You’d be hard pressed to find a watch enthusiast or investment buyer who isn’t familiar with the Rolex brand. Not only is Rolex underpinned by quality craftsmanship and high prices, but the exclusivity of every model and release means that very few people get to call themselves Rolex owners.
Perhaps one of the most interesting things about Rolex and its pool of buyers isn’t so much the specific model that they choose but rather their reason behind the choice. Despite all Rolex watches and timepieces being impeccably stylish and elegant, some of the leading models boast functions well beyond the watch face – with the GMT Master II just one of the models that falls under the Professional range.
Built with travel in mind, the GMT Master II soon became the favoured watch among pilots and frequent travellers – owing as much to its dual function as to its timeless aesthetic.
Inspiration Behind the GMT Master II
The Rolex GMT Master II is a direct descendant of the GMT Master watch, which was released in 1954, and which quickly became famous for its ability to display the time in two different time zones on one single watch face.
The GMT Master didn’t just fall into the laps of pilots and travellers – it was in fact designed with them in mind. A major marketing push on the part of Rolex, this timepiece was built to be worn by Pan American Airlines pilots, allowing them to quickly read the time at home and in their travel destination. In the words of Captain Warren, who piloted the first ever non-stop transatlantic flight between New York and Moscow, “The flight itself was navigated by Rolex”.
More on how this feature works in the next section – but first, how did the GMT Master give way to the more modern GMT Master II?
The GMT Master II was released to the market in 1983 and boasted both technical and aesthetic upgrades to the design and build of the watch face. Under the new model, the main hour hand could be adjusted without affecting the minute or second hands, enabling swifter time adjustments and the inclusion of a third time zone if required. The colour palette also changed, moving away from the blue and red of Pan American Airlines and into a new era, with red for daytime hours and black for the nighttime hours. Finally, the mechanics inside the watch were upgraded to facilitate smoother and even more precise time tracking – crucial for pilots and travellers alike.
Top Features of the Rolex GMT Master II
The most notable visual difference between the Rolex GMT Master and the GMT Master II is, at least initially, the colour palette and structure of the bezel.
However, when we talk about the leading features of the GMT Master II, in an effort to understand its popularity and underlying functional benefits, we need to focus on the watch face. The face boasts the standard 12-hour markers and a date window at the three o’ clock position. The outer bezel is separated into the red and black segments, with 24-hour markers to indicate a 24-hour clock. The hand with the arrow on the watch face reads this 24-hour clock and embodies the second time zone.
The third time zone comes from the aforementioned technical upgrade enjoyed by the GMT Master II, which disconnects the arrowed hand from the GMT Master hand to represent a third local time.
As time went on, trends changed, demand heightened, and the GMT Master II took on further adjustments to the aesthetic design and casing of different models – moving away from the black and red colouring and embracing more luxurious and classic finishes.
The most recent GMT Master II innovation at the time of writing came in 2024, when Rolex released a GMT Master II with Oystersteel case, black and grey colouring, and high-tech ceramic detailing.
Three Reasons Why Pilots and Travellers Love the GMT Master II
Now that we know a bit more about the GMT Master II, its design, and the inspiration behind it, what exactly makes it such a must-have among the travel sector – particularly pilots and first-class travellers?
1) The Multi Time Zone Function
For those who travel regularly, the ability to track and quickly read the local time in two or more locations is a huge bonus. Pilots who conduct long-haul flights on a regular basis, those who travel for work and have colleagues across different time zones, and even those who want to know the time back home where their family are, value this function.
2) The 24-Hour Dial
The 24-hour dial means that, not only can travellers read the time in different time zones, but they can also be 100% sure of the time on a 24-hour clock. When your body clock is out of sync, telling the difference between midday and midnight in a different location can be challenging – but the GMT Master II does the hard work for you.
3) The Classic Rolex Design and Aesthetic
We can’t discuss the popularity of any Rolex model without touching on its leading design and classic aesthetic. Despite the built-in functional benefits, every GMT Master II boasts the hallmarks of a typically stylish Rolex – making it a coveted and sought-after timepiece across all circles of buyers.
Is a GMT Master II a Good Investment?
With all this in mind, is a GMT Master II a good investment?
Owing to its extensive history, the functional benefits, and the integrated design features that have continued to evolve over the years, the GMT Master II is a great investment – whether you choose an older or more modern model.
Provided you buy from a reputable reseller with evidence of certification and all the right authentication checks, your GMT Master II will likely hold if not increase its value over time – making it a solid investment for you and for future generations.
