The Rolex GMT Master II - A classic timepiece that is perfect for the world traveler!

The first waterproof watch, the first self-winding watch, the first-ever watch with date function, all have one name in common - Rolex. And when it came to the world time-telling GMT, Rolex struck gold again, literally and figuratively with its GMT-Master that was launched in 1955.

Initially envisioned as an aid for navigation for airline pilots who spend most of their time crisscrossing across the world, the GMT Master II has won hearts world over, especially of frequent travelers. 

With an exceptional design, that shows the time in two different time zones (three if you consider the green hand) at the same time, during long-haul flights between continents, the GMT‑Master II has come to be recognized for not only its appearance but also its rugged robustness. 

The GMT-Master has been named after the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) that is measured at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London and is known to be one of the most popular luxury watches with the GMT functionality.  Even the newer models like the "Batman" which has a blue and black bezel are fast becoming investments that are highly coveted. 

The epic story of the GMT-Master has been passed on to the GMT-Master II.  Although available together for a good 20 years, Rolex has since stopped producing the GMT-Master from the turn of the millennium. Considered to be one of Rolex's most highly coveted collector's watches, along with the Daytona and the Submariner, the GMT-Master II can be easily identified because of its rotating 24-hour bezel, which is also bidirectional and comes with an extra hand. This extra hand completes a rotation every 24 hours, making the dial super interesting. 

There is another hand that displays the second time zone, with the help of the 24 hr hand on the bezel. There are also other models that come with a two-color toned bezel, and where it signifies whether it is day or night in the second time zone. While in this case, the lighter half of the bezel (blue or red) symbolizes the day and the darker half (black or blue) symbolizes the night.

The Rolex GMT Master II is available in a myriad of different versions. You have the choice of the bezel in black, black/blue, or red/blue. The GMT Master II is fondly referred to as “Pepsi” because of the Pepsi colors. You can also choose the "Rolex Coke" watch is just as popular as the "Pepsi" and is named so because of its black/red bezel.

Top 3 reasons to buy a Rolex GMT II

• Displays up to three time zones: Yes, you read that right, the Rolex GMT Master II can display up to three time zones (one using the main hands, the other time zone using the 24hrs green hand). If you are looking to read the third time-zone, you can rotate the bezel by how many hours forwards or behind GMT, your third time zone is! 
• Features a Cerachrom bezel: The Rolex GMT Master II comes with a scratch-resistant Cerachrom ceramic bezel that has proven to last even with regular day-to-day wear. 

• Consistent and classic lines of symmetry:  Easily one of the most recognized watches in the luxury watch market, the Rolex GMT sticks to the once-classic lines of symmetry and has hardly changed over the years, making it a collector’s piece. 

Price:

While you can buy purchase up-to-date stainless steel, mint-condition Rolex GMT-Master II mint condition for about around $9,200, you can own a pre-owned model for about $8000. 

For fans who are interested in owning vintage watches, the Rolex GMT-Master II (ref 16760) also known as the “Fat Lady” because of its robust caliber, is available for about $9800. The reason why this model costlier than the others is because the “Fat Lady” was the first GMT Master II to be produced, but was only in production for about five years (1983-1988) The rarity of the model adds to the price 

Movement: 

The GMT Master II is powered by the caliber 3186, which has a rotor that winds the spring bidirectionally. This movement was completely developed and manufactured in house by Rolex. This exceptional movement is located behind a screw-down case back, like all the other Rolex sports watches. The movement which was constructed with all the best Rolex know-how vibrates at 28,800 alternations per hour!

Featuring red minute wheels, a perfectly built balance bridge, and also a free-sprung blue Parachrom hairspring, this movement is an absolute delight to watch. 

Celebrity Usage:

Actors, heads of state, and business leaders recognize and appreciate its functionality, reliability, and robustness. As we already spoke about before, Rolex GMT-Master II  has been one of Rolex’s most popular watch collections ever since it was conceptualized almost seven decades ago. The Rolex GMT-Master watch has long been seen on famous wrists. We have seen celebrities like Trevor Noah, who owns an Everose Gold GMT Master II, sport it around quite often, and Ellen Degeneres swears by her stainless steel version, too. Did you know Sly Stallone has a gem-set s GMT-Master II? 

In a nutshell: 

Although the GMT Master II was originally designed for professionals, the brilliant combination of instantly recognized aesthetics and exceptional functionality has caught the eye of world travelers and the common man alike. 

The best part about the GMT Master II is its exceptional and elegant yet sporty design, that has always remained consistent through the years, the use of luxury materials like yellow and white gold also has raised the value of certain models by leaps and bounds. Like all Rolex watches, the GMT Master too has been built to maintain its value. The best part about this watch is that there are rare versions (like the Fat Lady ) that usually tend to be of much more value than their original prices making it a proper solid investment.

If you’re looking to buy a Rolex GMT Master II or want to take a closer look at one, look no further! We are located in the center of the busy shopping and tourist district of Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong, and our core expertise is the sale of new and used watches belonging to some of the best Swiss brands, including Rolex. 

We at the Phoenix Watch Company have been specialists in the sales of luxury watches for more than two decades, and would love to have you over for a visit!