Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Rolex GMT-Master II with that “Root Beer” bezel for a while now. I mean, who wouldn’t? That two-tone brown and black is just classic. But, you know, the price tag on those things is insane. Plus, even if I had the cash, the waitlist is like two years long! And my relationship with the authorized dealers? Let’s just say it’s non-existent. My purchase history with Rolex is, well, zero.
I started digging around, looking for alternatives. I wasn’t about to drop a fortune, but I still wanted something that looked the part, you know? I read up on the history of these watches, learned that the original “Root Beer” came out way back, and then Rolex brought it back with the 16713 reference in steel and gold. Fancy stuff. Discontinued in 2006, that model is long gone in those official stores.
Anyway, I stumbled upon some other brands that make watches that kind of look like the Root Beer. There’s this American brand, Stuhrling, with their Meridian 3968. It’s a quartz watch, 42mm, not bad. Then there’s Mathey-Tissot, a Swiss company that’s been around forever. Their Mathy Vintage GMT has that two-tone dial. Another one I found was from Meccaniche Veneziane, an Italian brand. Their Nereide GMT is a tribute to some old submarine, also 42mm with a two-tone bezel. And Squale, another Swiss brand known for dive watches, has their Atmos Heritage Ceramic 1545. It has a ceramic bezel, too. All decent options, but none of them were quite right. They just didn’t have that Rolex feel, you know?
Then, I thought, why not try to make my own? Not, like, from scratch, but by modifying an existing watch. I’m no watchmaker, but I figured it couldn’t be that hard, right?
So, I started searching for a base watch. Something with a similar movement to the GMT-Master II. It took me about a week, but I finally found one. It wasn’t a Rolex, of course, but it was close enough. The movement was pretty similar, and the overall size and shape were right. I ordered it online, and when it arrived, I was pretty happy with it. It was a solid watch, especially for the price.
Getting Down to Business
- Finding the Bezel: This was the tricky part. I needed a bezel that looked like the Root Beer one, with that brown and black ceramic. I searched high and low, and finally found a seller online who had one. It wasn’t cheap, but it was way cheaper than a real Rolex bezel, that’s for sure.
- Swapping the Bezel: I watched a bunch of videos online on how to do this. It looked pretty straightforward, you just need the right tools. I ordered a watch repair kit, which had everything I needed.
- Putting it all together: Once I had the bezel and the tools, I got to work. It was a bit nerve-wracking, taking apart a perfectly good watch, but I followed the videos carefully. I managed to remove the original bezel and install the new Root Beer one. It fit perfectly! I also added a new strap, just to complete the look. It was a bit of trial and error, I even messed up a couple of times, but I kept at it. It took a few days of tinkering, but I eventually got it all set up.
I took it to a watch guy I know, just to get his opinion. And you know what? He was impressed! He said it was one of the best replicas he’d ever seen. Even my buddies who know a thing or two about watches couldn’t tell the difference. I gotta say, it felt pretty good to pull that off. And the best part? I had a watch that looked like a million bucks, but it didn’t cost me anywhere near that. Now, I’m not saying this is for everyone. And, you know, it’s not a real Rolex. But if you’re like me, and you just want that look without breaking the bank, this is definitely a fun project. Trust me, the feeling of wearing something you put together yourself is something else. And hey, it’s a great conversation starter, too!
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