subject: Rolex Submariner Ceramic Bezel Watch [print this page] I'm a huge fan of the Rolex GMT-Master, as well as the Rolex Submariner Ceramic Bezel, not only because it is a rock solid watch that has this neat capability of displaying multiple timezones (three all in all, using the bezel), but also because of its history. If you've remembered, the historic Pan-Am GMT-Master models (with white dial) were initially offered to the pilots of the said company. That said model was unofficially labelled as the Moon Watch, as per Jake Ehrlich. I do not know about that (well, I do), but at least it was the favourite of many NASA astronauts as well.
The sole disadvantage of this particular model is the clasp. It's too flimsy for my taste - and I need to bend it a bit so it won't open too easily. It never failed on me, but just in case... I like to prevent it from doing so. Good thing that the new GMT-Master (ref. 116710LN, picture below) has addressed this kind of problem.
The bezel of the new GMT-Master II rotates 'per hour' instead of 'per minute.' This is made possible by the use of a bearing that has a spring that clicks from teeth to teeth.
Here's more: the new Rolex GMT-Master II uses not a twinlock crown, but a triplock crown. The triplock crown is bigger because of the use of an extra WR measure inside the crown, and this is to the liking of many probably, since the smaller twinlock crown looked awkward in the perception of some people. On a personal point of view, I also used to think the twinlock crown was a bit too tiny, but in fact, it is much more comfortable compared to the triplock crown. It doesn't poke around in your hand, as the triplock does on my Sea-Dweller and Yacht-Master.
Anyway, besides all earlier (and then I still did not mention the polished center links, maxi dial and the parachrom blu hairspring), one of the most significant changes to this classic, is the ceramic bezel. Anything ceramic is an end result of heating and subsequent cooling. This explains why ceramic materials are lightweight, scratch-resistant as well as durable. The smooth feel and the glossy look of the ceramic makes the GMT-Master 116710LN really stand out.
The small spots on the black ceramic are not dust or dirt, they are the structure of this material. The '6 of the '16 on the Rolex Submariner Ceramic Bezel, undoubtedly demonstrate that the material is similar to the inlay of the Yacht-Master ref.16622. And that's correct, the numbers on the ceramic bezel are made from platinum. Using PVD techniques, platinum was applied to the bezel.
