Sunday Morning Showdown: Rolex GMT-Master II 126710GRNR Vs. 116710LN
Welcome to the first Sunday Morning Showdown of 2025! We hope you have enjoyed the holidays and are ready for our first battle of the new year. So make yourself a nice warm cup of coffee, and let’s get rolling! Today, we’ll play a game called Find the Differences. OK, although that is a joke, it might be your first thought when looking at the two Rolex GMT-Master II models Mike and Jorg selected. Jorg picked the current Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126710GRNR, while Mike picked its predecessor, the 116710LN. It’s time to find which of these two will come out on top!
At first glance, these two watches are very similar. The Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116710LN was introduced in 2007 and is widely known as the first stainless steel GMT-Master II with a ceramic bezel insert. This reference stayed in production until 2018. That’s when the follow-up GMT-Master II ref. 126710 replaced the first-generation stainless steel models with ceramic bezels. But Jorg’s pick didn’t arrive on the scene until last year during Watches and Wonders. The new ref. 126710GRNR followed the full-gold and bicolor versions of the GMT-Master II with their black and gray bezel inserts that arrived in 2023. But this new version didn’t receive much praise upon its debut. Let’s see if it can win this battle against its predecessor.
Last time, on Sunday Morning Showdown…
Before we hand it over to Jorg and Mike, let’s quickly look at the last Sunday Morning Showdown of 2024. In that battle, the Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified easily beat the Zenith Pilot Big Date Flyback. The Speedy took 70% of the votes, leaving the Zenith with a mere 30%. The comments section reflected similar preferences. However, it was clear that not everyone is the biggest fan of these two modern pilot’s watches. Quite a few people prefer different ones over these two. In the end, though, it’s all about the two picks that go head to head, and in that last battle of the year, the latest addition to the Speedmaster collection earned an easy victory. Let’s see if there will be another comfortable win this week. Over to Jorg and Mike!
Jorg: Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126710GRNR
Okay, Mike, it’s time for some good old nitpicking with these two watches. I do genuinely favor the GMT-Master II ref. 126710GRNR over the previous generation for a few reasons. But let me briefly go back to Watches and Wonders 2023. It wasn’t a surprise when Rolex unveiled the stainless steel version of its GMT-Master II with the black and gray bezel insert. The year before, the brand treated us to this watch’s two siblings in full yellow gold and a combination of stainless steel and yellow gold. Honestly, I would trade this stainless steel version for the bicolor model without hesitating for a second.
This new stainless steel version looks somewhat boring compared to its more luxurious counterparts, which also contributed to the largely lukewarm reaction to the introduction. The two previous versions brought back some of the great vibes of the 1970s GMT-Masters that you and I love. This new stainless steel 126710GRNR took a step away from that and was more reminiscent of the watch you picked for this battle. However, compared to the previous generation, I do like it better, and I also think it is less boring. Let me explain why.
It starts with the case and the bezel
First, the current GMT-Master II case shape easily beats your pick’s chunkier, broad-shouldered “Super Case.” While I have never hated the previous generation’s more muscular presence, seeing it next to my pick does reveal that it lacks the elegance that I appreciate so much about the GMT-Master. Additionally, I do like the new model’s black and gray bezel insert.
There are two reasons for this. First, the division makes it easier to distinguish day and night. While I don’t think you will have any trouble telling the difference between the two in the second time zone of your choice as it is a 24-hour scale, it will help you determine whether it is day or night more quickly. Second, I prefer the new insert because it makes the watch feel like a proper GMT-Master. In terms of aesthetics, any GMT-Master with an all-black bezel insert looks way too close to Rolex’s divers. This two-colored bezel makes it a proper GMT-Master for me, and that is why I would always pick that option if given the chance.
The updated caliber 3285 is the better pick
Another important factor for me is the updated movement inside the current GMT-Master II. The in-house caliber 3285 is a significant upgrade from the previous caliber 3186. The new-generation movement debuted in 2018, offering 70 hours of power reserve instead of its predecessor’s 48. This was thanks to Rolex’s new, more efficient Chronergy escapement and high-capacity barrel. Additionally, caliber 3285 is equipped with Paraflex shock absorbers for better durability. These two features are noteworthy improvements over the previous caliber 3186 that powers “your” 116710LN.
The last preference I want to mention is the Jubilee bracelet option for the newer of the two models. To me, it looks much better than the somewhat flashy modern Oyster bracelet of the GMT-Master II with its brushed outer links and polished center links. The Jubilee removes the unnecessary bling from the GMT-Master II. Sure, the current 126710GRNR might not have been received with much praise, whereas your 116710LN was praised as the first model of a new generation of the GMT-Master II. However, the context changes everything. When put into the context of a comparison like this, I would easily pick the current GMT-Master II ref. 126710GRNR (€11,100) as my daily wearer over the previous version, which is only marginally cheaper on the pre-owned market. But please do explain why you feel yours is the better pick, Mike.
Mike: Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116710LN
I still remember sitting in my office in Juárez, Mexico, in 2007. My boss was heavily into watches, and we established a good working relationship over the topic. At the time, he only talked about the newly announced GMT-Master II 116710LN. He was on the list as soon as news of the release broke, and I think he picked one up once they arrived at ADs.
I can’t lie; neither watch in today’s showdown holds a candle to the vintage GMT-Master 1675 for me, but the 116710LN is a significant piece. For better or worse, it’s the watch largely responsible for ushering in the Rolex we know today. It was the first stainless GMT model with a Cerachrom bezel, large lume plots, and the “Super Case.” Like it or not, this modern iteration was a very different watch from its predecessors.
The first modern GMT
By the time the prior model, the 16710, reached the end of production, it was an old watch. Rolex sold it from 1989 until 2007 with an aluminum bezel, a stamped bracelet clasp, and brushed bracelet links. While I found such details charming, changing tastes desired something newer. As mentioned, I recall when the 116710LN was released, which was a big deal. The Cerachrom bezel insert was only available in solid black for technological reasons. Two-color versions were still in development. A green hand replaced the former red one (a gold version debuted this detail in 2005, the 50th anniversary of the GMT-Master). Inside, the watch used the chronometer-certified caliber 3186 with its quick-setting 12-hour hand.
Still a deal
As hot as the 116710LN was when it came out, later models with bicolor bezels trumped the all-black model. Since production ended in 2019, it has existed as an odd exception in the Rolex back catalog. Prices are in the €10K range and have been for a long time. Now, I don’t love everything about this watch, but that’s a nice deal for a modern steel sports Rolex, especially when it’s from one of the premier model lines. Compare it to today’s 126710GRNR competitor, and there’s a €7K difference if you can’t get the newer one from an AD. Is there nearly double the value inside the newest model? I don’t think so, and that’s what’s good about Rolex. The differences are small, which keeps the 116710LN relevant design-wise.
Time to choose
Now it’s time to choose your favorite modern black(/gray)-bezel GMT-Master II. The 116710LN presents surprising value, while the 126710GRNR boasts bracelet options, a newer movement, and a case with a slimmer profile. Of course, some will barely notice the cosmetic differences. Plus, the difference in power reserve won’t matter if it’s a daily watch. So, which pilot’s watch are you choosing and why? Cast your vote, and let us know your reasons in the comments below.
