The long-awaited stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II with Pepsi configuration was introduced exactly at the same time as Tudor's Black Bay GMT?with a?Pepsi bezel. Since Tudor belongs to Rolex, this wasn't a matter of coincidence.GMT PepsiThere was never a sporty GMT model in Tudor's heritage, as far as I remember (or can find). I know about their vintage Submariner models, but I never saw an equivalent for Rolex' GMT-Master in their collection. As far as Rolex goes, the GMT-Master has been part of their history since 1954 when their reference 6542 was introduced. When Rolex cancelled their aluminium bezel models around 2007, that also meant the end of the much-praised Pepsi and Coke bezels. The new ceramic bezels were only available in black at first, and slowly other colours joined as well. When the ceramic Pepsi bezel was introduced in 2014 with their reference 116719 GMT-Master II watch, many fans were a bit disappointed as it was only available in white gold. Ever since 2014 though, the Pepsi fans hoped for a stainless steel model as well. Every year on the first day of the Baselworld show, there was a little sparkle of hope at first for a new Pepsi in stainless steel, but the time had not come yet.
Rolex GMT-Master 6542Pepsi With JubileeThat changed this year when there suddenly was a Rolex GMT-Master II with a Pepsi bezel. Not only that but also on a Jubilee bracelet. Although Rolex claimed at first that the jubilee bracelet could not be exchanged for an Oyster bracelet as it would not fit, the first (lucky) buyers of the watch proven this wrong when they added an Oyster bracelet to it.
Stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II 126710 PepsiBut it didn't stop here. One booth further (Tudor is next to Rolex, of course), Tudor was introducing their Heritage Black Bay GMT at the same time. Where the Rolex retails for 8550 Euro (if you can get one, that is, Rolex is currently having severe issues in getting their watches to the customers it seems), Tudor offers their GMT Pepsi for 3680 Euro (on stainless steel, 3390 Euro on leather). Where people at first said that the Tudor Heritage Black Bay GMT Pepsi was a bit too much of a copy/paste of the former aluminium Rolex GMT-Master models, the price made up for this for sure. Not only that, Tudor offers this watch with their in-house developed MT5652 movement with 70 hours of power reserve. This movement is a real GMT movement, as collectors call it, where you set the home time first and then set the independent hour hand to the local time.
Tudor Heritage Black Bay GMT Pepsi M79830RB-000Price PointsWhen I saw the Tudor Heritage Black Bay GMT for the first time, I was mighty impressed (Mike even called it the Baselworld shocker). For this kind of money, it was bulls-eye. However, I also felt that the Rolex GMT-Master II with Pepsi might be just a bit more of the real thing. On top, I felt that the Black Bay GMT was a bit too thick. This was due to the GMT mechanism of the movement I was told. But, on the wrist, it looks great for sure and the thickness of the case is not really an issue these days. The Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi with Jubilee bracelet did leave a great impression I have to say, generally speaking. Although I found the price of 8550 Euro a bit steep, the watch will sell anyway and I received many messages from friends and readers that they signed up to be on the waiting list at their authorized Rolex dealer. Price is not very important, when it comes to Rolex, they will sell.
