Rolex Pepsi 126710BLRO GMT-Master II

Rolex Pepsi 126710BLRO specifications

On paper, the Pepsi 126710BLRO shares its case, movement and bracelet options with the Batman. The difference is the bezel, which is far harder to make than it looks. Here is the full specification.

Specifications checked against Rolex and independent references, October 2026. MYR figures marked ≈ are converted at 4.08 MYR per USD.

History and reference evolution

The red-and-blue bezel is the oldest colour scheme in the GMT family. Rolex created it for the original GMT-Master ref. 6542 in the mid-1950s, when Pan Am pilots needed to read a second time zone at a glance. The blue half marked night hours and the red half marked day. That colour split survived through the 1675, the 16750 and the steel GMT-Master II 16710, which used an aluminium insert until production ended around 2007.

Why it took eleven years to return in steel

After 2007, Rolex moved the line to Cerachrom ceramic. However, red ceramic was the problem. Red pigments tend to break down at the temperatures used to sinter ceramic, so Rolex spent years developing a two-colour process. It finally showed a red-and-blue insert in 2014 on the white-gold 116719BLRO. Steel buyers waited four more years.

At Baselworld 2018, the Pepsi 126710BLRO arrived. It was the first steel GMT-Master II with a red-and-blue ceramic bezel and the first GMT on the new calibre 3285. It also came only on a Jubilee bracelet, which surprised buyers used to the Oyster on sports models. In short, it rewrote three things at once.

The 3285 and what it changed for owners

The 116-series GMTs used calibre 3186 with a 48-hour reserve. By contrast, the 3285 in the 126710BLRO runs for about 70 hours, uses the Chronergy escapement and is certified as a Superlative Chronometer. In practice, you can take it off on Friday evening and it will still be running on Monday morning. That matters for value because buyers now treat the 3285 generation as the default, and older Pepsis trade at a discount partly for that reason.

The 2021 Oyster version

In 2021 Rolex added an Oyster-bracelet Pepsi, the 126710BLRO-0002. The Jubilee became -0001. So for five years buyers could choose. Then, in April 2026, Rolex removed both versions at Watches & Wonders along with the white-gold Pepsi. For collectors, that leaves two distinct runs: Jubilee from 2018 to 2026, and Oyster from 2021 to 2026.

126710BLRO pre-owned prices compared

These bands come from October 2026 dealer asks. The excellent band is anchored on real listings, while the others are derived from it.

Bands reflect asking and achieved prices from 4 public market sources in October 2026, rounded. Retail for comparison: US$11,800. Prices move; use them as a sense-check, not a quote.

What moves the price of this reference

First, the discontinuation itself. Final-year cards dated 2025 or 2026, ideally with stickers still on, sit at the top of the range. Buyers see them as the last of the line, so they pay up.

Second, bracelet. A Jubilee Pepsi 126710BLRO typically asks US$1,000 to US$3,000 more than an Oyster example at the same dealer. That gap reflects demand rather than rarity. In fact, the Oyster had the shorter run, from 2021 only, and may close that gap over time.

Third, the bezel. The red-and-blue Cerachrom insert cannot be refinished. A chip at the edge means a replacement insert at a service centre, and a replaced insert lowers value for collectors. Also check that the case is unpolished, with sharp lug chamfers. Finally, a complete set matters more on a discontinued model, because the box, warranty card and hang tag become harder to replace later. Our box and papers guide shows how much each item is worth.

The April 2026 effect on prices

Prices did not jump on the announcement day. Instead, buyers front-ran the news. Asks firmed through early 2026 as rumours spread, then WatchCharts and Morgan Stanley data showed a dip of about 2.3% in the second quarter. In other words, the discontinuation was priced in before Rolex confirmed it. As of October 2026, dealer asks for a Pepsi 126710BLRO span roughly US$24,500 to US$34,000 depending on bracelet and card date.

Where to check prices

There is no retail benchmark any more, so you have to triangulate. Dealer websites in the US and Europe give clean asks with full descriptions. Marketplace listings show a wider spread, but the lowest listings are often private sellers without papers. Auction results are more useful for this reference than for most, because the Pepsi appears regularly and hammer prices show what buyers really pay. Our used Rolex prices guide shows which of these sources to trust for a discontinued model.

