No Rolex has been given more nicknames than the GMT-Master II, and no Rolex confuses buyers more, because the nicknames refer to bezels while the prices are set by references. We hold 146 of them, from £7,290 to £129,950 — a spread of more than a hundred thousand pounds within one model. This guide explains what you are actually paying for.
What a GMT-Master II does
A fourth hand circles the dial once every 24 hours and points at a rotating 24-hour bezel. Line the bezel up with a second time zone and you read it directly. On the "II", introduced in 1982, the local hour hand jumps independently in one-hour steps, so you can cross a time zone without stopping the movement or disturbing the minutes.
That independent hour hand is the entire difference between a GMT-Master and a GMT-Master II, and it is the reason the II is the one worth buying.
The nicknames, decoded
Pepsi is the red-and-blue bezel: references 126710BLRO in steel, 126719BLRO in white gold, and historically the 16710 and 1675. Batman — sometimes Batgirl on the Jubilee bracelet — is blue and black: 126710BLNR and the earlier 116710BLNR. Root Beer is brown and black in Everose Rolesor: 126711CHNR. Sprite is green and black, the left-handed 126720VTNR. Coke, red and black, belongs to the discontinued 16710.
None of these are Rolex's names. All of them move markets.
The reference families that matter
The 16710 (1989–2007) is the last of the aluminium-bezel GMTs and the only one where a single reference could be fitted with Pepsi, Coke or black inserts. It is the vintage-adjacent entry point.
The 116710 (2007–2019) brought the Cerachrom ceramic bezel, the maxi case with its broader lugs and crown guards, and the calibre 3186. The 116710LN in black is the value pick of the modern era.
The 126710 (2018–) added the calibre 3285 with a 70-hour reserve and, on the BLRO, the return of the Jubilee bracelet. It is the current watch and priced accordingly.
Bezel colour is the single biggest price lever
Two 126710s of identical age, condition and metal can differ by thousands purely on bezel. The market ranking has been stable for years: Pepsi above Batman above black. Left-handed Sprite sits in its own category because it is genuinely unusual — the crown is at nine o'clock and the date at nine as well.
Precious-metal GMTs are a different market entirely. Our range tops out at £129,950 for a gem-set white-gold example.
Jubilee or Oyster?
Rolex offers the modern Pepsi and Batman on both. The Jubilee is the historically correct choice — the original 1955 GMT-Master wore one — and it is more comfortable. The Oyster is more robust and reads as a tool watch.
Check which bracelet the watch you are buying actually has, and check the clasp code matches the reference. A swapped bracelet is common and it affects value.
What to check before you buy
Ceramic bezels do not fade, so a "faded" Cerachrom is a warning sign, not a feature. Aluminium bezels on 16710s do fade, and an evenly faded original insert is worth more than a replacement.
Confirm the hour hand jumps independently — set the watch forward an hour and check the minute hand does not move. And confirm the date rolls over with the local hour hand, not the 24-hour hand.
Browse the collection
Explore every pre-owned Rolex GMT-Master II in stock — 146 watches from £7,290, each authenticated and warrantied for 24 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Steel Pepsi and Batman references with box and papers have been the most resilient. Precious-metal versions are more volatile.
Yes, if the bezel insert and dial are original and unpolished. It is the last aluminium-bezel GMT and supply only shrinks.
The II has an independently adjustable local hour hand. The original moves the 24-hour hand only.
