Introduction
The GMT-Master was developed during the formative years of international jet travel, giving pilots a practical means of reading a second time zone through a dedicated 24-hour hand and rotating bezel. The red and blue bezel introduced with the original ref. 6542 became one of Rolex's most recognisable designs, surviving successive generations of the GMT-Master even as aluminium inserts gave way to ceramic and the movement evolved from a fixed relationship between the hour hands to the independently adjustable local-hour display of the GMT-Master II.
Introduced in 2018, the ref. 126710BLRO returned the red and blue “Pepsi” bezel to a stainless steel Rolex GMT for the first time in the ceramic era. Its 40mm Oystersteel case surrounds a bidirectional red and blue Cerachrom bezel, while the black dial is paired with a red 24-hour hand. Inside is the automatic calibre 3285, allowing the conventional hour hand to be adjusted independently without stopping the movement and providing approximately 70 hours of power reserve. Originally launched exclusively on the Jubilee bracelet, the 126710BLRO successfully combines one of the most recognisable configurations in Rolex history with the construction and mechanics of the modern GMT-Master II.
Loupe This Scorecard
Grade
M 9
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Box, warranty and hangtag
Est. value range
$15,000 – $20,000
The Details
Brand
Rolex
Dimensions
40mm
Model
GMT-Master II
Movement
Automatic Rolex calibre 3285
Reference
126710BLRO
Bracelet
Stainless steel Jubilee bracelet
Year
2018
Condition
Near mint
Material
Stainless steel
Included
Box, warranty and hangtag
Dial Color
Black
THE BEZEL
The defining feature of the ref. 126710BLRO is its bidirectional red and blue Cerachrom bezel, a modern interpretation of the colour combination associated with the GMT-Master since the ref. 6542. Its moulded 24-hour graduations are coated with platinum, while the red GMT hand provides a direct visual connection between bezel and dial.
THE CONSTRUCTION
The 40mm stainless steel Oyster case combines a screw-down Triplock crown with a bidirectional ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal incorporating Rolex's Cyclops magnifier over the date. The five-link Jubilee bracelet provides a deliberate contrast to the functional Oyster case, connecting this modern professional Rolex with the bracelet style offered on earlier generations of the GMT-Master.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
Watch is in overall near-mint condition. The stainless steel case shows light signs of careful wear, with some light surface marks and a small scuff to the edge of the non-crown side of the case. The case back shows some small surface marks. The bezel and insert are in near-mint condition. The dial and hands are like new. The Jubilee bracelet shows only very minor surface marks. The bracelet is fitted with 18 links, 6 of which are removable, and fits approximately a 7¾” wrist. Comes with inner and outer boxes, warranty card, and hangtag.
Our Perspective
The significance of the 126710BLRO lies less in reinventing the GMT-Master than in bringing together several of its most recognisable elements. The steel case, Jubilee bracelet and red and blue bezel deliberately evoke earlier generations, while the ceramic construction and calibre 3285 make it thoroughly contemporary. For a design that has evolved continuously since the 1950s, the 126710BLRO remains remarkably faithful to the visual identity that made the GMT-Master distinctive in the first place.
Eric Ku
Co-founder
