The Brilliant Revival of the GMT-Master 2

Looking back on the history of a watch brand that has spanned well over a hundred years, Several key turning points stand out. This time, As we witness the recent popularity of the GMT-Master 2, Which has surpassed the original Submariner, Let us take a look at where this trend originated.

Today’s featured model is commonly known as the Batman. Its official name is GMT-Master 2 Ref. 116710BLNR.

GMT-Master 2 116710BLNR

40mm, Black, Oyster

Success in Creating a Two-Tone Bezel

The year 2013 was a monumental one for the GMT-Master 2 model. For the first time in the brand’s history, It succeeded in expressing two colors on a single ceramic disc. To understand why this is such an achievement, One must look at the ceramic manufacturing process. Of course, You might wonder if it is necessary to know this much.

A binding agent is added to the powdered ceramic mixture, Which is then heated and placed into a mold. It is then fired at extreme temperatures, Up to 1, 500 degrees Celsius, Where the binding agent is removed and the vivid color and gloss emerge. During this process, The oxides in the ceramic react, Changing the color, And the cooling process further enhances the clarity of the colors. According to Rolex, It takes as long as 40 hours to produce a single bezel.

ⓒ Rolex

Why is the Two-Tone Bezel Important?

Why does the two-tone bezel, Which uses two colors on the GMT-Master model, Have more significance than a single color?

This is because the GMT-Master was created to display two time zones. On the two-tone bezel, The dark color on the top represents night, While the light color on the bottom symbolizes day.

Even during the aluminum bezel era, There were three color combinations for the two-tone bezel: Coke (black and red), Pepsi (blue and red), And Root Beer (brown and black).
However, The blue and black combination had never been seen before, So users welcomed it even more. When it was first released, It was even nicknamed ‘Powerade’.

There are several theories as to why the blue and black combination came first. Was it easier to manufacture in ceramic? Was it because it was a beautiful color combination? Was it to break away from the existing color combinations? The intention is still unclear, But Rolex users could predict what would come next. ‘The ceramic bezel Pepsi and Root Beer will return.’ In fact, The ceramic version of the Pepsi was released at Baselworld in 2014, Just a year later, Continuing the popularity of the GMT-Master 2.

GMT-Master 2 126710BLRO

40mm, Black, Oyster

GMT-Master 2 126711CHNR

40mm, Black, Oyster

Design and Specifications

Ref. 116710BLNR basically shares the same specifications as the black bezel Ref. 116710LN released in 2007. It features a Triplock crown, Anti-reflective Cyclops lens, And a larger Maxi dial.
The main differences are that the 24-hour hand (GMT hand) is blue, And the dial font is unified in white, Making the bezel’s brilliance stand out even more.

GMT-Master 2 116710LN

40mm, Black, Oyster

The Popularity of the GMT-Master Led by Batman

From the release of Ref. 116710LN in 2007 until the debut of Ref. 116710BLNR Batman, The popularity of the GMT-Master had been declining for eight years. The GMT-Master, Produced only in black, Lost its identity and users turned away.

When the two-tone bezel Ref. 116710BLNR was released, Users welcomed it with great enthusiasm. In overseas markets where the secondary market was active, Premiums were already forming from 2014, And in Korea, Its popularity gradually increased to the point where you had to be on a waiting list to purchase one.

At the time of its release, No one expected this model, Nicknamed Batman, To become the savior of the GMT-Master. However, Since then, The various new color combinations introduced by the GMT-Master, Such as Pepsi, Root Beer, And the most recent Sprite, Seem to bring great joy to Rolex enthusiasts.

VIVER Index

Ref. 116710BLNR was discontinued in 2019 after a short production run of seven years. The successor model, Ref. 126710BLNR, Now carries on its legacy. In fact, There are no significant differences between the old and new models, So the previous Ref. 116710BLNR still enjoys high demand in the secondary market.
It will become increasingly difficult to find well-maintained pieces in the future, But given the symbolic value of Ref. 116710BLNR, It will surely continue to be talked about for years to come. It remains a model worth keeping an eye on.

GMT-Master 2 126710BLNR

40mm, Black, Oyster

GMT-Master 2 126710BLNR

40mm, Black, Jubilee