BMR explores a common collector curiosity: swapping the bracelet of a Rolex GMT-Master II for a rubber strap. His initial impressions and subsequent updates provide a valuable long-term review of the Everest blue rubber strap, focusing on comfort, aesthetics, and how it transforms the watch's character.
I changed the bracelet on my GMT to this blue rubber one from Everest today after being curious about it for quite some time. After only a few hours so far, I have to say the comfort is very, very good. It’s going to take some more time before I’m ready to make a conclusion on it, but here are some of my early impressions.
To me, this change makes it feel more like a tool watch. It’s athletic and certainly more casual. It makes the GMT hand pop more, which I like, but at the same time I feel it diminishes the blue of the bezel because of the lack of contrast. The polished center link of the oyster bracelet on the GMT Master II isn’t my favorite, but I’ve worn it with that for long enough that anything else was going to feel a bit out of place at first. At the least, I think this offers a nice change of pace to the bracelet, but that’s as far as I’m willing to go with it until I have some more time to let the experience sink in.
