Alright, folks, gather ’round, let me tell you about my little project. I’ve been tinkering with watches for a while now, and I got this itch to try and make a high imitation of the Rolex GMT-Master II, the one with the “Root Beer” bezel. You know, the one with the brown and black, kinda looks like a root beer float, in a classy way. So, I set out to make my own version, ’cause why not, right?
First off, I started digging around, trying to figure out what makes this Root Beer tick. It’s all about that bezel, with the yellow and brown colors. And there’s this newer model, the 126711CHNR, that’s got everyone talking. Then there’s this other hand, a 24-hour hand, that goes along with the bezel. Fancy stuff, lets you see another time zone. I’m thinking, I gotta get that right.
So, I got myself some parts. I learned that the original Root Beer, the 16713 GMT-Master II, was around until 2006, and then it went away for a bit. Rolex, they’re not ones to go wild, but this Root Beer thing, it’s kinda their wild child. Anyways, I’m looking at all these different watches that are kinda like the Root Beer, but not quite.
- There’s this Stuhrling Meridian 3968, a decent-looking watch, 42mm, but it’s just not hitting that Root Beer vibe.
- Then I checked out the Mathey-Tissot Mathy Vintage, Swiss-made, looks the part, but it’s not exactly what I’m aiming for.
- Found this Italian one, the Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide, nice stainless steel, unidirectional bezel, but still not the Root Beer I’m after.
- The Squale Atmos Heritage Ceramic, that’s a Swiss one, known for diving watches, brown ceramic bezel with gold markers, getting closer, but not quite there.
I started putting these pieces together, trying different bezels, different hands. It’s like a puzzle, you know? You got all these little parts, and you’re trying to make them fit just right. This 24-hour hand, it’s tricky, gotta make sure it lines up with the bezel just so. And the colors, they gotta be spot on, that brown and black, like the real Root Beer.
Putting It All Together
I spent hours, days even, fiddling with these parts. I’d get one thing right, then another would be off. But I kept at it, swapping out parts, adjusting, trying to get that perfect look. I mean, this watch, it’s supposed to be for the fancy folks, and even though mine’s a high imitation, I wanted it to look the part.
Finally, after all that tinkering, I got it. My own version of the Rolex GMT-Master II Root Beer Bezel. It’s not the real deal, but it’s got that look, that feel. The bezel’s got that nice brown and black, the 24-hour hand’s doing its thing, and it just looks great on the wrist. It’s like a little piece of sunshine, brightening up your day, you know?
So, there you have it, my adventure in making a high imitation of the Root Beer. It was a challenge, for sure, but a fun one. And now, whenever I look at this watch, I remember all the work, all the tinkering, and it just makes me smile. It’s not just a watch, it’s a story, my story. And that’s pretty cool, right?
Click to consult