Simone Inzaghi – Rolex GMT-Master II in stainless steel with a black dial

The head coach of Serie A club Inter and former footballer Simone Inzaghi is wearing a Rolex GMT-Master II in stainless steel with a black dial that is surrounded by a two-colored “Batman” cerachrom bezel.

The timepiece is designed to show the time in two different time zones simultaneously during intercontinental flights, which makes it an ideal watch for crisscrossing the globe.

About the Watch

An increasing population and the necessity to travel across states promoted civil aviation as the world became a global area for industrialization. Rolex was engaged in 1953 with creating a technological watch for Pan Am’s crew. The GMT-Master is the product of this essential task. It can read the time in two separate time zones at the same time. Nevertheless, like all Rolex models, this one developed into the GMT-Master II, which featured a third-time zone reading functionality. This watch, nicknamed the “Batman” model because of its blue and red lunette and black dial, is at the top of every Rolex enthusiast’s wish list. The Rolex GMT-Master II “Batman” is thus the ideal complement for any occasion due to its unique color combinations and efficiency for worldwide travelers.

When the Rolex “Batman” GMT-Master II was launched at the 2013 Baselworld Fair in Geneva, it caused a stir. Nobody anticipated a black and blue (Bleu & Noir) colorway on Rolex’s unique Cerachrom ceramic bezel. It is a brilliant achievement in the modern Rolex series, with a near scratchproof finish and platinum numerals. Furthermore, it offers a magnificent shock of color against the 40mm solid steel casing.

The innovation could have ended there. However, the “Batman,” like other modern steel GMTs, features white gold lume surrounds and Mercedes hands, the lauded in-house automated caliber 3186 movements, as well as the patented screw-down, Triplock crown.

Generally, it’s a lovely model all around that Rolex built the GMT hand matching the blue hue of the bezel. It’s worth mentioning that nobody had ever designed a multi-colored, single-piece ceramic bezel before. Hence, Rolex was the first Master II in 6 years to have a bezel that wasn’t black.

It’s not an exaggeration to state that this timepiece was antique in the view of the discerning Rolex enthusiast. Besides, it fits right in with the GMT series. Initially created to enable the PanAm pilots to keep track of two different timezones at the same time – a set against the 24-hour Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) through an arrow pointed hand – modern GMT evokes the golden phase of intercontinental flight in the 1950s as well as the jet-set of the 1980s.

The Rolex Rolex GMT-Master II is undoubtedly the most famous travel watch ever created. The modern design carries the history of a pioneer, and today rests as one of the most in-demand watches of our time. Besides, it carries a legacy that dates back to the 1950s and a design that has inspired many pieces in the GMT category for sports watches.

Price market: $21,500.00 USD
Watch reference: 116710BLNR

Photo: Getty Images