Rolex - Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II Ref. 116719BLRO

0 0 Thursday, 3 April 2014 Edit this post

Together with the new Cellini collection and the Sea-Dweller 4000, the Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II with red and blue ceramic bezel is the other big Rolex novelty at Baselworld 2014.

Many fans of the so-called Pepsi version of the GMT-Master II were waiting for this model but creating this two-colour ceramic bezel was not a simple task for Rolex.

Not only red is an extremely difficult colour to obtain in ceramic but it is even more complex to ensure a sharp, precise and clear demarcation between the two coloured areas.

Finally, Rolex found a way to locally modify the chemical composition of each grain, right to the core of the ceramic, and change the colour of half the insert from red to blue.

The resulting bulk-coloured, single-piece Cerachrom insert is red for the hours between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and blue for the hours between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The engraved numerals and graduations are coated with a thin layer of platinum via a PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) process patented by Rolex.

Not only aesthetically appealing, this bezel, whose colours are unaffected by ultraviolet rays, offers exceptional scratch and corrosion resistance.

This iconic Rolex model, first introduced in 1955, allows the wearer to read the time in two time zones simultaneously thanks to the rotatable 24-hour graduated bezel and the additional hand that circles the dial once every 24 hours.

The 40 mm satin-brushed and polished Oyster case is available in white gold only, at the moment. The Rolex GMT-Master II (ref. 116719BLRO) is waterproof to 100 metres (330 feet).