Along with the new Rolex GMT Master II Everose Gold ref. 126715CHNR —reviewed here—, a Rolesor —two tone in stainless steel and everose gold— iteration of this new watch was also released during Baselworld 2018. As we've explained it before, the watch is nicknamed 'Rootbeer' because of its resemblance to the vintage Rolex GMT Master ref. 16753 with the same nickname and which you can see here.
Along with its two other siblings —the new stainless steel GMT Master II Pepsi and the GMT Master II Everose— the new Rolex GMT Master II Everose Rolesor ref. 126711CHNR a.k.a 'Rootbeer' is one of the hottest watches this year, already commanding prices way above its retail price in the secondary market. While the original GMT Master Rootbeer ref. 16753 was fitted with a brown dial, the new Rolex GMT Master II ref. 126711CHNR feels and looks almost like its predecessor regardless that it comes with a black dial instead.
The Dial & Bezel
The warm tones of the new Rolex GMT Master II Everose Gold ref. 126711CHNR 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 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 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.
The Case & Bracelet
Just like its siblings, the Rolex GMT Master II Everose Gold ref. 126711CHNR a.k.a 'Rootbeer' is fitted with a maxi case measuring 40 mm in diameter. The new GMT Master II Rolesor ref. 126711CHNR 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 watch is waterproof to 100 meters.
The Movement
The Rolex GMT Master II Everose Rolesor ref. 126711CHNR a.k.a 'Rootbeer' is equipped with a brand new calibre unveiled by Rolex for this latest 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.
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 very nicely. Without a doubt the new Rolex GMT Master II Two-Tone Rolesor ref. 126711CHNR a.k.a 'Rootbeer' is an incredible looking watch that with its warm tones and color scheme brings memories of the vintage GMT Master era and the Rolex 'Rootbeer' DNA in what we think it's a perfect modern execution. Absolutely worth every penny of its price tag but not a single penny above retail. Here at WCL we just can't justify buying any watch above its retail price, even if that means not being one of the first ones with those 'bragging rights' on Instagram.
Sticker Price $14,050 USD. For more info on Rolex click here.
