3,096 articles · 115 videos found · page 3 of 108
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Compare the Vaer G2 Meridian GMT and Imperial Oceanguard GMT as affordable Rolex GMT-Master II alternatives, with hands-on notes on wearability, movements, value, and daily use.
Fratello
Another Friday, another list. This week, we decided to dive into the world of regatta timers. Rolex’s big introduction this year during Watches and Wonders was the updated Yacht-Master II. In itself, the updated watch proved to be a huge improvement compared to the previous generation of The Crown’s regatta timer. In both usability and […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 Alternatives To The Rolex Yacht-Master II to read the full article.
Monochrome
There’s always been something slightly paradoxical, if not vague, about the Rolex Yacht-Master II. In the brand‘s catalogue, year after year defined by a slow-paced evolution (quite unpredictable recently, though, as we have learned from experience) and exceptional commercial clarity, this watch has consistently stood apart. A large, complex and highly specific model, it is […]
Time+Tide
With a new movement, a new way of operating the countdown timer, and an updated design, the Rolex Yacht-Master II is a thoroughly new watch.
SJX Watches
In a rather surprising move, Rolex unveiled a revamped and re-engineered version of the Yacht-Master II. Although the original was discontinued in 2024 the Geneva-based brand decided to give the quirky watch another chance at life, while also making the user’s life much easier with a more practical interface enhanced by a more appealing design. Initial thoughts The original Yacht-Master II was undoubtedly a polarising timepiece. People would either love the bulky aesthetics or instantly dismiss it as an unpalatable timepiece. Add to that the complicated Command Ring bezel programming sequence for the regatta timer and the result is a perhaps the quirkiest Rolex creation in modern times. Apparently the timepiece was performing well enough to warrant an encore. The Yacht-Master II was thus updated to include both Rolex’s latest innovations (such as the Chronergy escapement) and a revised user interface. In terms of aesthetics, the 44 mm timepiece is still hard to love at first, but definitely not as excessive as past versions. The biggest change was perhaps the shift to a regular bi-directional 60 minute click bezel, which replaced the cumbersome Command Ring system used previously. The ten-minute countdown markings were moved to a raised flange on the dial. The regatta minutes and seconds hands now turn counterclockwise, a suggestive way of approaching countdown. Although few Yacht-Master II pieces will realistically be used for yacht race timing, the complicati...
Video
The watch industry is finally healing. For years since the pandemic, watch collecting devolved into a toxic, clout-chasing game of who could get an allocation for a Rolex Daytona, Patek Philippe Nautilus, or Audemars...
Monochrome
After an absence from the catalogue for two years, one of Rolex’s most complicated watches makes a return: the Yacht Master II. And it’s not just an update in looks, as the new ref. 126680 and Ref. 126688 carry forward the torch of this unique collection set in motion in 2007 and redefined in 2017, […]
Fratello
In 2007, Rolex introduced its Yacht-Master II. It wasn’t a new version of the 1992 Yacht-Master but an all-new model with a regatta countdown chronograph function. By using the bezel (Rolex dubbed it “Ring Command”), you could set the watch to act as a countdown timer. Though it was a very clever system, it was […] Visit Introducing: The New Rolex Yacht-Master II 126680 And 126688 to read the full article.
Fratello
Another Friday, another list! This week, we continue our series looking for alternatives to some of the world’s most popular watches with five alternatives to the iconic Rolex GMT-Master II. The Crown’s iconic GMT watch set the standard for travel watches. While its legacy is undeniably grand, the modern GMT-Master II is not always the […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 Rolex GMT-Master II Alternatives In 2026 to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
We reviewed these Rolex GMT-Master II alternatives for wearability, reliability, design, and value to help you avoid the waitlist and the markup.
Time+Tide
Jason Lee is a gold Rolex man, but there's just something about the Crown's iconic travel watch that has him smitten.The post Why the Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” is the only steel Rolex I’d pay over retail for appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Video
Professional Restoration of a 1966s Rolex GMT Master Pepsi - Rolex Reference 1675 with Rolex Caliber 1570.
SJX Watches
In the run up to Watches & Wonders 2025, many commentators expected a breakout year for the GMT-Master II, since it’s the 80th year of the collection. But Rolex took things in a different direction and dominated headlines by launching the Land-Dweller instead. But Rolex didn’t forget about its signature travel watch, and debuted two new precious metal models. The first is the GMT-Master II ref. 126729VTNR, which is in 18k white gold with a left-handed crown and a green ceramic dial; a first for Rolex. The second is the GMT-Master II ref. 126715CHNR in Everose that brings a new dial material to Rolex, tiger iron, one of the oldest minerals on Earth. Both models are available exclusively with an Oyster bracelet in matching 18k gold. The “lefty” with its glossy green ceramic dial Initial thoughts I admit to being laser-focused on the Land-Dweller during Watches & Wonders; the new movement technology captured (and held) my attention throughout the event. But I still made time to check out the GMT-Master II collection, which was one of my favourite Rolex collections at one point in time. Naturally, both of these new references exude quality, which can be experienced directly in the smooth operation of the bezel and the decisive action of the clasp. The watches are decadent, heavy, and show that Rolex has not run out of ideas for interesting dials. In the case of the green ceramic dial in the “destro” variant, I think we can expect to see this material used more wide...
Monochrome
Traditionally, Rolex sports (a.k.a. professional) watches are very often paired with black dials. As for the GMT-Master II, of all references available in the collection – and there are quite a lot of them, in all possible materials except platinum – only the white gold editions have had the privilege of colours: Pepsi with a […]
Fratello
It’s finally officially here! The new Rolex GMT-Master II “Sprite” model is in white gold with a ceramic dial, and the new rose gold version has a tiger iron dial. In the past few years, Rolex spoiled us with new GMT-Master II editions, like the new all-steel version with black and gray bezel (“Bruce Wayne”), […] Visit The 2025 Rolex GMT-Master II Models – The White Gold Sprite Cerachrom And Everose Tiger Iron to read the full article.
