Has Rolex painted themselves into a corner?

[Roll the Lex]

I think if Rolex wanted to make the 5 digit red and blue in ceramic they could. They wanted it this way and some of like it- although a whole lot of us are going to like it even more when it is released, and even more are going to like it with the hodinkee bump.




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[Bt122]

I’m a little surprise at this talk of not being able to make colors...

I’m not trying to be mean but that is silly. The color brilliance is driven by tiO2 which allows for light to refrac off the base which allows for the true color to shine through. TiO2 is in everything.

Rolex chose these colors. This is not because they couldn’t match the blue and red.

[FTX I]

Even black has the same 'problem' with ceramic. 5 digit black insert is much more vivid than the ceramic insert.

[jaisonline]

100% agree with everything you typed.

Originally Posted by Glidelock

This is a non issue for Rolex specifically, as they will just just simply start phasing the perceived improved color way into the market place as they slowly phase out the older less perfected one! They have done this over and over with bezels and dials over the years! A perfect example of this is the lighter Lime Green bezels of the 16610 LV’s that slowly were phased out to a much darker and shade of green in the later models! And...I’m sure that the result of this will be the Pink and Purple original Ceramic version of the Pepsi watches will become coveted over night!

[Colin10101]

Rolex models are always evolving and changing, its part of their life cycle. There is no evidence to say that Rolex was trying to match the previous version's colour scheme for this iteration. I think once people separate the past from the present, they will enjoy the model more.

[jaisonline]

Originally Posted by FTX I

Even black has the same 'problem' with ceramic. 5 digit black insert is much more vivid than the ceramic insert.

Yes. Only because the ceramic bezels have an automotive clear-coat paint type of effect. All their ceramic bezels have this “look” , green, red, blue, black, etc... the shade of darkness depends on the angle it’s viewed at.

On a separate note unrelated to the member's quote I used here, I don't get the big deal about the bezel color differences. All 5 and 6 digit non-black colored bezels still “pop” against WG and SS. The BLRO is stunning in-person so I expect the SS version to be the same...well maybe slightly less since the Jubliee bracket itself “pops” and takes a little away from the bezel.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

maybe they are not trying to win over aluminum bezel pepsi owners who for the most part probably prefer vintage anyway if they still wear theirs. Maybe they are trying to win over those who wouldn't buy an aluminum bezel Pepsi because the colors are too loud.

"for the most part"??

Who do you suppose bought all the thousands, and thousands of
Brand New Pepsi's and Coke's over the last five or six decades?
Too loud, PAH!

If Rolex HAD been able to replicate the original, beautiful, vibrant colours, the
scramble for the new model, would, I think be even more frantic.

I also believe that the 'pastel shades' of the WG GMT Bezel, held back, the sales.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Lt Virgil Hilts

"for the most part"??

Who do you suppose bought all the thousands, and thousands of
Brand New Pepsi's and Coke's over the last five or six decades?
Too loud, PAH!

If Rolex HAD been able to replicate the original, beautiful, vibrant colours, the
scramble for the new model, would, I think be even more frantic.

I also believe that the 'pastel shades' of the WG GMT Bezel, held back, the sales.

for some maybe. Its the only pepsi i would buy. I wouldn't even consider one with the color shade of the aluminum. If Rolex wanted everyone to buy every one of their watches the AK would not exist. The assumption that appealing to everyone is the goal isnt supported by what Rolex releases generally. OF watches, YMII, Sky Dweller, Explorer II etc.

[busytimmy]

Originally Posted by Shamorai

Who says they tried to make the same colors as the 5 digit?
It is what it is.

Rolex did.

Look at their website and how the BLRO is depicted. The colours look like actual red and blue. Then look at the product. Simple, right?


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[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by busytimmy

Rolex did.

Look at their website and how the BLRO is depicted. The colours look like actual red and blue. Then look at the product. Simple, right?


