Sunrise In Philadelphia Highlighting Rolex GMT

The purpose of this page is to delve into the timeless and stunning Rolex Batman GMT-Master II reference 116710BLNR which Rolex introduced in 2013. Toward this end, I’ve included over 20 pictures of the watch, from in the box to on the wrist and everywhere in between.

This article focuses on the first Rolex GMT-Master II “Batman,” with the nickname referring to the black and blue bezel with ceramic insert.

More specifically, this Rolex Batman possesses the first EVER bi-colored ceramic bezel to be featured on Rolex watches. Many assume that it was the ceramic “Pepsi” bezel (blue/red) GMT-Master II which was the first Rolex with a dual-tone ceramic bezel, but this is not the case. Although ceramic can be brittle, its anti-scratch properties outweigh this downside.

The ceramic bezel manufacturing process is patented by Rolex, and it’s important to note that the bezel is a single component, not two differently-colored components that are somehow fused; this fact is what makes the bezel so difficult to produce, and it’s likely that few others will be able to replicate it to the same standard.

Some of the product links in this article are eBay affiliate links, meaning if you buy something through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site and allows us to continue making content for you. Thanks for your support!

Watch-Review-Banner

Watch-Review-Banner

Watch The Video Review

Rolex Batman 116710BLNR Specs & Price

  • Dial: Black with 18K white gold hour markers
  • Movement: Rolex 3186 self-winding movement
    • Swiss Official Chronometer Certified by COSC
  • Case Diameter: 40mm
  • Depth Of Case: 12.4mm
  • Case Material: 904L stainless steel
  • Bracelet & Size: Oyster bracelet, 20mm
    • “Easy Link” allows a 5mm addition to the bracelet for comfort
  • Water Resistance: 100m / 330ft
    • Screw-down crown, with crown protectors
  • Special Features / Complications:
    • GMT Function (independent 24-hour hand)
    • Rotating bi-directional 24-hour bezel
    • Bi-color bezel (black and blue, a first-ever!)
    • Date window with Rolex cyclops crystal
  • Original Retail Price: ~$8,995 (Discontinued 2019)

Personally, I would classify the Rolex Batman in the style category of sporty/business casual. However, the fame attained by the model and the high price it commands on the second-hand market has led it to be worn in even the most formal settings.

Learn More On Our Watches Homepage

See More!

The Rolex Batman BLNR In Macro Shots

Macro Shot Of Rolex Batman Watch Face

For me, the blue and black bezel color makes the most sense of any bezel color combination for GMT watches as it perfectly represents “day” and “night”.

The bezel makes one full rotation in 24 moves that align with the hour markers. You use the blue “GMT” hand to read the time in the second time zone.

Many Rolex collectors believe that this GMT hand should always be set to GMT (London) time, but I however feel it’s up to the user to decide what is best for their lifestyle. Some choose to have their home time while away on vacation or business and revert back to a day/night indicator while at home. It’s really up to you.

The GMT complication was originally requested of Rolex Watches by Pam AM Airlines in the 1960s. With the advent of intercontinental flights, pilots needed a way to track multiple time zones with a single watch. Thus, the original GMT-Master was born.

The Rolex Batman’s 40mm Case

Crown of Rolex Gmt Master II Batman

At 12.4mm case depth, this modern Rolex GMT-Master II sits very well on the wrist and feels exceptionally sturdy thanks to its stainless steel Oyster bracelet.

The Oysterclasp is just as rugged in its construction, though it has been skillfully crafted, resulting in a beautiful component that is often overlooked. Additionally, the clasp boasts the Easylink extension which adds 5mm of length to the bracelet and can be easily opened or closed.

Inside Oyster Clasp Rolex writing

Review Of Rolex Batman 116710 “On The Wrist”

I’ve now owned this, the original Batman, for more than 5 years and can easily state that I absolutely love it. Its classic looks, date window, GMT complication, and sturdy feel are exactly what I was looking for in an everyday casual watch.

Rolex Batman On The Wrist Over Loooking Ice RInk

I originally hail from London, so setting the GMT hand to the GMT time zone is fine for me as it “bases” me back to the motherland and where all my family still reside. Now, however, I live in Philadelphia, which is the eastern time zone (-5 hours from GMT) of the USA. The picture above clearly shows how to read the time.

Using a combination of the “normal” hour hand, GMT hand, and bezel, it’s possible to crack up to three time zones.

