PHOTO COURTESY OF ROLEX
Over the years, the GMT-Master II emerged as one of Rolex’s key professional timepieces, standing proudly amongst true icons. Alongside the Cosmograph Daytona, Submariner, Sea-Dweller, Deepsea, Yacht-Master, Explorer and Air-King, it defines purpose-driven watchmaking.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROLEX
Thanks to a dedicated 24-hour hand and rotatable bezel, the GMT-Master II reads two time zones effortlessly. With fresh colours and variations arriving regularly, consider this a timely refresher before Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026.
01 - Launched in 1955, the original GMT-Master debuted during aviation’s second golden age. As long-haul flights shrank the world, Rolex redefined travel timekeeping. The watch emerged as a functional response to a society newly connected across continents.
02 - Famously worn by Pan Am (short for Pan American World Airways) flight crews, the timepiece soon became the aeronautical watch of choice. It naturally found favour amongst frequent flyers and globetrotters alike. The name ‘GMT’ references Greenwich Mean Time, established in 1884 as the world’s timekeeping anchor.
03 - In 1982, Rolex introduced a defining update with an independent hour hand. This allowed local time adjustments in one-hour jumps without having to stop the watch. Meanwhile, the 24-hour hand remained fixed to home time for instant dual-time reading.
04 - Rolex’s mastery of materials shines through the Cerachrom bezel, which was first fitted on the GMT-Master II. After years of research, the brand perfected a monobloc, two-colour high-tech ceramic insert. Iconic versions followed, including black-and-blue ‘Batman’ in 2013 and red-and-blue ‘Pepsi’ in 2014, all scratch-resistant and UV-proof.
05 - The aesthetic evolution continued into 2025 with a green ceramic dial on the white gold GMT-Master II ‘Destro’. Paired with a green-and-black bezel, the look feels boldly cohesive. Notably, it marked Rolex’s first dial crafted entirely from ceramic.
06 - Rolex optimised the bidirectional bezel using a trigonal spring for crisp, precise clicks. Each rotation locks confidently into one of 24 positions. The engraved numerals are moulded into ceramic, then coated with a contrasting precious metal like yellow gold, pink gold or platinum.
07 - Versatility defines the GMT-Master II, with options of two iconic bracelet styles. The Oyster delivers sporty robustness with curved three-piece links. Meanwhile, the Jubilee offers supple comfort through five-piece links. Both feature the patented Oysterlock safety clasp and Easylink extension for everyday adaptability.
08 - Entry-level models arrive in Oystersteel, while elevated versions appear in full 18K gold. Options include white, yellow and Everose gold. Select references feature meteorite or tiger iron dials, while Rolesor combines steel and gold into a balanced pairing of form and function.
09 - Every GMT-Master II comes equipped with a Chromalight display and the signature Cyclops lens. Thus legibility remains excellent day or night. Powering it all is Calibre 3285, delivering strong magnetic resistance, high energy efficiency and a robust 70-hour power reserve.
10 - In Singapore, there’s been a slight update to Rolex prices for 2026. The GMT-Master II in Oystersteel starts from SGD16,600, going up to SGD17,400 for the left-handed ‘Destro’. The Everose Rolesor and Yellow Rolesor come in at SGD27,600 and SGD28,100 respectively, while the full-gold versions start at SGD68,200.
