The Rolex GMT-Master II is defined as much by its bezel as by its movement. Since 1955 the two-tone 24-hour bezel has split the dial’s day from its night — and collectors, not Rolex, gave each color combination a nickname that stuck. “Pepsi,” “Batman,” “Coke,” and the rest are now the everyday shorthand for references that look nearly identical on a listing page but differ in colorway, era, materials, and price.
This guide maps the modern GMT-Master II nickname landscape in one place: what each colorway looks like, which reference number(s) carry it, and how the nicknames relate to one another. If you’re comparing two specific nicknames, start with the at-a-glance table and jump to the section you need.
How to read the nicknames: a GMT-Master II nickname almost always describes the bezel colorway (e.g. red/blue = Pepsi), not a single reference. The same colorway can appear across multiple reference numbers and generations, and a bracelet change alone (Oyster vs. Jubilee) has been enough to spawn a separate nickname. Where a nickname maps to more than one reference, the table lists them.
| Nickname | Image Ref: | Bezel colors | Reference(s) | Metal | Status & notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepsi |  | Red & blue | 6542 (1955), 1675 (1959), 16710 (1989), 116719BLRO (2014), 126710BLRO (2018, current steel), 126719BLRO (white gold) | Oystersteel or 18k white gold | In production. Original GMT-Master colorway; tied to Pan Am aviation heritage. Steel ceramic version on Jubilee since 2018. |
| Batman |  | Black & blue (“Bleu Noir”) | 116710BLNR (2013, first bi-color ceramic) | Oystersteel | First-gen, discontinued. Cal. 3186, Oyster bracelet. See Batman/Batgirl note below. |
| Batgirl | 
| Black & blue (“Bleu Noir”) | 126710BLNR (2019) | Oystersteel | In production. Collector nickname for the Jubilee-bracelet update of the black/blue GMT; Cal. 3285. See note below. |
| Coke | 
| Red & black | 16760 “Fat Lady” (1983), 16710 | Stainless steel (predominantly) | Discontinued 2007. No ceramic Coke has been released. Vintage only. |
| Bruce Wayne |  | Grey & black | 126710GRNR | Oystersteel | In production; colorway revealed 2023. Green GMT hand + green “GMT-Master II” text. |
| Root Beer | 
| Brown / tan tones (typically) | 126711CHNR | Stainless Steel & Everose | Placeholder. No supporting facts in source text; do not publish until verified against rolex.com. |
The Pepsi is the original GMT-Master colorway and the watch the whole collection descends from. The GMT-Master debuted in 1955 from a collaboration between Rolex and Pan American World Airways, which needed a watch that could show two time zones at once for pilots flying transatlantic routes. Rolex answered with reference 6542, pairing a fourth (24-hour) hand with a rotating bezel graduated over 24 hours. The red and blue split was functional: blue marked nighttime hours, red marked daytime, so a pilot could read day from night at a glance.
The earliest bezels were Bakelite, which cracked under stress and carried radium numerals; Rolex moved to aluminum in 1959 with reference 1675, and the 16710 offered a Pepsi option from 1989. The colorway returned in scratch-proof Cerachrom ceramic with reference 116719BLRO in 2014 — but in white gold only, because the red ceramic proved difficult to produce. The steel ceramic Pepsi arrived in 2018 as reference 126710BLRO, on a Jubilee bracelet with the Caliber 3285 movement.
What distinguishes it: the boldest, most recognizable colorway, with the deepest heritage. Modern steel Pepsi models use Rolex’s broader “Super Case” proportions. It is widely considered the hardest steel GMT to obtain at retail and the highest-valued steel GMT reference on the secondary market.
The black-and-blue colorway arrived in 2013 with reference 116710BLNR — the first bi-color ceramic bezel Rolex ever produced, a process the brand had previously said was impossible. Rolex made a porous blue ceramic insert, then added black to the top half before hardening. The “BLNR” suffix stands for Bleu Noir (blue/black), and the costume-like color scheme earned the watch the “Batman” nickname. The first-generation Batman ran Caliber 3186 (48-hour power reserve) on an Oyster bracelet.
In 2019 Rolex updated the black/blue GMT to reference 126710BLNR: the newer Caliber 3285 (70-hour reserve) replaced the 3186, and the standard bracelet switched from Oyster to the five-link Jubilee. Collectors coined a new nickname — “Batgirl” — specifically for this Jubilee version, keeping “Batman” for the original. In 2021 Rolex reintroduced the Oyster bracelet as an option on the 126710BLNR.
What distinguishes them: identical black/blue Cerachrom bezel; the differences are movement (3186 vs. 3285), power reserve (48h vs. 70h), bracelet (Oyster vs. Jubilee), and case profile (the original’s broader “Super Case” lugs and crown guards vs. the update’s slimmer, more tapered lugs). A small tell at 6 o’clock: the original reads “Swiss Made,” while newer models add a coronet between “Swiss” and “Made.”
The Coke debuted in 1983 on the GMT-Master II reference 16760, nicknamed the “Fat Lady” for its thicker case (~12.61mm). The later reference 16710 carried the colorway in a slimmer profile (~12mm) with thinner lugs and smaller crown guards. The Coke was made predominantly in stainless steel, staying close to its tool-watch roots.
Rolex discontinued the Coke in 2007 and has not released a ceramic (Cerachrom) version, so every Coke is a vintage aluminum-bezel piece. That scarcity is central to its appeal.
What distinguishes it: a more subdued red/black palette that reads dressier than the Pepsi, available only on the pre-owned/vintage market. Vintage aluminum bezels can show fading and alignment issues, so condition and originality matter more here than on the ceramic references.
