So, I’ve been eyeing those Rolex GMT-Master II watches for a while now, especially the ones with the “Root Beer” bezel. Man, they look sharp! But, you know, the price tag on those things? Ouch. Way out of my league. Still, I really wanted that look, that classic style. So I started digging around, looking for, you know, alternatives.
I spent hours browsing online stores, reading reviews, comparing prices. It was a real deep dive. I found a bunch of brands I’d never even heard of before. Stuhrling, Mathey-Tissot, Meccaniche Veneziane, Squale – you name it. Each one had their own take on the GMT watch, some closer to the Rolex style than others.
First, I checked out this one from Stuhrling, the Meridian 3968. It’s a quartz watch, 42mm, pretty standard stuff. The reviews were mixed, but for the price, it seemed like a decent option. Then there was this Mathey-Tissot, the Mathy Vintage GMT. Now, this one really caught my eye. It had that two-tone, root beer dial thing going on, and the company’s been around since the 1800s, so they must be doing something right. Looked really nice in the pictures.
I stumbled upon Meccaniche Veneziane. Their Nereide GMT was a tribute to some old submarine. It had a stainless steel case, a two-tone bezel – looked pretty cool, but not exactly what I was after.
Next up was Squale. This brand makes a lot of diving watches. Their Atmos Heritage Ceramic 1545 had a matte black dial, a brown ceramic bezel with gold markers. Nice, but again, not quite the root beer look I was craving.
There were tons more, but none of them were really hitting the mark. I mean, they were fine watches, but I specifically wanted that Rolex GMT-Master II Root Beer vibe.
High Imitation Time
Then, I started looking into high imitation. I know, I know, it’s a whole different ball game. But I figured, why not just take a look? I found some online stores that specialized in these, and they had the “Root Beer” GMT-Master II, and it looked almost identical to the real one. The bracelet looked decent in the pictures, the bezel colors were spot on. It even had the Rolex crown logo and everything. The price was still a chunk of change, but way, way less than the genuine article.
I read somewhere that the original Rolex GMT Master II in root beer, the 16713 reference, was made in stainless steel and yellow gold, and they stopped making them in 2006. So, finding a real one of those is tough, and even more expensive.
I debated it for a while. It was tempting, I won’t lie. Finally, I decided to go for it. I placed the order, and a week or so later, it arrived.
The Result
When I opened the box, I was honestly surprised. This thing looked good. Really good. I mean, I’m no watch expert, but side by side with pictures of the real Rolex, it was hard to tell the difference. I wore it out, and nobody could tell it wasn’t the real deal. I got compliments on it, people asking about it. It felt good, I gotta say.
- Ordering: Ordering the watch was a pretty straightforward process. Found a website, placed the order, and paid with my card.
- Waiting: The waiting was probably the hardest part. You know how it is when you order something online, you just want it to arrive already. Took about a week, which isn’t too bad, I guess.
- Unboxing: When the package finally arrived, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. Ripped that box open, and there it was.
- Wearing: I’ve been wearing it every day since. Feels good on the wrist, not too heavy, not too light.
Now, I’m not saying everyone should go out and buy a high imitation watch. But for me, it was the right choice. I got the look I wanted without breaking the bank. And honestly, it’s a pretty darn good watch. It keeps time well, looks great, and I’m happy with it. That’s all that really matters, right?
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