The Rolex Batman owes its nickname to its blue and black bi-colour Cerachrom bezel, introduced in 2013 on reference 116710BLNR. It was a world first: until then, no one had succeeded in obtaining two colours on the same monobloc ceramic bezel. This technical feat made the Batman one of the most sought-after GMT-Master II models on the second-hand market.
In 2019, Rolex replaced the 116710BLNR with the 126710BLNR, fitted with calibre 3285 and its 70-hour power reserve. At Francine Joaillerie, in Saint-Tropez, each Batman is authenticated piece by piece: checking the movement and GMT function, verifying the bezel and its ceramic insert, examining the bracelet, serial numbers and the conformity of the papers.
| Reference | Years | Calibre | Bracelet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 116710BLNR | 2013 to 2019 | 3186 | Oyster steel |
| 126710BLNR | 2019 to today | 3285 | Jubilee or Oyster |
40 mm Oyster case in Oystersteel, water resistance to 100 metres, bidirectional rotating 24-hour bezel, independent GMT hand allowing the reading of a second time zone.
The three nicknames refer to the same blue and black bezel, but not the same bracelet. The original Batman is the 116710BLNR on an Oyster bracelet. The Batgirl is the 126710BLNR fitted on a five-link Jubilee. Bruce Wayne refers to the same 126710BLNR on an Oyster bracelet, offered by Rolex from 2021.
The 2019 generation brings calibre 3285 (70 hours of power reserve versus 48), a slightly redesigned case with slimmer lugs, and the choice between a Jubilee and Oyster bracelet. The 116710BLNR only ever existed on Oyster.
No. The bi-colour GMT-Master II remains subject to waiting lists that can exceed several years. Certified authentic pre-owned is the fastest way to obtain the watch in the desired configuration.
The inspection covers the movement and its markings, the engraving on the rehaut, the fineness of the date window, the exact shade of the Cerachrom bezel, and the correspondence of the serial and reference numbers with the papers. Each piece sold by Francine Joaillerie comes with its certificate of authenticity.
Stock moves quickly on this model. Contact us specifying the reference, year and condition sought: we regularly source bi-colour GMT-Master II watches through our network and will inform you as soon as a matching piece becomes available.
