Wrist Game or Crying Shame: The Modern GMT-Master II Root Beer

January 20, 2020

Hello holiday shoppers and welcome to another installment of Wrist Game or Crying Shame. This week we take a look at the modern GMT-Master II Root Beer. But first…It was just last week where we took a look at a 90s Omega Seamaster 120M in 18 karat gold. Clearly, this affordable looker still has the Midas touch because it shimmered its way to a 70% Wrist Game win. Folks, slowly but surely I will convert you to the splendor of gold. However, if you re not ready to go all the way, the horological industry has a compromise for you. The Europeans call it bi-color while us Freedom Fries refer to it as two-tone. Whichever descriptor you choose, this is a nice way to get a bit of everything. Think of it as the surf and turf of watches or perhaps the big value combo meal at your local fast-food merchant. A question, of course, is whether today s modern GMT-Master II Root Beer serves up any of that affordable advantage.The holidays will soon be here - break out that walletAside from the obvious comments about 2020, I prefer to look on the brighter side of things. Firstly, those of us with live-in families have likely spent more time with each other than in recent history. Secondly, if you like the stock market, it has remained incredibly resilient - especially if you re one of those so-called FAANG investors. Lastly, if you ve kept your job then you ve hopefully pocketed a few ducats due to a lack of vacation expenses. All of these things plus a slew of upcoming COVID vaccines are enough to make one feel footloose and fancy-free when it comes to the ways of the wallet. And with the holidays around the corner, treating one s self with something mildly outlandish is a tempting thing. For some reason, when I think of over the top, I think of Stallone . And what better way to celebrate than a brand new GMT-Master II Root Beer?The GMT-Master II Root BeerThe current GMT-Master II reference 126711CHNR) debuted at Baselworld back in 2018. I don t think sips much soda, so they officially refer to this watch as the Steel and Everose Gold edition. We, on the other hand, like to pop a top and quickly got on board with the fan-created Root Beer mantle. The name, if you re unfamiliar, stems from the use of a brown and black bisected 24-hour rotating bezel. Interestingly, it had been over a decade since the last Root Beer was on sale.The most interesting in the catalogNow, the two-tone Root Beer made a splash when it arrived, but it had to share the stage with some other big operators within the family. A solid Everose Root Beer and the runaway hit steel Pepsi showed that year as well. Still, RJ declared the bi-color Root Beer as his favorite of the trio in this article. As the owner of both all-gold 16758 and mixed 16753 vintage Root Beer models, I was pretty excited about these non-steel releases. They bring back some lovely colors along with modern build quality and materials. What I don t like about the two-tone is the use of an Oyster bracelet instead of a Jubilee. And regarding the black dial, it does look sharp but I d prefer a shade of brown that would somehow work with the bezel. Still, I think this is - bold claim coming - probably the most interesting on sale today.I m a known critic of the thick-lugged maxi cases currently favored by the Coronet, yet this Root Beer still manages to exude a level of sporty elegance. Credit the use of rose gold as a bit of a softener perhaps. Case in point, I do recall flying last year and seeing a well-dressed (read: blazer but not a suit) gent lifting his bag to the overhead. He was sporting one of these new Root Beer models along with a leather jacket and it worked. It also had a way of turning me into a proponent of this watch instead of a casual bystander.A tough find but not that badThe newest GMT-Master II Root Beer, like all modern sporty models, is not simple to buy at your local authorized dealer. However, this $13,500 is less hot than the steel versions. Secondary market prices are anywhere from $2-3K above list whereas the beloved Pepsi sells in the same range. In my view, you d be a straight-up nincompoop (my daughter s current favorite word) to buy all steel when you could add a little dazzle to your wrist for the same cost. However, the market is the market and people seem to want steel.Today s candidateJust like every other modern impossible-to-find , there are loads of GMT-Master II Root Beer models on the secondary market at above retail prices. There are less expensive versions than today s $15,828 example (via Chrono24 and pics from seller US Multi Trading Inc), but this one is seemingly brand new and with all of its wares. Now, let s come back to the holiday season in order to make a decision. I don t know about you, but I d classify this Root Beer as a watch that you d likely have to buy for yourself. I m not sure why, but perhaps the slight bling factor makes it a bit of a guilty pleasure buy. Regardless of whether you re treating yourself or someone is offering to pick up the tab, it s decision time. GMT-Master II Root Beer