We’re not exaggerating when we say that the Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II is one of the most recognized and popular dual time zone watches ever made. Just like Rolex’s sporty watches, the GMT-Master II is not a watch that you can simply go to a boutique and buy. Due to the overwhelming demand, the waiting list and priority to purchase this watch is par for the course.
Introduced in 1955 as the GMT-Master, the watch first came to prominence when it became the official watch of Pan American World Airways, known as “Pan Am”, the most famous American intercontinental airline of the time. 1982 saw Rolex equip the watch with a new movement that allowed the hour hand to be set independently of the other hands. Since then, the self-proclaimed travel tool has been known as the GMT-Master II.
Over the decades, the GMT-Master II has evolved considerably. Aesthetic changes include new case sizes and materials, and most importantly, starting in 2005, the aluminium bezel was replaced with a bezel with Cerachrom inserts. Inside, today’s GMT-Master II model is equipped with Rolex’s in-house automatic calibre 3285, with a 70-hour power reserve.
The new GMT Master II Ref. 126720 VTNR must be Rolex’s most unusual offering this year – even though the rolex swiss replica watches is fundamentally unchanged in a big way.
This new 40 mm steel watch still has the signature GMT-Master II function, which displays the time in two time zones simultaneously. This is provided by an additional arrow hand that points to the “home” time indicated by the bezel with the 24-hour marker. Meanwhile, the current time (or “local time”) can be easily set in one-hour increments via the crown.
The watch does, however, look noticeably different. This is because the crown, crown protector and date window have been moved to the left. The bezel, meanwhile, comes with a two-tone Cerachrom insert in green and black, the first and only time this colour combination has been seen on a GMT-Master II watch.
While the movement of the crown and date indicator may seem minor, Rolex says that the changes to the movement’s construction also required the brand to make changes to certain precision testing processes for absolute control. This is to ensure that the watch meets the requirements of Rolex’s own Super Chronometer certification, which guarantees -2/+2 seconds per day accuracy, as well as other stringent specifications for robustness, anti-magnetic, shock and water resistance.
I’m not going to lie; this GMT-Master II for lefties – or anyone who likes to wear their watches on their right hand – leaves you genuinely confused (pardon the pun). Aside from looking odd, this watch (from a righty’s perspective) is a bit awkward to set up, considering I’m used to the standard right-set date and crown configuration – especially for a dual-time best replica watches that gets adjusted a lot if you’re using it while travelling. In theory, I could get used to set the time and date with my left hand. But then again, why does this take getting used to?
But you know how Rolex sports models are. The demand for this version will be red – for the very reasons mentioned above. We’re sure you’ve seen many photos on Instagram showing collectors deliberately wearing their GMT-Master II upside down to mimic the look of the new model. To say that no other brand in the world inspires as much enthusiasm and reaction as Rolex is an understatement.
But, back to the big question. Would you buy the new GMT-Master II if you had the chance? We’re talking about a rare approach to an iconic watch made for lefties, featuring a once-only green and black bezel on the face. That’s twice the novelty value for an already coveted collection. If I were a lefty or a wealthy collector – or both – this would be a no-brainer.
