Rolex GMT Master II

Street Kings. In the new movie, Street Kings, Keanu Reeves is seen sporting a Rolex GMT Master. This has brought a fair amount of interest in this watch.

It all started with Pan Am. Pan Am asked Rolex to develop a watch which allow pilots to keep track of time in two locations. Pan Am's team was led by Fredrick Libby, and Rolex's team was led Rene P. Jeanneret. The team came up with the idea of a watch with an additional independent hour hand revolving just once every 24 hours and a rotatable bezel with 24 one-hour markers. The main hour hand rotating one every 12 hours would be read in conjunction with the 12 hour markers on the dial, while the second hour hand, rotating once every 24 hours would be read in conjunction with the 24 hour markers in the bezel. The bezel could be rotated to quickly change the time zone of the 24 hour hand. Thus, 1955 saw the birth of the Rolex GMT Master.

The first GMT Master was based on a Rolex "Turn-O-Graph" with a different bezel and the movement normally fitted to Turn-O-Graphs had an additional 24 hour driving wheel and a calendar disk.  This 24 hour hand moved at 1/2 the speed of the regular hour hand and was read in conjunction with the rotating bezel. Rotating the bezel would allow you to keep track of a second time zone. One of these watches was issued to each Pilot, First Officer and Navigator in Pan Am.

The original model of the GMT Master (model 6542) was produced only until 1959. In 1960 a new model (model 1675) replaced the old GMT Master. It had a movement wand also had a brighter bezel insert with protective crown. The new watch looked more like a Rolex Submariner.

The model 1675 GMT Master was replaced with two new models, the model 16700 GMT Master and the model 16710 GMT Master II. The model 16710 GMT Master II used a new movement which allowed the 24-hour hand to be move independently of the 12-hour hand. The 24-hour hand could be adjusted forwards and backwards at one hour intervals. The current model GMT Master II is the 116710, which features the new "maxi" dial with larger hands and markers, ceramic bezel, polished middle links on the bracelet, a new clasp and the newer 3186 movement.


Specifications. The GMT Master II is a 40mm watch powered by the Calibre 3186 movement which produces 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). The date is displayed under the cyclops (2.5x) magnification lens) at the 3 o'clock position. The date function is synchronized to the 12-hour hand.

The watch is water resistant to 100 meters. It comes is a variety of models, from one with a basic all black bezel, now made in ceramic, to jewel studded bezels. The popular two tone red and blue bezels (affectionately named "Pepsi") and red and black bezels (nicknamed "Coke") are not yet available in the the latest ceramic GMT Master II's.

About Rolex. Rolex SA is a Swiss manufacturer of wristwatches and accessories founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis. Rolex is the largest single luxury watch brand by far, producing over 2000 watches per day. Rolex is the best known and most sought after watch brand in the world.

Other articles. If this watch interest you, you may also want to look at the Rolex Explorer II.