Rolex Batman appeals to many with its black and blue bezel. First launched in 2013, the GMT Master II Batman took a whole new approach with the colors on its bidirectional bezel. The combination of dark blue and black reminded people of ‘The Dark Knight’ giving it its nickname. Check out our collection of Rolex Batman watches here.
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Rolex managed to take away everyone’s breath at the Baselworld 2013 with the launch of the GMT Master II 116710BLNR. The timepiece showed a pure example of how far the watch craftsmanship has come. Based on the reference 116710, the 116710BLNR featured a black and blue bezel. The combination reminded people of the Dark Knight thus the watch got its nickname.
Rolex Batman played an important role in the GMT Master and it quickly became one of the most popular watches.
The release of the Rolex Batman reference 116710BLNR played a major role in shaping the future of the GMT Master II lineup. The Batman was the first GMT Master II to feature a bi-colour ceramic bezel. This was a game changer as prior to this Rolex was using aluminum bezels. The aluminum counterparts were not only prone to scratches but they also faded over a period of time.
Yes, the rich and saturated blue-and-black bezel looks out of the world. But that was not the only reason behind the demand for this watch. At the time of its launch, the 116710BLNR was the only bi-color bezel GMT watch available in stainless steel. This was because the Pepsi was only being sold in 18k white gold. From that time to the next 7 years, a two-tone GMT could only be obtained in stainless steel with the Batman.
When Rolex decided to shift to the use of a ceramic bezel, they figured out that using colors red and blue on a ceramic setup is a slightly complicated process. So, to control the demand, they launched it only in 18ct White Gold. As Gold is a precious metal, the Pepsi was more expensive than the black bezel GMT and the Batman.
It was not just the price that bothered the watch collectors. It was also the fact that Rolex decided to use a precious metal on a sports watch. Watch collectors and enthusiasts have always preferred a sports watch on a stainless steel case. This is because gold is a soft metal, whereas stainless steel is more durable.
Rolex GMT Master II 116710BLNR was the first one to get a blue and black bezel. In 2019, it was discontinued in favor of the 126710BLNR. While the two watches are identical in looks, there are a few differences. In order to make it easier, the community decided to name the old one Batman and the new one Batgirl.
Does that mean that the Rolex Batman is now discontinued? Not exactly. Here’s what happened.
When Rolex launched the 126710BLNR, the original Batman was discontinued. This disappointed many fans as they preferred the Batman over the Batgirl. Also, the watch was made available only on a Jubilee bracelet. This change made the people nickname the new one as Batgirl.
The difference between a Rolex Batman and a Rolex Batgirl does not only has to do with the reference number and the bracelet type. There is more. The new Batgirl brought an improved movement when compared to the original Batman. The new calibre 3285 movement offered a power reserve of up to 70 hours. Besides that, the new movement is more resistant to shock and magnetic fields.
The discontinuation of the Rolex Batman disappointed many fans. People preferred buying the blue-black bezel GMT Master II on an Oyster bracelet. Rolex heard the community and they released a Rolex 126710BLNR on an Oyster bracelet in 2021. This was considered as a rebirth of the much-appreciated Rolex Batman.
The new Rolex GMT Master II 126710BLNR is now available on both Oyster and Jubilee bracelet options. Due to this, now the nicknames Batman and Batgirl don’t necessarily differentiate between the two different references. Instead, the name Batman is assigned to any black-blue GMT Master II on a Oyster bracelet. Similarly, a black-blue bezel GMT Master II on a Jubilee bracelet is called a Batgirl.
Yes, the Rolex Batman 126710BLNR has proven to be a worthwhile investment. While it retails at around AED 37,000, it is going in the secondary market anywhere between AED 65,000 to AED 70,000. The price is projected to only go up from here.
The GMT Master II 126710BLNR with a Jubilee bracelet is known as the Rolex Batgirl. On the other hand, Rolex Batman is the 126710BLNR on a Oyster bracelet.
Yes, you can buy a Rolex Batman on either a Jubilee Bracelet or a Oyster Bracelet from WatchMaestro. You can look at the available options on this page. If nothing is available, we can source one for you.
The black and blue bi-color bezel reminds people of the Batman comic books.
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