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im sure its the first watch in history that looks different in promotional pics than in real life

Its no surprise to anyone who has tried on and liked the WG BLRO. Its been available to view in the flesh for quite some time. Plenty of owners here and plenty of fans here as well.

[busytimmy]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

Erm: who actually said that Rolex were trying to recreate Pepsi colours? All they are doing is producing a coloured bezel for a watch, it's you guys that are comparing the colour shades to another brand?? This is daft. Rolex have no affiliation with sugary drinks manufactures (or Marvel comics?).

It's a watch with a coloured bezel. They never said it was Pepsi.

It’s really not that difficult.

Look at the Rolex website and how the BLRO is depicted there. The colours look like actual red and blue. This shows Rolex intention and clearly the product doesn’t appear as the marketing materials would have you believe.


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[AK797]

It's called the BLRO meaning it is meant to be blue and red, it could easily have been named after the French for purple of navy blue, just as the brown on the new GMT is chosen to be Chocolat. I'm sure Rolex have been giving the insert the old college try for a few years now but this is the best rendition they have and I don't think any more R&D will be spent on it, esp when they see the waiting lists already.

[busytimmy]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

im sure its the first watch in history that looks different in promotional pics than in real life

Its no surprise to anyone who has tried on and liked the WG BLRO. Its been available to view in the flesh for quite some time. Plenty of owners here and plenty of fans here as well.

It’s very obvious that Rolex didn’t intend to make a purple/cranberry GMT master. The whole watch is homage to the original in a way, and the pictures and marketing material are aligned to this intention. If they’d wanted to make the colours new/unlike the “Pepsi” colour scheme, then I’m sure the digital images on the website would look much, much closer to the colours of the bezel. This whole thing is so cringe worthy, to be honest. If people like the purple/cranberry, more power to them. But please don’t say it’s a Pepsi, or at least admit Rolex didn’t get the colours right if you do believe it to be a “Pepsi”.


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[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Shamorai

Who says they tried to make the same colors as the 5 digit?
It is what it is.

I tend to agree with this

I can’t wait to see it in the metal.

[Bt122]

After reading this, I’m going to give up my spot on the waiting list. I’m going to call my AD NOW

[meganfox17]

For God's Sake, it's just a patented modern interpretation of the bicoloured ceramicised bezel, it's not like Rolex had mistakenly circumcised the watch head...

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by busytimmy

It’s very obvious that Rolex didn’t intend to make a purple/cranberry GMT master. The whole watch is homage to the original in a way, and the pictures and marketing material are aligned to this intention. If they’d wanted to make the colours new/unlike the “Pepsi” colour scheme, then I’m sure the digital images on the website would look much, much closer to the colours of the bezel. This whole thing is so cringe worthy, to be honest. If people like the purple/cranberry, more power to them. But please don’t say it’s a Pepsi, or at least admit Rolex didn’t get the colours right if you do believe it to be a “Pepsi”.


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please clarify what original red/blue bezel GMT are you referring to? Its not the aluminum pepsi, that came after the original.

I agree the new BLRO is a homage in a sense to the original... the bakelite bezel. The current BLRO is far closer to that than the version that came after.

[busytimmy]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

please clarify what original red/blue bezel GMT are you referring to? Its not the aluminum pepsi.

I think it’s pretty obvious we’re comparing the new ceramic “Pepsi” with the pan am blue/red “Pepsi” with aluminium bezel. Perhaps ‘original’ is not the best choice of word, but I’m not interested in arguing semantics of this any further.

What I see is lately on this forum is a lot of fanboys getting out of shape when someone levels a fair criticism at the watch they are perhaps “on the list” for. There will always be people who blindly adore and approve of anything Rolex does does or produces. Again, if you like the new Pepsi, more power to you. I’ve certainly got nothing against it besides the fact people are calling this blue/red because they so badly want it to be.

Full disclosure, I’ve never owned a Pepsi gmt master, but if I were to consider it, I’d definitely go for the icon. I’ll let you decide which one that is.


