Rolex GMT-Master “Root Beer” Ultimate Buying Guide

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So, eventually here, the Rolesor Root Beer GMT-Master is available with either an Oyster strap or a Jubilee strap. Today, these first iterations of the “Root Beer” GMT-Master are harder to find. While the GMT-Master ref. 1675 had a fairly long production run, the Ref. 1675/3 was produced for a shorter period of time and has always been available in more limited numbers. In addition, these replica luxury watches have not been manufactured for decades and some examples have been lost to history. Root Beer GMTs have also risen significantly in price in recent years, and while they still haven’t reached the level of certain other vintage Rolex models, they will likely only become more expensive and harder to find in the coming years.

In the history of the GMT-Master, it is important to note that in the mid-1980s Rolex introduced the first ever GMT-Master II. This upgraded GMT watch featured an improved new GMT movement with independently adjustable 12-hour and 24-hour hands, pushing the brand’s iconic pilot’s watch into a whole new era. During the first generation of the GMT-Master II, Rolex also introduced a new two-tone bezel insert, a black and red “Coke” bezel.

When Rolex released its updated Roots class bezel in 2018, it really reinvigorated collectors’ admiration for this unique timepiece. For starters, we hadn’t seen a Root Beer GMT watch in over a decade, and while it was never the most popular GMT model among collectors, it was appreciated for its unique aesthetic and marker in the collection. So when Rolex reintroduced the Root Beer bezel in 2018, many were shocked to see its return.

With that in mind, the biggest and most notable upgrade to the bezel is the use of Rolex’s proprietary ceramic material, which the brand calls Cerachrom. take a look at some of the earlier Root Beer bezels made from aluminum and you can see that many have suffered from scratches and discoloration over the years. By using this new, incredibly durable and fade-resistant ceramic material for the bezel, Rolex is able to ensure that these warm colors will last more or less indefinitely. Making a two-tone root beer bezel out of ceramic is also noteworthy because it is incredibly difficult to manufacture. Rolex could have used an all-brown Cerachrom bezel swiss replica rolex watches, so the effort to reintroduce a two-tone bezel but with more modern colors and materials is certainly noteworthy.
The dial has also received a much needed upgrade. Instead of the brown sunburst as before, the dial is glossy black with applied stellar gold markers filled with blue glowing Chromalight luminescence. Of course, there are still the same Mercedes hands, but these are now also made of stellar gold and decorated with Chromalight.