Rolex GMT Master II: Prices, Materials, Model Comparison
If you think of high-quality watches, you simply cannot ignore the traditional company Rolex. But which models are actually available, and how do they differ from each other? Which materials are used for production and, above all, how much does a Rolex watch cost? We have taken a closer look at the most famous Rolex models and will introduce them to you. In this case: the Rolex GMT Master II.
GMT – Master II: “The cosmopolitan wristwatch”
The GMT Master, introduced in 1955 – originally designed as a navigation aid for pilots who travel around the world on business – was designed to display the time in two different time zones simultaneously.
The GMT-Master II, in the tradition of the original model, was first presented in 1982 and is aimed at a wider audience. Featuring a new movement that makes it more comfortable to use, as well as improved functionality, robustness and striking aesthetics, this watch is becoming increasingly popular with many world travelers.
The GMT-Master: a watch legend
The Oyster Perpetual GMT Master was introduced in 1955, at a time when intercontinental air travel was experiencing rapid development.
When the Concorde, the first supersonic passenger aircraft, made its final test flights in the 1960s, Rolex proudly announced that both the British and French test pilots were wearing a GMT-Master watch. This consolidated the status of the GMT-Master.
The original model from 1955: The classic in bicolor
In the original 1955 model, the 24-hour dial of the bezel was divided into two halves – one, red, corresponding to the daytime hours and the other, blue, to the night hours. In the course of time, the number disc appeared in different color combinations. In the beginning it was made of Plexiglas. In 1959 it was replaced by a disc made of anodized aluminum. In 2005 the number plate made of high-tech ceramic was introduced.
Rolex GMT-Master II: Prices
As with all Rolex models, the choice of material is crucial. Many combinations of colors and materials are possible. Here are some of the Rolex GMT-Master II watches listed with prices. Usually the price for a new GMT-Master II is around 8.000-35.000€.
- GMT-Master II Oyster stainless steel (Oystersteel): 8.800€
- GMT-Master II Oyster bracelet, black dial, Everose gold: 35.000€
- GMT-Master II Oyster white gold, meteorite dial: 36.500€
Design: Possible combinations and technical features
Display: Two time zones
On the road, travelers keep track of two time zones at the same time. With its traditional hour, minute and second hands, its 24-hour triangular hand and the Cerachrom 24-hour graduated Cerachrom dial, the GMT Master II offers a simultaneous overview of local time and reference time or local time and time in another time zone.
An additional hand
In addition to the traditional hour, minute and second hands, the GMT Master II features an additional hand with an arrow-shaped tip that rotates once around the dial in 24 hours, and a bidirectional bezel with 24-hour gradation. A strikingly coloured 24-hour hand indicates the reference time, which can be read on the bezel’s graduation and corresponds to the time in the first time zone (for example, the place of residence).
Feature: Two-color bezel
With its legendary two-tone bezel, the GMT-Master II is unmistakable. This bi-directional bezel features a 24-hour Cerachrom dial with a 24-hour graduation, made of ultra-hard ceramic using a process developed by Rolex. It consists of a single part, is extremely scratch-resistant, has excellent corrosion resistance and is highly color-fast.
Dial
The two-colored Cerachrom dial is divided into two halves: one corresponds to the daytime hours, the other to the night hours. Rolex developed an exclusive, patented process to produce the Cerachrom dial in red and blue – the original colors of the GMT masters.
The numerals and graduations are injected into the ceramic and then coated with a 1 micron layer of gold or platinum using a PVD (physical vapour deposition) process. During the final polishing process, the metal layer is removed from the surface of the dial and the ceramic shines in its full brilliance.
Watch movement caliber 3285
Caliber 3285 is a new generation movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. This mechanical manufacture movement with automatic self-winding mechanism is a technical masterpiece and features fundamental advances in precision, ease of use and reliability, as well as shock resistance and insensitivity to magnetic fields. Caliber 3285 has a power reserve of approximately 70 hours.
Caliber 3285 allows travelers to easily adjust their local time using the winding crown without stopping the watch or moving the 24-hour hand. This allows them to read their local time and their “home” time at the same time. The date change is linked to the traditional hour hand (local time).
Bracelet to choose from
The GMT Master II 18K gold versions are equipped with the three-row Oyster strap, while the stainless steel Oystersteel versions are available with a five-row Jubilee strap. The GMT-Master II will be available for the first time in 2019 in a version that combines the Jubilee band, stainless steel Oystersteel, and a Cerachrom blue and black ceramic Cerachrome dial.
The Oyster and Jubilee bracelets also feature a Rolex-designed Oysterlock safety clasp that prevents accidental opening. They are also equipped with the Easylink system, which allows the bracelet to be extended by approximately 5 mm to ensure optimum comfort.
Special Edition: Meteorite dial
Introduced in 2019, the GMT-Master II in 18-carat white gold features a meteorite dial for the first time. This dial is made from an extremely rare piece of an iron meteorite that has travelled billions of kilometers before reaching the earth. On its journey through the solar system, the metals that form the meteorite – essentially iron and nickel – gradually crystallize and form metallic structures. These natural patterns make each Rolex meteorite dial unique.