Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi”

Few Rolex watches carry the cultural and collecting significance of the GMT-Master “Pepsi.” Its story begins in 1955 with the reference 6542, developed for Pan Am pilots at the dawn of the jet age. The red-and-blue 24-hour bezel was originally a functional tool, allowing pilots to distinguish day from night while tracking a second time zone. The 6542 established the visual language that would define the GMT-Master family, followed by the enduring 1675, one of Rolex’s most important vintage sports references. The 16750 introduced a quick-set date, before the GMT-Master II 16710 arrived in 1989 with an independently adjustable hour hand, transforming the watch into an even more capable traveller’s instrument. For collectors, these generations represent an important evolution in Rolex design, engineering and aviation heritage.

The modern Pepsi story began with the 116719BLRO, introduced in 2014 as an 18-carat white-gold GMT-Master II with a Cerachrom ceramic bezel. In 2018, Rolex brought the iconic colour combination back to stainless steel with the 126710BLRO, initially paired with the Jubilee bracelet, with an Oyster bracelet option subsequently introduced. Today, the Pepsi occupies a rare position in Rolex collecting: immediately recognisable, historically significant and continuously connected to its original purpose. From the aluminium bezel of the 6542 to the virtually scratch-resistant Cerachrom bezel of the 126710BLRO, its evolution reflects more than seven decades of Rolex innovation. It is an Icon because few watches have achieved such a powerful combination of history, design, technical significance and enduring collector demand.