GMT-Master II
Two time zones, one icon
Originally developed for the pilots of Pan American World Airways, the GMT-Master is today the symbol of international travel — and with its two-tone bezels, the most playful tool watch in Rolex's line-up.
The evolution of the GMT-Master II
In the early 1950s, Pan Am needed a watch that would let cockpit crews read local time and reference time at once. Rolex answered in 1955 with the Ref. 6542: an additional 24-hour hand and a rotating 24-hour bezel.
The two-tone bezel in red and blue — later nicknamed Pepsi — distinguished day from night. It remains the defining feature of the line to this day. Variants in brown and gold, black and red, or black and blue followed.
In 1982 the GMT-Master II appeared with an independently adjustable hour hand. This allowed local time to be set in jumps without losing the reference time — the decisive functional improvement.
In 2013 Rolex achieved the previously impossible two-tone ceramic bezel in blue and black, followed in 2014 by red and blue. Since 2018 the Pepsi variant has also been available in steel.
- Case
- Oyster, 40 mm
- Bezel
- 24-hour scale, bidirectional, Cerachrom
- Function
- Second time zone, independent hour hand
- Water resistance
- 100 metres
- Bracelet
- Oyster or Jubilee
- Movement
- Calibre 3285 with Chronergy escapement
Key reference numbers at a glance
What to look for when buying
- 01
The colourway drives the market more strongly here than on any other Rolex. Pepsi and Batman consistently trade above list price.
- 02
On vintage references, faded aluminium bezels are a value factor in their own right. Evenly bleached 'faded' inserts are highly sought after.
- 03
Check whether the bezel insert matches the production year. Later-replaced inserts are very common on older references.
- 04
The Jubilee bracelet typically trades slightly above the Oyster bracelet in price, though it is subject to greater swings in demand.
Rolex GMT-Master II at Predeluxe
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