When the calendars showed the year 1954, the release of the Rolex GMT-Master model, produced in cooperation with Pan-American Airlines, marked the birth of a legend in the world of watchmaking. Today, the GMT-Master 2 model, nicknamed Pepsi, which is considered one of the most iconic designs of all time, especially with its blue-red bezel, stands before Horobox readers with three different versions.
Rolex GMT-Master 16710, 126710, and 126719 reference models are all offered to watch enthusiasts with the abbreviation BLRO. BLeu and ROuge, that is, the Pepsi nickname, which is considered suitable by the fans for the watches with blue and red color codes, comes from here.
The Rolex GMT-Master model, developed in cooperation with Pan-American Airlines, was designed for pilots who travel frequently and switch between different time zones regularly. Thanks to the extra hand (GMT hand) added to the watch and the bidirectional bezel with a 24-hour scale, it is possible to monitor three different time zones at the same time. With the blue and red colored insert, the day-night period for different time zones is easily indicated.
The Rolex GMT-Master is also known as the model that introduced the GMT complication to the world of watchmaking. Naturally, it has a special place and a well-deserved reputation among watch lovers. I must honestly say that even though the three different watches in front of me are produced based on the same values, they manage to create completely different feelings, and even the word admiration is insufficient to describe them.
The 16710BLRO model is more like the end of an era. The dial, which comes in a 40mm diameter stainless steel case with elegant proportions, features delicate details. Let's not forget that the Super Case with thicker lugs and crown guards coincides with the transition to the Maxi Dial, with more substantial indexes and hands, in terms of the release date. Consequently, 16710 appears as a masterpiece, symbolizing the era between 1954 and early 2000s. The most significant difference compared to the modern successors of the 16710 is in the bezel. The blue-red insert on the stainless steel bezel is aluminum. Naturally, the color tones are quite different from modern, ceramic bezel versions. The colors of the bezel, which exhibits a more metallic and vibrant look, give the watch a characteristic presence by fading over time due to UV exposure.
Frankly, the bracelet and especially the clasp details in the old generation are quite outdated compared to current standards. The hollow center links and the stamped sheet metal clasp make the watch lighter, but they also eliminate the solid feel on the wrist. The 16710 model in the Horobox inventory, bearing the same reference number, differs from the models by a detail that may look slight on paper but quite important in reality, the movement. Our watch, which was produced within the transition period from the caliber 3185 to the new generation caliber 3186, operates with the new generation movement rarely found on the market.
I am sure that the release of the 126710BLRO model is known to many watch enthusiasts as one of the most exciting developments in the history of horology. Although the introduction of the new generation GMT-Master II model took place in 2007, we had to wait 11 years for the 126710 BLRO model. One of the main reasons for this delay was the difficulty of transferring blue and red colors together to the ceramic bezel. The ceramic bezels by Rolex are produced in one piece under high temperature and pressure. Consequently, manufacturing a bi-color bezel brings its own challenges in terms of engineering. Rolex's solution on the issue is as follows; The bezel is produced in red in the first stage. In the later stages of the process, the chemical applied to half of the bezel creates a blueish tone in the upper layer. It is also a pleasure to watch the complete red bezel that emerges under UV light.
One of the most striking details of the 126719BLRO model is the bracelet. Personally, the Jubilee bracelet, which has a much more elegant and gentle appearance, is the perfect choice for those who find it hard to adopt the Oyster's sporty and essential look. I have to admit that the Jubilee bracelet offers more than its Oyster variant when it comes to comfort. 126710 differs from 116710 by the movement as well. Beating by Caliber 3285, one of the brand's new generation movements, the model continues to set industry standards with its increased power reserve and excellent accuracy values. Ref. 126710BLRO, the only option for those who want to experience the charm of the blue-red bezel with the convenience of a steel case and a bracelet, is a special timepiece that became a modern classic.
But there is a more special one! The 126719BLRO. The watch that saved my refined tastes upon having the opportunity to reach, try and use different models of many brands over time and my watch hobby, which is now at the point of saturation, from the monotony and gives me those particular feelings that are about to be forgotten. The 126719BLRO is a unique model not only for me but also for its manufacturer, Rolex. I have to put the watch on your wrist to explain what you will feel about the 40mm diameter case made of 18K white gold. Otherwise, looking at the photos and saying "it looks like steel" would be unfair to both the watch and me. It is not easy to describe the feeling of 18K white gold alloy's weight and solidness created by superior Rolex engineering. For the meteor dial, which makes the main difference, words are truly insufficient. Just think about it; from the depths of space, millions of kilometers away, and after traveling for hundreds of thousands of years, a piece of rock falls to the earth and, it becomes the dial on your watch by being shaped meticulously. Breathtaking. Each 126719BLRO dial produced by Rolex differs by characteristic details. Therefore, each 126719BLRO can be called a unique piece. On the other hand, the new generation movement Caliber 3285, the Oyster bracelet (though made of 18K white gold) that we are familiar with from the other models by the brand, and the blue-red bezel are well-known features.
Regardless of its version, if you own a watchmaking legend like the Rolex GMT-Master, you can be sure that you wear more than a marvel of engineering on your wrist. Even better, none of the newly produced versions make the previous one old and unwanted. It is also a matter of curiosity what surprises Rolex will bring us for both the GMT-Master II and the other models in the coming years, as the brand continues to advance the standard of excellence with its design and technical details updated over the years.
