The Rolex GMT Master ii is one of the most coveted Rolex watches ever. Regarded as a quintessential traveler’s companion, this beautiful timepiece and its predecessor (the GMT Master) are the templates for dual-time zone (GMT) watches, including those produced by other watchmakers.
The GMT-Master II collection has had a long and interesting history. The GMT collection itself is over close to seven decades old, while the Rolex GMT Master ii watch s over four decades old. Over the years, this timepiece has evolved significantly both in terms of its aesthetics and functionality. In this article, we’ll explore the history of the Rolex GMT-Master II, explaining how this timepiece managed to seal its place as the King of GMT watches.
History of the Rolex GMT- Master II
The Rolex GMT Master ii made its debut in 1982. But we have to backtrack several decades into the past to really understand the history of this timepiece. The story and origin of this timepiece began even before the first GMT-Master was launched.
In 1953, Rolex launched the Oyster Casing with the release of the Oyster Perpetual Submariner. Not only was this Rolex’s first serially produced wristwatch, but it also featured the first Rolex casing to be water-resistant to a depth of 100 meters. This watch became a star instantly, and it is often regarded as the first purpose-built diving watch.
Two years later, Rolex used the now popular Oyster casing for a major timepiece again when it launched the Oyster Perpetual GMT Master. It was the first timepiece capable of displaying the time in two separate time zones. The GMT Master came at a significant time in history. Its release coincided with the rapid expansion of intercontinental travel in the second half of the 20th century (commonly referred to as the Golden Age of commercial aviation).
The GMT Master was developed specifically for pilots of the now-defunct Pan American World Airways (also known as Pan Am). This company was one of the most prominent intercontinental airlines of the era. The GMT Master was created as a tool watch that pilots could use to keep track of the time in both their home city and their flight’s destination city.
It goes without saying that the GMT-Master was a major success. Building on the success of this collection, Rolex introduced another GMT series timepiece featuring a new movement with technical upgrades in 1982. The new watch was named the GMT Master II to clearly delineate the difference between them and avoid any confusion with their identities.
How the GMT-Master II Became the King of GMT Watches
Although the GMT Master was the first timepiece capable of displaying time in two different time zones, it isn’t the only one with this function. Several other manufacturers have used various ways to track multiple time zones on one timepiece.
However, what sets the GMT Master series apart is the use of a fourth central hand and a bi-directional rotating bezel. The rotating bezel was inspired by the design of another watch in Rolex’s portfolio, the Datejust Turn-o-Graph, which was the first Rolex timepiece with a rotating bezel. This design has proven to be quite impactful, so much so that it has been emulated by several other brands. But what makes the GMT-Master II so special is that in this section, we’ll explore some of the unique facts about this timepiece collection that made it such an impressive timepiece.
A Technical Evolution
The Rolex GMT Master ii represents the first technical evolution of the original GMT Master. Shortly after launching the flagship model (the ref 6452 collection), Rolex introduced the Ref. Ref. 1675, which had a long production run and also introduced several aesthetic variants with changes in the dial, casing material, bracelet, and other physical attributes. But the first true technical upgrade to this timepiece series came when the GMT-Master II Ref. 16760 was introduced in 1982.
The timepiece was a technical evolution that ushered in a new era in the traveler’s watch niche. The GMT Master II launched Rolex’s new Caliber 3085 movement. Although it used the same 24-hour bezel rotation mechanism to adjust between timezones, the new movement decoupled the GMT hand from the local time hand, allowing the user to independently adjust the local time without interfering with the second, minutes or GMT hands. In addition to making it easier to change the local time, the new movement also introduced the ability to add a third-time zone to the rotating bezel.
The Iconic Oyster Case
Another secret to the GMT Master II’s success is the 40mm Oyster case that came with it. A perfect picture of robustness and reliability, this casing was built to be waterproof to a depth of 100 meters (330 feet). The build of this case helped to consolidate the timepiece’s identity as a symbol of durability.
The middle case of this timepiece was also built from a solid block of either Oyster Steel or 18-carat gold, depending on the model in question. Rolex ensures that each case back is hermetically screwed with special tools to protect the movement. Only certified Rolex watchmakers have the tools needed to open and access the movement within this timepiece.
The Rolex GMT Master ii also features a Triplock winding crown and an integral crown guard that screws down against the case to secure it. This system provides optimal protection for the internal mechanism of this watch and makes it quite durable.
A Distinct Appearance
When the first GMT Master was released, it featured a red and blue coloration on the bezel meant to reflect the uniform colors of the Pan American airline. However, fans soon noted the similarities between these colors and the official colors of Pepsi, the popular soft drink company. Consequently, the Rolex GMT Master was nicknamed Pepsi, and this tag has endured ever since. Many other GMT Master watches have been issued cool nicknames by fans based on their appearance.
