Yesterday, I got the bright idea to try and make a knock-off of the Rolex GMT-Master II, the left-handed version. I’ve always admired that classic style, and I thought, “Why not give it a shot?”
So, I started by digging around online to figure out what makes a Rolex tick, especially this GMT-Master II. I learned a big thing is how the hands are stacked. On a real one, it goes: Hour, GMT, Minute. That’s a detail you can’t miss if you’re trying to make it look legit.
Then, I stumbled upon some chatter about how the green model for lefties is super hot right now. Folks are apparently willing to shell out over 26 grand for it, even though the price has dipped a bit. This latest version really has people talking.
- I looked into what others were doing for homages to this watch.
- Found a company called Steinhart that’s making a pretty decent one.
- They seem to really nail the details, which got me thinking about my own approach.
I also came across a bunch of info about replicas. I mean, they’re trying to make watches that look just like the real deal. The GMT-Master II ref. 126710BLRO is one of those models that gets copied a lot. It made me realize I had to be careful about the details if I wanted my project to look even halfway decent.
There’s this German watchmaker making an affordable alternative. They use a Swiss ETA 2893-2 movement in a 41mm stainless steel case. I thought that was pretty cool and started thinking about what kind of movement I could get my hands on.
The first step, I figured, was to focus on the dial and markers. I found a discontinued model, the Rolex GMT Master II, reference 116718LN. It’s got a yellow gold case, a full black ceramic bezel, and that signature green dial. I spent hours just staring at pictures of it, trying to memorize every little detail.
Crafting the Watch
I gathered all my tools and materials. I didn’t have any fancy watchmaking stuff, just some basic tools and a cheap watch movement I picked up online. I started by trying to replicate the dial. I used some green paint and a steady hand to get that signature Rolex green. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.
Next, I tackled the case. I didn’t have any yellow gold lying around, so I settled for some stainless steel I had. I shaped it as best as I could, trying to mimic the curves and edges of the real GMT-Master II. It was tough, and I messed up a few times, but eventually, I got something that looked somewhat like a watch case.
The bezel was another challenge. I didn’t have any ceramic, so I used some black plastic and painted it to look like ceramic. I even tried to add those little number markings, but my hands aren’t as steady as I’d like. It was a bit messy, but from a distance, it kinda looked the part.
Finally, I put it all together. I placed the hands in the correct order: Hour, GMT, Minute. I even managed to get a little red GMT hand to make it look more authentic. It was a struggle, and it took me all day, but I finally had something that resembled a Rolex GMT-Master II.
It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. But it was my own little creation, and I was pretty proud of it. I wore it around the house, showing it off to my family. They were impressed, or at least they pretended to be. It was a fun project, and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into making a real Rolex.
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