Rolex GMT-Master II 2019 Baselworld Releases

amanico · 2019-03-20T04:39:51Z

Discover Rolex's 2019 GMT-Master II releases: new Caliber 3285, 'Batman' on Jubilee, and meteorite dial. Explore collector reactions to market availability and design changes.

amanico

WPS member · Rolex forum

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Amanico's 2019 Baselworld report introduced three new Rolex GMT-Master II models, sparking immediate and passionate discussion among collectors. His post highlights the new Caliber 3285 movement, the return of the Jubilee bracelet to the steel 'Batman,' and the unexpected meteorite dial on a white gold variant. This article synthesizes the community's reactions, focusing on the implications for availability and market trends.

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Not one nor two, but three " new " GMT MASTER, this year.

By new, Rolex means a new movement, the Cal 3285 with 70 hours of power reserve, a Jubilée Bracelet for the Steel " Batman " and White Gold " Blue ", and a new dial for the White Gold on Oyster Bracelet, a météorite dial.

Here are two of them, as I cannot copy the white gold blue dial...

Well, I think I said everything which had to be said on the new GMT MASTERs, this year...

Best,

Nicolas

This message has been edited by pingtsai on 2019-03-21 11:48:13

About the Rolex Rolex 116710 BLNR Ref. 116710

The Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116710BLNR, known by collectors as the "Batman," introduced a novel blue and black ceramic bezel to the GMT-Master II lineup. This was the first time Rolex combined two distinct colors on a single monobloc Cerachrom bezel, a significant technical achievement. The blue segment represents daylight hours, while the black segment denotes nighttime, aiding in tracking a second or third time zone.

This reference features a 40mm Oystersteel case, housing the automatic Caliber 3186 movement, which provides a power reserve of approximately 48 hours. The watch is fitted with a sapphire crystal with a Cyclops lens over the date display and is water-resistant to 100 meters. The black dial provides a contrasting backdrop for the Chromalight hour markers and hands.

Appealing to collectors interested in modern Rolex innovations and practical travel watches, the 116710BLNR quickly became a highly sought-after model. Its distinctive bezel color combination set it apart from previous GMT-Master II references and established a new aesthetic within the collection, preceding subsequent iterations with similar two-tone ceramic bezels.

Specifications

Caliber: Cal. 3186

Case: Oystersteel

Diameter: 40mm

Dial: black

Water Resist.: 100m

Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

Key Points from the Discussion

Many collectors expressed frustration that Rolex introduced new GMT-Master II models while existing popular references, like the ceramic Daytonas and Pepsi GMT, remained largely unavailable at authorized dealers, fueling the grey market.
The introduction of the new 'Batman' (BLNR) on a Jubilee bracelet, along with the new Caliber 3285, was seen by some as a minor update rather than a significant innovation, especially given the existing scarcity of Rolex professional models.
The new white gold GMT-Master II with a meteorite dial was noted as an interesting and novel foray for Rolex, offering a distinct aesthetic compared to the more familiar ceramic bezel models.
A significant concern was Rolex's apparent strategy of starving the market for popular models, potentially pushing entry-level luxury buyers towards brands like Tudor and further driving up grey market prices for in-demand references.
The discontinuation of the GMT-Master II on an Oyster bracelet for the steel 'Batman' was met with disappointment by collectors who prefer the Oyster bracelet on sports watches.
The 70-hour power reserve of the new Caliber 3285 was acknowledged as an improvement, though some collectors found even the previous 40-hour reserve sufficient for their wearing habits.

The Discussion

Illya Kondratyuk

Mar 20, 2019

Nice!

Is is just me or they are not super case anymore?

amanico

Mar 20, 2019

Honestly, I don't see the difference. [nt]

jmpTT

Mar 20, 2019

Love the Batman

Batman is looking good with the new old bracelet. Love Rolex’s approach to movement development too Rolex rarely disappoints, but as an outsider I have no interest in competing for allocations.

amanico

Mar 20, 2019

Honestly, I am not fan of the Jubilée bracelet... Thanks, jmp. [nt]

raymond74

Mar 20, 2019

After quit an absence, I liked to express my thoughts on this one,

everybody says that the new Batman has become: a fractional smaller case a new calibre a new dial with the crown printed between Swiss and Made a Jubilee dial. All I see is a Pepsi with another bezel in a, from historical point of view, senseless color scheme. Lot's of storm in a glass of water. Never the less he looks cool, but a big announcement??? Besides what makes me wonder, Rolex wants to knock-out the grey-market, but instead of start producing those over-list-models a bit more, they occu

ripper444

Mar 20, 2019

I agree with this logic

What I don’t understand is why Rolex no longer offers a regular GMT MASTER II. Maybe I’m blind??? But i don’t see it on the site at all. So if you want a GMT your only option is the jubilee? I don’t like Jubilee on sports watches! Makes no sense in my opinion. Either way the waiting lists are so crazy that it doesn’t matter what they release!!!