-link Oysterlock set with 728 diamonds, as an option for the SARU. Its parts table names the SA, SANR, and SARU as compatible models. The same list pairs the pavé-dial option with 78208. Christie's describes a separate pavé-dial example with diamond-set center links and a clasp stamped 78208. The catalogue establishes the options; it does not show how any individual watch left the factory.
Auction record
| date in catalogue | source | documented details |
|---|---|---|
| circa 2006 | Christie's, case Z216824 | Black dial, 40 mm, Cal. 3185 attributed |
| circa 2007 | Christie's, case Z234584 | Pavé dial, 40 mm, Cal. 3185 attributed; guarantee dated February 2007 |
| circa 2007 | Sotheby's, case M953028, ref. 116758 with SARU bezel | Black stick dial, 40 mm, Cal. 3186 attributed; warranty card and service card |
| circa 2008 | Christie's | Black dial, 40 mm, Oyster bracelet |
| circa 2009 | Phillips | 40 mm, Cal. 3186 attributed, diamond-set Oyster bracelet; guarantee dated 2016 |
| circa 2010 | Christie's, case V446396 | Cal. 3186 attributed, pavé dial, diamond-set bracelet links, clasp stamped 78208 |
The catalogue dates describe individual watches. Christie's records a February 2007 guarantee with its 2007 example; Sotheby's lists a 2022 service warranty, and Phillips records a 2016 guarantee date. These dates belong to the paperwork attached to those lots.
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BQ Watches, stock 51503: seller identifies the watch as ref. 116758 SARU -
Black dial and gem bezel
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Pavé dial, Christie's lot 6167024
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Caseback stamped 116758 -
Diamond-set bracelet and clasp -
Luminous display
Sources
- Ross Povey, "Revolution: Gem-Set GMT-Master Story — From SARU to Bruce Wayne", Revolution Watch, 2020-02-10
- Rolex, "Rolex Oyster Watches USA price list, effective 1 March 2008 — refs. 116758 family", Rolex; archival scan hosted by Minus4Plus6, 2008-03-01
- Rolex Deutschland, "Rolex Germany price list, June 2012 — GMT-Master II ref. 116758 SARU", Rolex Deutschland; archival scan hosted by Minus4Plus6, 2012-06
- "Christie's, ref. 116758SARU, circa 2008 — lot 6455580", Christie's
- "Christie's, ref. 116758SARU, circa 2010 — lot 6167024", Christie's
- "Christie's, ref. 116758SARU, circa 2006 — lot 6042618", Christie's
- "Christie's, ref. 116758 SARU, circa 2007 — lot 6248960", Christie's
- "Sotheby's, Important Watches Part I, Geneva, 14 May 2023, lot 45 — ref. 116758", Sotheby's, 2023-05-14
- "Phillips, Geneva Watch Auction XII, lot 14 — ref. 116758 SARU", Phillips, 2020-11-07
- "Okuraya, history of solid-gold GMT-Master II references", Okuraya
- "Millenary Watches, Rolex production years — ref. 116758SARU", Millenary Watches
- "BQ Watches, ref. 116758SARU, stock 51503", BQ Watches, 2026-10-17