Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Rolex GMT-Master II for a while now. You know, the one with that two-tone bezel everyone calls the “Root Beer”? Yeah, that’s the one. I just love that brown and black – or brown and gold, whatever they call it. It looks like that old-timey soda. I just think it’s sharp.
Well, getting a brand new one is out of the question. Those things are expensive! So I got to thinking, maybe I can put one together, like building it myself. I figured, why not, right? I’m pretty handy.
First, I started looking around for parts and seeing what other people had done. I found out a lot of folks were using parts from all over the place. I even found some people recommending this American brand, Stuhrling. I guess they make some decent parts, but they’re not Rolex, you know?
I spent a good chunk of time just browsing, trying to figure out what I needed. I saw that some other watches had that same “Root Beer” look, but they weren’t exactly what I was after. I really wanted that Rolex feel, but without the actual Rolex.
Then I started hunting down the actual parts. The bezel was the big one. I finally found one that was being advertised as a “Rolex GMT-Master II 126711CHNR ‘Root Beer'” bezel. It was used, but the seller said it was in perfect condition, and it even had a card dated 2023. The pictures looked good, hardly any wear on it, so I pulled the trigger and bought it.
Next, I needed the rest of the watch! I found a used watch body that was supposed to be compatible with this bezel. This was also a bit of a gamble, but it was way cheaper than buying a whole new Rolex. I mean, everyone says those things hold their value like crazy. They say the Daytona, Submariner, and the GMT-Master II are the hottest ones right now. I guess this model, the 116718LN, is discontinued, which might be good for value, too. It’s got a yellow gold case and a black bezel, which isn’t exactly what I wanted, but I figured I could make it work.
- Bought a used “Root Beer” bezel.
- Got a used watch body that’s supposed to fit the bezel.
- Prayed it all works together!
When everything arrived, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. I carefully took the bezel off the watch body I bought and tried to fit the Root Beer one on. It took some doing, but I finally got it to snap into place. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough.
So, now I’ve got this watch that looks a heck of a lot like a Rolex GMT-Master II with the Root Beer bezel. It’s not the real deal, but it’s pretty darn close, and I put it together myself. That’s gotta count for something, right?
Lessons Learned
- Doing your homework is key!
- Finding good used parts takes patience.
- Putting it all together is tricky but satisfying!
I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s my own little “Root Beer” Rolex, even if it’s a bit of a mix-and-match. Maybe someday I’ll get the real thing, but for now, this will do just fine. It’s a good conversation starter, that’s for sure! I wore it out the other day, and a guy actually asked me if it was a real Rolex. I just smiled and said, “It’s my version.”
Click to consult