The Rolex GMT-Master comes in two series: the GMT-Master I, which was sold from 1955 to around 1999, and the GMT-Master II, which has been in production since 1982. Learn about the value of past models from their history and lineage, and enjoy the appeal of current models more deeply.
What is the Rolex GMT-Master?
The Rolex GMT-Master, which debuted in 1955, is a special watch that can be considered the original GMT model, and is loved by a wide range of users, from pilots to watch enthusiasts. Let's take a look at the origins of the GMT-Master and its many nicknames.
Appeared as a practical watch for the sky
The 1950s was a time when intercontinental travel by passenger plane developed and travel across multiple time zones became commonplace. The GMT-Master was developed in response to a request from Pan American World Airways in the 50s, the dawn of jet aviation.
The first GMT-Master (Ref. 6542), announced in 1954 and released in 1955, was a pilot's watch equipped with a GMT function, i.e., a second time zone display function.
Prior to this, in 53, the company released the Explorer, inspired by the first manned ascent of Mount Everest, and the Submariner, a diver's watch with water resistance to 100 meters.
The GMT-Master, which appeared as a professional model for the air, following on from its land and sea predecessors, has an illustrious history, having been carried on the test flights of the world's first supersonic passenger aircraft, the Concorde, and also being a favorite of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and Air Force pilots.
Famous models with nicknames of famous characters
The GMT-Master is popular among watch enthusiasts and collectors, and has been given a variety of nicknames based on the color of its bidirectional rotating bezel.
The first GMT Master had a red and blue bezel to distinguish between day and night at a glance, and was nicknamed "Pepsi" because it resembled the PepsiCo logo.
The red and black color scheme is reminiscent of Coca-Cola, so it's called "Coke," while the brown and black or brown and gold colors are for "root beer," another non-alcoholic carbonated drink.
The first GMT-Master II (Ref. 16760), released in 1982, is red and black, but because it is thicker than the GMT-Master I from the same period, it has earned the special nicknames "Fat Lady" or "Sophia Loren," and is highly valued as a rare watch.
In 2013, a new model with a blue-black bezel was released, nicknamed "Batman" due to its dark coloring that is suitable for both day and night.
History and genealogy
The GMT-Master I was introduced in 1955 and went through four generations before ceasing production around 1999. The GMT-Master II was introduced in 1982 and has continued to be sold up to the current fourth generation model. From 1982 to around 1999, it was sold alongside the GMT-Master I.
The popularity soared after the 2007 model change
Since its introduction, the GMT-Master has been popular among pilots and business people who travel frequently abroad, but it has never been as popular as the Explorer or Submariner as a collectible model.
The turning point came in 2007 with the release of the third-generation GMT-Master II (Ref. 116710LN). The Oystersteel case was slightly larger than its predecessor and featured a highly scratch-resistant and UV-resistant Cerachrom bezel.
In addition to using the highly antimagnetic Cal. 3186, the crown has been changed from Twinlock to Triplock for increased robustness, and the bracelet's wearing comfort and luxurious feel have also been improved.
Furthermore, the bezel was now available in monochrome black, and the GMT hand was changed from red to green. The high-quality, practical performance and design were welcomed by many users, and it also gave them an opportunity to rediscover the value of previous models.
GMT-Master I
The first GMT-Master I (Ref. 6542) featured a red and blue bezel, a mirror dial, and no crown guard. When first released, the bezel was made of Plexiglas, but two years later it was changed to aluminum and was produced until around 1959.
The second generation (Ref. 1675), released around 1960, featured a crown guard and the triangle at the tip of the GMT hand was enlarged, just like the current model. It was a long-selling model produced until around 1980.
The third generation (Ref. 16750), released in 1980, was available with a black bezel in addition to the red and blue, and was equipped with the Cal. 3075 movement, which operates at 28,800 vph and has a quick-change date mechanism. Production ended around 1988.
The fourth generation (Ref. 16700), released around 1990, featured a highly scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and the free-sprung Cal. 3175 movement, which improved accuracy, shock resistance, and ease of maintenance. Production ended around 1999.
GMT-Master II
The first GMT-Master II (Ref. 16760, commonly known as the Fat Lady) was equipped with the Cal. 3085, which allowed for independent operation of the hour hand, and in combination with the GMT hand and bezel, it was capable of displaying a third time zone. The bezel was only available in red and black, and it is a rare model that ceased production around 1988.
The second generation (Ref. 16710), released around 1990, was sold until 2007. When first released, it was equipped with the Cal. 3185, which had a double-supported balance cock, but later models were changed to the highly antimagnetic Cal. 3186. Also, until around 1999, the bezel was only available in red and black, but the lineup now includes red, blue, and black, incorporating the colors of the GMT-Master I, which is no longer in production.
The third generation (Ref. 116710LN) was released in 2007. The Ref. 116710BLNR (commonly known as the Batman) was added in 2013, and both were sold until 2019.
The fourth generation (Ref. 126710BLRO) was released in 2018, and the Ref. 126710BLNR was added to the lineup in 2019. These are the current models.
The appeal and usage of the GMT Master
The Rolex GMT-Master has established itself as an iconic GMT model. Let's take a look at its design, functionality, and how to use the GMT function.
Distinctive design and functionality
The GMT-Master is the original GMT model. With a bidirectional rotating bezel that displays 24 hours and a GMT hand that rotates once every 24 hours, this distinctive style has garnered many followers, not only from users but also from other watch manufacturers.
The latest model boasts high magnetic resistance, scratch resistance, weather resistance, shock resistance, and 100m water resistance, as well as precision that exceeds the chronometer standards set by COSC (Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute), making it an attractive choice for its advanced performance and specifications.
The bracelet can be easily extended by 5mm using the Easylink system, and it feels great to wear. From the manufacturing of the movement components to the bezel's material and finishing, it's flawless and can be easily washed with soapy water for easy maintenance.
How to use the GMT-Master II
The GMT-Master II has an independently adjustable hour hand, which not only allows it to display home time (home time) and local time (local time), but also allows it to display a third time zone when combined with a rotating bezel.
The hour, minute, and second hands indicate local time, while the GMT hand (24-hour hand) indicates home time. Furthermore, by rotating the bezel, the time indicated by the GMT hand on the rotating bezel is the third time zone.
Pulling the crown out two notches will adjust the local time and home time simultaneously, while pulling it out one notch will adjust only the local time.
For example, if you start from Japan time and pull the crown back one notch to rewind nine hours, the local time will be London time. In this state, if you advance the reference time on the rotating bezel by 14 hours, the time on the bezel indicated by the GMT hand will become New York time.
The difference between the GMT-Master I and II
From the second generation (Ref. 1675) onwards, which was equipped with a crown guard, the GMT-Master I does not look very different from the GMT-Master II in appearance. In particular, it would be difficult to distinguish the later GMT-Master I from the GMT-Master II if the bezel color was the same.
In fact, the name GMT-Master II was created to distinguish between models with an independently adjustable hour hand, and the biggest difference between it and the GMT-Master I is the GMT function.
The GMT-Master I does not have an independent hour hand adjustment function, so when setting the time, local time and home time are linked. To adjust a second time zone, the bezel must be rotated by a factor of 10. This means that a third time zone cannot be displayed.
This operation can also be done with the GMT-Master II by pulling the crown out two notches. Think of the GMT-Master II as an enhanced version of the GMT model.
