Rolex’s legendary GMT Master is a brilliant watch that has been around since the 1950s. It was originally developed for pilots to tell time in two time zones simultaneously, but now it is one of the most coveted luxury watches in the world. This watch is worn by some of the world’s biggest celebrities, athletes and executives – making it a symbol of success.
The model
The
Rolex Pepsi GMT Master has a sleek design with a black dial and also a timeless style that makes it stand out from other watches, as this watch has been high in the ranks among watch enthusiasts for decades. The watch case and strap are made of stainless steel and the case contains a crystal of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The GMT-Master features an automatic movement and its dial has luminescent markers and hands, either with Tritium or Luminova. The GMT-Master will definitely stand out with its 40 mm diameter case size. Wherever you go, this watch can stay on your wrist. In fact, it is water resistant up to 10 ATM, so no need to take it off for swimming or any other type of watersports. With its iconic half-red and half-blue bezel, which includes a 24-hour display, this watch will always catch the eye of other watch enthusiasts.
The history of the Rolex GMT Master
The
GMT Master was a watch that marked the beginning of intercontinental air travel. In the 1950s, people began traveling abroad by plane for the first time. That brought a huge step in accessibility between places around the world, but for pilots, the frequent switching between a second-time zone and back again also brought jet lags.
For that reason, Pan American World Airways, then America’s largest international airline, needed a wristwatch for its pilots that could display multiple time zones simultaneously. This way, crew members on longer flights would be better able to stick to home times and jet lag would have less of a chance. They approached
Rolex for help and thus the GMT Master was born. Soon it was also preferred by other airlines.
Ever since 1954, the GMT Master has been used by pilots to keep track of different time zones during long flights, making it both a practical and fashionable choice. The
Rolex Pepsi watch, equipped with a two-tone bezel, is specially designed to help pilots distinguish between day (red) and night (blue).
The nickname Pepsi and GMT
The Rolex watch capable of displaying two time zones was named GMT-Master, which refers to Greenwich Mean Time. The abbreviation “GMT” is used as a standard time indication in meteorology. Of course, the Rolex Pepsi got its name from the iconic red and blue bezel, which represents the colors of Pepsi Cola, although the inspiration still came from Pan Am, so the nickname Pepsi was added later, in the late 1960s or early 1970s, by collectors when Rolex first marketed this watch.
The difference between the GMT Master and GMT Master II
The Rolex GMT Master and
GMT Master II watches have many similarities, but there are also some distinct differences between the two. The original GMT Master was released in 1954 and featured a rotating 24-hour bezel that allowed pilots to monitor two time zones simultaneously, by means of a convenient hour hand that completes a full turn every 24 hours.
The later model, the
Rolex GMT-Master II, was introduced in 1983 and has an independently adjustable 24-hour hand (the red pointer with arrow) that allows multiple time zones to be set without interfering with the hour and minute hands. While the hour and minute hands show the time of the home country, the separate 24-hour hand and ring can show a different time zone. Rotating the bezel in either direction allows the reading of a third-time zone.
This feature of the GMT Master II required an updated movement, and to fit it into the watch, the second reference also had to be made thicker. In addition, the new version has an updated movement with greater accuracy than its predecessor. Both versions are among the most popular models among collectors today due to their unique style and historical significance.
Collector’s item
The unique half-red and half-blue color combination of the Rolex Pepsi is instantly recognizable and has made the GMT Master stand out from other watches. The Rolex Pepsi is especially sought after because it is one of the few watches that combines form and function, right from its original inception.
With its increasing popularity and superior craftsmanship, this watch has become a true icon in the world of luxury watches. When the GMT Master became available for the commercial market, it quickly became popular among the growing group of global businessmen. Because of travel, they too had to deal with the varying time zones that disrupted their circadian rhythm (the sense of day-night).
Conclusion
In short, the
Rolex Pepsi GMT Master is one of the most sought-after collectibles because of its iconic style, superior craftsmanship and historical significance. Its timeless design and unmistakable color combination make it one of the most recognizable luxury timepieces on the market today, and with its timeless design and functionality, the Rolex Pepsi is sure to be a favorite for generations to come.
Collectors around the world appreciate the unique look and value of the Pepsi GMT Master, making it an excellent addition to any watch collection. We at Langedyk Vintage Watches are happy to deliver this model to you!
