The Rolex GMT Master II Watch, a Brief History

GMT Master II 116710LN
Rolex GMT Master II Watch

From the ground up, Rolex’s GMT Master II 116710 series has risen to very high places with the most accurate of timing, literally.

Rolex GMT Master II Oyster Case Dial
GMT Master II Watch

Originating in collaboration with Rolex and Pan Am Airways for aviates use when embarking on long-distance journeys as a traveling navigation chronometer, the GMT Master was born. GMT is the acronym for Greenwich Mean Time, or better yet what is known as Universal Coordinated Time, or UTC today. Acknowledged as the global time standard, GMT is used for aviation planning, weather forecasts, schedules, and much much more.

GMT Master vs. GMT Master II
GMT Master vs. GMT Master II

Historically the GMT Master is the first Rolex to present a cerachrom bezel in the design, and although the GMT Master II debuted in the early 1980s, production of the original model continued until the 1990s. Allowing that the GMT Master and the GMT Master II may appear the same, the GMT Master II has been equipped with a different movement capable of having an adjustable autonomous quickset hour hand, although the watch straps are the same in design.  This feature is used to set to local time without disrupting the minutes and 24-hour GMT hand.

GMT Master II on Oyster Strap
GMT Master II Watch Strap

Recently undergoing an array of technical changes in 2005, the revamped GMT Master II now features the para chrome hairspring and triblock crown commonly used in diving watches, has a larger case, hands, and hour markers as well as a new bezel crafted out of tough ceramic material fashioned to be more scratch and fade resistant. Additionally, now the GMT Master II watch band has heavier solid links and a machined Rolex Oyster clasp.

GMT Master II on Oyster Band
GMT Master II Watch Band

Running on a perpetual mechanical self-winding movement, the GMT Master II watch measures out to a 40mm diameter oyster case, has a watch band made out of steel, a screw-down triblock waterproofness system, is water-resistant up to 100 meters/330 feet, has a center hour, minute, seconds, and as already mentioned 24 hours forth hand complication, precisely joined to the same time zone as the standard 12-hour hand. Additionally, this model features an instantaneous date with a cyclops lens, stop-seconds for accurate time setting, and bears the Officially Certified Swiss Chronometer seal. Thanks to the convenient graduated bidirectional rotating ceramic bezel, a third-time zone can be set as well.

All-steel models are available in Black Cerachrom with a matching steel watch band, or in Blue and Black Cerachrom with a matching steel watch strap. For a change, the Rolex Watch Strap can be substituted with a watch band made out of rubber. Try the watch strap for the watch band line by Rubber B specifically made for the GMT Master II Watch.

Rolex GMT Master II on Oyster Clasp Bracelet
Rolex GMT Master II Watch Strap

Whether you’re in the congo or anywhere else in the world, be the master of time.

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