  1. The “Mercedes” hour hand is at 2:36 (and it’s the afternoon)
  2. The blue GMT hand is pointing between 19 and 20, making it 7:36 pm in GMT (London)
  3. Finally, if I were to rotate the bezel I could set a third time zone

Wearing Rolex Batman At 76ers Basketball

The blue and black bezel color scheme makes this a very versatile watch. Indeed, I’ve found it looks both great in a casual setting (above), and a more business casual setting (below).

I would however say that it’s not a formal watch, and one should consider other models, such as a plain time-only watch, for more formal business and black tie events.

On The Wrist With Suit And Rolex Batman

What’s In The Box Of The GMT-Master II 116710BLNR

For many years, this Rolex Batman GMT-Master II was the most desired watch in the catalog. And while its popularity has not decreased, it now shares the stage with later GMT-Masters such as the Rolex Batgirl (black/blue bezel with a Jubilee bracelet) and the newer Pepsi GMT-Master II (red/blue bezel also with Jubilee bracelet).

Today, one need only take a look at the pre-owned market as proof that the first GMT-Master II remains one of the hottest Rolex watches out there. As of this writing, the 116710BLNR is trading at more than double its original retail price of about $9,000.

When this Batman was first announced in 2013, this kind of price premium over MSRP was absolutely unheard of. Yet, demand quickly grew to overtake the limited supply of Rolex sports watches, and this 116710BLNR was one of the first to experience it.

In the following series of pictures, you can see all of the accessories that you can expect to find in the box of a new Rolex GMT-Master II Batman.

Removing Protective Stickers On Rolex Batman

There were roughly 2.7 million stickers attached to the watch…some of which were completely hidden. I even found several after a couple of weeks of wearing.

The box is a standard green Rolex box, solid and understated.

Rolex is historically a brand that made watches for explorers, divers, and sportspeople, becoming more linked to luxury in the modern age. This is carried over in the boxes and other supplied material, compared to other brands.

Rolex GMT Batman Box Items

Warranty And Service Docs Fro Rolex GMT

Top 5 Reasons Why The Rolex Batman GMT Is A Great Watch

This watch has quickly become one of my favorites in my collection. Below are my top five reasons why:

  1. It’s been a timeless design for over 50 years and has no reason to stop being a classic. The face is very readable at a quick glance
  2. It feels very solid on the wrist, not overly heavy but does stay in place very well
  3. The complications are highly functional for the average guy with the:
    1. GMT Hand
    2. Bi-directional bezel, and
    3. Date window (and “cyclops” magnifier for readability)
  4. Solid depth rating of 100m, so you don’t have to worry about any spontaneous leaps into the ocean or heavy downpours
  5. I don’t like to focus on the economics of my watch collection, but in this case, it’s hard to ignore the exceptional demand for this particular GMT-Master II Batman model that is so significantly exceeding the retail price. So if anyone is on the fence about buying this watch at the retail price from an Authorized Dealer, that’s a pretty strong “insurance policy” if you end up for some unknown reason not liking the watch

Rolex GMT Batman On An Airplane

Final Thoughts On The Batman 116710BLNR

Overall I would highly recommend this watch for a wide array of men.

Firstly, the guy who is looking for a rugged watch that is good-looking and functional in plenty of situations, and is not as generic as the Rolex Submariner (even though they share the same case). And secondly,  the traveler who will actively use the GMT complication.

Even though it retails for $8,995 USD, I feel it offers outstanding value for money with the heritage of Rolex, the usability of the watch with its depth rating & GMT function, not to finally mention how strongly it’s exceeded its original retail price.

Expect to see plenty more looks of this watch on the Bespoke Unit Instagram page in the near and long-term future, as I have no plans to be getting rid of this piece anytime soon.

Rolex Batman with Philadelphia Skyline Backdrop

"I absolutely love this watch!The timeless design, solid feel on the wrist and functional complications make the Rolex Batman GMT-Master II a great piece to own. Highly recommended.”
Bespoke Unit Rating: ★★★★★

Further Reading

Now that you have read my review of the Rolex GMT-Master II Batman reference 116710BLNR, check out some more of our watch resources:

Shop Batman On eBay
Shop Batman On Bob’s Watches

Watch Content

Watches-Homepage-Button Parts-Of-A-Watch-Button Watch-Movements-Button Watch-Brands-Button Watch-Review-Button