Last year at Baselworld, the star of the show was easily the stainless steel Rolex Pepsi GMT-Master II watch. With waitlists still several years in length at authorized retailers, and pre-owned examples trading for well-above their original purchase prices on the secondary market, it is undeniable that the Rolex “Pepsi” look is extremely desirable right now. This year for Baselworld 2019, there is a new white gold version of the Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” – however this time it features a striking meteorite dial.
The Rolex “Pepsi” GMT-Master II ref. 126719 BLRO with Meteorite Dial
Although the reference 126719BLRO is technically a new watch, a white gold GMT-Master II with a red and blue “Pepsi” bezel already existed in the Rolex catalog. Additionally, it should also be noted that the use of meteorite dials is not a new novelty for Rolex, and examples can be found on various watches throughout their past, particularly within the Daytona, Day-Date, and Datejust collections. However, this new ultra-premium dial variation marks the first time that a meteorite dial has been fitted to a Rolex GMT.
We have discussed Rolex’s meteorite dials before; however, in case anyone is wondering, yes, they do actually feature slices of meteorite on their surfaces. The meteorite itself primarily consists of iron and nickel, and the unique pattern on its surface is the result of how the metals cooled when the meteorite fell to earth all those years ago. As its appearance is the product of a natural occurrence, the pattern will vary from one meteorite dial to the next, and no two watches will look exactly the same.
With the latest updates to the GMT-Master collection, Rolex will no longer be manufacturing stainless steel GMT-Master II watches with Oyster bracelets. This means that if you want a white-metal Rolex GMT and also want an Oyster bracelet, you will have to get one in solid white gold – like the reference 126719 BLRO “Pepsi” GMT-Master II with meteorite dial, which is set to have an official price of $38,400.
Specifications:
- Reference Number: 126719BLRO
- Diameter: 40mm
- Case Material: White gold
- Dial Color: Meteorite
- Indexes: Applied white gold
- Lume: Chromalight on hands and hour markers
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
- Strap/Bracelet: White gold Oyster bracelet with Oysterlock
- Movement: Caliber 3285
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, date
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Winding: Automatic
- Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)
- Jewels: 31
- COSC Chronometer Certified
- Additional Details: Regulated to +2/-2 seconds per day; utilizes the Chronergy escapement.
