Best Rolex GMT-Master Alternatives, Including Pepsi, Coke, Batman, Root Beer, and Sprite Lookalikes
Whether the Pepsi, Coke, Batman, Root Beer or Sprite, Rolex makes some of the most sought-after luxury GMT watches on the market. They’re attractive, practical, and instantly recognizable. However, while Rolex does dominate the field, there are indeed plenty of other top watch brands that offer excellent GMT watches. As we’ve done before with other models such as the Daytona, Submariner, and Day-Date, we’re exploring some of the best Rolex GMT-Master alternatives available. A reminder that these Rolex GMT alternatives are not necessarily much cheaper (if at all); we’re sticking to high-end and premium brands such as Omega, Grand Seiko, Tudor, and TAG Heuer, and avoiding knock-offs, homages, and the like.
Rolex GMT-Master Alternatives: What to Look For
Before we get to the alternatives, it would be useful to point out the GMT-Master’s signature design details to understand what to look for. The most important features of the Rolex GMT-Master II are as follows:
- 40mm case, 100 meters water-resistance
- Case materials: steel, yellow gold, Everose gold, white gold, two-tone yellow gold and steel, two-tone Everose gold and steel
- Ceramic bezels (modern versions), bi-directional, 24-hour scale
- More often than not, bi-color bezels (blue/red, blue/black, grey/black, brown/black, green/black, brown/gold, red/black)
- Dials with four hands; the 24-hour hand permits wearers to read a second time zone
- Date window at 3 o’clock
- Metal bracelets, either Jubilee or Oyster
- Self-winding movements
Retail prices for the Rolex GMT-Master II start at $10,700 for steel models, $16,700 for two-tone reference, and $40,500 for full gold models.
Further Reading:
What is a GMT Watch?
Rolex Nicknames: The Collector’s Guide
What is a Rolex Coke GMT?
What is the Rolex Pepsi?
What is a Rolex Root Beer?
Rolex GMT-Master Alternatives: Tudor Black Bay GMT Watches
As always, we turn to Tudor first for solid alternatives to Rolex watches. Within the GMT field, Tudor has plenty to offer, including various bezel shades that come close to Rolex’s famous GMT colorways.
Black Bay GMT
The Tudor Black Bay GMT is a fantastic alternative to the Rolex Pepsi, complete with a blue and red bezel. Like the Rolex Pepsi, the Black Bay GMT ref. 79830RB is a stainless steel watch with a bi-colored rotating 24-hour bezel. Similarly, there are four hands at the center of the dial and a date window at 3 o’clock.
However, the BB GMT by Tudor is slightly larger, clocking in at 41mm, and the bezel is made of aluminum rather than ceramic. The Black Bay GMT is available with either a black or white dial, which looks a lot like the ultra-rare vintage Rolex GMT Albino or modern hard-to-find white gold GMT meteorites. There’s also the choice between a steel Oyster-style bracelet or a fabric strap.
Tudor Black Bay GMT Watch Specs
| Model | Black Bay GMT |
| Reference Number | 79830RB |
| Case | Stainless Steel 41mm diameter |
| Bezel | Bi-directional rotatable bezel in steel with 24-hour graduated anodized aluminum disc in matt burgundy and blue |
| Dial | Black or opaline |
| Bracelet/Strap | Riveted steel bracelet or fabric strap |
| Functions | Local hour (jumping), minutes, and seconds, 24-hour hand, date |
| Movement | Caliber MT5652 automatic movement 70-hour power reserve COSC-certified |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters (660 feet) |
| 2024 Retail Price (MSRP) | $4,375 |
Black Bay GMT S&G
The Black Bay GMT S&G is a solid stand-in for the older yellow gold and steel Rolex Root Beer models. Tudor’s version includes 41mm steel cases with yellow gold capped winding crowns, bezels, and center bracelet links, offering that two-tone “Rolesor” look but at a fraction of the price. The aluminum bezel is black and brown (similar to modern Rolex Root Beer watches) and the black dial with golden details is home to four hands and a date window.
While the Tudor Black Bay GMT S&G is also available with a fabric or leather strap, the three-link Oyster-style bracelets with yellow gold-capped center links look most like what a vintage Rolex Root Beer would have.
