Rolex
GMT-Master II
126710BLRO
The Pepsi bezel returns — now in ceramic, on a jubilee bracelet.
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Overview
The Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLRO represents a landmark moment in the lineage of the GMT-Master family, reintroducing the iconic red-and-blue "Pepsi" bicolour bezel in Rolex's proprietary Cerachrom ceramic after a long absence from the steel collection. Housed in a 40 mm Oystersteel case and paired with a black dial, the reference also marked the return of the five-link Jubilee bracelet to the GMT-Master II — a combination not seen on a steel GMT since the 1980s. Powering the watch is the in-house Calibre 3285, one of Rolex's most technically accomplished movements at the time of its introduction.
History
The GMT-Master lineage stretches back to the 1950s, when Rolex developed the original GMT-Master in collaboration with Pan American World Airways as a tool watch for transatlantic flight crews. The red-and-blue bezel colourway had long been associated with the steel GMT-Master, but for a period it was reserved exclusively for the yellow-gold variant. The 126710BLRO, unveiled at Baselworld 2018, resolved that long-standing collector grievance by delivering the Pepsi colours in Cerachrom ceramic on an Oystersteel case — a technical feat made possible by Rolex's mastery of two-colour ceramic sintering. Its pairing with the Jubilee bracelet, itself a nod to vintage references, cemented the watch's status as one of the most anticipated modern Rolex releases in recent memory.
Notable points
- The two-colour red-and-blue Cerachrom bezel insert is produced from a single piece of ceramic, a technically demanding manufacturing process that Rolex developed in-house.
- Calibre 3285 features a Chronergy escapement, a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, and a power reserve of approximately 70 hours.
- The five-link Jubilee bracelet, fitted with the Oysterclasp and Easylink comfort extension, had not appeared on a steel GMT-Master II for several decades before this reference.
- The black lacquer-style dial contrasts sharply with the vivid bicolour bezel, maintaining the functional legibility that defines the GMT-Master line.
- Collector demand at launch significantly outpaced supply, making the 126710BLRO one of the most discussed modern Rolex references among enthusiasts and horological press alike.