The Rolex GMT Master ii has continued to tow this line as well. More than just an innovative timepiece, this watch is also a symbol of style and elegance. The distinctive appearance and iconic colors have given the GMT master an unmistakable charm that has contributed to its popularity as a travel timepiece.
It is worth noting that the multicolored bezel has always served a functional purpose beyond just adding a distinct flair to the watch. On the original GMT master, the blue color represented nighttime, while the red part of the bezel represented daylight.
When the Rolex GMT Master ii was released, the bezel sported a new color combination, with red representing daytime hours while black was used for nighttime instead of blue. Interestingly, this led to another soda-inspired nickname for the new watch. This time, the GMT-Master II Ref. 16760 was nicknamed Coca-Cola. Fans of the Rolex brand have continued this tradition of assigning interesting names to timepieces from this watchmaker, especially with the GMT-Master II series of watches.
The James Bond Connection
It’s hard to talk about the historical popularity of the Rolex GMT watches without referencing the connection to pop culture, especially its association with the famous James Bond Character. Although the GMT Master isn’t the official James Bond watch (that title belongs to the Rolex Submariner), both generations of GMT watches have been featured in James Bond movies.
The Rolex GMT Master ii was worn by Timothy Dalton’s James Bond character in the 1989 film License to Kill. This brief cameo further helped to reinforce the association of this timepiece with a sense of adventure and travel that GMT watches are known for.
Aside from the James Bond connection, this timepiece has also been seen on the wrists of several celebrities and sports professionals, further boosting its mainstream popularity and image. For instance, tennis legend Roger Federer and Racing champion Sir Jackie Stewart have been spotted with a GMT-Master II.
Modern History of the GMT-Master II – Notable Moments
- 2005: Rolex launched a new GMT-Master II to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the GMT master series. It had a larger (40mm case) and featured a new Caliber 3816 movement with an incorporated Rolex’s Parachrom hairspring, which made it more shock and temperature-resistant compared to its predecessor. Rolex also started experimenting with the scratch-resistant ceramic bezel (Cerachrom) with this model).
- 2007: Rolex released the first steel model GMT-Master II with Cerachrom inserts. This innovation signaled the permanent end to the use of aluminum bezel inserts for this line of watches. However, Rolex also had to forgo the bicolor bezel, which became a famous fixture of the GMT series for a few years until the watchmaker could figure out a way to create colored ceramics of satisfactory quality.
- 2013: Rolex perfected the process of creating two-colored ceramic bezel inserts for the GMT Master II series. This was released on the GMT-Master II Ref. 116710BLNR (also known as the Batman due to its blue and black color).
- 2014: the famous Red and Blue bicolor bezel (Rolex Pepsi) made a return in the GMT-Master II Ref. 116719BLRO. It was also the first GMT-Master in an 18k white gold casing. Rolex released this timepiece as a limited edition model.
- 2018: Rolex finally produced a GMT Master II with a ceramic Pepsi bezel and a casing made from 904L stainless steel. The timepiece (Ref. 126710BLRO) was mounted on the unique five-link Jubilee bracelet (created for the original Datejust in 1945) instead of the standard three-link Oyster bracelet used for other GMT Master II bracelets.
- 2019: Rolex announced the release of the in-house build Caliber 3285 to be used on all GMT masters produced from 2018 forward. The new movement featured a blue Parachrom hairspring and was more energy efficient, with an increased power reserve of up to 70 hours.
- 2022: Rolex unveiled a new GMT Master II timepiece for left-handed users. The crown, crown guards, and data window of this watch were shifted to the left-hand side of the case. It was the first Rolex timepiece built specifically for left-handed users. The new timepiece launched a new green and black bicolor bezel and has gotten several nicknames, including the “Hulk,” Green Lantern, and Kermit.
- 2024: Rolex introduced two new GMT-Master II models. Both models are steel watches, with one mounted on the classic three-link Oyster bracelet while the other came with the five-link Jubilee bracelet. These new watches have been nicknamed the Rolex “Bruce Wayne” by fans due to the sober black-to-gray color scheme of their bezel.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that the Rolex GMT Master ii is one of Rolex’s most remarkable timepiece series. The iconic design, technical innovation, and continual evolution of this watch have helped cement its place as the ultimate watch in the dual time-zone luxury timepiece category. Despite the high Rolex GMT Master ii price, the aesthetics, functional appeal, and, of course, rich history of this timepiece still make it one of the most sought-after Rolex collections.