I’ve always been fascinated by the Rolex GMT-Master II, especially that “Pepsi” version with the red and blue bezel. It’s just such a classic, iconic look, you know? But let’s be real, a brand new one is way out of my budget. I mean, we’re talking at least ten grand, probably more. So, I started looking into alternatives, which eventually led to me trying to make my own high-imitation Rolex GMT-Master II with a Pepsi bezel.
First, I needed to find a watch base that looked similar to the GMT-Master II. I spent hours searching online forums and browsing through various replica sites, trying to find something that had the right shape, size, and overall feel. The watch is 40 mm in diameter.
- The Oyster case I finally choose looked similar enough to do my next step.
- I also bought some tools to disassemble the watch.
Next up was the most crucial part – the Pepsi bezel. I found a supplier online that specialized in high-quality ceramic bezels. They had a Pepsi bezel that was specifically designed for this model. It wasn’t cheap, but it was definitely cheaper than buying a whole new Rolex. I ordered it, along with a few other parts that needed upgrading, like the hands and markers.
When everything arrived, I got to work. I carefully disassembled the base watch, making sure to keep all the tiny screws and parts organized. I was really nervous about this part, since I’d never taken a watch apart before. Let me tell you, it’s a lot harder than it looks in those YouTube videos!
The most challenging part was definitely replacing the bezel. The original bezel was a 120-click design, while the new ceramic one was a 24-click design. It was a real pain to get it aligned perfectly, but after a lot of trial and error, I finally managed it.
After that, I replaced the hands and markers with the new ones I had ordered. This was a bit easier than the bezel, but it still required a steady hand and a lot of patience. I did it.
Finally, after hours of work, I put the watch back together. It wasn’t perfect, but I was pretty happy with how it turned out. It definitely looked the part of a GMT-Master II, especially with that iconic Pepsi bezel. When I shined a UV light on the bezel, it glowed a really cool all-red color, just like the real thing! It’s not quite the same as owning a genuine Rolex, but it’s a pretty decent high-imitation. And hey, it saved me a ton of money!
Anyway, that’s my story of how I made my own high-imitation Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi bezel. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watches in the process. Plus, I now have a cool-looking watch to wear!
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