The Submariner and the GMT-Master II are Rolex’s two most popular sports watches, and they share more than they differ: steel Oyster cases around 40 mm, black dials with the same luminous markers, ceramic bezels and screw-down crowns. Many people own one and want the other. If you are choosing your first, here is how to decide.
The core difference: diving vs travel
The Submariner is a dive watch. Its unidirectional bezel is marked in minutes so a diver can time a dive safely; it can only turn one way, so an accidental knock can only shorten the remaining time, never lengthen it. It is water resistant to 300 meters.
The GMT-Master II is a travel watch. Its extra 24-hour hand and 24-hour bezel show a second time zone, and the independently adjustable hour hand makes changing local time easy. It is water resistant to 100 meters, which is ample for swimming.
Side by side
| Submariner Date 126610LN | GMT-Master II 126710 | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Diving | Tracking time zones |
| Bezel | Unidirectional, 60-minute scale | Bidirectional, 24-hour scale |
| Bezel colors | Black, green; blue on gold | Pepsi, Batman, Bruce Wayne, Sprite, Root Beer and more |
| Water resistance | 300 m | 100 m |
| Case | 41 mm | 40 mm |
| Movement | Calibre 3235 | Calibre 3285 |
| Bracelet | Oyster with Glidelock | Oyster or Jubilee with Easylink |
| No-date option | Yes (124060) | No |
A short history of each
The Submariner arrived in 1953 as a tool for the new sport of recreational scuba diving, and its design has been refined rather than reinvented ever since. The GMT-Master followed in 1954, developed for airline pilots crossing time zones, with its two-tone bezel separating day and night hours. The GMT-Master II, with its independently adjustable hour hand, arrived in the early 1980s. Both became icons far beyond their original professions, worn today far more often at dinner tables than on dive boats or flight decks.
How do the bezels feel in use?
The Submariner’s bezel turns counterclockwise only, with 120 firm clicks, and is marked for the first 15 minutes in detail. Divers set the zero marker at the minute hand to track elapsed time; everyone else uses it to time a parking meter or a boiled egg. The GMT’s bezel turns both ways with 24 clicks, one per hour, so you can offset it to read a third time zone. Both are satisfying mechanically, and both are covered by scratch-resistant ceramic inserts on current models.
Which is more practical day to day?
For most people, both are equally practical. The Submariner’s Glidelock clasp is the best tool-free adjustment Rolex makes, which is helpful in summer heat. The GMT’s second time zone is genuinely useful if you travel, work with colleagues abroad or have family in another country. If you never cross time zones, the GMT function becomes a design feature rather than a tool, which is fine too.
Which looks better?
This is where most people decide. The Submariner is the more classic, restrained design, especially in black. The GMT-Master II offers more personality through its two-tone bezels: the blue and red Pepsi, the blue and black Batman, the grey and black Bruce Wayne, the green and black Sprite. The GMT on a Jubilee bracelet is also dressier than any steel Submariner. See GMT-Master II bezel colors explained for every option.
How do they wear?
Very similarly. The Submariner 41 is slightly larger in diameter, but its wide bezel makes the dial look smaller. The GMT-Master II is a little thinner and, on a Jubilee, more supple. Both suit wrists from about 6.5 inches upward. Our size guide covers fit in detail.
How do prices compare?
In steel, a black Submariner Date usually costs less than the most popular GMT-Master II colors, and the no-date Submariner is often the most accessible current steel sports model after the Explorer and Oyster Perpetual. The GMT’s premium depends heavily on the bezel color: the Pepsi typically at the top. The previous generations, the 116610LN Submariner and 116710LN GMT, offer both looks for less. Our live table below compares our current asking prices, and you can browse the Submariner and GMT-Master II collections side by side.
Which is the better single watch?
If this will be your only Rolex, think about the full range of places you will wear it. The Submariner is the more rugged choice and the one you will never worry about in the sea or on a hike. The GMT-Master II, especially on a Jubilee, moves more easily between a beach bar and a business dinner, and its extra function rewards anyone who travels. Neither is a wrong answer. People who mostly wear business clothes tend to lean GMT on a Jubilee; people with active weekends tend to lean Submariner.
What about the older generations?
If budget matters, the previous generations make the decision easier. The 116610LN Submariner and the 116710LN black GMT-Master II share the broad “Super Case” lugs and the proven 31xx movements, and both usually cost less than their successors. The five-digit 16610 and 16710 are lighter, slimmer and cheaper still, with aluminum bezels that fade gracefully. Compare generations in our 116610LN vs 126610LN guide.
Which holds value better?
Both have historically been among the strongest Rolex models on the resale market. The most popular GMT colors have often commanded the highest premiums, which also means more price movement. The black Submariner has been the steadier performer. Buy the one you prefer to wear.
Choose the Submariner if…
- You swim, snorkel or dive regularly.
- You prefer a classic, understated look.
- You want a no-date option.
- You value the Glidelock clasp.
Our Submariner buying guide covers every generation.
Choose the GMT-Master II if…
- You travel or work across time zones.
- You want color and personality in a steel sports watch.
- You like the option of a Jubilee bracelet.
- You want a slightly dressier sports watch.
Can one watch do both jobs?
This is the question behind most Submariner-or-GMT decisions. Mostly. A GMT-Master II is perfectly happy in a pool or the sea, and a Submariner’s bezel can roughly track a second time zone in a pinch. If you want one sports Rolex, choose the function you will use more and the look you like best. Many owners eventually add the other.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GMT-Master II waterproof enough for swimming?
Yes. It is water resistant to 100 meters with the crown screwed down, which is more than enough for swimming and snorkeling. For scuba diving, the Submariner is the purpose-built choice.
Which is bigger, the Submariner or the GMT-Master II?
The current Submariner is 41 mm and the GMT-Master II is 40 mm, but they wear very similarly. The GMT is slightly thinner.
Which is more expensive?
In steel, the popular GMT-Master II colors, especially the Pepsi, usually cost more than a black Submariner Date. Prices vary with model, condition and market demand.
Can you use a Submariner to track a second time zone?
Roughly, by turning the bezel to offset hours, but it is not designed for it. The GMT-Master II shows a second time zone properly with its 24-hour hand.
