Is the MK I Pepsi bezel the rarest modern Rolex ever?

[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by Soarer

Very true. Laughable indeed. Nowadays, everything's 'rare' and everything's a 'grail'.


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Are you serious right now (MK II)?

[GBD]

While the Pepsi is overall a beautiful watch, I really don't think Rolex has the colors right with either bezel version. But all that matters is that the owner likes it.

I would just wear it; sticking a Rolex in a safe due to speculation just seems sad to me, although I know a lot of people are doing it while the market/economy is up.

[DoctorA]

I wear mine!! That’s what it’s made for!!

[Coopdog]

I had been a bit obsessed with this topic, so I’ll share my point of view having spent a lot of hours going back and forth on it. As background the SS Pepsi is for many reasons my grail and now I own one and I love it.
First off anyone who thinks there aren’t differences is crazy there are so many pictures and videos that it’s willful ignorance at this point.
Second, I don’t really think they are that “rare.” They made about six months of them. At least thousands. Mk1 were still being delivered in December last year, so more than a few months.
In terms of collectibility, the time scale for things like this to matter is probably decades. I’m going to wear my watch - it’s not an investment it’s a watch.
In terms of desirability, I have to say it’s hard to do this on pictures and such a hard watch to find that doing a true side by side is not easy for people. They both look good.
My personal story is that I specifically made a deal to purchase a Mk2 because I wanted the “correct” blue and red, not the more bright, vintagey hues. The seller promised me he could source it, I imagine a lot of filters were applied to the photos, and when it arrived it was obviously Mk1. Very bright and vibrant and almost neon in direct sunlight. I had the option to return it but having seen both in person it actually grew on me really quickly because of how dynamic the colors are. The Mk2 kinda always looks like navy and maroon based on all the pics I’ve seen and the brief time I’ve spent with it in person. The Mk1 really goes from a navy/red, to a cool blue and faded red to a periwinkle blue and neon pink depending on how much light hits it. I am now quite happy I got this one “by mistake.” A dealer friend of mine says every time he sees the Mk2 it is “underwhelming.” I tend to agree with that. If the Mk1 is a bit too bright and “fun,” the Mk2 is a bit dull. Again that’s just my opinion, and I think some people really like the Mk2 better - fine by me.

Here are the varying shades of my Mk1:


Here is why I think they went this way with the coloring before it was widely critiqued:



To my eye it’s pretty close to the colors of a true aluminum Pepsi bezel.

Here is a Mk2 in direct light and it’s not the most flattering picture but it does to me seem a bit dull when put side by side with the Mk1 (again this is only my opinion):



I think, as someone else said, the blue dial WG Pepsi 1167** is probably much scarcer. I can’t imagine there are more than a few hundred of those at most. I think I’ve seen 1-2 for sale ever on secondary sites.

Good topic OP.


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[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by Coopdog

I had been a bit obsessed with this topic, so I’ll share my point of view having spent a lot of hours going back and forth on it. As background the SS Pepsi is for many reasons my grail and now I own one and I love it.
First off anyone who thinks there aren’t differences is crazy there are so many pictures and videos that it’s willful ignorance at this point.
Second, I don’t really think they are that “rare.” They made about six months of them. At least thousands. Mk1 were still being delivered in December last year, so more than a few months.
In terms of collectibility, the time scale for things like this to matter is probably decades. I’m going to wear my watch - it’s not an investment it’s a watch.
In terms of desirability, I have to say it’s hard to do this on pictures and such a hard watch to find that doing a true side by side is not easy for people. They both look good.
My personal story is that I specifically made a deal to purchase a Mk2 because I wanted the “correct” blue and red, not the more bright, vintagey hues. The seller promised me he could source it, I imagine a lot of filters were applied to the photos, and when it arrived it was obviously Mk1. Very bright and vibrant and almost neon in direct sunlight. I had the option to return it but having seen both in person it actually grew on me really quickly because of how dynamic the colors are. The Mk2 kinda always looks like navy and maroon based on all the pics I’ve seen and the brief time I’ve spent with it in person. The Mk1 really goes from a navy/red, to a cool blue and faded red to a periwinkle blue and neon pink depending on how much light hits it. I am now quite happy I got this one “by mistake.” A dealer friend of mine says every time he sees the Mk2 it is “underwhelming.” I tend to agree with that. If the Mk1 is a bit too bright and “fun,” the Mk2 is a bit dull. Again that’s just my opinion, and I think some people really like the Mk2 better - fine by me.

