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Rolex GMT-Master II
Ref. 126715CHNR
Sits in Rolex’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Rolex watches we list, which start at £5,355.
Price range £5,355 to £125,000 across 74 Rolex watches in stock.The "Root Beer" nickname has followed this configuration since the GMT-Master II family first paired brown and black on a bezel, and the 126715CHNR is its fullest expression: the two-tone Cerachrom ceramic insert, the deep black dial, and now the entire case and bracelet rendered in Everose gold. The original GMT-Master was built in 1955 in collaboration with Pan American Airways for pilots navigating multiple time zones on long-haul transatlantic routes, and the lineage still shapes every decision here — the bidirectional bezel readable at a glance, the 24-hour hand independent of the local hour hand, the whole instrument oriented around moving quickly between contexts. At 40mm across and 12mm deep, the watch is considerably flatter than its mass would suggest — 213.2 grams of solid Everose has a way of announcing itself before you look down. The lug-to-lug span of 48mm keeps it from sprawling, and the bracelet curves to follow the wrist in a way that distributes the weight better than the heft implies. The Calibre 3285 inside is built around a Parachrom hairspring and Chronergy escapement, a combination that holds Superlative Chronometer tolerances of -2/+2 seconds per day and shrugs off both magnetic fields and shocks. The Easylink extension in the clasp gives roughly 5mm of tool-free adjustment — useful on a bracelet that will feel different in winter than in summer.
- Reference
- 126715CHNR
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- GMT-Master II
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 12mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Bidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3285
- Functions
- GMT, Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Rose Gold
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 48mm
- Power reserve
- 70 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in the Rolex GMT-Master II range (5), Back in Stock (4,528), Automatic Watches (1,693), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344), GMT Watches (227) and Solid Gold Watches (160).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 40mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 70-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Price history
This watch is currently at its lowest recorded price. It reached £41,150 on 20 September. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
Rolex GMT-Master II alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 126715CHNR | 26120ST.OO.1220ST.03 | 5235G-001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £40,950 | £39,950 | £36,950 |
| Case size | 40mm | 39mm | 40.5mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 50m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 70 hours | 38 hours | 48 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 70 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 48mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £40,950, against £41,150 at Goldsmiths. Two UK retailers stock this reference.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its lowest recorded price since we began tracking it. It's ranged between £40,950 and £41,150, today it's £40,950.
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