It was only three years back when Rolex decided to surprise its loyal clientele with a quite controversial watch – the ‘Lefty’ as many of us would call it. The GMT-Master II 126720VTNR with the big crown on the left.
Now, in 2025, the story continues as Rolex takes a step further by dropping in a green Cerachrom dial and shifting from stainless steel to 18ct white gold with the new “GMT-Master II 126729VTNR.”
At a glance:
Not much has changed from the exterior in the latest GMT-Master II adaptation, except for the material and green dial. Swapping stainless steel for white gold obviously makes the watch heftier, but the proportions and dimensions remain the same.
After years of using Ceramic solely for the bezels, Rolex has finally brought this scratch-resistant and fade-proof material to the watch face. And, honestly, this green-on-green with the GMT-Master II is a catch!
The new Rolex GMT-Master II Reference 126729VTNR is priced at £40,900.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new ‘Lefty’ GMT-Master II 126729VTNR
- The ‘Case’ goes luxe
When Rolex released the steel ‘Sprite’ in 2022, it stirred up debates. Some loved the eccentric crown and date window placement on the left, while some did not. By releasing this white-gold follow-up, Rolex sends out a clear message that the Lefty GMT-Master II wasn’t an experiment but an established part of the collection worthy of a luxe makeover.
The new GMT-Master II Ref. 126729VTNR maintains the same case proportion at a diameter of 40mm and a height of 11.90mm. What changes is the model taking on a new case material in 18ct white gold.
The crown, crown guard, and date are all on the left side of the case. The bezel is bidirectional in white gold with black and green Ceramic for excellent legibility and tracks the third-time zone as needed. While the bezel combination remains the same, it just became heavier due to the new material.
It comes on a white gold Oyster bracelet with polished and brushed links. The bracelet is equipped with the brand’s EasyLink 5mm extension system, allowing for quick adjustments—a practical touch even with the luxurious material.
This precious material transforms the personality of this watch from a sporty tool piece to something with a prominent wrist presence.
- A new ‘Dial’ face
The big thing about this model is the new dial. This is the first time Rolex has used Ceramic for its watch face, and it just fits the puzzle.
The cerachrom dial is created in the same way as a dial with natural stones by placing a material disc onto a brass plate. The dial changes from lacquered gloss black to green Cerachrom, matching the lower half of the bezel insert.
You can still see applied white gold hour markers and hands with Chromalight inserts on the face. Interestingly, the additional GMT hand now gets white/steel-coloured stem instead of a green one, which otherwise would have blended into the green background. The date window and the Cyclops lens are on the left at 9 o’clock.
Combining a green dial with white markers creates a striking contrast, ensuring higher legibility, while Rolex’s Chromalight material ensures readability in low-light conditions. These small touches highlight Rolex’s attention to detail, even when taking creative risks.
- Which ‘Movement’ makes it tick?
The movement is left untouched. The self-winding Calibre 3285 operates at a frequency of 28,800vph and is equipped with a Chronergy escapement and a Parachrom hairspring, which performs exactly as it should.
It has the Superlative Chronometer certification of +/-2 seconds per day, an independently adjustable ‘flyer’ hour hand, and a 24-hour hand. The watch has a 70-hour power reserve and is water-resistant to up to 100 metres.
- Still a true ‘Travel’ companion
Beneath all the flashy aesthetic, the new Rolex 126729VTNR is still a serious travel watch, as you’d expect. The bidirectional bezel enables effortless tracking of the third time zone. However, the black and green colour scheme lacks the day/night partition. Nevertheless, it retains all the qualities that make the Rolex GMT-Master II the ultimate travel watch among frequent travellers and enthusiasts alike.
Our Thoughts
If it wasn’t the year when Rolex delivered one of its most technical breakthroughs with the Land-Dweller featuring the revolutionary Dynapulse Escapement, the use of a new dial and material in the GMT-Master lineup would be one of the biggest pieces of news for a brand that is more into small tweaks and improvements.
But did the green Cerachrom dial collect the reaction Rolex expected? Yes! Did Rolex celebrate the 70th anniversary of the famous GMT-Master II notably? Definitely.
So, yes. The inclusion of a green ceramic dial in our beloved Lefty GMT-Master II is an interesting release, and you can only get your hands on one if you have the Luck of the Irish.
Specifications:
- Model: Rolex GMT-Master II 126729VTNR
- Case Size: 40mm
- Material: 18ct White Gold
- Bezel: Bidirectional Rotatable, 24-Hour Graduated, Green & Black Cerachrom Insert in Ceramic
- Dial: Green Ceramic
- Bracelet: 18ct White Gold, Oyster
- Movement: Calibre 3285, Automatic
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Water-Resistance: 100 metres
