We admit that, for us, the GMT-Master in all its variations is one of our favourite Rolex models in general. We will even admit that, in this case, the older versions are closer to our hearts. It is no coincidence that this is the model with the most nicknames, as you know, many of Rolex’s special models have nicknames by which they are known among connoisseurs and which have become so widely used that they are more popular than their official names. We will list perhaps the most famous of them: Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Root Beer and, of course, among the newer ones Batman, as well as the latest hits in the new collection – Bruce Wayne and Zombie. All of them are currently selling above their launch prices, and even the contemporary models, Batman and Pepsi, are selling far above their official prices – a “marketing trick”, some sceptic might say, but in our opinion it is yet another proof of the correct market strategy and price positioning.
But why is this model so liked and sought after – it is neither the most expensive, nor the toughest, nor the most complicated or most beautiful watch? One of the reasons is certainly its in-house Caliber 3186 movement, which has become synonymous among the so-called “true GMT” watches and has a reputation for being robust, accurate, long-lasting and easy to service.
We are sure that most people reading this text are aware that Rolex call their water-resistant cases Oyster. In other words, when this name appears in the name of the watch, it means that it is water-resistant. And of course, the GMT-Master II meets this qualification 100% – although, unlike the Submariner, here this rating is only 100 m, but as you can imagine, these metres are real.
Although the GMT-Master II is a professional instrument, as intended by the manufacturer from the very moment of its launch, it is clear to everyone that for quite some time it has become a luxury attribute – and for quite a while now this function has prevailed over the original reason for its creation. Perhaps precisely for this reason, Rolex do many things in this model in such a way that the appearance and overall impression created by the watch prevail over its functionality. The first thing that makes an impression is the sapphire – Rolex apply anti-reflective coating only on the inner side of the Cyclops, which allows the outer part of the crystal to remain more brilliant and glossy to admire. The next thing is, of course, the distinctive colour solution of the bezel, and finally the noble blue-and-red contrast – which seems to add a slight hint of “aristocratic origin”.
For the caseback of the watch, Rolex use a plain solid back, as they do in all their models – in the case of the GMT, it is devoid of any markings, inscriptions or other “decorations”. As we all know, Rolex use noble 904L steel for their watches – the difference compared with the 316L steel commonly used by other brands lies in its greater resistance, especially to salt water. It is widely known that Rolex can be called fanatics when it comes to the steel they use – a large part of the metallurgical processes are carried out in-house in order to guarantee consistent quality of the raw material. Many watches have passed through our hands, but we can say absolutely categorically that few brands devote so much attention and effort to the quality of the final product from the point of view of case finishing – and as a result, the outcome can only be unique quality and presence.
The overall impression is complemented by the bidirectionally rotating 24-hour bezel of the watch – its purpose is clear: to display a second time zone – trivial, isn’t it? In this model, the bezel is made of steel, while the bezel insert is made of aluminium with printed 24-hour indexes – the traditional “triangle” at 12 o’clock, and there you have the final product. The bezel itself is divided into two segments – blue for the dark part of the day and red for the light part, and it is precisely because of this colour solution that the model receives the nickname “Pepsi”. The model became especially popular after the release of the new “Pepsi”, which enjoys such commercial success that on the secondary market it trades significantly above its official price. This automatically led to a drastic increase in the prices of the older Pepsi models as well – within two years of the launch of the new model, the old ones had risen by more than 40% and continue to move upwards...
For many years, the GMT-Master was offered with two bracelet options – Oyster and Jubilee – and the piece presented today uses the more attractive, more sought-after and certainly more comfortable Jubilee.
Truly, in the 1960s Rolex created a great product and invested time and resources in improving and perfecting it. If at the beginning it was valued by customers as a not very expensive everyday watch, today it is to a greater extent a fashion accessory, which nevertheless has all the qualities to become a long-term partner of its owner. Besides not letting you down, it will also not lose much of its value, because it is no secret to anyone that this brand not only cannot be found with large discounts when new, but also has the reputation of producing some of the watches that best retain their value. And this particular model can confidently be placed among the front ranks of Rolex in terms of popularity and, accordingly, among the most sought-after and desired models. One of the reasons for this is certainly the fact that this watch looks equally good on your wrist whether you are wearing a formal suit or worn jeans and a white T-shirt – in both cases, the GMT-Master II will help attract approving glances towards your appearance.
