Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and let me tell you, it’s been a ride. I got this idea in my head that I wanted to make a watch that looks like the Rolex GMT-Master II with the “Root Beer” bezel. You know, the one with the brown and black? Yeah, that’s the one. It’s a real looker, but way out of my price range. So, I thought, why not try to make something similar myself?
I started by looking up everything I could about the Rolex Root Beer. I learned that Rolex first came out with the Root Beer design way back, and they brought it back in 2018 with the ref. 126711CHNR. I even found out that the original GMT Master II lineup started in 1982, and the Root Beer version came a bit later, in the late ’80s. The ref. 16713 had a 40mm case. Fancy, right?
Finding the Right Parts
After getting a good idea of what I was aiming for, I started looking for parts. I found a few watches that had a similar vibe. There’s this one from Stuhrling, the Meridian 3968 GMT Quartz. It’s a 42mm watch, not too shabby. Then there’s the Mathey-Tissot Mathy Vintage GMT with a two-tone Root Beer dial. That company’s been around since 1886, so they must be doing something right. I also checked out the Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT, which is a tribute to a Venetian submarine from 1913. And let’s not forget the Squale Atmos Heritage Ceramic 1545, with its brown ceramic bezel and gold markers.
Putting It All Together
With a bunch of parts from different watches, I started putting my own version together. It wasn’t easy, I’ll tell you that. I had to be super careful not to mess anything up. I used the case from one watch, the dial from another, and tried to get that brown and black bezel look just right.
The Final Product
After a lot of trial and error, I finally got something that looked pretty good. It’s not a Rolex, of course, but it’s got that Root Beer vibe. The bezel is a mix of brown and black, and the dial has that classic look. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.
My Thoughts
This whole project was a lot of fun. It took a lot of work, but I learned a ton about watches and how they’re put together. Plus, I ended up with a cool watch that looks like a Rolex but didn’t cost me an arm and a leg. I even heard that the waitlist for a real Rolex Root Beer can be up to two years! And the average price on the secondary market is something like $29,421. Insane, right?
So, that’s my story. I took on a challenge, learned a lot, and ended up with a watch I’m proud of. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. And that’s what counts, right?
- Started with an idea: Make a watch like the Rolex GMT-Master II Root Beer.
- Did a bunch of research: Learned about the history and different models.
- Found some parts: Used bits from Stuhrling, Mathey-Tissot, Meccaniche Veneziane, and Squale.
- Put it together: Carefully assembled the watch, focusing on the bezel and dial.
- Ended up with a cool watch: Not a Rolex, but it looks the part and I’m happy.
If you’re thinking about doing something like this, go for it! It’s a great way to learn and have some fun. Just be prepared to put in the work, and don’t expect to get it right on the first try.
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