Developed with Pan Am in the 1950s so crews could read two time zones at once. The independent local hour hand arrived with the 'II' in 1982, and the bezels have driven demand ever since.
Browse all Rolex in stock or see our full inventory.
Available Watches
History of the GMT-Master II
1955
Made for Pan Am
The original GMT-Master arrives with a two-tone red and blue bezel, letting crews read a second time zone at a glance.
1982
The 'II' and independent hours
The GMT-Master II adds a jumping local hour hand, so you can change time zones without stopping the watch — the feature that makes it genuinely practical.
2005
Ceramic, one colour at a time
The 116718 introduces Cerachrom, but the process only allows a single colour. Two-tone bezels disappear from the catalogue for years.
2013
Two-tone ceramic solved
The 116710BLNR arrives with a blue and black bezel — nicknamed the Batman — after Rolex works out how to fire two colours into one ceramic insert.
2018
Red and blue returns
The 126710BLRO brings back the original colourway in ceramic on a Jubilee bracelet. Waiting lists follow immediately.
2023
The left-handed one
A destro 126720VTNR places the crown on the left with the date at nine — an unusual move for Rolex, and immediately divisive.
GMT-Master II References
The references we see most often, and what separates them. Highlighted rows are references we currently have in the case.
| Reference | Produced | Case | Bezel | Caliber | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126710BLNR | 2019–present | Steel | Blue / black | 3285 | The current Batman on Jubilee or Oyster. Seventy-hour reserve. |
| 126710BLRO | 2018–present | Steel | Red / blue | 3285 | The Pepsi in ceramic. The most requested reference in the family and the hardest to buy at retail. |
| 116710BLNRIn stock | 2013–2019 | Steel | Blue / black | 3186 | The original ceramic Batman, on Oyster only. Discontinued and now firmly collected. |
| 116710LN | 2007–2019 | Steel | Black | 3186 | All-black ceramic. The quietest GMT and consistently the value entry into the ceramic era. |
| 126720VTNR | 2022–present | Steel | Green / black | 3285 | Left-hand crown, date at nine. Polarising, and priced accordingly. |
| 116713LN | 2007–2019 | Rolesor | Black | 3186 | Steel and yellow gold. Historically overlooked, which is exactly why it can be good value. |
Sub-models
Batman (Blue & Black)
The two-tone ceramic breakthrough
126710BLNR116710BLNR
2 in stock
Pepsi (Red & Blue)
The original colourway, in ceramic
126710BLRO116719BLRO16710
Root Beer (Brown & Black)
Everose and brown ceramic
126711CHNR126715CHNR
Sprite (Green & Black)
Left-hand crown, date at nine
126720VTNR
Black Bezel
The quiet GMT
126710GRNR116710LN116713LN
Before You Buy a GMT-Master II
Bezel colour is most of the price
Two references can share a case, movement and year and differ by thousands on bezel alone. Decide which colourway you want before comparing prices, or you will confuse yourself.
Check the 24-hour hand actually tracks
Set the local hour hand forward and back through midnight. The date should roll at the right time and the 24-hour hand should stay put. Faults here are movement work, not adjustment.
Jubilee or Oyster changes the watch
The current Batman ships either way. The Jubilee dresses it up and wears softer; the Oyster reads as a tool watch. Straight swaps are possible but genuine bracelets are expensive.
Faded aluminium is not the same as damaged
On pre-ceramic references, evenly faded inserts carry a premium among collectors. Chips, scratches and replacements do not. Know which you are looking at.
Confirm the reference matches the bezel
Bezel inserts can be swapped. A 116710LN wearing a Batman insert is not a 116710BLNR, and paying Batman money for one is a costly mistake.
Every watch we sell is inspected in-house in Las Vegas before it is listed. If you want a second opinion on a piece you are considering elsewhere, call us — we will tell you straight.
Specifications
Case diameter40 mm
Case materialOystersteel, Rolesor, white gold, Everose gold
MovementCaliber 3285 (current), 3186 (2007–2019)
Power reserveApproximately 70 hours (3285)
Water resistance100 m
BezelBidirectional rotatable, 24-hour graduated Cerachrom
FunctionsSecond time zone, independent local hour hand, date
BraceletOyster or Jubilee
Figures describe the current production reference unless stated otherwise. Specifications vary by reference and year — see the reference table above. Source: rolex.com. Watch Bros Co. is an independent dealer and is not affiliated with Rolex SA.
GMT-Master II Questions
What do Batman, Pepsi and Root Beer mean?+
They are collector nicknames for bezel colourways — blue/black, red/blue, and brown/black respectively. Rolex does not use these names, but the entire market does.
Can I change time zones without stopping the watch?+
On the GMT-Master II, yes. The local hour hand jumps in one-hour steps independently, which is the whole point of the 'II'. The original GMT-Master could not do this.
Is a GMT worth it if I rarely travel?+
Plenty of owners use the 24-hour hand to track a second zone for family or work rather than travel. And many simply buy it for the bezel — which is a perfectly honest reason.
What should I budget?+
It varies sharply by colourway and bracelet. Tell us which reference you want and we will quote current market pricing.
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