The GMT-Master II shows a second time zone on a rotating 24-hour bezel, and the two-tone bezel is what gives each version its personality. Originally the two colors marked daytime and nighttime hours so a pilot could tell at a glance whether it was day or night at home. Today the colors are the fastest way to tell GMTs apart across a room, and they drive much of the difference in price between otherwise identical watches.
Here is every color you are likely to see, with the reference suffixes Rolex uses and the nicknames collectors use.
How do the Rolex bezel suffixes work?
Rolex adds letters to the reference number to describe the bezel. They are abbreviations of French color names:
| Suffix | French | Colors | Nickname |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLRO | bleu, rouge | Blue and red | Pepsi |
| BLNR | bleu, noir | Blue and black | Batman, Batgirl |
| GRNR | gris, noir | Grey and black | Bruce Wayne |
| VTNR | vert, noir | Green and black | Sprite |
| CHNR | chocolat, noir | Brown and black | Root Beer |
| LN | lunette noire | All black | Black GMT |
So 126710BLRO reads as the current steel GMT-Master II (126710) with a blue and red bezel. For more on the digits in front of the suffix, see Rolex reference numbers explained.
Pepsi: blue and red
The original GMT colors, used on the first GMT-Master in 1954. Modern ceramic Pepsis are the steel 126710BLRO, on a Jubilee or Oyster bracelet, and white gold references such as the 116719BLRO and 126719BLRO. Red ceramic was technically hard to produce, which is why the first ceramic Pepsi appeared in white gold in 2014 before the steel model arrived in 2018. Read the full story in our Pepsi guide.
Batman and Batgirl: blue and black
The 116710BLNR of 2013 was the first steel Rolex with a two-color ceramic bezel, on an Oyster bracelet. Its successor, the 126710BLNR, launched on a Jubilee bracelet and is widely called the “Batgirl”. The suffix is the same for both. We compare them in Batman vs Batgirl.
Bruce Wayne: grey and black
Introduced in 2024 as the 126710GRNR, the grey and black bezel is the most understated two-tone GMT, a quieter cousin of the Batman. The nickname nods to Batman’s alter ego. It has quickly become a favorite for buyers who want the GMT function without bright colors.
Root Beer: brown and black
A revival of the brown vintage GMTs of the 1970s, especially the two-tone 1675/3. Modern versions are the 126711CHNR in Everose Rolesor, steel with Everose gold, and the 126715CHNR in solid Everose gold. The warm brown pairs naturally with rose gold, and the Rolesor version is one of the most wearable two-tone Rolex sports watches.
Sprite: green and black
The 126720VTNR, launched in 2022, pairs a green and black bezel with a left-hand case: the crown and date sit on the left side of the watch. It is designed for right-wrist wearers but many others wear it too. See our Sprite guide.
Coke: red and black
Found on earlier aluminum-bezel references, notably the first GMT-Master II, the 16760, and some 16710s. It is not part of the current ceramic lineup. Because 16710 inserts are interchangeable, some watches have been switched between Pepsi, Coke and black over the years, so an original insert is worth confirming.
All black: the LN GMT
The 116710LN, with a single-color black ceramic bezel, was made from 2007 to 2019 and is the most understated ceramic GMT. It is also one of the best-value modern GMT-Master II watches pre-owned. Black was also offered on precious-metal references such as the 116718LN in yellow gold.
How do the colors affect price?
In steel, the bezel color is one of the largest price drivers between otherwise identical watches. The Pepsi has generally commanded the highest price among steel GMTs, followed by the Sprite and Batman variants, with the Bruce Wayne and black models often more accessible. Rolesor and gold versions such as the Root Beer are priced by their metal. Demand shifts over time, and our live table below shows our current asking prices; every example we have is on the pre-owned GMT-Master II page.
Does the bezel color change how the watch wears?
Not physically, but visually, yes. Bright combinations like the Pepsi and Sprite read as casual and playful; darker combinations like the Batman, Bruce Wayne and black LN look more formal and pair more easily with business clothes. Root Beer in Everose Rolesor is the warmest and dressiest of the sports GMTs. If this will be your only watch, a darker bezel is usually the most versatile choice.
Which bezel colors suit which metals?
Rolex pairs colors and metals deliberately. Blue and red appears on steel and white gold; brown and black on Everose; blue and black, grey and black and green and black on steel. Two-tone yellow Rolesor GMTs, such as the 126713GRNR, pair grey and black with yellow gold for a vintage-inspired look, and earlier yellow Rolesor models used black or brown and black. If you want a particular color in gold, check which references actually exist before searching, because many combinations were never made.
How to read a GMT bezel at a glance
The lighter half of a two-tone bezel usually covers the daytime hours, from 6 to 18, and the darker half the night, from 18 to 6. On a Pepsi the red covers day and the blue covers night; on a Batman the blue covers day and the black night. It is a small detail, but it is what makes the watch instantly readable when you glance at home time across time zones.
Ceramic vs aluminum bezels
Modern GMTs use Cerachrom, Rolex’s ceramic, which is highly scratch-resistant and does not fade in sunlight. It can chip if knocked hard against something. Older references like the 16710 use aluminum inserts, which scratch and fade over time into softer tones that many collectors love. Replacement aluminum inserts are common, so on a vintage or five-digit GMT the insert’s originality affects value.
What should you check when comparing GMTs?
Within one color, compare bracelet (Oyster or Jubilee), metal, generation and card date. Six-digit references starting 1267 are the current calibre 3285 generation; references starting 1167 use the calibre 3186; five-digit references use the 3185 or 3186. Our GMT-Master II buying guide covers condition checks in detail, and our Pepsi collection shows the most requested color in stock.
Frequently asked questions
Which GMT-Master II bezel color is the most popular?
The Pepsi, blue and red, is historically the most sought after, followed by the blue and black Batman. Newer colors such as the Sprite and Bruce Wayne have built strong followings since their launches.
What does LN mean on a Rolex GMT?
LN stands for lunette noire, French for black bezel. On a GMT-Master II such as the 116710LN, it means a single-color black 24-hour bezel.
Can I change the bezel color on my GMT?
On older aluminum-bezel models the insert can be replaced, but a non-original insert lowers collector value and should be disclosed when selling. Ceramic bezels are not designed to be swapped between colors.
Why is the Pepsi more expensive than the Batman?
Demand. The two watches are mechanically identical, but the blue and red bezel is the original GMT color scheme and has the stronger collector following.
