Cover Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II in Oystersteel with black dial and Oyster bracelet
Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II in Oystersteel with black dial and Oyster bracelet
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Rolex conquers the world with its GMT-Master II watch
If ever there were a superhero watch, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II may just qualify. It has scaled mountains, crossed oceans, gone to space, and even survived rocket speed. An emblematic timepiece of the iconic Swiss manufacture, it was designed to be an essential navigating instrument for adventures across time zones and fulfilling wanderlust.
Created in 1955, among its enduring features is a hand with a triangle tip that circles along the two-toned, bidirectional rotatable bezel with a 24-hour graduated Cerachrom insert to indicate a second time zone, handy for simultaneously telling the local and home time. The bezel is divided into two different colours to identify day and night—which at the model’s launch, was blue for night and red for day.
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Above The GMT-Master from 1955
The GMT-Master from 1955
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In 1959, the GMT-Master became the official watch for Pan American World Airways (Pan Am), accompanying its pilots on their flights. In 1967, lieutenant and aeronautical engineer William J. Knight broke the speed record in the X-15 rocket plane (7,274km/h) over the Mojave Desert in California with the GMT-Master on his wrist.
The GMT-Master was also a canvas to showcase innovations, particularly the introduction of high-tech ceramic bezel inserts in 2005, the first watch in the Rolex portfolio to have this highly durable scratchproof material.
Its functionality appealed to aviators and explorers, while its robust aesthetics captured the hearts of screen legends and top athletes. For almost 70 years, it has been an essential timepiece for those who need something smart and reliable when they travel. That legacy lives on today.
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Above William J. Knight
William J. Knight
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The new Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II is presented with a black and grey Cerachrom bezel insert, a material valued for its noncorrosive, virtually scratch-proof quality. The moulded, recessed graduations and numerals are coated with platinum via PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition), making the indications easy to read. The black lacquer dial bears the inscription ‘GMT-Master II’ in green, echoing the colour of the triangle-tipped 24-hour hand—an element that features strongly in the model’s design.
The 40mm Oyster case is, water-resistant up to 100m, houses calibre 3285 certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). It is equipped with the patented Chronergy escapement in nickel-phosphorus, which is resistant to magnetic fields. The blue Parachrom hairspring grants even greater stability thanks to its immunity to temperature variations and shocks. Shock resistance is further enhanced with the Perpetual rotor mounted on patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers; since 2023, the oscillating weight has been fitted with an optimised ball bearing.
Above Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II in Oystersteel with Jubilee bracelet
Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II in Oystersteel with Jubilee bracelet
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The watch comes in a choice of Oyster or Jubilee bracelet.
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Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
