The Rolex GMT-Master II is the travel watch that made two time zones feel effortless. A bidirectional 24-hour bezel and an independent hour hand let you track home time while local hours jump in one-hour steps—no resetting the whole watch. This Rolex GMT-Master II buying guide covers how the line evolved from the original GMT-Master, which nicknames and references matter most, how calibre 3285 changed the modern generation, and what to check before you buy one pre-owned.
A Quick Background
Rolex introduced the GMT-Master in 1955 for Pan American World Airways pilots who needed a clear second time zone. The defining feature was a 24-hour hand paired with a rotatable bezel marked for a full day. Rolex still describes that aviation origin on its official GMT-Master II pages (Rolex). In 1982 the GMT-Master II arrived with a movement that allowed the local hour hand to be set independently of the GMT hand and bezel—the practical jump that separates “II” from the earlier GMT-Master (Rolex). For a deeper dive into nicknames and steel sports siblings, see our GMT-Master vs Submariner comparison and the Rolex Batman guide.
GMT-Master vs GMT-Master II
On a vintage GMT-Master (for example the long-running 1675), changing local time usually meant stopping the watch or resetting both the hour hand and the GMT display together. The GMT-Master II’s independent local-hour hand is the reason most travelers and collectors prefer modern references. Both families use a bidirectional 24-hour bezel; water resistance on current Oyster cases is 100 meters (330 feet), which is fine for swimming but not a dive-watch rating like the Submariner’s 300 meters (Rolex).
Key References and Nicknames
16710 — Pepsi, Coke, and all-black
Produced roughly from the late 1980s into the mid-2000s, the steel 16710 is the classic aluminum-bezel GMT-Master II many collectors still chase. Bezels came in red-and-blue (“Pepsi”), red-and-black (“Coke”), and black. Movements were Rolex calibre 3185, with late examples using 3186. Cases are 40 mm with an acrylic-to-sapphire crystal transition already complete by this generation. Condition of the aluminum insert and crown-guard sharpness matter a lot on pre-owned examples; faded “ghost” bezels can be charming or a red flag depending on price. Browse current listings such as a 16710 Coke on TrueFacet and other Rolex GMT-Master II watches.
116710LN and 116710BLNR — ceramic arrives
From 2007 Rolex moved the steel GMT-Master II to Cerachrom ceramic bezels and calibre 3186. The 116710LN used a black insert; the 116710BLNR (2013) introduced the blue-and-black “Batman” Cerachrom that defined a decade of steel sports Rolexes. These watches still wear as modern tool watches, with Maxi dials and heavier Oyster bracelets than the 16710. They are a sweet spot if you want ceramic durability without paying today’s premiums for the newest 126xxx steel pieces.
126710BLRO and 126710BLNR — calibre 3285
In 2018 Rolex relaunched the steel Pepsi as 126710BLRO on a Jubilee bracelet, powered by calibre 3285 with roughly 70 hours of power reserve and Superlative Chronometer precision of −2/+2 seconds per day after casing (Rolex). The following year brought the updated Batman 126710BLNR. Oyster-bracelet options followed later for both colorways. These are the references most shoppers mean when they say “modern Pepsi” or “modern Batman.” See a Pepsi GMT-Master II listing and a Batman steel GMT on TrueFacet.
Root Beer, Sprite, and left-handed variants
Two-tone and precious-metal Root Beer models (brown-and-black Cerachrom), such as the Everose Rolesor 126711CHNR and solid Everose 126715CHNR, pair warm metals with a softer bezel palette. More recent catalog additions include grey-and-black “Bruce Wayne”/GRNR steel and gold configurations and the left-handed green-and-black 126720VTNR (“Sprite” / “Lefto”), which places the crown and date at nine o’clock for left-wrist wearers. Exact availability at authorized dealers changes; the secondary market is where most buyers find specific combinations without a waitlist.
How the GMT Function Works Day to Day
Set the 24-hour hand to a reference time (often home or UTC) so it points to the correct hour on the bezel’s 24-hour scale. When you land in a new zone, pull the crown to the intermediate position and jump the local hour hand forward or back in one-hour steps; the minutes, seconds, and 24-hour hand stay put. Rotate the bezel if you want a third zone read against the GMT hand. Rolex documents this independent hour-hand design as the core of the GMT-Master II (Rolex). If you are new to dual-time watches, our primer on what GMT time means on a watch is a useful companion.
What to Check Before You Buy Pre-Owned
Buy from a seller who authenticates Rolex thoroughly—case reference and serial between the lugs (or laser-etched on newer cases), movement finishing consistent with the era, and a bezel insert that matches the reference. Ceramic Cerachrom inserts should show crisp, filled numerals; aluminum inserts on 16710s often fade, which is expected, but aftermarket inserts are common and should be disclosed. Watch for polished-away crown guards, re-lumed hands that do not match Rolex’s luminous material for the period, and bracelets stretched beyond serviceable tolerances. Prefer boxes and papers when the premium is modest, but a correct, serviced watch from a reputable platform often matters more than a worn card. TrueFacet’s Authenticity Promise and the broader Rolex watches catalog are built around that authentication-first approach.
Sizing and Wear
Modern GMT-Master II cases are 40 mm with a substantial presence on the wrist, especially on Oyster bracelets. Jubilee bracelets wear slightly dressier and often feel more flexible. If you are between sizes, Rolex’s Easylink-style clasp extensions on recent Oyster and Jubilee bracelets help with daily comfort; our guide to how tight a watch should be covers fit in more detail. Water resistance is 100 meters—rinse after salt water and keep the crown screwed down.
Which GMT-Master II Should You Choose?
- Want the classic aluminum look and typically lower entry prices? Start with a clean 16710 Pepsi or Coke.
- Want ceramic and a proven modern tool watch without the newest reference premiums? Look at 116710LN or 116710BLNR.
- Want the current-generation movement and the most traded steel colorways? Focus on 126710BLNR (Batman) and 126710BLRO (Pepsi).
- Prefer two-tone warmth or precious metal? Root Beer Rolesor and Everose references are the usual path.
Whatever you choose, match the reference to how you will wear it—daily steel sports watch, travel companion, or dressier two-tone—and buy from a source that stands behind authenticity. Explore live inventory under Rolex GMT-Master II and the wider Rolex brand page, and reach out to [email protected] if you want help narrowing references.
