We have some suggestions for your epidemic of ‘Pepsi’ fever that went up fairly in recent years. But first of all, if you wish, let me talk briefly about how this Pepsi story had begun. All started when, in 1950s, Pan American World Airways (PanAm, in short) knocked at Rolex’s door, asking it to produce a watch for its pilots that can show a second time zone. And having finished its works on it, Rolex launched GMT-Master 6542 reference.
The 24-hour indexed bezel of the model was manufactured in two colors – blue and red. If anyone wonders about where these colors came from, the answer lies in the pictures below.
Blue and red were, in fact, the colors of PanAm that ensured the emergence of GMT-Master. Yet they reminded people of Pepsi using the similar colors and have been referred thus and so. Bezel inserts of the first GMT-Masters were made of Bakelite and broke off with the effect of radium. Later on, aluminum bezel inserts were used. Although we bid farewell to the two-color bezels for a transitory period when Rolex introduced the ceramic bezel, we met them again with the development of the dual color ceramic bezel.
Here is the 126710 BLRO reference launched at BaselWorld 2018, and requiring you to wait a long time or to be very lucky (!) to be able to buy one at the list price.
You’ve gone hog wild even at the sight of it, haven’t you? I’ve told you we have some suggestions that would bring down this fever to some extent.
There may be some who doesn’t want to pay the list price or at least the double price (!) of the Rolex GMT-Master, or who doesn’t want to idly wait. Then, see them down, please:
Tudor Black Bay GMT Ref M79830RB
Maybe, it will be more reasonable to start with Tudor, another brand of Rolex. When it was introduced in the same year with the steel Pepsi, namely at the BaselWorld 2018, there was a situation as if saying that someone who can purchase this should purchase that. Actually, it wasn’t like that at all. And it is a pretty successful model.
Pros:
Design
A powerful brand, though not the Rolex itself.
An in-house caliber with real GMT feature (a power reserve of 70 hours and COSC certificate).
An affinity for the vintage models with the couple of matt dial and aluminum bezel.
The production quality.
The beauty of the blue and red tones used.
Cons:
Thickness due to the caliber fitted.
Faux riveted bracelet.
Too much snowflake(!), straining the eyes with the use of Tudor’s hallmark hand design in both the seconds, hours and GMT hands.
Price: 3,900$.
Seiko PADI Diver Ref SPB087J1
Japanese watch giant Seiko has had many longstanding models with Pepsi bezels. Today, it has many diver’s watch models with Pepsi bezels emerged especially as a result of their partnership with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors). The specific model we mention here is one of the handsomest ones.
Pros:
Design.
Fitted with the 6R15 among Seiko’s calibers that we may rate as medium-high level.
A very durable and quality production.
Comfortable with its 13,1mm thickness that may be deemed thin in proportion to its 44mm diameter.
Cons:
One among the thousands (!) of Seiko models.
Precision being totally a matter of chance in this and below this levels (Seiko itself reveals it as +25 and -15 seconds in its webpage).
Price: 998$.
Q Timex Diver Inspired Reissue Ref TW2T80700ZV
An ice-cold Pepsi for those parched with thirst. Moreover, from America, the original country of Pepsi. With its heritage of 166 years, Timex reproduced, last year, almost the same model it manufactured in 1979. The good-looking model has an appropriate price, too.
Pros:
Price.
A very successful design, a reproduction faithful to its original.
Acrylic crystal, aluminum bezel, 38mm diameter.
Cons:
50m water resistance
Quartz mechanism.
Price: 179$.
Steinhart Ocean 39 Vintage Premium Blue/ Red Keramik
The German Steinhart is one of the brands that are checked over by all those who have been newly interested in watches, when they meet the prices of Rolex and the like brands. They have a strategy to offer at affordable prices the look-alikes (!) of the models that are normally far out of your reach. Needless to say what the model we mention here looks like in fact.
Pros:
It combines the finest elements of the GMT-Master design.
Ceramic bezel.
Elaborated caliber.
300m water resistance.
Cons:
Inauthenticity.
Production quality.
Price.
Price: 710€.
Tag Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 7 Twin Time RefWAY201F.BA0927
Here again a pretty good-looking Pepsi interpretation. Tag Heuer’s Pepsi bezel adventure traces back to 1960s.
Putting aside the difficulty of finding an epochal Pepsi bezel Autavia, let’s have look at pluses-minuses of the up-to-date model.
Pros:
Authentic design in despite of using the color palette of Pepsi.
Production quality.
Strong brand perception.
300m water resistance.
Cons:
Fitted with an ordinary caliber in comparison to its price (Sellita SW300).
43mm diameter being bigger for some wrists.
Bezel with an aluminum insert, instead of a ceramic one, at this price level.
Price: 2,850$
Orient Mako II Ref AA02009D
In Japan, surely there are brands other than Seiko and, of course, Orient Mako II has also a version with Pepsi bezel. It looks pretty nice with its blue dial and the Arabic numerals at 6-9-12 hours.
Pros:
Budget friendly.
Fitted with a mechanical caliber.
200m water resistance.
Cons:
Rattling sound from the bracelet.
Price: 126.90$
Raymod Weil Tango 300 GMT Blue Red Diver Ref 8280-ST3-20001
A Swiss Made fitted with GMT function Quartz caliber. There must be some admirers, of course, with its Pepsi bezel.
Pros:
A well-known and quality brand.
Dial and bezel design.
Cons:
A quartz movement.
High price in spite of its quartz movement.
Price: 781$
CITIZEN Promaster Aqualand Ref BN2038-01L
Japanese people love the Pepsi business and they perform it since they love it. Citizen Promaster Aqualand has everything for diving; maximum depth memory, rapid ascent alarm, automatic diving mode, power reserve and date. It has the 3250 caliber that needs no battery and can charged with any light.
Pros:
A real Tool Watch having all the functions that can be needed during the diving.
Its design; the color palette used, dial, indexes and hands, all in harmony.
Integrity with its polyurethane strap.
Cons:
46mm diameter being larger for some wrists.
Mineral crystal glass.
Price: 556$
Christopher Ward C65 Trident GMT
Established by 3 English watch aficionado friends, the brand introduced its first models in 2005. Remarking their philosophy as offering the premium quality product at an affordable price, the friends has employed, in the design of the watches, the details of the classical models, that would be appreciated by everyone.
Pros:
Case design in analogy to that of vintage submariner.
Matt dial and date window in harmony with the dial.
Cons:
Inauthenticity.
Price.
Price: 1,135$
Rolex GMT-Master II Ref 126710
The truth is that the model launched here in BaselWorld 2018 is still one the most sought-after models of Rolex. The updated version of the real Pepsi. The model exhilarating the Pepsi trend once again. There is a lot to tell but those who want it either know it all or don’t care at all!
Pros:
A flawless design.
Brand power.
New generation caliber, 70 hours power reserve.
Case, bracelet, dial, hands… produced with a perfect quality.
Cons:
You can’t obtain one at once even if you have the money.
Price: 8,950€
After all, we have talked about some models that called our team’s attention and that may, perhaps, satisfy your Pepsi need (!). We hope one of them is just for you.
Last but not least, here is our team’s favorite:
Rolex GMT Master II White Gold Meteorite Dial Ref 126719 BLRO
Price: 35,500€
