Rolex GMT Master II BLNR

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) · 2016-03-29T09:02:13Z

Discover the Rolex GMT Master II BLNR "Batman" and Tudor Black Bay Black through a collector's acquisition story and initial impressions.

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)

WPS member · Rolex forum

68 replies13765 views4 photos

Jrwong23, also known as watchthebin, shares his excitement over acquiring the highly sought-after Rolex GMT Master II BLNR, affectionately dubbed the "Batman" or "Bruiser." His post captures the thrill of an unexpected acquisition alongside his new Tudor Black Bay Black, offering a personal glimpse into the joy of collecting. This dual-incoming story provides a relatable narrative for enthusiasts experiencing the excitement of new watches.

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Yesterday I collected my Tudor Black Bay Black, a watch i absolutely adore. I wore it the whole of yesterday into the evening and this morning and afternoon.

I received an unexpected chat message later today that my Rolex GMT Master 2 BLNR is available for collection. I rushed down to collect it but had to rush to a mini impromptu gtg with some PuristS friends and a colleague of mine who recently started getting interested in fine watches and shoes.

We visited GO boutique too and I will post separate pics on that on the GO forum. Unfortunately in all the rush I forgot to take nice pics of the Rolex GMT2 Batman. Here are some random shots I took today (I couldn't sleep with this new toy now like a kid! )

Love the blue hue on the bezel and the GMT hand

Our mini GTG. Oh my Reverso Blue Duoface has new shoes too - I will take better pictures and post it on the JLC forum soon (brown strap really works with the Blue!)

The watch on my bed. I am like a kid playing with my new toy

Need to show love to the Tudor too, they are siblings from the same parent company

I will take better pics and share more in future. It's too late in Singapore for nice pics now without the sun.

Cheers
Robin

About the Rolex Rolex 116710 BLNR Ref. 116710

The Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116710BLNR, known by collectors as the "Batman," introduced a novel blue and black ceramic bezel to the GMT-Master II lineup. This was the first time Rolex combined two distinct colors on a single monobloc Cerachrom bezel, a significant technical achievement. The blue segment represents daylight hours, while the black segment denotes nighttime, aiding in tracking a second or third time zone.

This reference features a 40mm Oystersteel case, housing the automatic Caliber 3186 movement, which provides a power reserve of approximately 48 hours. The watch is fitted with a sapphire crystal with a Cyclops lens over the date display and is water-resistant to 100 meters. The black dial provides a contrasting backdrop for the Chromalight hour markers and hands.

Appealing to collectors interested in modern Rolex innovations and practical travel watches, the 116710BLNR quickly became a highly sought-after model. Its distinctive bezel color combination set it apart from previous GMT-Master II references and established a new aesthetic within the collection, preceding subsequent iterations with similar two-tone ceramic bezels.

Specifications

Caliber: Cal. 3186

Case: Oystersteel

Diameter: 40mm

Dial: black

Water Resist.: 100m

Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

Key Points from the Discussion

The Rolex GMT Master II BLNR is described as a perfect all-round everyday piece, blending sportiness with elegance, robustness, and a ceramic bezel that wears well.
The Tudor Black Bay Black is praised for its vintage feel, drawing comparisons to other retro-inspired dive watches.
The author preferred the BLNR's bezel color over the more iconic Pepsi bezels of older references like the 16700 and 16710, despite liking red and blue separately.
The BLNR gained significant popularity after Rolex discontinued the stainless steel Pepsi GMT-Master II, with anecdotal evidence of pilots acquiring it.
The author plans to conduct a proper owner's review after wearing the watch for several months, distinguishing it from typical blogger impressions.

The Discussion

amanico

Mar 29, 2016

You are on fire, Robin. Excellent catch. This watch is so cool! [nt]

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)

Mar 29, 2016

It's a community watch here!

Thanks Nico. Too many PuristS poisoned me with this one lol I saw some 16700 and 16710 and somehow I preferred the new BLNR\'s bezel Color more even if the pepsis are more iconic (I like red and blue like in my Reversos but not together on the same dial or bezel). Also considered the Explorer but decided a GMT appeals to me more

amanico

Mar 29, 2016

Once you have on foot on the GMT MASTER, you often put the second foot on another one... You'll see. [nt]

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)

Mar 30, 2016

Noooooooo.... I have to resist

You are using Vlad magic on me again! :p

amanico

Mar 30, 2016

Tssss. I have to show you some specimens. ;) [nt]

NT931

Mar 30, 2016