Rolex officially say GMT bezel will only ever be two-color?

[summit]

Noticed this on the Rolex site. Emblematic seems to leave no room for a future return of the all black bezel. More importantly, no future blueberry bezel, which I find very sad.

[JRell]

Agree I would buy a blueberry (with updated case) tomorrow!

[puma1552]

Eh, it's marketing...it changes with the wind.

I wouldn't count anything out.

[slide13]

Considering their site currently has two models with a solid black bezel, I don’t think that’s what they’re saying.

https://www.rolex.com/en-us/watches/...26713grnr-0001

[Kenny G]

Originally Posted by slide13

Considering their site currently has two models with a solid black bezel, I don’t think that’s what they’re saying.

https://www.rolex.com/en-us/watches/...26713grnr-0001

That’s not solid black.

[summit]

GRNR is grey and black, so yes, those are two-color.

[summit]

Originally Posted by JRell

Agree I would buy a blueberry (with updated case) tomorrow!

Modern blueberry would be the ultimate GMT! Such a shame.

[amh]

When we had the black GMT people complained that it looked like a Sub.

[springer]

There is a solid green bezel insert on one GMT model for those with a short memory!!!!!!

[slide13]

Originally Posted by Kenny G

That’s not solid black.

Well! I’ll be….I guess I never looked close enough and haven’t seen one in person. Always thought the gold and TT had black bezels.

Hmm..then maybe they are saying that…though they could also go back on it at anytime since they’ve done it in the past.

[jb335]

I’m not sure how you read this as Rolex saying they will “never” have a one color bezel on the GMT. That is not what emblematic means.


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[JSCP]

LOL all I can say… Rolex can do whatever they want.

[summit]

Originally Posted by jb335

I’m not sure how you read this as Rolex saying they will “never” have a one color bezel on the GMT. That is not what emblematic means.


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Emblematic means it represents or serves as a symbol. Also, Rolex says it makes the GMT instantly recognizable. The two-color symbolizes the GMT. The two-color bezel represents the GMT. When you see the two-color bezel you instantly know it’s a GMT.

[Gab27]

I don't interpret that to mean that they will never, ever have a single color bezel for the GMT in the future. But now that they have reached the point of being able to make the bicolor ceramic inserts (which was no small feat) and the GMT is totally all the rage these days, I can't say I could see a strong argument for them to deviate from the path they forged.

And, their marketing is totally right. It does make it instantly recognizable, and the GMT presently has a lot of visual differentiation from the Submariner as a result of this (including the green and blue bezel Submariner references), which is something they might currently want?

[bjdub]

I know the LN GMTs have a strong following, but I feel like Rolex should’ve stuck with bicolor from the beginning to differentiate the watch from the sub. Red/blue is the original and quintessential GMT look.

They could’ve always started with the sub for their monochromatic ceramic bezel and perfected the bicolor on the GMT during that 5ish or so (I think) year span… maybe they were worried it would take longer to perfect or something. Always kind of been curious why they did the GMT first though when they only had the tech to do black and black is the OG submariner look.

[joli160]

Would a blue Sub bezel not fit on a GMT to ‘create’ a blueberry ?

[jb335]

Originally Posted by summit

Emblematic means it represents or serves as a symbol. Also, Rolex says it makes the GMT instantly recognizable. The two-color symbolizes the GMT. The two-color bezel represents the GMT. When you see the two-color bezel you instantly know it’s a GMT.

Yes, symbol. And nothing about the definition of symbol implies it can’t change. In fact, symbols, emblems, uniforms etc change all the time.


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[summit]

Originally Posted by jb335

Yes, symbol. And nothing about the definition of symbol implies it can’t change. In fact, symbols, emblems, uniforms etc change all the time.


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And what I’m suggesting is that Rolex has done just that, defined the look of the GMT as two-color when, in its history, it hasn’t always been.

[jb335]

Originally Posted by summit

And what I’m suggesting is that Rolex has done just that, defined the look of the GMT as two-color when, in its history, it hasn’t always been.

You also wrote “Rolex officially say GMT will ever only be two-colors.”

Granted, you ended that sentence with a question mark, so I’m answering your question. They haven’t said or implied that.


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[Tzachi]

Rolex never say what they will do. everything is just speculation, wishful thinking and misinterpretation ...

[ExplorerI]

The 12 hours of colors makes a lot of sense for a gmt. With a quick glance at where the 24 hour hand sets you can immediately know if it’s daytime in that timezone just by seeing what color the hand is point to.

[CedCraig]

Never say never. Who would have thought Rolex would release bubble dial and emoji dial watches?

[jb335]

Originally Posted by CedCraig

Never say never. Who would have thought Rolex would release bubble dial and emoji dial watches?

And a Daytona with PN sub dials!


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[SkyJuice]

I remember an AD once told me that the black GMT was not that popular compared to the two color bezel ones (i.e. pepsi, batman etc) and it looks too similar to the Sub, hence it got removed from the line up.

[JSCP]

The black bezel GMT was an option for having that complication and still look like a sub. It used to be that one could order all the color bezel inserts in early 2000’s. I did.

Now it’s about the pride and batman etc. One day it will come back or not. If you want a black GMT, get a vintage one, they are good looking both in two tone, steel or all gold.

[drrd]

Agree with the OP.

Wasn’t the black ceramic GMT one of the first ceramics?

Surely the only reason for the all black colour was because Rolex hadn’t yet sorted out the process of recolouring one half of the bezel?

Why would they return to that compromised look for a GMT?

As if the latest black/grey wasn’t proof enough of doing a two colour ceramic bezel because they can.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by JSCP

LOL all I can say… Rolex can do whatever they want.

And they will. Marketing claims come and go. Many don't last more than the duration of one marketing campaign and some only last for one sales cycle.

[drrd]

Btw, the blueberry GMT story is hilarious.

Like the X-Files.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by drrd

Agree with the OP.

Wasn’t the black ceramic GMT one of the first ceramics?

Surely the only reason for the all black colour was because Rolex hadn’t yet sorted out the process of recolouring one half of the bezel?

Why would they return to that compromised look for a GMT?

As if the latest black/grey wasn’t proof enough of doing a two colour ceramic bezel because they can.

The GMT 16700 had an all-black or pepsi insert option from the late 1980s till around 2000. So all-black is part of the GMT heritage.

[drrd]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

The GMT 16700 had an all-black or pepsi insert option from the late 1980s till around 2000. So all-black is part of the GMT heritage.

Ah, thanks for the info.

I only had a brief dip into vintage Rolex and that scared me.