We admit that for us the GMT-Master, in all its variations, is one of our favourite Rolex watches overall. Even more than that – in this particular case, the older versions are closer to our hearts – but “to each their own.” It is no coincidence that this is one of the models with the most nicknames. As you know, many special Rolex models have collector nicknames by which they are known among enthusiasts, and these have become so widely used that they are often more popular than the official names. We will list perhaps the most famous of them: Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Root Beer and, of course, among the newer ones, Batman and Pepsi. All of them currently trade above their launch prices, and even the modern models, such as Batman and Pepsi, often sell far above their official retail prices – “a marketing trick,” a sceptic might say, but in our opinion it is yet another proof of the brand’s correct market strategy and price positioning.
Why, however, is this model so loved and sought after – it is neither the most expensive, nor the toughest, nor the most complicated or the most beautiful watch? In the older models, the bezel insert was made of aluminium with printed hour markers, but in the newer generations Rolex introduced the ceramic Cerachrom bezel. With this model, presented in 2013, the blue-and-black two-colour Cerachrom insert appeared for the first time. The bezel itself is divided into two segments – black for the dark part of the day and blue for the light part – and it is precisely these colours that give the reference its BLNR abbreviation, BL from the French Bleu and NR from Noir. Because of this colour combination, enthusiasts gave the model the nickname “Batman.” One of the reasons for its appeal is certainly its so-called “true GMT” in-house Caliber 3186, which has a reputation for being robust, accurate, long-lasting and easy to service. The Parachrom hairspring used in the movement improves resistance to shocks and temperature variations, while the power reserve is approximately 48 hours. The model presented here is from the 116710BLNR series, introduced by the brand in 2013.
We are sure that most readers are aware that Rolex calls its water-resistant cases Oyster. In other words, if this name appears in the watch’s designation, it means the watch is water-resistant. And of course the GMT-Master II fully meets this qualification – although unlike the Submariner, here the rating is only 100 m, but as you can imagine, these are real metres.
The dial of the watch is very clean and easy to read, while the luminescence on the hands and indexes makes it easier to use at night. This particular model uses what Rolex calls Chromalight – the brand’s blue luminescence, which allows the indexes to appear milky white during the day. Rolex also uses the so-called “Maxi dial” style here, introduced a few years earlier, with which the manufacturer increased the size of the hands and markers – one of the reasons we like this model much more than the previous ones.
Despite the fact that the GMT-Master II is a professional instrument, as was the manufacturer’s intention from the very beginning, it is clear to everyone that for quite some time it has also become a luxury attribute – and for a long time now, this function has prevailed over the original reason for its creation. Perhaps precisely for this reason, Rolex does many things in this model so that the appearance and overall impression created by the watch prevail over its functionality. The first thing that makes an impression is the sapphire crystal – Rolex applies the anti-reflective coating only to the inner side of the Cyclops, allowing the outer part of the crystal to remain more brilliant and glossy to admire.
For the caseback, Rolex uses a simple solid back, as it does on all its models – and in this case it is free of any markings, inscriptions or other “decorations.” As we all know, Rolex uses noble 904L steel for its watches – the difference from the 316L commonly used by other brands lies in its greater resistance, especially against salt water. It is widely known that Rolex can be called fanatical when it comes to the steel it uses – much of the metallurgical process is carried out in-house to ensure 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 quality and presence are truly unique.
The overall impression is completed by the watch’s 24-hour bezel – its purpose is clear: to display a second time zone. Trivial, isn’t it? In previous models, the bezel insert was made of aluminium with printed hour markers, but in the newer generations the ceramic Cerachrom bezel is used. Here again, the material is specially developed and differs from commonly used materials, which is why Rolex calls it “Cerachrom.” Add the traditional inverted triangle at 12 o’clock, and there you have the final product – unlike aluminium, ceramic is glossier, tougher and more resistant to scratches. Modest, isn’t it? First a proprietary luminescent material, now a proprietary bezel material – what will come next...
For many years, the GMT-Master II was offered either with a three-piece steel bracelet tapering towards the clasp or with the multi-link Jubilee – on six-digit steel models like the 116710BLNR presented here, Rolex used the Oyster. Where is the difference from previous generations? Mainly in the clasp – the GMT-Master II clasp is milled from a solid piece of steel and features an additional safety system.
Indeed, back in the 1950s Rolex created a truly great product and spent the following decades improving and refining it. If in the beginning customers saw it as a not overly expensive everyday watch, today it is to a greater extent a fashion accessory, but one that has all the qualities to become a long-term partner for its owner. Not only will it not abandon you, it is also unlikely to lose much of its value, because it is no secret to anyone here that this brand cannot be found with large discounts when new and has the reputation of producing some of the best value-retaining watches. This particular model can safely be placed among the most popular Rolex watches and, accordingly, among the most sought after and desired. 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.