Here are the varying shades of my Mk1:


Here is why I think they went this way with the coloring before it was widely critiqued:



To my eye it’s pretty close to the colors of a true aluminum Pepsi bezel.

Here is a Mk2 in direct light and it’s not the most flattering picture but it does to me seem a bit dull when put side by side with the Mk1 (again this is only my opinion):



I think, as someone else said, the blue dial WG Pepsi 1167** is probably much scarcer. I can’t imagine there are more than a few hundred of those at most. I think I’ve seen 1-2 for sale ever on secondary sites.

Good topic OP.


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Thank you so much Coopdog, your post is fantastic. Very interesting personal insights and pics and intriguing dealer friend opinion. I agree, it could take a decade or more to really grasp the significance of the different early versions, for who knows if future versions are yet to come? For now though it does appear MK I has all the hallmarks of great collectability despite potentially a thousand or more having been produced.

[Coopdog]

Originally Posted by Soarer

Very true. Laughable indeed. Nowadays, everything's 'rare' and everything's a 'grail'.


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Mark I,II,III or Mk1, Mk2 etc are simply generic terms that are used in many different contexts. It just means version 1,2. Hell Ironman names his suits mark 1,2... etc


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[Coopdog]

Originally Posted by pepsiretail

Thank you so much Coopdog, your post is fantastic. Very interesting personal insights and pics and intriguing dealer friend opinion. I agree, it could take a decade or more to really grasp the significance of the different early versions, for who knows if future versions are yet to come? For now though it does appear MK I has all the hallmarks of great collectability despite potentially a thousand or more having been produced.

I would bet they mess with the color combo slightly over time and eventually there are many versions. I agree with you the Mk1 is the one to have but I really think it’s better worn than collected. Way down the road though it could very well be collectible since ceramic doesn’t fade. This will be the closest thing to a faded Pepsi bezel when all the aluminum are gone haha.


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[Morrison0]

It’s all about he lighting....this is my 2019,


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[csj]

Who cares if it’s more rare. Be grateful you have one. Buy what you like and actually wear it like it’s meant to be worn!

[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by Morrison0

It’s all about he lighting....this is my 2019,


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I understand and stated earlier in the thread, a bezel can change colour depending on the light, especially through the camera lens. What I am stating is that I saw today a visible difference between the first and later versions. This was my watch and a reseller's watch bezel to bezel my friend. There are two versions. Point finale.

[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by csj

Who cares if it’s more rare. Be grateful you have one. Buy what you like and actually wear it like it’s meant to be worn!

I can assure you, my gratitude is extreme. And yes, that is my plan, just maybe not on two wheels anymore.

[Soarer]

Originally Posted by Coopdog

Mark I,II,III or Mk1, Mk2 etc are simply generic terms that are used in many different contexts. It just means version 1,2. Hell Ironman names his suits mark 1,2... etc


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All the more laughable...

[jenniferjanef]

Originally Posted by pepsiretail

I can assure you, my gratitude is extreme. And yes, that is my plan, just maybe not on two wheels anymore.

Battle scars.. keep them.

[henrylee]

What the hell is a MK1 bezel? Lol

[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by Soarer

All the more laughable...

Now you remaking me laugh! We are all laughing, which is good! But I just can't, try as I might, understand what the issue is with;

MK I II III etc... terminology. It is not watch specific.

[pepsiretail]

Morrison0, not sure why you brought back that old thread.

I repeat my good sir, I saw the two versions today. Coopdog has contended that he knows of MK I versions that were delivered later than August 2018, even in 2019, something which I didn't know. So maybe you have one. Suggestion, go find a reseller with one/some and prove it to yourself.