Tudor Black Bay GMT S&G Watch Specs
| Model | Black Bay GMT S&G |
| Reference Number | 79833MN |
| Case | Stainless Steel Yellow gold-capped winding crown 41mm diameter |
| Bezel | Bi-directional rotatable yellow-capped steel bezel with 24-hour graduated anodized aluminum disc in matt brown and black |
| Dial | Black |
| Bracelet/Strap | Riveted steel bracelet with yellow gold-capped center links Leather or fabric strap |
| Functions | Local hour (jumping), minutes, and seconds, 24-hour hand, date |
| Movement | Caliber MT5652 automatic movement 70-hour power reserve COSC-certified |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters (660 feet) |
| 2024 Retail Price (MSRP) | $6,125 |
Black Bay 58 GMT Coke
Introduced in 2024, the Black Bay 58 GMT is Tudor’s smaller GMT offering, featuring a 39mm steel case. The maiden BB 58 GMT model is fitted with a black and red bezel, much like the now-discontinued yet still popular Rolex GMT Coke.
While the gilt-accented Black Bay 58 GMT is much more vintage-inspired than the Coke, it remains an excellent Rolex GMT-Master alternative for fans of the Coke colorway or a smaller sports watch. What’s more, the new movement that powers the watch is certified by both COSC and METAS, making it not just super precise (for a mechanical watch) but also resistant to 15,000 gauss of magnetism.
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT Watch Specs
| Model | Black Bay 58 GMT |
| Reference Number | 7939G1A0NRU |
| Case | Stainless Steel 39mm diameter |
| Bezel | Bi-directional rotatable bezel in steel with 24-hour graduated anodized aluminum disc in black and burgundy |
| Dial | Black |
| Bracelet/Strap | Riveted steel bracelet T-fit clasp |
| Functions | Local hour (jumping), minutes, and seconds, 24-hour hand, date |
| Movement | Caliber MT5450-U automatic movement 65-hour power reserve COSC-certified and METAS-certified |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters (660 feet) |
| 2024 Retail Price (MSRP) | $4,600 |
Further Reading:
Tudor Black Bay Collector’s Guide
Guide To The Best Tudor Watch Models
New Tudor 2024 Watches: New Black Bay 58, Monochrome Black Bay, and Tudor Blue Clair de Rose
Rolex GMT-Master Alternatives: Omega Planet Ocean GMT
Although Rolex does not make a black-and-white GMT, the Omega Planet Ocean GMT “Oreo” watches are great options for those looking for sleek and colorless Rolex GMT alternatives. It could also be argued that they could be a somewhat similar substitute for Rolex’s all-black bezels or black and grey bezels.
As is customary for Planet Ocean watches, the Oreo GMTs are big, clocking in at 43.5mm in diameter and 17mm thick. Plus, as an Omega dive watch, the Planet Ocean includes a protruding helium escape valve at 10 o’clock. Like modern Rolex GMT watches, the black and white bezel insert is fashioned from ceramic. There’s also a date window at 3 o’clock along with numerals at 6, 9, and 12. Omega makes two versions of the Oreo GMT; one with a stainless steel bracelet similar to the Rolex GMT’s Oyster bracelet and one with a black leather strap.
Omega Planet Ocean GMT Watch Specs
| Model | Seamaster Omega Planet Ocean GMT |
| Reference Numbers | 215.30.44.22.01.001 (steel bracelet) 215.33.44.22.01.001 (leather strap) |
| Case | Stainless Steel 43.5mm 17mm thick 49.4mm lug-to-lug |
| Bezel | Bi-directional rotatable bezel Polished bi-ceramic black and white bezel insert |
| Dial | Black |
| Bracelet/Strap | Steel bracelet with patented extendable foldover clasp |
| Functions | Local hour (jumping), minutes, and seconds, 24-hour hand, date |
| Movement | Caliber 8906 automatic movement 60-hour power reserve COSC-certified and METAS-certified |
| Water Resistance | 600 meters (2,000 feet) |
| 2024 Retail Price (MSRP) | $8,700 (bracelet) $8,300 (strap) |
More About Omega Watches:
What is the Price of an Omega Seamaster in 2024?
Omega Seamaster 75th Anniversary Collection: 11 Summer Blue Watches
Two-Tone Omega Speedmaster Professional Models: A Collector’s Guide
Entry-Level Omega Watch Models – The Best of the Bunch
Rolex GMT-Master Alternatives: Grand Seiko Sport Hi-Beat 36,000 GMT Watches
Grand Seiko offers a solid selection of GMT watches including a few that serve as good alternatives to the Rolex GMT-Master. Take for example the Grand Seiko Sport Hi-Beat 3,600 GMT series, specifically the blue SBGJ237 and green SBGJ277. While these watches use white on their bezels rather than black we still get that attractive two-color effect that’s popular across GMT pieces.
