Alright, so lately I’ve been obsessed with getting a Rolex GMT-Master II, specifically that “Root Beer” one, the reference 126711CHNR. It’s just such a slick watch, you know? But let’s be real, dropping that kind of cash on a watch isn’t in the cards for me right now. So, I started looking into, shall we say, “alternative” options.
First, I went down a rabbit hole of other watches that kind of give off the same vibe. There was this one from a brand called Stuhrling, the Meridian 3968, that had a GMT function and was a decent size at 42mm. It looked okay, but it wasn’t really doing it for me.
Then I found another one, the Mathey-Tissot Mathy Vintage GMT. This one actually had a two-tone “Root Beer” dial, which was cool. Mathey-Tissot is a Swiss brand, so that added some credibility. It was closer to what I was looking for, but still not quite right.
I stumbled upon another brand, Meccaniche Veneziane, and their Nereide GMT model. It’s a tribute to some old submarine, which is a neat story. It also had a 42mm case and a two-tone bezel, but again, it wasn’t hitting the mark.
After that, I looked at the Squale Atmos Heritage Ceramic 1545. Squale is known for dive watches, and this one had a brown ceramic bezel with gold accents. It was a nice-looking watch, but it just wasn’t a “Root Beer,” you know?
Finally, I considered the Alpina Seastrong Diver 300, but it wasn’t even a GMT watch, so I quickly dismissed it. I realized that I really wanted that specific “Root Beer” look.
After realizing that these homage watches weren’t cutting it, I decided to take the plunge and look into the world of replicas. I know, I know, it’s a bit of a controversial topic, but I was determined.
I did a ton of research on different replica factories and which ones were known for making the best Rolex reps. It seemed like everyone was saying that the best GMT-Master II “Root Beer” replicas were coming from a factory called GMF. Apparently, they even make their own rose gold parts, which is pretty impressive.
I ended up finding a seller online that offered the GMF version. It wasn’t cheap, but it was a fraction of the price of the real thing. I agonized over it for a few days, going back and forth, but finally, I pulled the trigger and ordered it.
The wait was excruciating. Every day felt like a week. I was constantly checking the tracking information, hoping for some sign of movement. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the package arrived.
Unboxing
- The Box: It came in a pretty convincing Rolex box. I mean, it wasn’t perfect, but it was way better than I expected.
- First Impressions: When I opened the box and saw the watch, my jaw dropped. It looked amazing. The weight felt good, the rose gold looked spot on, and the bezel had that beautiful “Root Beer” color scheme.
- Details: I spent hours inspecting every detail. The dial, the hands, the cyclops over the date window, the bracelet – everything looked incredibly close to the pictures of the real 126711CHNR I had been drooling over.
Of course, it’s not a real Rolex. There are some minor imperfections if you look really, really closely. But honestly, for the price, I’m blown away by the quality. It’s scratched my “Root Beer” itch, and I’m really happy with my purchase. It’s definitely going to be getting a lot of wrist time.
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