Reference:116719BLRO: Difference between revisions

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<small>[[Reference:gmt-master|GMT-Master]] -> '''116719BLRO'''</small>

The ~~[[Reference:~~116719BLRO~~|116719BLRO]]~~ is the white gold ceramic Pepsi — the watch that put the red-and-blue bezel back in the GMT-Master II catalogue after a seven-year absence, and the first production Rolex to carry a two-colour Cerachrom insert. Rolex launched it at Baselworld 2014. It remained the only ceramic Pepsi on sale for four years, until the steel [[Reference:126710BLRO|126710BLRO]] arrived in 2018.

The 116719BLRO is the white gold ceramic Pepsi — the watch that put the red-and-blue bezel back in the GMT-Master II catalogue after a seven-year absence, and the first production Rolex to carry a two-colour Cerachrom insert. Rolex launched it at Baselworld 2014. It remained the only ceramic Pepsi on sale for four years, until the steel [[Reference:126710BLRO|126710BLRO]] arrived in 2018.

Restricting the first ceramic Pepsi to 18k white gold was the story. Collectors had been waiting for a ceramic red-and-blue since the 16710 left the catalogue in 2007, and Rolex answered in a metal most of them were not going to buy.

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== Where it sits in the line ==

The ~~[[Reference:~~116719BLRO~~|116719BLRO]]~~ is the bridge between the five-digit Pepsi tradition and the modern ceramic era. The 16710 carried the red-and-blue aluminum bezel through to 2007. When the 116710LN replaced it, Rolex went all-black — no Pepsi option in the new case and bracelet platform. That absence shaped collector expectation for years. The 2014 launch resolved it on Rolex's terms, in precious metal only, at a price that thinned the buyer pool to a fraction of the people who had been asking for it.

The 116719BLRO is the bridge between the five-digit Pepsi tradition and the modern ceramic era. The 16710 carried the red-and-blue aluminum bezel through to 2007. When the 116710LN replaced it, Rolex went all-black — no Pepsi option in the new case and bracelet platform. That absence shaped collector expectation for years. The 2014 launch resolved it on Rolex's terms, in precious metal only, at a price that thinned the buyer pool to a fraction of the people who had been asking for it.

Sotheby's places the reference in the Pepsi lineage that runs from the 1950s 6542 through to current ceramic production.

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White gold Oyster bracelet with polished centre links and brushed outer links, fitted with the Oysterlock clasp and Easylink extension system. No Jubilee option was offered on the ~~[[Reference:~~116719BLRO~~|116719BLRO]]~~; the Jubilee return to the GMT-Master II arrived in 2018 with the steel [[Reference:126710BLRO|126710BLRO]]. Anyone who wanted a Pepsi on Jubilee between 2014 and 2018 had no production option.

White gold Oyster bracelet with polished centre links and brushed outer links, fitted with the Oysterlock clasp and Easylink extension system. No Jubilee option was offered on the 116719BLRO; the Jubilee return to the GMT-Master II arrived in 2018 with the steel [[Reference:126710BLRO|126710BLRO]]. Anyone who wanted a Pepsi on Jubilee between 2014 and 2018 had no production option.

Full delivery set includes the standard Rolex presentation box, guarantee card, and period hang tags. Sotheby's lots at Fine Watches 2023 and Important Watches 2025 both came up with the full box-and-papers set, which is how most auction examples survive.

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Sotheby's has catalogued the 116719BLRO repeatedly across its Fine Watches and Important Watches sales. A circa-2014 -0001 sold for EUR 35,560 at Fine Watches in 2023. Important Watches carried a circa-2017 example with full box and papers in 2025, and a circa-2016 specimen has been offered through the house's Buy Now channel.

The secondary market has traded the ~~[[Reference:~~116719BLRO~~|116719BLRO]]~~ well above original retail through the post-discontinuation period, consistent with the broader precious-metal ceramic GMT-Master II pattern. Direct 2014 retail was about GBP 25,600, roughly five times what a steel Pepsi would have cost.

The secondary market has traded the 116719BLRO well above original retail through the post-discontinuation period, consistent with the broader precious-metal ceramic GMT-Master II pattern. Direct 2014 retail was about GBP 25,600, roughly five times what a steel Pepsi would have cost.

