What is the Rolex Batman?
Assigning charming nicknames to watches with distinctive features is part of the watch-collecting culture. Sometimes monikers are inspired by the people or groups who wore them, such as the Paul Newman Daytona or Rolex Thunderbird, and other times, nicknames are based on prominent characteristics, such as the Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master named after its colorful red and blue bezel. The “Batman” follows suit and is the nickname given by collectors to the black and blue bezel GMT-Master II. Rolex has only released two models with the contemporary bezel since it took the market by storm in 2013, references 116710BLNR and 126710BLNR. Let’s briefly examine the Rolex Batman’s history and the differences between both iterations.
Rolex Batman Characteristics
| Model Name: | GMT-Master II |
| Reference Numbers: | 116710BLNR (2013-2019) 126710BLNR (2019+) |
| Case Diameter: | 40MM |
| Case Material: | Stainless Steel |
| Functions: | Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Independent 24-Hour Hand, Bi-Directional 24-Hour Bezel |
| Bezel Insert: | Ceramic “Cerachrom” |
| Dial Color: | Black |
| Bracelet: | 116710BLNR – Oyster 126710BLNR – Oyster or Jubilee |
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Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116710BLNR
When released in 2007, reference 116710 was the first stainless steel GMT-Master II to sport a ceramic “Cerachrom” bezel instead of aluminum. Even more fascinating is that it was only available with an all-black bezel for several years because Rolex had not yet perfected the process required to commercially produce a two-tone variation out of a single piece of ceramic. The first Batman GMT ref. 116710BLNR didn’t make its official debut until a few years later during Baselworld 2013, and when it did, it made watchmaking history as the first two-tone ceramic bezel and the first black and blue Rolex bezel. It was fresh, contemporary, and innovative.
When Rolex discontinued the 5-digit GMT-Master II in favor of the 1167XX series, it introduced numerous upgrades to the collection, including the improved Triplock screw-down crown and a then-new caliber 3186 movement with the Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring. Outwardly, the 6-digit series was more robust, featuring larger maxi hour markers, broader lugs, and a larger crown guard. Furthermore, the black bezel model featured a vibrant green GMT hand, which was swapped for blue to match the Batman bezel on ref. 116710BLNR.
Interestingly, Rolex only produced the first Batman GMT-Master II on the Oyster bracelet, despite years of speculation and hope that the brand might one day add the option for a Jubilee bracelet. Instead, ref. 116710BLNR was discontinued after just a few years of production and replaced with the new Batman ref. 126710BLNR, which debuted on the highly anticipated Jubilee bracelet.
Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126710BLNR
Rolex released ref. 126710 in 2018, outfitting the newest edition of the famous pilot’s watch with a shiny new movement, the caliber 3285. At first, the Oystersteel model was only produced with a red and blue “Pepsi” bezel and a Jubilee bracelet – a configuration many argue is the Rolex GMT in its most iconic form. Rolex didn’t debut the new Batman ref. 126710BLNR until a year later in 2019, and even then, it was only outfitted with a Jubilee bracelet like the Pepsi model. This iteration, it seems, satiated many collectors’ desires for a Rolex Batman on a Jubilee bracelet. But, of course, we were left wondering if Rolex would resurrect the black and blue bezel on its original Oyster bracelet. And that’s precisely what the Big Crown did in 2021. For the first time in Rolex Batman history, collectors had the option for the black and blue bezel GMT-Master II with either a Jubilee or Oyster bracelet.
Rolex 116710BLNR vs. 126710BLNR
The differences between references 116710BLNR and 126710BLNR aren’t immediately apparent. Both models have the history-making two-tone bezel, black Maxi dial, stainless steel finish, and 40mm Oyster case. However, when Rolex released the newest stainless steel GMT-Master II in 2018, it refined the lugs and added a tiny Rolex coronet to the “Swiss Made” distinction at the bottom of the dial. The most remarkable difference is the movement powering each. Ref. 116710 sports the caliber 3186, while ref. 126710 relies on the caliber 3285, the latter of which now has Rolex’s more efficient Chronergy escapement and a longer 70-hour power reserve, compared to the caliber 3186 with a 48-hour power reserve.
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Rolex Batman Price
The MSRP of the current Batman Rolex, ref. 126710 BLNR, is $10,700 on an Oyster bracelet and $10,900 on Jubilee. Secondhand, they go for about $17,000-$18,000 while the original Batman reference (116710 BLNR) generally sells for a thousand or two less.
What Does “BLNR” Mean?
BLNR stands for “Bleu/Noir,” which is French for “blue/black.” It is common for Rolex to apply a suffix to the end of reference numbers with multiple variations. Rolex released ref. 116710 in 2007, initially with an all-black bezel. This edition was given the suffix “LN,” which stands for “Lunette Noir.” The Batman Rolex reference number always ends with “BLNR,” while the Pepsi is “BLRO.”
Rolex Batgirl vs. Batman
When Rolex rolled out the ref. 126710BLNR exclusively on the Jubilee bracelet in 2019, many collectors took to calling it the “Batgirl” because the 5-link bracelet was arguably dressier than its predecessor on the 3-link Oyster bracelet. Now that the current-production model is available on both bracelet options, the nickname “Batgirl” isn’t as common, and it appears most of the watch-collecting community has chosen to refer to all GMT-Master II’s outfitted with a black and blue bezel as simply the “Batman.”
Rolex nickname nomenclature has been around for almost as long as there have been Rolex enthusiasts. Rolex has yet to accept nicknames assigned by the watch-collecting community in an official capacity, but that doesn’t stop us from appointing memorable monikers to our favorite timepieces.
