Gold rush: Rolex reintroduces the GMT-Master II in solid yellow gold and two-tone
D.C. Hannay- The Rolex GMT-Master II is reintroduced in yellow gold and two-tone for Watches & Wonders 2023.
- Brand new is a bicolour black and grey Cerachrom bezel.
- The beloved Jubilee bracelet gets the Midas touch.
The Pepsi. The Rootbeer. The Batman. Can I suggest “Goldfinger” as the latest Rolex GMT-Master II variant nickname? Honor Blackman wore an original GMT-Master in the James Bond classic, Goldfinger, and this version would have certainly been on brand for her evil boss. Also worn by the likes of Clint Eastwood, and the man who broke the sound barrier, General Chuck Yeager, the GMT-Master needs little introduction. But Rolex is reintroducing yellow gold to the lineup for W&W 2023, and on a Jubilee, no less!
The latest version of the GMT-Master II now comes in your choice of statement-making solid yellow gold, as well as Rolesor, Rolex’s trademark for steel/yellow gold models. Solid gold GMT-Masters have always been a baller choice, and this new rebirth is no exception. It has mammoth wrist presence, even though its dimensions aren’t particularly oversized. It’s got the same 40mm diameter and case height of 11.9mm as before, but a yellow gold Rolex is one of the biggest sticks in a forest of iconic watches.
Both the full gold and Rolesor versions get a new Cerachrom ceramic bidirectional bezel, in day/night grey and black with gold infilled numerals. The bezel colours work especially well on the two-tone version, with the grey picking up the steel tones quite nicely. The handset is also gold, including the GMT hand, which looks great against the jet-black dial. The whole affair has a real John Player Special thing going on, and I’m a fan.
That bezel makes it easy to track two time zones, in conjunction with the GMT hours hand, making the GMT-Master II ideal for travelers. As with all Rolex calibres, the 3285 movement is Superlative Chronometer certified, with +2/-2 seconds per day accuracy, and it features a power reserve of 70 hours. Water resistance is 100 metres, so going for a dip when you reach your destination is no problem.
And great news for Jubilee fans: the new releases come standard with the gold standard in super-comfy Rolex bracelets. As with many modern Rolex bracelets, it gets the Easylink extension feature and Oysterlock safety clasp.
The time zone-hopping legend got its start as a watch made for Pan-Am pilots, but it’s become de rigueur among the jet set, and one of the most coveted among Rolex’s highly desirable references. I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that these golden gods will be as popular as the models already available, so be prepared to wait for yours.
Rolex GMT-Master II pricing and availability:
The Rolex GMT-Master II is available now. Price: CHF15,700 (Rolesor), CHF37,100 (yellow gold)
| Brand | Rolex |
| Model | GMT-Master II |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 11.9mm (T) |
| Case Material | 18k yellow gold, Rolesor (stainless/gold) |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
| Dial | Black |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Bracelet | Jubilee in 18k gold, Rolesor |
| Movement | Calibre 3285 |
| Power Reserve | 70 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | CHF15,700 (Rolesor), CHF37,100 (yellow gold) |