Monochrome
Just a couple of years ago, Rolex surprised a lot of people with a quite controversial watch, the “Lefty” or “Destro” GMT-Master II 126720VTNR. It put the date on the left, the cyclops on the left, and the crown and crown guards on the left. Now though, the story continues as Rolex drops in a […]
Fratello
Here’s a question that might surprise you: who’s your favorite Bruce Wayne? Your answer doesn’t necessarily also mean he’s your favorite Batman. So, who is it? Is it George Clooney because of his undebatable good looks? Perhaps it’s Robert Pattinson, although, in The Batman, there are just a few scenes in which he plays the […] Visit Contemplating The Rolex GMT-Master II “Bruce Wayne” - Nowhere Near As Flamboyant Or Intriguing As Its Namesake Character to read the full article.
Video
Every watch you've ever loved — every Submariner, every Datejust, every Tudor Black Bay — traces back to one man: a 12-year-old German orphan with nothing. Hans Wilsdorf didn't just found Rolex. He systematically...
Fratello
When Rolex introduced the left-handed GMT-Master II ref. 126720VTNR in 2022, it seemed like the world this watch is intended to navigate had stopped - well, the world of watches, at least. It certainly made my head spin. It also had me write an article in which I voiced my confusion. That was almost three […] Visit Hands-On With The Rolex GMT-Master II “Destro” - Because Every Watch Deserves A Second Chance to read the full article.
Fratello
Welcome to the first Sunday Morning Showdown of 2025! We hope you have enjoyed the holidays and are ready for our first battle of the new year. So make yourself a nice warm cup of coffee, and let’s get rolling! Today, we’ll play a game called Find the Differences. OK, although that is a joke, […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Rolex GMT-Master II 126710GRNR Vs. 116710LN to read the full article.
Time+Tide
To Jubilee or not to Jubilee? We debate whether the Rolex GMT-Master II looks better on a Jubilee or Oyster bracelet.The post Oyster vs Jubilee: Which bracelet does the Rolex GMT-Master II look better on? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Quill & Pad
GaryG had the opportunity to borrow a Rolex GMT-Master II BLRO Meteorite from a long-time friend to photograph and wear. This watch's main event is the dial, a thin slice of metallic meteorite whose crystalline structure reflects the slow cooling process that took place as the meteor hurtled through space. Here he tries a variety of photographic techniques to learn which works best on the dial's unique structures. Which are your favorites?
Time+Tide
Is changing colours a novelty, or is it an acceptable compromise for a proven design? Zach finds out.The post Is the new steel Rolex GMT-Master II with a black-grey bezel boring or beautifully monochromatic? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Video
Rolex officially discontinued the Pepsi GMT, and the market has completely lost its mind. With stainless steel models now trading at $30,000, it is officially time to call out the insanity.
SJX Watches
Just released at Watches & Wonders 2024, the Rolex GMT-Master II in steel with a grey and black bezel (ref. 126710GRNR) is the newest addition to the famous line of dual time zone watches. More restrained in terms of colour, the new GMT-Master sports a 24-hour bezel with a grey-and-black Cerachrom insert. It’s still immediately recognisable, but a bit more discreet than its siblings in the collection, especially the famous “Pepsi” that is perhaps too recognisable. Like several other Rolex sports models, the 126710GRNR sports green accents on the dial and GMT hand. And the 126710GRNR is available on either a Jubilee or Oyster bracelet. Initial thoughts The GMT-Master II is a almost perfect, with little that needs revision. While some expected a “Coke” GMT this year, the 126710GRNR is a solid proposition for anyone who wants a GMT-Master dressed more subtly. The bi-colour bezel is functional without being too loud unlike the better-known GMT-Master “Pepsi”. Flashy or recognisable watches sometimes attract unwanted attention, so dialling back the bezel colours is smart. In fact, the 126710GRNR may as well be more appealing than the discontinued 116710LN with its all-black bezel. Although I prefer the all-black bezel of the 116710LN, the grey and black bezel of the 126710GRNR is more functional as it separates day and night. The Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” 126710BLRO The green accents are a nice touch and also logical since green is the Rolex corporate c...
Fratello
This is a story of pioneering adventurers. It is a tale about a group of expert cave divers that may never have surfaced if not for the tireless efforts of volunteers at the Oxford University Cave Club. It was also an opportunity for the watch brand Rolex to test out its Explorer 1016 on the […] Visit “A Great Deal Of Rough Treatment” - When The Rolex Explorer 1016 Went Caving to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Introducing the new Rolex GMT Master II 126710GRNR announced at Watches & Wonders 2024. Get a full rundown with specs, pricing, and photos.
Time+Tide
While many fans expected a Coke bezel, Rolex goes with a ghosty black and grey for the new GMT-Master II. The black-on-black-on-grey combo is unlikely to be the game-changer that a coloured ceramic bezel would be, but it’ll undoubtedly be a hit among fans. The monochromatic GMT is available on either a Jubilee or Oyster … ContinuedThe post The new Rolex GMT-Master II 126710 makes the half-ghost bezel accessible, in theory appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Monochrome
While everybody was expected a Coke (black and red) version of the GMT Master II to be released this year, and most probably in white gold, Rolex has decided to expand (important word) its steel range with a new monochromatic tone, using the recently released grey-and-black bezel found last year in the yellow gold or […]
Video
The Jacob & Co. Godfather II is a US$440,000 musical watch that can play two melodies from The Godfather soundtrack. Yes, really.
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