Pepsi MK Variations, colors and dates

[jwalker497]

Can someone tell me when the MK 1, 2, and 3 pepsi bezels are/were in production? i want to buy a pepsi but don't know what years correspond to which bezels?

Also if anyone has any clear pictures or comments on the difference between 2 and 3 versions, that would be helpful. i know 1 is lighter, just don't know when it stopped and 2 began.

Any help is appreciated

[padi56]

In the real world there is no real Mk stuff only on the internet yes there are a few slight colour variations but like most all ceramic items especially reds and blue when firing batch to batch there will be slight variations.

[Cassian739]

Putting aside Padi's usual, and completely inaccurate, comments - this thread does a great job summarizing the MK1-3 differences.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=930570

[Harry-57]

Rolex did not officially release any serial iterations of the BLRO insert. The Mk1/2/3 stuff is an internet meme.

Early ones tended somewhat towards purple and pink but as Peter states above, batch variations occur more with red and blue ceramic inserts and there will likely never be 100% consistency. My 2022 126710BLRO is a good blue/red combination, although a ceramic insert can't recapture the warmer organic look of the aluminium inserts, any more than the aluminium inserts can capture the colour and texture of the original Bakelite.



If you look at my insert above you'll see the blending of the red and blue at 6, which is the at root of the colour variations.

[jb335]

I think both camps within this thread are right. Kind of.

There is definitely a pastel mk1 from 2018 the we haven't seen since but since 2019 I have seen bezel colors change from batch to batch. My 2022 is lighter than my friends 2021. And the differences are very slight between mk2 and 3 compared to mk1.

[Cassian739]

I was bored on my flight so had ChatGPT create an internet meme :)

And agree, multiple "rights." Rolex rarely, if ever, acknowledges bezel color changes such as Pepsi MK1-3 or SubLV MK1/2. Some changes are deliberate, others very minor variations in the ceramic firing for the Pepsi.

[Mystro]

The earlier variants are the lightest in color and more purple and raspberry.
When I wore any blue shirts, I really could see how purple my MK1 BLRO was. Never could get use to the off color combo. Even the Rolex catalog showed a proper red and blue color for the BLRO but my BLRO didn’t match the colors at all in real life.

[Duey]

Originally Posted by Cassian739

Putting aside Padi's usual, and completely inaccurate, comments -

You truly need to choose your words wisely and show Some Respect for Padi . He knows more than all of us here ......




And the 2014 was blue or purple and pink or cranberry

[ArtNouveau]

The first SS BLRO I saw was at a trunk show after its introduction in March ‘18, it definitely had a pastel lighter tone. When mine arrived in December of that year it was noticeably darker and brighter. A year or two later it seems like they got a little darker and have been that way since.
While I do agree that there can be variations by batch my longtime SA who has seen lots of them pass through his store says there are generally three distinct generations. Of course Rolex would never confirm or deny this.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

The first SS BLRO I saw was at a trunk show after its introduction in March ‘18, it definitely had a pastel lighter tone. When mine arrived in December of that year it was noticeably darker and brighter. A year or two later it seems like they got a little darker and have been that way since.
While I do agree that there can be variations by batch my longtime SA who has seen lots of them pass through his store says there are generally three distinct generations. Of course Rolex would never confirm or deny this.

Exact same here. December 2018

[febie111]

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