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The story
Rolex developed the GMT-Master in the mid-1950s with Pan American World Airways, whose crews needed to read home time and local time at once. The answer was a fourth hand that circles the dial once every 24 hours and a rotating 24-hour bezel; reference 6542 arrived around 1955.
The GMT-Master II of 1983 added an hour hand that can be set independently, so the watch can track three time zones. Cerachrom ceramic bezels followed in 2007 and two-colour ceramic in 2013; today every GMT-Master II uses calibre 3285.
| Years | References | Calibre | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954/55–1959 | 6542 | 1036, 1065, 1066 | Bakelite bezel, replaced with metal from c.1956 |
| 1959–1980 | 1675 | 1565, 1575 | Crown guards; the classic vintage GMT |
| 1981–1988 | 16750 | 3075 | Quickset date |
| 1983–1988 | 16760 (GMT-Master II) | 3085 | 'Fat Lady'; first independent hour hand |
| c.1989–2007 | 16710, 16700 | 3185, 3175 | Aluminium bezels (Pepsi, Coke, black) |
| 2007–2019 | 116710LN, 116710BLNR, 116713LN, 116718LN | 3186 | First Cerachrom ceramic bezel |
| 2018–today | 126710BLRO/BLNR/GRNR, 126711CHNR, 126720VTNR | 3285 | Two-colour ceramic; left-handed 'Sprite' 2022 |
Reading a GMT-Master II reference
The colour of the bezel is written into the reference. 126710BLNR is the current generation (126), GMT-Master II (71), Oystersteel (0) with a blue and black bezel (BLNR). GRNR is grey and black, VTNR green and black on the left-handed ‘destro’ case, and CHNR brown and black on Everose versions.
Earlier generations follow the same pattern: 116710LN is the first ceramic GMT-Master II with a black bezel, 16710 the aluminium-bezel model of the 1990s and 2000s.
Current models and prices
Every GMT-Master II reference Rolex currently lists for India, with the retail price shown on rolex.com/en-in on 8 October 2026, including taxes. Where a reference comes with several dials or bracelets, the range is shown.
| Reference | Model | Case | Calibre | India price, 8 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126710BLNR | GMT-Master II | Oystersteel | 3285 | ₹11,47,000 – ₹11,68,000 |
| 126710GRNR | GMT-Master II | Oystersteel | 3285 | ₹11,47,000 – ₹11,68,000 |
| 126711CHNR | GMT-Master II | Everose Rolesor | 3285 | ₹19,56,000 |
| 126713GRNR | GMT-Master II | Yellow Rolesor | 3285 | ₹19,88,000 |
| 126715CHNR | GMT-Master II | Everose gold | 3285 | ₹51,76,000 – ₹56,05,000 |
| 126718GRNR | GMT-Master II | Yellow gold | 3285 | ₹49,52,000 – ₹53,81,000 |
| 126720VTNR | GMT-Master II | Oystersteel | 3285 | ₹12,00,000 – ₹12,21,000 |
| 126729VTNR | GMT-Master II | White gold | 3285 | ₹53,31,500 |
The calibre
Calibre 3285 drives the GMT-Master II and Explorer II: an automatic GMT movement with an independently adjustable hour hand, about 70 hours of power reserve, Chronergy escapement and blue Parachrom hairspring. The previous ceramic generation used calibre 3186 with about 48 hours.
Materials
Oystersteel, Everose Rolesor, Yellow Rolesor and solid 18 ct yellow, white or Everose gold. Two-colour Cerachrom inserts are made in one piece of ceramic — a technically difficult process Rolex introduced on the GMT-Master II.
- Bezel colour code that matches the bezel on the watch
- A 24-hour hand and bezel that read correctly against each other
- Calibre 3285 in any 1267xx reference
- Papers whose reference and serial match the case
- A bezel insert that does not match the reference letters
- A crown on the left on anything other than a VTNR
- Wrong-generation movement or bracelet
- Aftermarket bezel inserts on vintage pieces
Frequently asked questions
Blue and black bezel (bleu noir). It appears on references such as 126710BLNR.
Yes: local time with the hour hand, a second zone with the 24-hour hand and a third by rotating the bezel.
Calibre 3285, with about 70 hours of power reserve.