Introduced at BaselWorld in April of 2013, the Rolex GMT Master II Ref 116710B has been lovingly nicknamed the Rolex GMT “Batman” due to its unique bezel color combination. With the exception of the blue and black bezel, Ref 116710B is the same watch as Ref 116710.
Reference 116710B measures 40 mm in size and houses the much-celebrated automatic winding technology found in the Rolex caliber 3186, 31 jewel movement. This caliber offers a Parachrome hairspring and Breguet overcoil. This version of the GMT offers a triplock crown as compared to the twinlock crown of the older GMTs, as well as Rolex Quickset. The watch’s Maxi dial is black and sports Chromolight appliques and features a green 24-hour hand. The watch’s sapphire crystal sports an anti-Reflective Cyclops lens.
The most popular feature, the two-toned bezel, is a work of patented art. The numerals on this bezel are two-toned and made of a thin layer of platinum. Rolex is engraved on the inner bezel ring, while the finished Cerachrom bezel is diamond-polished. The watch is finished off with the Ref 78200 Oyster bracelet, made of 904L steel with polished center links and comes with an Easylink 5 mm comfort extension clasp.
GMT Master II Ref 116710B not only offers a unique color combination on its bezel but also a unique new way to make the bezel. Prior to 2007, all bezel inserts on Rolex GMTs were made of aluminum. Colors were added to the aluminum, but this process is elementary compared to the newly developed techniques of the new blue and black Cerachrom bezel. Cerachrom is the patented proprietary system Rolex uses for creating their own unique form of ceramic. When the original Cerachrom bezels were introduced in 2005, Rolex believed that it was impossible to make a two-tone Cerachrom bezel. However, with the new GMT Master II Ref 116710B, Rolex has proven it can actually be done.
While the original GMT, launched in the mid-1950s, has always had a two-tone bezel specifically designed for easy indication of day and night, the GMT has never had a bezel that was both blue and black at once. So how does Rolex do it? They begin the two-tone process with a completely blue mono-block Cerachrom bezel. While the material is still porous, Rolex adds a special solution of chemical compounds which produces the black color. Rather than using two separate pieces of ceramic, Rolex has developed a patented singular piece that is unique in the world. It also represents Rolex’s ambition and achievement in the world of watch making.
The added complexity of the blue and black ceramic bezel make this version of Rolex’s GMT Master II highly sought-after on the collector’s market. The Rolex GMT Master II is a wise investment in today´s market, as this particular Rolex tends to hold its value very well. Aside from monetary value, the Rolex GMT Master II is extremely versatile, with the ability to be worn in almost any setting including the office, the golf course, or while exploring the depths of the sea.
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