Rolex GMT-Master II Buyer's Guide: References, Bezels and What to Check

The Rolex GMT-Master II is a 40 mm travel watch that shows two time zones at a glance, and a third if you turn the bezel. Every current model starts with 1267, runs calibre 3285 and holds about 70 hours of power reserve. In steel, you are mostly choosing a bezel: blue and black (126710BLNR, the "Batman"), grey and black (126710GRNR), or green and black with the crown on the left (126720VTNR). The red and blue "Pepsi" 126710BLRO left the catalogue in April 2026, so from now on it is a pre-owned purchase.

Still deciding between a GMT and a dive watch? Start with our Submariner vs GMT-Master II comparison.

A short history

The GMT-Master arrived in 1955 as reference 6542. Rolex built it with Pan Am, whose crews were crossing more time zones as long-haul flying took off. It added a fourth hand that circled the dial once a day, read against a red and blue 24-hour bezel. That colour pairing became the "Pepsi."

Rolex dates the GMT-Master II to 1982. Its new trick was an hour hand that could be jumped forward or back in one-hour steps without stopping the watch. The first reference, 16760, arrived in the early 1980s with calibre 3085 and a thicker case that collectors call the "Fat Lady."

Later references:

• 16710 (1989 to 2007). Calibre 3185, later the 3186, with aluminium bezel inserts.
• 116710LN (2007 to 2019). A bigger, six-digit case, calibre 3186 and the first Cerachrom ceramic bezel on a steel GMT-Master II.
• 1267 references (from 2018). Calibre 3285, a 70-hour reserve and a run of new colourways.

How the GMT function works

There are four hands. Hours, minutes and seconds work as normal. The fourth hand, tipped with a triangle, goes around once every 24 hours and points to the bezel.

Rolex's user guide sets the watch in two steps, in this order.

1. Reference time first. Unscrew the crown and pull it to the last position. The seconds hand stops, and turning the crown moves the minute hand and the 24-hour hand together. With the bezel triangle at 12, set the 24-hour hand to your home time. This also moves the hour hand, which is why Rolex has you set the reference time before the local time.
2. Local time second. Push the crown in one notch. Now the hour hand jumps in one-hour steps, either direction, while the minutes and the 24-hour hand stay put. The date follows this local hour hand.

So you set home time once. When you land somewhere new, unscrew the crown, pull it out one notch, click the hour hand to local time and screw the crown back down. The watch never stops.

For a third zone, turn the bezel. If the city you care about is eight hours ahead of your reference time, Rolex says to turn the bezel eight clicks counterclockwise and read that city on the 24-hour hand. Home time disappears from view until you return the bezel to neutral.

The references, old and new

These are the references that come up for sale often. Gem-set models and older gold and two-tone references such as the 16713 and 16718 are not in the table.

Gold buyers have a few more. The grey and black bezel appeared in 2023 on the 126713GRNR in yellow Rolesor and the 126718GRNR in yellow gold, a year before steel. In 2025 Rolex added the 126729VTNR, a left-handed white gold model with a green ceramic dial. aBlogtoWatch called it the first Rolex fitted with a ceramic dial. The white gold Pepsi, 126719BLRO, was dropped with the steel one in 2026.

Bezel colours and their nicknames

None of these names come from Rolex. Collectors made them up, and they stuck because they are quicker to say than a reference number.

• Pepsi: blue and red. The original 1955 colours.
• Coke: black and red, on aluminium inserts from the first GMT-Master II through the 16710. With the Pepsi gone, no steel GMT-Master II has red on the bezel.
• Batman: blue and black. The 116710BLNR of 2013 brought the first two-colour ceramic bezel to the GMT-Master II. The current 126710BLNR on a Jubilee is often called the "Batgirl."
• Root Beer: brown and black on the modern Everose models, a name borrowed from the steel and gold GMT-Master 1675/3 of 1970, which had a brown and gold bezel.
• Sprite: green and black, on the left-handed 126720VTNR.
• Bruce Wayne: grey and black, the quiet one, on the 126710GRNR.

One tip from the auction world: say "Pepsi bezel," not "Pepsi dial." The dial is black on all the steel models above.

Jubilee or Oyster?

The Oyster bracelet has three flat links. The Jubilee has five smaller links and a softer, dressier look. Both close with an Oysterlock folding clasp, and both have the Easylink extension, which adds about 5 mm of length without tools. That helps in summer heat or on a long flight.

The steel Pepsi launched in 2018 on a Jubilee only, and the Batman followed on a Jubilee in 2019. Rolex added Oyster versions of both in 2021. The Bruce Wayne and the Sprite are offered on either bracelet. The Root Beer models came on an Oyster.

Neither bracelet is more correct, so try both. Then check the reference suffix on any listing, because the bracelet is part of what you are buying.

The left-handed 126720VTNR

Launched in 2022, the 126720VTNR is a mirror image of the standard model. The crown, crown guards, date window and Cyclops lens all sit on the left side of the case. Revolution called it the first left-handed GMT-Master II.

It suits people who wear a watch on the right wrist, since the crown then points up the arm instead of digging into the back of the hand. Otherwise it matches the right-handed steel models: 40 mm of Oystersteel, calibre 3285 and 100 m of water resistance. The 24-hour hand is green to match the bezel.

If you wear your watch on the left, try one on first. Setting the watch with the crown on the far side takes some getting used to.

What changed between generations

Bezel material. Aluminium inserts on the 16710 and earlier fade over the years, and some collectors pay more for a nicely faded Pepsi. Ceramic, used from 2007, keeps its colour and resists scratches, but it can chip after a hard knock.

