GMT Master Original Colors

[jshepard]

I've been drooling all over pics of the Sub ND for a while now and I'm almost ready to make a purchase but now the GMT Master II caught my eye. Now I'm leaning towards a GMT. I was wondering what was the original bezel color when the GMT Master first came out in 1954. Was it the Pepsi, the Coke or the Black bezel? Or did it come in different colors? Thanks!

[ecsub44]

Pepsi & Coke.

[jshepard]

Nice! Thanks!

[bondtoys]

Pepsi!

The red/ black combo has been introduced with the GMT II in the mid 80s

[jshepard]

Ah ok! Thanks! I'm just trying to figure out which I want, I like them all so I'm thinking of ways to narrow it down, maybe other criteria like history and significance might help narrow it down.

[MP5]

Pepsi the black and coke WAAAY later

[joe100]

Red/blue was first, black didnt come out until the 1970s, and coke first came on the 16760 GMT 2 in the 80s

[ecsub44]

The 6542 (produced from 1954 to 1959) came with a black/red Bakelite bezel insert or blue/red.

[errol0_7]

good question, Ive learned something today. thanks TRF

[MP5]

Originally Posted by ecsub44

The 6542 (produced from 1954 to 1959) came with a black/red Bakelite bezel insert or blue/red.

Any link to that? Some of the Pepsi bakelites have a really dark color but they were blue

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by jshepard

Ah ok! Thanks! I'm just trying to figure out which I want, I like them all so I'm thinking of ways to narrow it down, maybe other criteria like history and significance might help narrow it down.

It's so easy to pick up and change the different inserts, that your primary concern should be getting the best watch possible. After that, you can get all three.

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by MP5

Any link to that? Some of the Pepsi bakelites have a really dark color but they were blue

http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2009/1...ongs-coke.html

http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2009/0...-comes-to.html

"The Coke Rolex GMT Master [Reference 6542] that Pussy Galore wore in Goldfinger is pictured below on her wrist, so of course when I noticed Eric Ku had one, I had to put in on the strap as seen above."

And an iPhone App I have about the history of the GMT. It shows/states "Coke" for Bakelite bezel inserts.

[jshepard]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

It's so easy to pick up and change the different inserts, that your primary concern should be getting the best watch possible. After that, you can get all three.

Yeah I've seen people on YouTube change the bezel. I worry that it may cause the bezel to loosen after a while. People just use a knife to pop it open, I imagine that's just an improvised method. Is that how they would do it if you take it to a watchmaker or do they actually have special tools to get the bezel off without the risk of damage?

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by jshepard

Yeah I've seen people on YouTube change the bezel. I worry that it may cause the bezel to loosen after a while. People just use a knife to pop it open, I imagine that's just an improvised method. Is that how they would do it if you take it to a watchmaker or do they actually have special tools to get the bezel off without the risk of damage?

A watch maker would pop off the bezel using, probably, a dull knife-like tool. They would then pop the insert out with their hand. The empty bezel would be snapped on and the new insert popped in. That's what the RSC did when I swapped out my last insert.

[jshepard]

Can you differentiate which bezel the watch came with originally on the GMT? For example for the sub the 116610LV is green and the LN is black. Would it be in the serial number as opposed to the model number? How could I tell if the seller didn't just switch the bezel out cause I wanted a certain color?

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by jshepard

Can you differentiate which bezel the watch came with originally on the GMT? For example for the sub the 116610LV is green and the LN is black. Would it be in the serial number as opposed to the model number? How could I tell if the seller didn't just switch the bezel out cause I wanted a certain color?

I believe that the original bezel color in noted on either the warranty paper (for older watches) or one the hang tags - I can't remember which, but I know I was able to see what "color" my watch was originally. I do know, however, that you can't tell by model number or anything obvious from the serial.

[joe100]

Originally Posted by ecsub44

http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2009/1...ongs-coke.html

http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2009/0...-comes-to.html

"The Coke Rolex GMT Master [Reference 6542] that Pussy Galore wore in Goldfinger is pictured below on her wrist, so of course when I noticed Eric Ku had one, I had to put in on the strap as seen above."

And an iPhone App I have about the history of the GMT. It shows/states "Coke" for Bakelite bezel inserts.

That is a misconception. The blue Bakelite tended to be dark or darken over time. TRB is a great source of info but he's not always 100% correct. Also, an iphone app really cant be counted either. The coke bezel was introduced on the 16760 and not the 6542.

It's just a very dark blue.

[MP5]

Originally Posted by ecsub44

http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2009/1...ongs-coke.html

http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2009/0...-comes-to.html

"The Coke Rolex GMT Master [Reference 6542] that Pussy Galore wore in Goldfinger is pictured below on her wrist, so of course when I noticed Eric Ku had one, I had to put in on the strap as seen above."

And an iPhone App I have about the history of the GMT. It shows/states "Coke" for Bakelite bezel inserts.

Sorry the first link is WRONG and if you can't tell that second link is blue you need a retina or oled screen.