This is the news we’ve all been waiting for. Rolex has finally brought the vaunted “Pepsi” bezel back to the GMT in steel. The last GMT Master II to feature a red/blue bezel in steel, the 16710, went out of production in 2007, and when Rolex re-introduced the famous colorway in 2014, it was available only in white gold. Being perhaps the most iconic colorway to have come out of the Crown, it’s safe to say there’s been a fair bit of demand to see it return to steel. If you’re not sure what a GMT is, read this first, then come back.
The newest GMT, Ref. 126710 BLRO (BLueROuge) features all the bells and whistles we’ve seen on steel GMTs of late, including a Cerachrome bezel, bi-directional rotating bezel with 24-hour, night/day indication, and a Rolex branded rehaut. Unlike GMTs we’ve seen in recent years, this one comes on a Jubilee bracelet, something we haven’t seen on a GMT in a very long time.
Also new with this GMT is what’s under the hood. Rolex is using their new caliber 3285, replacing the older 3186. The new movement means a big bump in power reserve, which is now 70 hours compared to the older models 48. This is, presumably, the tip of the iceberg, as Rolex has no less than 10 new patents on the new caliber.
If recent years are anything to go by, expect this one to be a tough find at dealers, and plan on paying a hefty premium when shopping the resell market. The good news, since this is in steel, is the MSRP sitting at $9,250. Call your local AD now if you want one, and if you haven’t already done that, be prepared to wait. In the meantime, shop our GMT collection right here.
Update: Get your Bids in now on this watch right here.