Movement. The 3186 in the 116710 models gives roughly 48 to 50 hours of reserve. The 3285 raised that to about 70 hours, added the Chronergy escapement and carries Rolex's Superlative Chronometer rating of minus 2 to plus 2 seconds a day after casing. Take it off on Friday evening and it is still running on Monday morning.

Case. The six-digit models have broader lugs and heavier crown guards than the five-digit 16710. A 16710 looks slimmer on the wrist, which some people prefer.

How to choose

• You travel often and want one watch. A steel 126710BLNR or 126710GRNR, on whichever bracelet feels right.
• You want something understated. The 126710GRNR. Grey and black looks almost black from a few feet away.
• You wear your watch on the right wrist. The 126720VTNR.
• You want the Pepsi. Look for a pre-owned 126710BLRO with complete papers.
• You want some gold. The 126711CHNR Root Beer in Everose Rolesor.
• You like vintage character. A late 16710 with an honest, unpolished case.

What to check when buying pre-owned

Ask the seller for clear photos of each point below.

Reference, serial and papers. The numbers on the watch should match the warranty card and any service papers. Our guide to reading a Rolex reference and serial number shows where to find them. A full set means the box, card and booklets are all present, which helps when you sell later.

The card date. Rolex gives new watches from its official retailers a five-year international guarantee, counted from the purchase date on the card. If that date is under five years old, ask the seller whether any of the cover still applies.

The bezel. It should turn both ways with firm, even clicks, one per hour on the scale. Check ceramic inserts for chips at the edge. On aluminium, ask whether the insert is original, because inserts can be swapped.

The GMT function. The hour hand should jump cleanly in both directions, the 24-hour hand should not move while you do it, and the date should change near local midnight.

Bracelet stretch. Hold the bracelet out flat from the case. A tired bracelet sags between the links. Confirm how many spare links come with the watch.

Polishing. Sharp lines along the lugs and case sides are a good sign. Rounded edges suggest heavy polishing, which collectors mark down.

Service history. Ask when it was last serviced and by whom. Our guide on how often to service a watch explains what a service involves.

Authenticity. Counterfeit GMTs exist, and good ones look convincing in photos. General signals include the dial printing, the bezel alignment, the Cyclops magnification over the date and the feel of the clasp. Our guides on how to authenticate a luxury watch and how to spot a fake Rolex Submariner go deeper, and many of the Submariner checks apply here too.

Price context

Rolex lists US retail prices on rolex.com and changes them from time to time, so check there for current figures. Gold sits far above steel. On October 26, 2026, Rolex's US site listed the white gold 126729VTNR at $54,700.

Pre-owned prices move with the reference, bracelet, condition and completeness of the set. Rather than rely on a figure that may already be stale, compare live listings for the exact reference and condition you want.

Ready to look? Browse Rolex GMT-Master II watches on Dialist. Every watch is authenticated before it ships, paid for through Dialist Secure Checkout and sent with insured shipping, with 7-day returns and an authenticity guarantee up to USD $100,000. Looking for one reference in particular, like a 126710BLRO with papers? Try Concierge. Can't find it? We'll find it. Dialist serves the United States and Canada.

FAQ

What is the difference between the GMT-Master and GMT-Master II?

On the original GMT-Master, the 24-hour hand was linked to the hour hand, so you read a second zone mainly with the bezel. The GMT-Master II, which Rolex dates to 1982, lets you jump the local hour hand in one-hour steps without stopping the watch or moving the 24-hour hand.

How do you set the second time zone on a Rolex GMT-Master II?

Pull the crown to the last position and set the minute hand and 24-hour hand to home time, with the bezel triangle at 12. This also moves the hour hand. Then push the crown in one notch and jump the hour hand to local time. The date follows the local hour hand. Screw the crown down when you finish.

Is the Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi discontinued?

Yes. The steel 126710BLRO and the white gold 126719BLRO left the Rolex catalogue around Watches and Wonders in April 2026, so you will now find them pre-owned only.

Which Rolex GMT-Master II should I buy?

It depends on how you wear it. The 126710BLNR Batman and the 126710GRNR are easy everyday steel choices. The 126720VTNR suits right-wrist wearers. The Pepsi is now a pre-owned buy, and the Root Beer adds Everose gold.

Should I choose the Jubilee or Oyster bracelet?

Both have an Oysterlock clasp and Easylink extension, so comfort is similar. The three-link Oyster looks sportier and the five-link Jubilee looks dressier. Check the reference suffix on any listing so you know which bracelet comes with the watch.

Can you swim with a Rolex GMT-Master II?

Yes. Rolex rates it waterproof to 100 metres, or 330 feet, with the crown screwed down. Never unscrew the crown in water, and rinse the watch in fresh water after a swim in the sea.

Sources

• Rolex (US): GMT-Master II 126729VTNR in white gold, read October 26, 2026
• Rolex GMT-Master II user guide (PDF)
• Monochrome: The left-handed GMT-Master II 126720VTNR
• Monochrome: 126720VTNR Destro review
• Monochrome: Introducing the 126710GRNR
• Revolution: New Rolex for 2022, left-hand GMT-Master II
• aBlogtoWatch: Hands-on with the GMT-Master II 126729VTNR
• aBlogtoWatch: GMT-Master II Root Beer in Rolesor and Everose for 2018
• Sotheby's: A closer look at the Rolex Batman
• Sotheby's: The Rolex GMT-Master, a complete collector's guide
• Sotheby's: The Rolex Pepsi, the key references
• Boss Hunting: Rolex at Watches and Wonders 2026
• Man of Many: Rolex 2026 releases and the Pepsi
• Wikipedia: Rolex GMT Master II