A touch of sport, a touch of class, and a whole lot of luxuriousness. The two-tone Rolex sports watch is, and has been for a long time, one of the most coveted choices from the brand’s lineup. Iconic Rolex models that were originally utilitarian tool watches—think Submariner and the GMT-Master—take on a whole new persona when 18k gold is weaved into their stainless steel bodies. Here we take a look at some of our favorite modern two-tone Rolex sports models.
Rolex GMT-Master ref. 116713LN
The very first two-tone GMT-Master presented by Rolex was back in the 1970s with the ref. 1675/3. Since then, the yellow Rolesor GMT-Master has been one of the company’s greatest hits. The GMT-Master II ref. 116713LN made its debut in 2006 and is the current version of the model. Aside from its use of both steel and yellow gold on the 40mm Oyster case and Oyster bracelet, the ref. 116713LN also bears a black Cerachrom ceramic bezel. Now a hallmark of modern Rolex sports watches, the popularity of the ceramic bezel lies not only in its attractiveness but in its resilience too.
Ceramic as a material is essentially scratch and fade proof, thus allowing the famous Rolex pilot watch to retain its beauty for a long time to come. The rotating bezel, along with the extra 24-hour hand permits the wearer to keep track of three different time zones. Plus, the choice of green for that 24-hand and the “GMT-Master II” label is a nice design touch.
Rolex Submariner ref. 116613
If you prefer a luxury diving watch rather than a fine pilot watch, then look no further than the Submariner ref. 116613LN. Also the most current version, the two-tone Rolex Submariner ref. 116613LN boasts a Cerachrom bezel as well. In fact, at first glance, the Rolex Submariner ref. 116613LN has a very similar style to the GMT-Master ref. 116713LN. The Submariner ref. 116613LN also has a 40mm Oyster case, Rolesor Oyster bracelet, and a black ceramic bezel. However, the bezel is, of course, unidirectional—as is the case with all diving watches—and features the characteristic 60-minute scale. While this particular ref. 116613 has the black dial and bezel configuration, there is also a blue two-tone Rolex Submariner version.
Rolex Daytona ref. 116523
Moving away from air and sea, we now take a look at a two-tone Rolex timepiece inspired by motorsports. The flagship chronograph from Rolex, the Daytona is one of the most recognizable luxury sports watches out there. Even though this particular Daytona ref. 116523 is no longer in production—having been replaced by the current ref. 116503—it remains a popular Daytona reference. The design on this specific ref. 116523 is gorgeous thanks to the slate dial with gold registers matching perfectly with the steel and yellow gold combination of the bracelet and case. Just like all modern Daytonas, this one has the 40mm Oyster case with the pair of chronograph pushers flanking the screw-down winding crown.
Rolex Yacht-Master ref. 16623
The flashiest of the bunch due to its black mother-of-pearl dial, this Yacht-Master is perfect for everyday luxe. The 40mm Oyster case is topped with a yellow gold rotating bezel with large raised numerals. The ref. 16623 is presented on a steel and yellow gold Oyster bracelet and the dial is furnished with large lume plots for legibility even in the dark. While the Yacht-Master collection is inspired by nautical life and can be used for things like measuring the time it takes to sail from buoy to buoy, the ref. 16623 is probably best suited for sipping cocktails on the boat’s top deck while admiring the view of the waters.
