Alright, so, I’ve been messing around with watches lately, specifically trying to make a knockoff of that Rolex GMT-Master II, the one with the “Root Beer” bezel. You know, the one with the brown and gold. Let me tell you, it’s been a journey.
First off, I started by digging around for info on the real deal. That “Root Beer” GMT-Master II, especially that old model, the 16713, was made for a while, until like 2006. It’s got this mix of steel and gold, which is kinda what makes it stand out. And there’s the newer one, the 126711CHNR, which is also pretty sweet. But yeah, those real ones are way out of my price range.
Finding the Base
So, the first big step was finding a watch that I could use as a base. I needed something that at least had a similar movement to the GMT-Master II. I spent hours, maybe even days, scouring online shops and forums. Ended up finding a decent one that was kinda close. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a good starting point. I think it was one of those chinese brand, I really don’t know, don’t care too much.
The Bezel Struggle
The hardest part was definitely the bezel. That two-tone brown and gold is so specific. I looked at a bunch of cheap options, like those from Stuhrling, Mathey-Tissot, Meccaniche Veneziane, and Squale,but none of them were the right fit. Some were just plain ugly, others were the wrong colors, and some were just too big or too small.
- Searched all over the place for a decent fake root beer bezel.
- Tried out a few, but they were all pretty bad. Colors were off, or they just felt cheap.
- Almost gave up, ngl.
Getting it Right (Almost)
After a ton of trial and error, I finally managed to piece something together. I took the base watch, swapped out the bezel. It took a lot of patience, and I definitely messed up a few times, but I got there in the end.
- Took the base watch and carefully removed the original bezel.
- Fitted the new root beer bezel. Had to make some small adjustments to get it to fit just right.
- Put the whole thing back together.
It’s not an exact replica, of course. The colors might be a bit off, and the movement isn’t as smooth as a real Rolex. But, it looks pretty darn close, especially from a distance. And, it didn’t cost me an arm and a leg, which is the main thing. It feels pretty good on my wrist, and honestly, it’s been a fun project. I’m not planning to sell it or anything, it’s just something I made for myself. Might try to make another one sometime, maybe a different model. Who knows?
So yeah, that’s my little adventure in making a budget-friendly, high imitation Rolex GMT-Master II “Root Beer.” Hope you guys enjoyed the ride!
Click to consult