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[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by busytimmy

I think it’s pretty obvious we’re comparing the new ceramic “Pepsi” with the pan am blue/red “Pepsi” with aluminium bezel. Perhaps ‘original’ is not the best choice of word, but I’m not interested in arguing semantics of this any further.

What I see is lately on this forum is a lot of fanboys getting out of shape when someone levels a fair criticism at the watch they are perhaps “on the list” for. There will always be people who blindly adore and approve of anything Rolex does does or produces. Again, if you like the new Pepsi, more power to you. I’ve certainly got nothing against it besides the fact people are calling this blue/red because they so badly want it to be.

Full disclosure, I’ve never owned a Pepsi gmt master, but if I were to consider it, I’d definitely go for the icon. I’ll let you decide which one that is.


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if you read the forum at all, im plenty critical of Rolex.

[busytimmy]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

if you read the forum at all, im plenty critical of Rolex.

I forgot to comment on your bit about the new gmt being homage to be Bakelite. I get it... but again, Rolex shows the colours are blue/red really clearly on their website and all marketing material. Additionally, nowhere have I read on official Rolex material that this new GMT is in some way a homage to the Bakelite. Personally I feel this espoused by the community as a way to justify the colours not being red/blue (again, as intended and as per the Rolex website).

And yes, I’ve not had any other instances of a watch looking vastly different in real life when compared with its online depiction. Look the the BLNR, for instance. The blue on the Pepsi GMT is the same blue as what is depicted for the BLNR. Yet irl they are totally different to one another. Need I go on?


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[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by busytimmy

I forgot to comment on your bit about the new gmt being homage to be Bakelite. I get it... but again, Rolex shows the colours are blue/red really clearly on their website and all marketing material. Additionally, nowhere have I read on official Rolex material that this new GMT is in some way a homage to the Bakelite. Personally I feel this espoused by the community as a way to justify the colours not being red/blue (again, as intended and as per the Rolex website).

And yes, I’ve not had any other instances of a watch looking vastly different in real life when compared with the online depiction.


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i agree IRL its not the same as pics. Its the same as the WG and i have seen that many times.

Its just odd to me that colors are such an issue. People who don't like the AK, just don't like the AK. There isnt this constant need to criticize it. They move on and buy something else.

With the BLRO its like the people who don't like it have to constantly drive home the fact they don't like it. So this is very different to other love it or hate it watches. Maybe its disappointment because people wanted to to sing to them and it doesnt... who knows.

[busytimmy]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

i agree IRL its not the same as pics. Its the same as the WG and i have seen that many times.



Its just odd to me that colors are such an issue. People who don't like the AK, just don't like the AK. There isnt this constant need to criticize it. They move on and buy something else.



With the BLRO its like the people who don't like it have to constantly drive home the fact they don't like it. So this is very different to other love it or hate it watches. Maybe its disappointment because people wanted to to sing to them and it doesnt... who knows.

Fair point. I agree, maybe it’s a bit of both. “Pepsi” invokes a lot of emotion for Rolex nerds, and for good reason. I think most folks who really loved the older Pepsi are just disappointed and venting.


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[chloebear]

Originally Posted by David Park

Forgive me.... but I am somewhat confused. Why is the 5 digit GMT Master supposed to have "the true" pepsi colours..?

Here is my 4 digit GMT Master which I have worn since 1969, where the colours are Fuchsia/Magenta, and midnight blue, that are hardly 'pepsi' colours.

I think that Rolex never had consistent "true" colours for the GMT Master.

That is awesome...Same watch since 1969 and it looks amazing!

[watchwatcher]

Your statement assumes that Rolex is going to continue to work on the bezel issue. One could also argue pretty convincingly that Rolex has developed a color solution for the red blue bezel and they are satisfied with the results.

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

i agree IRL its not the same as pics. Its the same as the WG and i have seen that many times.

Its just odd to me that colors are such an issue. People who don't like the AK, just don't like the AK. There isnt this constant need to criticize it. They move on and buy something else.