These stainless steel Grand Seiko GMTs are larger than the GMT-Master, measuring 44.5mm in diameter, 14.4mm thick, and 50.6mm lug-to-lug. Their sapphire bezels have the benefit of LumiBrite application, permitting the white portions of the bezels (either numerals or background) to glow bright in the dark. As always, the finishing on these Grand Seiko watches is impeccable, particularly noticeable on the finely molded snow-white dial of the green SBGJ277.
Grand Seiko Sport Hi-Beat 36,000 GMT Watch Specs
| Model | Grand Seiko Sport Hi-Beat 36,000 GMT |
| Reference Numbers | SBGJ237 (Blue) SBGJ277 (Green) |
| Case | Stainless Steel 44.2mm diameter 14.4mm thick 50.6mm lug-to-lug |
| Bezel | Bi-directional rotatable sapphire bezel Blue/White or Green/White |
| Dial | Midnight Blue (SBGJ237) Snow-White (SBGJ277) |
| Bracelet/Strap | Steel bracelet with three-fold clasp with push button release |
| Functions | Local hour (jumping), minutes, and seconds, 24-hour hand, date |
| Movement | Caliber 9S86 automatic movement 55-hour power reserve 36,000 bph +5 to -3 seconds per day mean daily |
| Water Resistance | 200 meters (660 feet) |
| 2024 Retail Price (MSRP) | $6,800 |
More About Grand Seiko Watches:
Opinion: Grand Seiko Makes Good Bracelets
Grand Seiko Releases a New Case Size and a New Dial Texture at Watches and Wonders 2024
Opinion: Grand Seiko’s Marketing Department Needs to Get it Together
Rolex GMT-Master Alternatives: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT
In the summer of 2024, TAG Heuer updated its Aquaracer diving watch collection with a pair of steel GMT models that would make top-notch alternatives to the blue and black Rolex Batman and the green and black Rolex Sprite. Of course, the Rolex Sprite is a left-handed GMT so there’s that significant difference, but in terms of colors and metal, the TAG Heuer alternative is pretty spot on. However, the Aquaracer is a “caller GMT” (or “office GMT”) with an independent 24-hour hand. The GMT-Master II, meanwhile, is a “flyer GMT”–also known as a “traveler’s GMT” or simply a “true GMT”– with an independent local hour hand.
The Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT watches sport 42mm steel cases, wave-pattern dials, and 12-sided ceramic bi-colored bezel inserts with the requisite 24-hour scale. The dials are vibrant, rendered in colors that match the non-black portions of the bezel; they also include a date window at 6 o’clock topped with a magnification lens. Both colors are fitted with a three-link steel bracelet but the blue Batman-like variant also comes with the option of a blue rubber strap.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT Watch Specs
| Model | Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT |
| Reference Numbers | WBP5115.BA0013 (Black and blue) WBP5114.BA0013 (Black and green) |
| Case | Stainless Steel 42mm diameter |
| Bezel | Bi-directional rotatable bezel Blue and black ceramic or green and black ceramic |
| Dial | Wave-pattern Blue or black |
| Bracelet/Strap | Three-link steel bracelet Folding clasp with push-buttons |
| Functions | Local hour, minutes, and seconds, independent 24-hour hand, date |
| Movement | Caliber TH31-00 automatic movement 80-hour power reserve COSC-certified |
| Water Resistance | 300 meters (1,000 feet) |
| 2024 Retail Price (MSRP) | $4,200 |
More About TAG Heuer Watches:
TAG Heuer x Kith Watches: What You Need To Know
Watches and Wonders 2024: Tag Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith New Releases
Rolex GMT-Master Alternatives: In Conclusion
This is one of the few times that all the high-end alternatives we covered are less expensive than Rolex’s offering, some even coming in at less than half of the GMT-Master II. From a wide range of bezel colors to different sizes and designs on offer, the choice of Rolex GMT-Master alternatives is well varied.
Historically, there weren’t many good alternatives to the Rolex GMT-Master; yet, we see that the watch landscape has changed in recent years to include more of them — and that’s no surprise given the rising popularity of these super practical travel watches.
More About Rolex Alternatives:
Best Rolex Alternatives
Rolex Submariner Alternatives
Best Alternatives to the Rolex Daytona
The Best Rolex Explorer Alternatives
Best Rolex Explorer II Alternatives
The Best Rolex Day-Date Alternative Watches
The Best Rolex Datejust Alternatives
Best Rolex Oyster Perpetual Alternatives
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