To start off Watches & Wonders, Rolex has launched a GMT-Master II with a green and black ceramic bezel — and a crown located on the left side of the case.

Taking the existing GMT-Master II design — including the 40 mm diameter Oystersteel case — Rolex had to make adjustments to the dial, and the caliber 3285 (which was previously released in 2018), to accommodate the left-hand crown and the date and cyclops that were moved from 3 to 9 ‘clock. This is only the second time that Rolex has created an Oyster watch with a crown on the left side. The first time it was implemented was actually at their sibling brand Tudor in 2016 on the Pelagos LHD. This is also the first time Rolex has placed a date at 9 o’clock. While green has been used for the GMT hand in the past, the green and black ceramic bezel insert represent a new combination that according to Rolex is “an original color pairing reserved for this watch.”

With traditional hour, minute, and seconds hands, a triangle-tipped 24-hour hand, and a bidirectional rotatable bezel with a 24-hour graduated Cerachrom insert, the GMT-Master II can display the time in two time zones simultaneously: either the local time and the reference time or the local time and that of an alternative time zone. The date is synchronized with the local time.

On the new version of the GMT-Master II, the bidirectional rotatable bezel is fitted with a two-color, 24-hour graduated Cerachrom insert in green and black ceramic, with molded, recessed graduations and numerals that are coated with platinum via PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition). The bezel can also be turned with ease thanks to its grippy knurled edge.

The GMT-Master II (Ref. 126720VTNR), with its screw-down crown on the left, is depth rated to 100 meters and is available with an Oyster or Jubilee bracelet.

The retail price is $11,050.

 

Photos by Rolex.