Okay, so, a few weeks ago, I got this crazy idea in my head. I wanted to make a watch that looks just like the Rolex GMT-Master II with the “Root Beer” bezel. You know the one, right? That two-tone brown and black bezel is just so iconic. I’ve always loved that classic look, but let’s be real, a real Rolex is way out of my budget. I figured, why not try to build my own version? I mean, I consider myself a quite handy guy, so I started doing a bit of research online, checking out Amazon reviews and forums to see what parts I would need and read some reviews about GMT-Master II 126711CHNR ‘Root Beer’.
First thing I did was to hunt down a good base watch. I ended up finding this pre-owned Stuhrling. I think it is an American brand. It is not in bad shape at all! The bezel and crystal are in perfect condition, and the watch itself shows little to no wear. It even came with a card dated 2023, which is pretty recent. It seemed like the perfect starting point for my project.
Next, I started looking for the right bezel. This was the most important part, obviously. I spent hours searching online, comparing different options. I found a two-tone 18K “Root Beer” bezel from this one seller, listed for about 17 bucks. The picture looked decent, and it had the right color combination, so I thought, “Why not?” I mean, 17 dollars, that’s not too bad, right? It is not a big deal, I just took it as a hobby.
While I was waiting for the bezel to arrive, I read up a bit more about the history of the Rolex Root Beer. Apparently, the original one came out way back, and then there was another version, the GMT Master II 16713, that was around until 2006. And, in 2023, Rolex released a new version, the 126713GRNR, which is one of the newest models in their GMT collection. Some people are calling it the ‘Zombie’. It comes with a yellow gold and steel Jubilee bracelet, a black dial, and a black and grey ceramic bezel. It was cool to learn a bit about the background of the watch I was trying to imitate. I even learned that “GMT” stands for Greenwich Mean Time. I never knew that!
I also found out that if you want to buy a real Rolex Root Beer, you could be on a waitlist for up to two years! And that depends on your relationship with the authorized dealer and your purchase history with Rolex. Crazy, right?
Anyway, back to my project. Once the bezel arrived, I carefully removed the old one from the Stuhrling and replaced it with the new Root Beer bezel. It fit perfectly! I was so stoked. I also swapped out the original strap for a two-tone bracelet that I found online. It really completed the look. Honestly, I was pretty impressed with myself. The watch looked amazing, a really decent imitation of the real deal, at least to my untrained eye.
- Step 1: Found a used Stuhrling watch in good condition.
- Step 2: Ordered a two-tone “Root Beer” bezel online for $17.
- Step 3: Learned about the history of the Rolex Root Beer and waitlist times.
- Step 4: Replaced the original bezel with the new one.
- Step 5: Added a two-tone bracelet to complete the look.
It’s not a real Rolex, of course, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s a fun project, and I’ve got a cool-looking watch to wear. Plus, I saved a ton of money! Maybe one day I’ll be able to afford the real thing, but for now, my little homemade Root Beer homage will do just fine.
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