The Bruce Wayne 126710GRNR is the stealth sibling of the Batman: a grey-and-black Cerachrom colorway revealed in 2023. The grey lower half separates daytime from the black upper (night) half. It is distinguished from the Batman not just by color but by a green GMT hand and green “GMT-Master II” dial text, where the Batman uses a blue GMT hand. It shares the 40mm Oystersteel case, Caliber 3285, and the same Oyster/Jubilee bracelet options.
What distinguishes it: the most understated modern colorway; in production and available at retail (subject to allocation) rather than vintage-only.
The Root Beer is the two-tone branch of the GMT family, named for a bezel that recalls a frothy mug of root beer. It began in the 1970s–80s on two-tone steel-and-gold (Rolesor) GMT-Masters: the 1675/3, with a matte dial and applied “nipple” hour markers, and the later 16753, with glossy “tiger eye” metallic dials and the quickset Caliber 3075 — the reference Clint Eastwood famously wore.
Rolex revived the colorway in 2018 with a brown-and-black Cerachrom bezel (the “CHNR” code stands for chocolat noir), on the Everose Rolesor 126711CHNR (Oystersteel with 18k Everose gold) and the full 18k Everose gold 126715CHNR, both running the Caliber 3285.
What distinguishes it: the only GMT-Master II offered in Everose rose gold, and the dressiest colorway in the lineup. Where the Pepsi and Coke lean tool-watch, the Root Beer’s warm brown/gold palette and two-tone construction read as a precious-metal alternative.
The current ceramic references share a common technical platform, so most “which nickname” decisions come down to colorway, bracelet, and price rather than mechanics:
Vintage references (Coke 16760/16710, early Pepsis) differ: aluminum bezels, earlier movements, and slimmer/thicker cases depending on the reference.
When buyers compare one GMT-master to another, certain matchups pop up over and over. Here’s how the most popular pairings stack up.
At first glance, these are near-twins: both current models, both in 40mm Oystersteel with Caliber 32?85, and both available on the Jubilee bracelet. So it really comes down to colorway, heritage preference, and price. The Pepsi (Ref. 126710BLRO) features the iconic red-and-blue bezel that debuted on the original GMT-Master in 1955 (for Pan Am co-pilot Jerry Collins). It’s the loudest, most instantly recognizable GMT-Master you can buy and the toughest steel GMT to find at retail; that last point has pushed its secondary-market price the highest of any steel GMT. The Batman (black-and-blue “Bleu Noir,” ref. 126710BLNR) is subtler and more versatile, easier to find on release, and comes with a more reasonable price tag. Choose the Pepsi if you want the maximum heritage halo and presence. Go with the Batman if you’re looking for everyday versatility.
Ok, they don’t literally go head-to-head, because one is vintage and one is modern. The Coke (red-and-black, refs. 16760 and 16710) hasn’t been sold new since 2007, and was never available in ceramic; every Rolex Coke out there is a vintage aluminum-bezel watch. Its red-black color scheme feels slightly more formal than the Pepsi, and watching prices it’s clear that good condition and original details are the primary drivers of value. The Pepsi started out red-and-blue of course, and is still available today in its upgraded, scratch-resistant Cerachrom ceramic (ref. 126710BLRO). Want a watch you can buy new and wear daily with no worries? Go Pepsi. Feel like vintage flair and possible rarity? Stick with Coke.
Your two black-accented ceramic GMT-Masters. These two watch share everything under the hood: 40mm Oystersteel case, Caliber 32?85 movement with 70-hour power reserve, and are available in either Oyster bracelet or Jubilee options. The differences are subtle: bezel color and materials, and GMT hand color. Batman (ref. 126710BLNR) pairs classic black with Rolex’s iconic blue (“Bleu Noir”) and uses a blue GMT hand. Bruce Wayne (ref. 126710GRNR, steel version released new in 2024; “GRNR” = gris noir) swaps blue for a stealthy grey and uses a green GMT hand and green “GMT-Master II” text to tip you off. It’s the same watch, really – you can’t go wrong. Want more blue pop? Batman. Want the sleekest, more subtle look in the lineup? Bruce Wayne.
Secondary-market prices move constantly, so treat the figures below as directional, not advice. As referenced in the source material (2025–2026):
Retail figures across the lineup were cited around $10,700–$12,000 for steel in 2025–2026, with a modest 2026 steel increase.
Both share the same black-and-blue (“Bleu Noir”) Cerachrom bezel. “Batman” generally refers to the original 116710BLNR (2013, Caliber 3186, 48-hour reserve, Oyster bracelet), while “Batgirl” refers to the 2019 update 126710BLNR (Caliber 3285, 70-hour reserve, Jubilee bracelet).
Heritage and demand. The red/blue colorway is the original 1955 GMT-Master design tied to Pan Am, the red ceramic is harder to produce, and it is among the most difficult Rolex models to obtain at retail — all of which support a strong secondary-market premium.
No. Rolex discontinued the Coke (red/black) in 2007 and has not released a ceramic version, so it exists only on the vintage/pre-owned market (references 16760 and 16710).
Color and details. The Bruce Wayne uses a grey-and-black bezel with a green GMT hand and green “GMT-Master II” text, versus the Batman’s black/blue bezel and blue GMT hand. Both use the 40mm Oystersteel case and Caliber 3285.
The current ceramic references (Pepsi 126710BLRO, Batgirl 126710BLNR, Bruce Wayne) share the in-house Caliber 3285: 28,800 vph, ~70-hour reserve, Superlative Chronometer certified. The differences between them are colorway, bracelet, and price — not the engine. Vintage references (Coke, early Pepsis, original Batman) use earlier movements.
They are Rolex’s color codes. “BLNR” stands for Bleu Noir (blue/black) — the Batman/Batgirl. “BLRO” stands for Bleu Rouge (blue/red) — the Pepsi.
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