Rolex GMT-Master II "Pepsi"
Designed to show the time in two different time zones simultaneously, the GMT-Master, launched in 1955, was originally developed as a navigation instrument for professionals criss-crossing the globe.
Heir to the original model, the GMT-Master II was unveiled in 1982, with a new movement ensuring ease of use. Its combination of peerless functionality, robustness and instantly recognisable aesthetics has attracted a wider audience of world travellers.
The emblematic two-colour bezel makes the GMT-Master II instantly recognisable. This bidirectional rotatable bezel is fitted with a 24-hour graduated Cerachrom insert manufactured from extremely hard ceramic, created thanks to a pioneering process developed by Rolex. Made in a single piece, it is virtually scratch-proof, offers excellent anti-corrosion properties and keeps its vibrant colours over time.
The two-colour Cerachrom insert is divided in two halves: one for daytime hours and the other for night-time. Rolex developed an exclusive technique to create the Cerachrom insert in red and blue – the GMT-Master’s original colours. The sharp, clear demarcation between the two colours is the result of great delicacy and precision during different stages of the colouring process.
The numerals and graduations are moulded in the ceramic and then coated in a one-micron-thick layer of gold or platinum via PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition). A final polish removes the metal from the rest of the bezel’s surface to achieve a smooth and lustrous finish.
When abroad, travellers can read the time in two time zones simultaneously. With traditional hour, minute and seconds hands, a triple-tipped 24-hour hand and a bi-directional rotating bezel with 24-hour graduated Cerachrom insert, the GMT-Master II can display either the local time and the reference time, or the local time and that of an alternative time zone.
The GMT-Master II houses calibre 3285, a movement that allows travellers to easily adjust their local time via the winding crown, without stopping the watch or affecting the 24-hour hand. As a result, people can simultaneously read their local time as well as the time “back home”. The date change is linked to the traditional hour hand.