The Rolex GMT Master II Everose Gold ref. 126715CHNR a.k.a 'Rootbeer' —nicknamed as such because of its resemblance to the vintage Rolex GMT Master ref. 16753 with the same nickname and which you can see here— was released a few months ago at Baselworld 2018 and today, it is already commanding prices in the secondary market that are way above its retail price. This new watch along with the new GMT Master II Pepsi ref. 126710BLRO had already lined up as two of the hottest Rolexes for this summer. While the original GMT Master Rootbeer ref. 16753 was fitted with a brown dial and a bezel insert with gold and brown coloring, the new GMT Master II Everose ref. 126715CHNR feels very much like its predecessor regardless of the black and brown combo on it.
The Dial
The warm tones of the new Rolex GMT Master II Everose Gold ref. 126715CHNR a.k.a 'Rootbeer' play with the light incredibly. Fitted with a black glossy maxi dial with bold markers in 18K everose gold and ultra bright chromalight, the dial features the GMT Master II writing inscribed in powder rose same that is almost the same hue of brown as the brown color on the cerachrom bezel. Equipped with a solid gold 24-hour hand, the wearer can keep track of up to three different time zones by rotating the 24-hour graduated bezel in either direction.
The Cerachom Bezel
Despite that Rolex' everose gold makes this watch very special, the cerachrom bezel is in reality the true icing on the cake. The bezel is initially made of white zirconium dioxide powder and then mixed with pigments that give it the desired final color —in this case black and brown.
The resulting paste is shaped by a high-pressure molding machine that creates a blank bezel. After several firings at temperatures exceeding 1,500 degrees Celsius, the bezel hardens and reveals its final color. A third step involves precision machining using diamond tools to cut the numerals and dots and give the bezel its final shape and size. Afterwards, the full bezel is coated with a thin layer of everose gold via a PVD process —Physical Vapor Deposition— in order to fill the engraved numerals. Lastly, diamond polishing removes the everose gold from the bezel surface, while the everose coating on the numerals and graduations remains.
This last step is what gives the cerachrom bezels its extremely lustrous appearance. The bezel is so well made that the transition from one color to the other is simply seamless and nothing is visible to the naked eye.
For this particular GMT Master II 'Rootbeer' the color combination between black and brown offers an interesting gradient flow that depending on lighting conditions makes the brown part of the bezel go all the way from almost a dark chocolate color to a rich brown milk chocolate color.
The Case & Bracelet
Just like its siblings, the Rolex GMT Master II Everose Gold ref. 126715CHNR a.k.a 'Rootbeer' is fitted with a maxi case measuring 40 mm in diameter. Everose gold, is Rolex's proprietary patented 18K pink gold alloy that is actually cast in its own foundry. Rolex is the only watch manufacturer out there with its own foundry for precious metals. This special alloy —with a mix that includes some platinum— was introduced by Rolex in 2005 and since then, it is being used for all Rolex Oyster models in pink gold. The new GMT Master II Everose is equipped with a triplock screw-down crown easily identifiable by the three dots under the Rolex coronet. On its second position, the crown allows the wearer to adjust the hour hand in a jumping manner from hour to hour —this operation also serves as the date adjustment forward or backwards. Thanks to its Oyster case and triplock crown, the new GMT Master Rootbeer is waterproof to 100 meters.
The Movement
The Rolex GMT Master II Everose Gold ref. 126715CHNR a.k.a 'Rootbeer' is equipped with a brand new calibre unveiled by Rolex for this particular new line of GMTs. The new calibre 3285 replaces calibre 3186 on the GMT Master II. To mark this new milestone at Rolex, the new GMT Master II models feature a tiny Rolex coronet on the dial at 6 o'clock.
With 10 patent applications filed over the course of its development, this automatic mechanical movement is a consummate demonstration of Rolex technology. Calibre 3285 offers fundamental gains in terms of precision, power reserve, resistance to shocks and magnetism, convenience and reliability. Calibre 3285 incorporates the Chronergy escapement patented by Rolex, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel-phosphorus, it is also insensitive to magnetic interference.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the watch wears true to its size and with incredible wrist presence. In sum, does this watch live up to the current hype of the new GMT Master models released by Rolex? Absolutely it does. A must from the latest additions by Rolex, especially if you are a fan of the iconic Rolex GMT Master. Below see wrist shots with formal and less formal wear.
Sticker Price $36,750 USD. For more info on Rolex click here.