== Related references ==

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 <small>[[Reference:gmt-master|GMT-Master]] -> '''116719BLRO'''</small>
-The [[Reference:116719BLRO|116719BLRO]] is the white gold ceramic Pepsi — the watch that put the red-and-blue bezel back in the GMT-Master II catalogue after a seven-year absence, and the first production Rolex to carry a two-colour Cerachrom insert. Rolex launched it at Baselworld 2014. It remained the only ceramic Pepsi on sale for four years, until the steel [[Reference:126710BLRO|126710BLRO]] arrived in 2018.
+The 116719BLRO is the white gold ceramic Pepsi — the watch that put the red-and-blue bezel back in the GMT-Master II catalogue after a seven-year absence, and the first production Rolex to carry a two-colour Cerachrom insert. Rolex launched it at Baselworld 2014. It remained the only ceramic Pepsi on sale for four years, until the steel [[Reference:126710BLRO|126710BLRO]] arrived in 2018.
 Restricting the first ceramic Pepsi to 18k white gold was the story. Collectors had been waiting for a ceramic red-and-blue since the 16710 left the catalogue in 2007, and Rolex answered in a metal most of them were not going to buy.
@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 == Where it sits in the line ==
-The [[Reference:116719BLRO|116719BLRO]] is the bridge between the five-digit Pepsi tradition and the modern ceramic era. The 16710 carried the red-and-blue aluminum bezel through to 2007. When the 116710LN replaced it, Rolex went all-black — no Pepsi option in the new case and bracelet platform. That absence shaped collector expectation for years. The 2014 launch resolved it on Rolex's terms, in precious metal only, at a price that thinned the buyer pool to a fraction of the people who had been asking for it.
+The 116719BLRO is the bridge between the five-digit Pepsi tradition and the modern ceramic era. The 16710 carried the red-and-blue aluminum bezel through to 2007. When the 116710LN replaced it, Rolex went all-black — no Pepsi option in the new case and bracelet platform. That absence shaped collector expectation for years. The 2014 launch resolved it on Rolex's terms, in precious metal only, at a price that thinned the buyer pool to a fraction of the people who had been asking for it.
 Sotheby's places the reference in the Pepsi lineage that runs from the 1950s 6542 through to current ceramic production.
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 [[File:Ref 116719BLRO variant-gold-bracelet.jpg|thumb|right|300px|alt=White-gold Oyster bracelet and clasp|White-gold Oyster bracelet and Oysterlock clasp]]
-White gold Oyster bracelet with polished centre links and brushed outer links, fitted with the Oysterlock clasp and Easylink extension system. No Jubilee option was offered on the [[Reference:116719BLRO|116719BLRO]]; the Jubilee return to the GMT-Master II arrived in 2018 with the steel [[Reference:126710BLRO|126710BLRO]]. Anyone who wanted a Pepsi on Jubilee between 2014 and 2018 had no production option.
+White gold Oyster bracelet with polished centre links and brushed outer links, fitted with the Oysterlock clasp and Easylink extension system. No Jubilee option was offered on the 116719BLRO; the Jubilee return to the GMT-Master II arrived in 2018 with the steel [[Reference:126710BLRO|126710BLRO]]. Anyone who wanted a Pepsi on Jubilee between 2014 and 2018 had no production option.
 Full delivery set includes the standard Rolex presentation box, guarantee card, and period hang tags. Sotheby's lots at Fine Watches 2023 and Important Watches 2025 both came up with the full box-and-papers set, which is how most auction examples survive.
@@ Line 134: / Line 134: @@
 Sotheby's has catalogued the 116719BLRO repeatedly across its Fine Watches and Important Watches sales. A circa-2014 -0001 sold for EUR 35,560 at Fine Watches in 2023. Important Watches carried a circa-2017 example with full box and papers in 2025, and a circa-2016 specimen has been offered through the house's Buy Now channel.
-The secondary market has traded the [[Reference:116719BLRO|116719BLRO]] well above original retail through the post-discontinuation period, consistent with the broader precious-metal ceramic GMT-Master II pattern. Direct 2014 retail was about GBP 25,600, roughly five times what a steel Pepsi would have cost.
+The secondary market has traded the 116719BLRO well above original retail through the post-discontinuation period, consistent with the broader precious-metal ceramic GMT-Master II pattern. Direct 2014 retail was about GBP 25,600, roughly five times what a steel Pepsi would have cost.
 == Related references ==