Quick Answer
The Rolex 116710BLNR is the 40 mm GMT-Master II with a blue and black ceramic bezel, sold from 2013 to 2019 on an Oyster bracelet. Replicas of it fall into three rough tiers: budget builds with thin finishing and a noisy rotor, mid-tier builds with a decorated 2836-style movement, and high-tier builds that copy the 3186 movement layout, the case profile, and the two-tone insert. The bezel insert, the crown guards, and the bracelet end links are the three places a replica shows itself first.
What the Genuine Watch Does
The real 116710BLNR runs caliber 3186 at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a 48-hour power reserve and a independently set 24-hour hand. The bezel rotates both ways through 24 clicks and carries a blue and black Cerachrom insert, the first two-color ceramic insert Rolex produced. The case is stainless steel, the crystal has a cyclops over the date at 3 o'clock, and the watch is rated to 100 meters. Rolex discontinued the reference in 2019 and replaced it with the 126710BLNR, which moved to a Jubilee bracelet and caliber 3285.
Prerequisites
- A photo set of a genuine 116710BLNR for side-by-side comparison, including dial, case flank, and clasp shots.
- A digital caliper for case and lug measurements.
- A kitchen scale that reads in grams.
- A loupe or a phone macro lens for the dial print and rehaut.
How to Inspect a Replica 116710BLNR, Step by Step
- Confirm the reference facts you are matching against: 40 mm case, Oyster bracelet with polished center links, blue and black insert split at 6 and 18.
- Measure the case width at the crown guards with the caliper and compare it to 40 mm.
- Measure the case thickness from the caseback to the crystal dome and compare it to roughly 12 mm.
- Study the bezel insert under light and check that the blue half reads deep blue, not purple, and that the black half has no gray haze.
- Check the color seam at 6 and 18 o'clock and confirm the split lands on the marker, not beside it.
- Rotate the bezel through a full turn and count the clicks, which should feel even and land near 24.
- Inspect the crown guards from the side and confirm they taper with a defined curve rather than a flat slab.
- Compare the lug profile to the genuine photo set, watching for lugs that sit too thick or too long.
- Look at the dial print with the loupe and confirm the coronet, the GMT-Master II line, and the depth rating sit at even spacing.
- Check the 24-hour hand and confirm it reads blue against the black dial.
- Check the cyclops and confirm the date fills the lens at roughly 2.5x magnification.
- Set the 24-hour hand on its own and confirm it jumps in one-hour steps while the minute hand stays put.
- Weigh the watch and compare it to the roughly 150 grams of a genuine steel GMT on a full bracelet.
- Flex the bracelet and feel for sharp edges on the links, then check the end links for a flush fit against the case.
- Read the rehaut engraving with the loupe and confirm the letters align with the markers around the dial.
Movement Tiers
Budget replicas use a low-beat movement that sweeps with a visible stutter and often sets the GMT hand by a separate crown position that does not match the genuine sequence. Mid-tier builds use a 2836 base with a GMT module, which keeps good time but leaves a thicker case and a rotor that sounds loose. High-tier builds copy the 3186 architecture closely, including the independent 24-hour hand and the correct crown positions. That last detail is the single best way to separate a serious build from a cosmetic one.
Flaws to Expect
- Insert color that shifts purple in daylight or turns gray at the edges.
- A cyclops that sits too far from the crystal or magnifies too little.
- Bracelet end links with a visible gap at the case.
- Dial print that is heavier on one side of the coronet.
- A bezel action that feels gritty or turns past the click stops.
- A clasp stamp that is shallow or off center.
FAQ
Is the 116710BLNR the same as the 126710BLNR?
No. The 116710BLNR uses caliber 3186 on an Oyster bracelet. The 126710BLNR uses caliber 3285 on a Jubilee bracelet, and the case and lugs are slimmer.
Why is it called the Batman?
Collectors named it after the blue and black bezel, which matches the character's color scheme. The later Jubilee version picked up the nickname Batgirl.