In Malaysia, grey dealers in Kuala Lumpur price in ringgit and often quote above the USD band once the exchange spread is added. Meanwhile, Singapore dealers sometimes undercut on Oyster versions. Compare the total landed cost, not just the sticker. Ask whether the price includes a recent service and whether the card shows a Malaysian, Singaporean or other retailer, since that affects nothing mechanically but can matter at resale.

When a price is too good to be true

Even tired, polished Pepsis rarely trade below about US$19,500. Therefore, any "full set" Pepsi 126710BLRO offered under about US$19,000, or RM78,000, deserves suspicion before anything else. Common stories include a seller moving abroad, an urgent family need or a "friend price". Ask for the serial, a live video of the bezel turning and an in-person inspection. If any of those are refused, walk away.

Genuine vs replica: how to check a 126710BLRO

The Pepsi is one of the most copied modern Rolex models, and the discontinuation has made it a bigger target. Start with the details below, then follow the full process in our real vs fake Rolex guide.

The red-and-blue insert

On a genuine Pepsi 126710BLRO, the insert is a single piece of ceramic. The red is deep and even, and the blue is a rich mid-blue with no purple cast. The colour boundary sits cleanly at the 6 and 18 hour positions. Many fakes get the red slightly orange or pinkish, or the blue too bright. Also, the GMT hand should match the red half of the bezel, not a brighter or duller red.

Next, turn the bezel. It should rotate in both directions in 24 firm, one-hour clicks with no play. A sloppy or gritty bezel is a warning sign, even if everything else looks right.

Engravings, crystal and serial

The serial number is engraved on the rehaut at 6 o'clock, inside the repeating "ROLEX" engraving. Each letter should sit squarely against its minute marker. In the crystal at 6, look for a tiny laser-etched coronet that is barely visible without a loupe. The reference is engraved between the lugs at 12, with the serial at 6. The caseback is plain and solid.

Hour hand and date behaviour

The 3285 in the Pepsi 126710BLRO lets you move the local hour hand in one-hour jumps without stopping the seconds hand. The date is linked to that hand, so jumping forward past midnight should flip the date crisply. Many replica movements either stop the seconds or move the date sluggishly.

What only a watchmaker can confirm

The movement is where clones still fail. A watchmaker can open the caseback and read the calibre 3285 markings, see the blue Parachrom hairspring and judge the finishing. They can also check that the dial, hands and insert are Rolex parts, not aftermarket replacements on a genuine case. Malaysian buyers can book this with Rolex's own Kuala Lumpur service centre, or with an experienced independent. Budget the fee into your purchase; it is small against a US$25,000 watch.

Who the 126710BLRO suits, and the alternatives

The Pepsi 126710BLRO suits a buyer who wants the most recognisable GMT colour scheme and accepts paying a discontinued-model premium for it. It is a bright watch. Red and blue reads casual and travel-ready rather than formal, and on the Jubilee it dresses up better than you might expect.

Cheaper and quieter alternatives to the Pepsi 126710BLRO

If the premium feels too high, the obvious alternative is the Batman 126710BLNR. It shares every mechanical detail and still sells at a much lower premium. Our Pepsi vs Batman comparison sets out the trade-offs. For a quieter look, the grey-and-black 126710GRNR is the newest steel option. If you want gold and a meteorite dial option instead, the white-gold 126719BLRO is the precious-metal Pepsi, also discontinued.

Unsure whether a GMT is right at all? The Submariner vs GMT-Master II page covers the practical differences. You can also browse the full GMT-Master II collection.

• 

  GMT-Master II 126710BLNR

  Blue-and-black steel GMT on Jubilee (Batgirl) or Oyster. Retail RM51,000; market prices and fake tells.

  Retail US$11,800 · Pre-owned US$18,000 – US$20,500

• 

  GMT-Master II 126719BLRO

  White-gold Pepsi with blue or meteorite dial, discontinued April 2026. Prices by dial and authentication tips. Discontinued

  Retail n/a · Pre-owned US$49,500 – US$54,500

126710BLRO FAQ