[Soarer]

Originally Posted by pepsiretail

Now you remaking me laugh! We are all laughing, which is good! But I just can't, try as I might, understand what the issue is with;



MK I II III etc... terminology. It is not watch specific.

Don't quote me, I didn't start this thread.

[Coopdog]

Originally Posted by Soarer

All the more laughable...

I can’t tell why you are going out of your way to belittle people who are nerding out about watches on a watch forum. I understand people get fed up with all the topics about the shortages, big premiums, and other money related stuff. I can’t understand why you are fed up with us nitpicking a subtle aspect of this one watch. That’s the entire point of forums like this - to find people who share interests that are relatively obscure.

Rather than belittle the topic, and the participants, why don’t you just log off and do something else? Or just move on to the next thread...


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[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by Soarer

Don't quote me, I didn't start this thread.

Are you serious right now (MK III)?

[Cesium137]

Originally Posted by pepsiretail

What would you do, wear it or put it away? It just seems likely to be the future holy grail of steel sports Rolex.

Seriously? If it, or any modern SS sports model becomes a future “holy grail” collectible, it won’t be in our lifetime. You might as well enjoy it while u can.

[sillo]

Originally Posted by henrylee

What the hell is a MK1 bezel? Lol

The first iteration of the ceramic insert on the 126710.

[Soarer]

Originally Posted by Coopdog

I can’t tell why you are going out of your way to belittle people who are nerding out about watches on a watch forum. I understand people get fed up with all the topics about the shortages, big premiums, and other money related stuff. I can’t understand why you are fed up with us nitpicking a subtle aspect of this one watch. That’s the entire point of forums like this - to find people who share interests that are relatively obscure.

Rather than belittle the topic, and the participants, why don’t you just log off and do something else? Or just move on to the next thread...


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Everyone's cool here, except you. so maybe you should ...

[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by Coopdog

I can’t tell why you are going out of your way to belittle people who are nerding out about watches on a watch forum. I understand people get fed up with all the topics about the shortages, big premiums, and other money related stuff. I can’t understand why you are fed up with us nitpicking a subtle aspect of this one watch. That’s the entire point of forums like this - to find people who share interests that are relatively obscure.

Rather than belittle the topic, and the participants, why don’t you just log off and do something else? Or just move on to the next thread...


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Don't worry, I'm sure he can not be serious right now.

[Seaswirl]

Do you like the watch? If so, wear it.

[Coopdog]

Yeah just gets annoying with all the trolls here.


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[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by Coopdog

Yeah just gets annoying with all the trolls here.


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So you know for sure a MK II got delivered in 2019? Maybe it was in the safe for a while waiting for the right bundle/vip situation?

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by pepsiretail

It could be. Although there were a number switched over to blue by owners of the black, your assumption of fewer WG pieces made in the one year span may be correct.

True. In europe there were many people who bought the black dial and requested blue be fitted and RSC obliged. I've seen several for sale even with the black dial as a spare.

[Coopdog]

Originally Posted by pepsiretail

So you know for sure a MK II got delivered in 2019? Maybe it was in the safe for a while waiting for the right bundle/vip situation?

I am not certain on 2019 but I highly suspect it since I’ve seen pictures that look very Mk1 from watches delivered in 2019. I am 100% positive on December 2018 because my own watch was dated 12/10/18. It originally went through Asia. It is possible other countries got later shipments that then trickled into the secondary market.


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[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by inadeje

True. In europe there were many people who bought the black dial and requested blue be fitted and RSC obliged. I've seen several for sale even with the black dial as a spare.

Intersting. Rolex let them keep the black dial?

I also heard, probably somewhere on this forum, that Europeans had an easier time changing them before Rolex apparently stopped allowing it, although some in North America were able to.

[TswaneNguni]

Originally Posted by pepsiretail

It just seems likely to be the future holy grail of steel sports Rolex.

Could be.15-20 years from now the vintage market may love it.