BLRO Mk2 vs Mk3 Bezel question.

[Sergio_UKR]

Was eyeing unworn BLRO on a secondary market and there are quite a few New Old Stock pieces on the market.
While searching I found some info on Mk1 vs Mk2 vs Mk3 bezels with different shades. To my eye Mk3 is the most attractive with deeper colors.
So the question is when did Rolex start supplying Mk3 on the market? I know Mk1 was exclusive to 2018, and then in 2019 there was a transition to Mk2, but after that not much of the info on when Mk2 to Mk3 transition actually happened…
Any information on that will be highly appreciated.


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[TC88]

Can't really say for sure, but is there much of a price difference? I have a mk3, but would be happy with mk2 too.

[padi56]

What about the Mk 4 or is it 5 or 6 now, try going to a AD and asking for a MK 3 BLRO bezel they are just batch to batch variations nothing more.

[Sergio_UKR]

Originally Posted by padi56

What about the Mk 4 or is it 5 or 6 now, try going to a AD and asking for a MK 3 BLRO bezel they are just batch to batch variations nothing more.

So you are saying there is no difference between those 3 watches?
https://www.chrono-shop.net/en/blog/...lors-marks-n26

[Potawatomi]

I don't believe that website. I think the earliest bezels were purple and maroon. That website says the lightest bezel was the earliest.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Sergio_UKR

So you are saying there is no difference between those 3 watches?
https://www.chrono-shop.net/en/blog/...lors-marks-n26

Sorry never click on links yes they may be colour variations but when you fire ceramics especially the colour red you will get variations batch to batch.Try going to a AD asking for a MK anything bezel.All this Mk stuff exists mainly in internet land,and used by sellers with terms like rare plus others to extract more money from buyers.

[Stupot]

I think the 1, 2 and 3 is accurate.

Having handled them all 1 is very obviously pink and purple and different.

2 and 3 the difference is no where near as noticeable and look very similar, you would really need to have them back to back, or be handling many, to be tell the difference, both much darker and more reliant on light to become their true colours.

[Sergio_UKR]

Originally Posted by padi56

Sorry never click on links yes they may be colour variations but when you fire ceramics especially the colour red you will get variations batch to batch.Try going to a AD asking for a MK anything bezel.All this Mk stuff exists mainly in internet land,and used by sellers with terms like rare plus others to extract more money from buyers.

Sometimes yes. But sometimes there are clear differences like with Starbucks for example. And I think BLRO is in the same boat. Here is the picture from that link.


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[Gunnersaurus]

Originally Posted by Sergio_UKR

Sometimes yes. But sometimes there are clear differences like with Starbucks for example. And I think BLRO is in the same boat. Here is the picture from that link.


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Of those I think the middle one looks best. Number 1 is far too pale and number 3 looks like it could be a coke!

[jaydav2306]

There has definately been a variation in bezels and I am almost sure it's deliberate and has a specific reason. Frankie from Trilogy did a good video on it he had a Mk1,2 and 3 and when in direct sunlight the MK3 was bu far and away the brighest of the colours, so they have def developed it over time rather than just varying batch to batch

[Sergio_UKR]

Originally Posted by Stupot

I think the 1, 2 and 3 is accurate.

Having handled them all 1 is very obviously pink and purple and different.

2 and 3 the difference is no where near as noticeable and look very similar, you would really need to have them back to back, or be handling many, to be tell the difference, both much darker and more reliant on light to become their true colours.

Thank you for the insight.
Do you know when Mk3 arrived to the market?


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[Stupot]

Originally Posted by Sergio_UKR

Thank you for the insight.
Do you know when Mk3 arrived to the market?


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MK1 was 2018 in the first batch when they were launched.

Id say MK2 was early 2019 and then MK3 quite quick after, say late 2019-2020 onwards.

1 was wildly out, 2 more what you would expect, 3 maybe a touch dark, and I think they then got much more consistent when they got to 3 with the darker colouring.

As others have said, I think each batch they produce does have slight variances, so I am sure there are technically more versions than above, but not so noticeable to the naked eye, you would need them back to back to see differences.

[Booth9999]

Originally Posted by Sergio_UKR

Sometimes yes. But sometimes there are clear differences like with Starbucks for example. And I think BLRO is in the same boat. Here is the picture from that link.


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Not sure if the colors shown are accurate but I like the one on the left. More vibrant.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by Booth9999

Not sure if the colors shown are accurate but I like the one on the left. More vibrant.

Yep, and it’s closest to the original 1950’s color scheme of the 6542

[Joearch]

Not sure which version I have, but the blue is very dark and the red in not pink. I like the darker blue.

[Sergio_UKR]

Originally Posted by jaydav2306

There has definately been a variation in bezels and I am almost sure it's deliberate and has a specific reason. Frankie from Trilogy did a good video on it he had a Mk1,2 and 3 and when in direct sunlight the MK3 was bu far and away the brighest of the colours, so they have def developed it over time rather than just varying batch to batch

Do you have a link to the video? Couldn't find it on the Youtube..

[dukie748]

I would say the 'third' variation was 2020 onwards.

[Matteo E]

Originally Posted by Gunnersaurus

Of those I think the middle one looks best. Number 1 is far too pale and number 3 looks like it could be a coke!

Can’t speak to 1 and 3 as I’ve never seen them in person but I have a 2 and the color is spot on from the pictures at that link, so I’m assuming 1 and 3 are as well.

[Jefferyasher]

Originally Posted by padi56

Sorry never click on links yes they may be colour variations but when you fire ceramics especially the colour red you will get variations batch to batch.Try going to a AD asking for a MK anything bezel.All this Mk stuff exists mainly in internet land,and used by sellers with terms like rare plus others to extract more money from buyers.

In reality we are just dealing with a color variation due to the ceramic composite mix used to create the bezels. I think the underlying question is whether or not Rolex is purposefully creating slight variations as a marketing ploy. There is no differentiation in MSRP for either from an AD, but we (consumers) create these specialties to stratify a consumer driven community.

If not, then the whole Mk designation is simply internet driven hype as Padi said (which I tend to believe).

[JRell]

I like MK2 the best

[Harry-57]

The only way to tell for sure is to handle the prospective purchase yourself. There are no official iterations, the Mk1/2/3 story is an internet meme.

Photographs can be misleading and batch variations give a variety of results. I've seen photos of early examples which had a distinct purple and pink hue to them, but in RL they probably looked different. My October 2021 BLRO displays various depth and intensity of blue and red depending on the lighting.

[123Blueface]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

The only way to tell for sure is to handle the prospective purchase yourself. There are no official iterations, the Mk1/2/3 story is an internet meme.

Photographs can be misleading and batch variations give a variety of results. I've seen photos of early examples which had a distinct purple and pink hue to them, but in RL they probably looked different. My October 2021 BLRO displays various depth and intensity of blue and red depending on the lighting.

Exactly.
Mine will look like 1, 2 or 3 depending on lighting.
….and it’s from October of release year, before the so called 2 came out.