Rolex Root Beer

Casual Look in Stainless Steel, Gold, and Brown

The GMT-Master has been an integral part of the Rolex catalog since the mid-1950s. The Swiss luxury watch manufacturer has since produced numerous color variations of this timepiece. To help keep the various models straight, Rolex fans have given the different editions unique nicknames. Versions with a blue and red bezel are often referred to as “Pepsi” watches, while those with a black and red GMT scale are known as “Coke” watches.

The nickname “Root Beer” refers to GMT-Masters with a color scheme resembling the popular North American soft drink, namely a brown dial and a brown and gold bezel. Other nicknames for this timepiece include “Eye of the Tiger” and “Tiger Eye” – although these only apply to models with a sunburst dial reminiscent of the golden-brown tiger's eye gemstone.

The Rolex GMT-Master Root Beer has a few more nicknames. The small, slightly raised minute markers of early models inspired the moniker “Nipple Dial.” Others call this Root Beer the “Clint Eastwood” or “Dirty Harry”, since Eastwood wore the watch for many years, including in several films.

All GMT-Master Root Beers measure 40 mm in diameter. Furthermore, every reference is equipped with a COSC-certified in-house Rolex movement.

Rolex Root Beer: Price & Performance

Vintage models have seen an impressive increase in value in recent years. For example, the average price of ref. 16753 rose by approximately 30% between 2019 and 2024.

The value of the current version (ref. 126711CHNR) dropped noticeably after experiencing a strong upward trend between May 2022 and August 2023. While this model once cost nearly twice the original list price, the watch changed hands for roughly 21,200 USD in the fall of 2024, compared to an MSRP of 16,150 USD.

Reasons to Buy a Rolex GMT-Master “Root Beer”

• Casual two-tone watch with a 1970s vibe
• Coveted collector's item
• COSC-certified in-house calibers with a second time zone
• Comes with an Oyster or a Jubilee bracelet

Prices at a Glance: Rolex GMT-Master Root Beer

How much does the GMT-Master Root Beer cost?

The entry-level GMT-Master Root Beer starts at just over 13,400 USD for the vintage ref. 16753, while the ref. 1675/3 can be purchased for approximately 15,700 USD. The neo-vintage model with the reference number 16713 changes hands on Chrono24 for roughly 14,800 USD. The Root Beer ref. 126711CHNR, which has been available since 2018, will set you back about 21,300 USD in new condition.

The GMT-Master Root Beer in Detail

The first GMT-Master Root Beer introduced by Rolex in the early 1970s bears the reference number 1675/3. It has a Plexiglas case and is powered by the in-house caliber 1570.

In the late 1970s, the 1675/3 was followed up by the ref. 16753. This model is almost identical to its predecessor and has the famous brown “nipple dial” and gold and brown bezel. Rolex changed the design of the indices on later variants, employing larger hour markers filled with luminous material. This is now a common feature of many of the company's sports watches. Inside the 16753, you'll find the caliber 3075.

GMT-Master II: The Next Generation

The new GMT-Master II “Root Beer” ref. 16713 appeared in 1989. Rolex put the “nipple dial” definitively behind them, giving the new model with a shimmering, subtle sunburst dial reminiscent of a tiger's eye. This version of the Root Beer also featured a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal for the first time. The most substantial difference, however, can be found inside the watch: The caliber 3185, introduced in 1988, not only offers a 50-hour power reserve, but also enables the isolated adjustment of the second time zone hand. In 2007, Rolex replaced this movement with caliber 3186, which, with its blue Parachrom hairspring, is significantly less sensitive to magnetic fields.

Baselworld 2018: A Re-Imagined Root Beer in Black and Brown

To the delight of many fans, Rolex presented a new two-tone GMT-Master II with a brown bezel at Baselworld 2018. This watch, the ref. 126711CHNR, offers a few noticeable improvements over earlier Root Beer models. For example, instead of using yellow gold, Rolex combined stainless steel with 18-karat rose gold – also known as Everose gold – on this timepiece. What's more, a deep black dial guarantees optimal readability. A black and brown Cerachrom bezel inlay with engraved Everose gold numerals and markers completes the new look.

The release included a technical improvement in the form of the Rolex caliber 3285. This movement features a blue Parachrom hairspring, the Paraflex shock protection system, and a 70-hour power reserve.