Rolex Pepsi

The story of the Rolex {model-3,GMT-Master} began in the 1950s when Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) commissioned the Swiss watch manufacturer to produce a timepiece for their pilots and flight attendants. Rolex later released this sports watch for the general public in 1955. Defining features include a bidirectional 24-hour bezel and an additional hour hand, which work together to display the time in a second time zone. This function is especially practical for frequent travelers and businesspeople who often find themselves in different time zones.

Many refer to the GMT-Master with a red and blue bezel as the "Pepsi watch," a reference to the Pepsi logo's color scheme. However, its two-tone bezel is more than just a unique design choice; it also doubles as a day/night indicator for the additional time zone, with the red half symbolizing the day and the blue half the night. For decades, the GMT-Master Pepsi was only available in stainless steel and saw only minor design changes. In 2014, Rolex launched the first white gold model with a ceramic Pepsi bezel.

Like every GMT-Master, Pepsi models enjoy widespread popularity and are highly coveted among fans and collectors. Vintage models and their modern counterparts are rare and appreciate significantly in value over time, making them extraordinarily sound investments.

Over its 60-year production period, Rolex released the GMT-Master in a variety of colors. However, the combination of a black dial with a blue and red bezel remains the most popular among Rolex fans and collectors. Early models, such as the first GMT-Master with the reference number 6542 and its successor, the ref. 1675, are especially highly coveted. The former was only manufactured from 1954 to 1959 and lacks a crown protector.

In the beginning, its bezel inlay was still made of Bakelite, a very brittle plastic. The manufacturer quickly replaced it with aluminum. Plan to spend about 52,000 USD for a ref. 6542 in good condition. Especially well-maintained models can cost significantly more.

Its successor, the reference 1675, was part of the Rolex catalog for more than 20 years and is one of the most sought-after Pepsi watches today. Unlike its older sister model, the 1675 features a crown protector and the caliber 1565, which was later replaced by the caliber 1575. Prices vary depending on condition, but generally sit around 38,000 USD.

Rolex introduced the next iteration of the GMT-Master, the ref. 16750, in 1981. Its power comes from the caliber 3075, which boasts a stop-seconds mechanism and a quickset date function. This edition is also more water-resistant than earlier GMT-Masters. From this model on, all GMT-Masters have been water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft). Set aside around 17,000 USD for a never-worn piece from this series. Pre-owned models are slightly less expensive at about 14,000 USD. Back in 2018, this watch only demanded between 10,000 and 11,000 USD.

In 1982, Rolex added the GMT-Master II ref. 16760 to the mix. Thanks to its somewhat thicker case, Rolex fans dubbed this model the "Fat Lady." Rolex equipped this watch with a black and red bezel, meaning it isn't actually a Pepsi, but rather a Rolex Coke. Nevertheless, it had certain features that would also be significant for future Pepsi models. For example, its caliber, the 3085, can display three time zones at once. In addition, Rolex provided this watch with a larger crown protector and replaced the plexiglass with sapphire crystal. You can purchase a "Fat Lady" in good condition for around 12,000 USD.

The next stage in the Pepsi's evolution followed with the 1989 release of the reference 16710. Rolex first outfitted this timepiece with the caliber 3185 and later with the caliber 3186. This version is available as a "Coke" model or with a solid black bezel. These watches were also the first to use SuperLuminova instead of tritium as their luminous material. Prices for a pre-owned watch in good condition start around 19,500 USD. For comparison, the same watch cost only 8,600 USD back in 2018.

The GMT-Master Pepsi With a Cerachrom Bezel

In 2014, Rolex finally released another GMT-Master II with a Pepsi bezel. Unlike its predecessors, this model (ref. 116719 BLRO) is only available with an 18-karat white gold case. What's more, the Swiss watch manufacturer furnished it with a Cerachrom ceramic bezel, a triple-sealed Triplock crown, and a so-called "maxi dial" with enlarged, glow-in-the-dark indices. The chronometer-certified caliber 3186 with its Parachrom hairspring tick away inside this watch. You can get your hands on one of these timepieces for about 39,000 USD new and 36,500 USD in very good condition.

At Baselworld 2018, Rolex announced that they would be adding a stainless steel GMT-Master II with a blue and red Cerachrom Pepsi bezel (ref. 126710BLRO) to their portfolio. In addition to the material and slightly altered case design, the watch manufacturer also made changes to the inside of this model. It is now powered by the in-house caliber 3285, which features Rolex's patented Chronergy escapement. Thanks to the use of a nickel-phosphorus alloy, this escapement is not only impervious to magnetic fields but also much more efficient. It also features a new Jubilee bracelet in "Oystersteel" stainless steel.

This edition is in high demand and available in limited numbers. If you can find an offline retailer willing to sell you one, expect it to come with a long waiting period. The scarcity has caused prices for this model to nearly double in two years. When it was released, the ref. 126710BLRO had an official list price of "only" 10,400 USD. As of 2020, a mint-condition timepiece will set you back some 19,000 USD. Used watches demand only marginally less.

The Latest GMT-Master II Pepsi Models

Launched in 2014, the white gold ref. 116719BLRO was the only new Pepsi GMT-Master II model available until it was replaced by the aforementioned stainless steel edition in 2018. The caliber 3186 ticks away below its classic blue or black dial. You can call this watch your own for roughly 39,500 USD in mint condition and 36,500 USD pre-owned.

A new white gold model with a blue dial, the ref. 126719BLRO, debuted alongside the stainless steel Pepsi in 2018. Another watch with the same reference number followed in 2019, though this time with a special meteorite dial. Rolex claims the dial material has cosmic origins, coming from the center of an asteroid or exploded planet! Prices for this galactic timepiece range from 43,000 to 48,000 USD, depending on its condition.

An Additional Timezone

If you frequently travel across different time zones, you probably have already come to appreciate the advantages of a GMT watch. All it takes is a single glance to know what time it is in a second or even third time zone thanks to the 24-hour bezel and second hour hand. Wearers frequently set this display to their home time, while the three traditional hands for the hours, minutes, and seconds show the local time. The two-tone Pepsi bezel helps you differentiate between night and day so you always know the perfect time to make a phone call home.

Reading the second time zone using the 24-hour bezel is fast and easy. The bezel has 24 markers that correspond to the 24 hours in a day. You can set the bezel with a few turns (clicks) to any time zone in the world.

Since the introduction of caliber 3085 to the GMT-Master II, you can set two time zones without turning the bezel. First, unscrew the crown by turning it counterclockwise. Then pull the crown out to the second position to independently set the hour hand forward or backward. You can also set the date in this position. Finally, the third position allows you to set the GMT time in an additional time zone.