The Birth of a Globetrotter

The year is 1954. Air travel is in its golden era. Pan Am Airways – the Rolls-Royce of the skies at the time – approaches Rolex with a specific problem: their long-haul pilots need to be able to keep track of two time zones at once. The result? The GMT-Master ref. 6542 – a functional, rotating bezel in red and blue (hence the nickname “Pepsi”), a fourth hand for the 24-hour format, and a robust Oyster case built to withstand cabin pressure.

The Rolex GMT-Master wasn’t originally designed for luxury consumers – it was a tool for professionals. But, in typical Rolex fashion, the tool quickly became a status symbol. Function met form – and an icon was born.

From “Pepsi” to “Batman” – A Watch with Nicknames

Over the years, the Rolex GMT has picked up more nicknames than an Italian football star. Here are a few you should know before making a purchase – or settling into dinner conversation.

• Pepsi – The original red and blue colour combo. A tribute to day and night – not fizzy drinks.
• Root Beer – Bronze and gold on a GMT-Master II that looks like a glossy 1970s dream. Known as the “Clint Eastwood” in some collector circles.
• Batman – Black and blue Cerachrom bezel.
• Sprite – The most recent addition, with a black and green bezel and the crown on the left – for left-handers or simply for those who like to stand out.

These aren’t just nicknames – they’re codes. If you know what you’re wearing, then you know what you’re signalling.

Who Wears a GMT? 

Few watches appear on as many A-list wrists as the GMT.

• Tom Selleck – Wore his Pepsi ref. 1675 in Magnum P.I., making the moustache, Ferrari, and Rolex GMT three pillars of 1980s masculinity.
• Che Guevara – Was photographed with a GMT on his wrist.
• David Beckham – Of course. GMT on a vintage Jubilee bracelet? Check.
• Fidel Castro – Occasionally wore two Rolex watches – including a GMT – which became something of a signature move, albeit a slightly eccentric one.

That’s the point: from revolutionary leaders to Hollywood stars – the GMT fits in everywhere.

Trivia to Impress

- The first GMT had a Bakelite bezel – which looked great but cracked easily. Rolex quickly switched to aluminium. Bakelite models today? Top-tier collector’s items.
- The GMT-Master wasn’t chronometer certified at launch, but that soon changed. Customers expected precision.
- GMT stands for “Greenwich Mean Time” – but you knew that already, didn’t you?

How to Wear It

The GMT isn’t a dress watch – and yet it goes with almost everything. On a NATO strap, it’s relaxed. On a Jubilee bracelet: luxuriously old-school. On an Oyster? Clean and confident.

Tip: Don’t let the colour scare you. A Pepsi can be just as wearable as a black Submariner.

 

Buying a Rolex GMT isn’t just about tracking different time zones. It’s an investment in history, style and symbolism. A marker of someone who moves through the world with both direction and an eye for detail.

So the next time someone asks why you chose a GMT – talk about the jet pilots, the revolutionaries, the nicknames and everything in between. And say it with a knowing smile.

Because you know: style isn’t something you shout about – it’s something you have.