The Rolex GMT-Master II "Root Beer" is a brown-and-gold colorway that spans two eras: the vintage GMT-Master refs 1675/3 and 16753 of the late 1960s and 1970s, and the modern GMT-Master II ref. 126711CHNR introduced in 2018 in Everose gold and steel with a brown-and-black Cerachrom bezel. It is a genuine Rolex reference, not a styling exercise, and it remains one of the most counterfeited watches in the catalog.
Why is it called "Root Beer"?
Collectors coined the nickname for the brown and gold bezel, which resembles the colors of the soft drink. The pairing of yellow gold with a brown anodized aluminum insert felt unusual when it appeared, and the name stuck across generations.
What are the specs of ref. 126711CHNR?
- 40 mm Oyster case in Everose gold and 904L stainless steel (Rolesor)
- Bidirectional 24-hour Cerachrom bezel in brown and black ceramic
- Caliber 3285 automatic movement, Chronergy escapement, blue Parachrom hairspring
- Approximately 70-hour power reserve, 28,800 vibrations per hour
- Water resistant to 100 meters, Oyster bracelet with Everose gold center links
The GMT function lets the owner set local time independently while the 24-hour hand tracks a second time zone. A full Everose version, ref. 126715CHNR, was released alongside it.
Vintage Root Beer: refs 1675/3 and 16753
The original gold-and-steel GMT-Master used a brown and gold aluminum bezel insert, which fades and scratches over decades. Original inserts, tritium lume plots, and correct case stamps matter far more to value than cosmetic condition. Because of that, vintage examples are frequently rebuilt with aftermarket parts.
How do you tell a Root Beer from a counterfeit?
Genuine Cerachrom is ceramic with numerals filled through a PVD gold process, so the bezel should not be painted or feel rough. Rolex engraves the case reference and serial between the lugs and laser-etches a coronet in the crystal at 6 o'clock, both visible under magnification. Counterfeit movements usually beat at 21,600 vibrations per hour rather than 28,800, and two-tone fakes feel light because the gold is plated.
Where should you buy one?
Authorized Rolex retailers and established auction houses provide provenance, service history, and a warranty. Listings that describe a watch as a "Swiss replica" or "1:1 clone" are offering an unlicensed product, and buying one provides no legal ownership of the Rolex trademark. Selling or trafficking counterfeit goods is illegal in the United States.