Alright, so, I got this itch to try and make my own version of the Rolex GMT-Master II, you know, the one with the red and blue “Pepsi” bezel. Yeah, it’s a classic, and pretty much everyone wants one, but they’re crazy expensive. So I thought, why not give it a shot myself? Let’s see how this goes.
Getting Started
First thing’s first, I needed to figure out what makes this watch tick. I watched some videos online, read a bunch of stuff, and basically tried to soak up as much info as I could about the real deal. Not to become an expert, just to get a feel for it. The UV light thing, hiding details, that’s all cool. But I’m mostly focused on that iconic bezel look.
The Bezel
The Pepsi bezel is the real star of the show, so I spent a ton of time trying to get that right. I looked at all the different versions of the real Rolex and how they made them. Then came the fun part – trying to recreate that look.
- I messed around with different materials, trying to find something that looked close enough.
- Played with different shades of red and blue paint, mixing them until I got something that I thought looked decent.
- Painted, stripped, and repainted a bunch of times. It was messy, let me tell you.
Putting It Together
Once I had a bezel I was somewhat happy with, I had to fit it onto a watch case. I found a cheap watch that had a similar shape to the Rolex and used that as my base. Taking the whole thing apart was a bit nerve-wracking, but I managed it without breaking anything (too badly).
The Final Touches
With the new bezel on, I added a few other touches to make it look a bit more like the real thing. Changed the watch hands, put on a new strap, that kind of thing. It’s the little details, right?
The Result
So, after all that work, did I end up with a perfect replica of a Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi Bezel? Of course not. But I got something that kind of looks like it, and I had a blast making it. Plus, I learned a ton about watches, which is pretty cool. Maybe it’s not going to fool anyone up close, but from a distance, it’s got that vibe. And honestly, that’s good enough for me.
It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. And there is not any other in this world.
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