With the BLRO its like the people who don't like it have to constantly drive home the fact they don't like it. So this is very different to other love it or hate it watches. Maybe its disappointment because people wanted to to sing to them and it doesnt... who knows.

It's how people say the pink/purple was completely intentional and just different. Even bringing up the bakelite bezel or lately fuschia faded aluminium in defence of it. Neither were a consideration, they just can't do blro ceramic without the blurple pink side effect. This is the Rolex forum - what Rolex does will be held up to scrutiny.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by David Park

Forgive me.... but I am somewhat confused. Why is the 5 digit GMT Master supposed to have "the true" pepsi colours..?

Here is my 4 digit GMT Master which I have worn since 1969, where the colours are Fuchsia/Magenta, and midnight blue, that are hardly 'pepsi' colours.

I think that Rolex never had consistent "true" colours for the GMT Master.

Beautiful watch

[Speedbird-1]

Rolex's GMT.
Daytona aside, is probably their most iconic, most copied watch. I would think there is hardly a watchmaker in the world that makes a 'sports/professional/divers' type of timepiece, that hasn't made something similar with a RED AND BLUE bezel. Rolex for all I know weren't the first with this, but they certainly made it their own. As we all know, the GMT has been a well loved, design icon for many, many years. I'm not convinced the new 'lipstick' colours in the latest iteration, will endear buyers, new or old, in the same way, for the next 60 years.
That red and blue bezel IS the GMT.

[jets]

Originally Posted by bjw

With all the talk of the "off" colors of current 6 digit BLRO, the general consensus is that current method and technology is unable to make the colors true to its 5 digit predecessor so Rolex got as close as it could. If that is the case, what would happen if the research and development dept finally perfected the technique of producing a true Red/Blue color combo of the original PEPSI? Imagine, they they are - finally being able to produce a perfect Red/Blue ceramic bezel, but they can't do anything with it. To do so would be denouncing there own product, the WG and SS "pink/purple" ceramic bezel.

This is why, IMHO, there will never be a "perfect" BLRO color bezel in ceramic form Rolex. And why no-one should be expecting one in the future.

Is a guards red 911 is less of a Porsche than a carmine red 911? Your argument is flawed in that 'perfect' is in the eye of the beholder. Imagine trying to tell a time traveling WIS from 1925 that this watch is not perfect because the colors are a different shade than a previous model. This whole argument is sort of silly and after all the years of wondering if they'll release a steel Pepsi people dwell on this kind of thing. For all we know they did get the colours right and decided to keep it the same since the WG BLRO was already in the wild creating a myriad of brand perception problems. The watch will be a stunner and if you don't like it than there's two other flavours in steel. Besides, most people will agree that the difference is only really apparent when a 5 and 6 digit are side by side.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by jets

Is a guards red 911 is less of a Porsche than a carmine red 911? Your argument is flawed in that 'perfect' is in the eye of the beholder. Imagine trying to tell a time traveling WIS from 1925 that this watch is not perfect because the colors are a different shade than a previous model. This whole argument is sort of silly and after all the years of wondering if they'll release a steel Pepsi people dwell on this kind of thing. For all we know they did get the colours right and decided to keep it the same since the WG BLRO was already in the wild creating a myriad of brand perception problems. The watch will be a stunner and if you don't like it than there's two other flavours in steel. Besides, most people will agree that the difference is only really apparent when a 5 and 6 digit are side by side.

I seem to remember reading here ages ago, that Rolex were struggling
to attain the preferred hues and had been, for some time.
The 'Lipstick' shades appear to be their best effort.

"Close enough, for Government Work", maybe.

[Chrislec]

I guess it's easy for them to produce more vivid colors. Christopher Ward does it on their GMT red ceramic bezel, which pops in real life in a more saturated vivid way than the BLRO (I had the chance to see both)

So it's possible. It looks like Rolex purposely chose to do it in a different way than the original.