The Rolex GMT-Master II is the watch most people picture when they think of a travel watch: a two-color bezel, a fourth hand pointing to a second time zone, and a nickname for almost every color. "Pepsi", "Batman", "Sprite", "Root Beer": buyers search for these names more often than for the reference numbers.
This guide explains how the GMT-Master II works, which reference carries which nickname, how the generations differ, and what to check before you buy one, new, unworn or pre-owned.
By the numbers: Morgan Stanley and LuxeConsult estimate Rolex's 2023 sales at CHF 10.1 billion, a retail market share of just over 30% and more than the next five luxury watch brands combined. Rolex does not publish its own figures, so these are analysts' estimates (swissinfo.ch, 14 March 2024).
From Pan Am cockpits to the GMT-Master II
Rolex introduced the GMT-Master in 1955, developed with Pan American World Airways for pilots on long-haul flights who needed to follow two time zones at once. It added a 24-hour hand and a rotating bezel marked with 24 hours, split into day and night colors: red and blue, the combination later nicknamed "Pepsi".
The GMT-Master II followed in the early 1980s. Its key improvement: the hour hand can be set on its own, in one-hour jumps, without stopping the watch. That makes changing time zones on arrival a matter of seconds, while the 24-hour hand keeps showing home time.
How the GMT function works
A GMT-Master II can show up to three time zones:
- Local time: the normal hour and minute hands. When you land, pull the crown to the first position and move the hour hand forward or back in one-hour jumps. The date follows.
- Home time: the 24-hour hand, read against the 24-hour scale on the bezel. It is not touched when you change the local hour.
- A third time zone: turn the bezel. Each click moves it one hour, so the 24-hour hand now reads a third zone on the bezel.
The two colors of the bezel show at a glance whether it is day or night in the second time zone.
Every nickname, by reference
| Nickname | Bezel colors | Main references | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepsi | Blue and red | 126710BLRO (steel), 116719BLRO (white gold), 16710 (aluminum insert) | The original color scheme of 1955 |
| Batman | Blue and black | 116710BLNR; 126710BLNR on the Oyster bracelet | 116710BLNR introduced the first two-color ceramic bezel |
| Batgirl | Blue and black | 126710BLNR on the Jubilee bracelet | Same watch as the Batman, different bracelet |
| Root Beer | Brown and black | 126711CHNR (Everose Rolesor), 126715CHNR (Everose gold) | Revives a 1970s color scheme |
| Sprite | Green and black | 126720VTNR | Crown and date on the left, for left-wrist-right-hand wearers |
| Bruce Wayne | Gray and black | 126710GRNR | One of the most recent color schemes |
| Coke | Red and black | 16710 | Aluminum insert, an earlier generation |
Two buyers can say "Batman" and mean slightly different watches: the 126710BLNR is called the Batman on the Oyster bracelet and the Batgirl on the Jubilee. On our site, the title and the specifications name the bracelet.
The generations at a glance
- 16710 (aluminum insert): the long-running model of the 1990s and 2000s, with aluminum bezel inserts in Pepsi, Coke or black. The colors fade with time, which many collectors like.
- 116710 series (ceramic, 40 mm): the first GMT-Master II with a ceramic (Cerachrom) bezel insert, which does not fade, and a thicker, more modern case. The 116710BLNR "Batman" brought the first blue and black ceramic bezel.
- 126710 series (current): a new movement with a longer power reserve of about 70 hours, the return of the Jubilee bracelet on steel models, and most of the nicknames people search for today.
Specifications change between generations, so always check the exact reference on the listing: it is the most reliable way to know which watch you are buying.
Oyster or Jubilee bracelet?
The Oyster bracelet has three flat, wide links: sporty and robust. The Jubilee has five smaller links: dressier and more supple on the wrist. On current steel models both are offered on some references, so look at the photos and the Bracelet row in the specifications. Bracelet length matters too: extra links are part of the set and help resale.
What to check before you buy
- The full reference: it tells you the generation, the bezel colors and the case metal. Check it against the warranty card.
- Bezel insert: ceramic does not fade but can chip if knocked hard; an aluminum insert on a 16710 should match the age of the watch.
- Box, papers and date: the warranty card shows when the watch was sold. Our listings state whether the box and papers are included.
- Bracelet stretch and clasp: look at the photos and ask us for close-ups of the clasp.
- Service history: for older references, ask when the watch was last serviced.
Every watch we sell is checked by our specialist before it ships. If you want more photos or a video of a specific GMT-Master II, message us on WhatsApp. Our guide on how to read Rolex reference numbers helps you decode any listing.
Shop the Rolex GMT-Master II, compare it with the Rolex Submariner, or see all Rolex watches.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Rolex GMT-Master II called the Pepsi?
Because of its blue and red bezel, the colors of the Pepsi logo. The nickname comes from collectors, not from Rolex.
What is the difference between the Batman and the Batgirl?
They are the same reference, 126710BLNR, with a blue and black bezel. The Batman is on the Oyster bracelet, the Batgirl on the Jubilee bracelet.
Why is the Sprite's crown on the left?
The 126720VTNR has its crown and date on the left side of the case, which is comfortable for people who wear their watch on the right wrist.
What is the difference between the GMT-Master and the GMT-Master II?
On the GMT-Master II the hour hand can be set independently in one-hour jumps, so you can change the local time without stopping the watch or losing home time on the 24-hour hand.
Is the Rolex GMT-Master II a good first Rolex?
Yes, if you travel or like a sporty watch with color. It wears like a Submariner but with a more versatile bezel and the choice of a Jubilee bracelet.
