Rolex GMT-Master II vs Tudor Black Bay GMT: Current Models and Pre-Owned Generations

The Rolex GMT-Master II and the Tudor Black Bay GMT are the two best-known travel watches with a 24-hour bezel and an independently set hour hand. One is a steel Rolex that new buyers struggle to get and that sells pre-owned above list; the other is a Tudor that costs under half as much new and often less used. This page compares the models on sale today and the earlier generations you can still find pre-owned.

Rolex GMT-Master II vs Tudor Black Bay GMT at a glance

Current flagship models compared side by side. Facts and prices checked October 2026; see each lineup below for every current variation.

Current Rolex GMT-Master II lineup and variations

Rolex does not publish a price list that we could retrieve, so US prices below are from Loupe (effective January 1, 2026) and Luxury Bazaar (dated October 14, 2026, covering the June 1, 2026 increase, which did not touch steel). Where sources conflict, the note says so. Tudor prices come from Watches of Switzerland and Bucherer (fetched October 14, 2026), WatchScanning (August 16, 2026) and Time+Tide (April 15, 2026). Neither rolex.com nor tudorwatch.com could be read: every Rolex and Tudor product and catalogue page we tried on October 14, 2026 returned an access error, so treat each lineup as reconstructed from retailers, price guides and press, not official. No platinum GMT-Master II appears on any page we could read, so none is listed. No consistent US retail source was found for 126713GRNR, 126718GRNR, 126719BLRO or 126729VTNR beyond the metal-level figures from Luxury Bazaar.

Full history and every generation: Rolex GMT-Master II history.

Current Tudor Black Bay GMT lineup and variations

Full history and every generation: Tudor Black Bay GMT history.

Prior generations: what you can buy pre-owned

Generations are listed newest first. Pre-owned prices are indicative ranges from WatchCharts (via WatchGuys, September 22, 2026), WatchScanning (August 2026), Bob’s Watches (June 2026) and Loupe market estimates (October 14, 2026), and move with condition, box and papers. Years for the older Rolex references vary slightly by source.

Rolex GMT-Master II: generations

Tudor Black Bay GMT: generations

Design and wearing

Both watches are 24-hour-bezel travel watches, but they wear differently. The current Rolex is a 40 mm Oystersteel case, about 12 mm thick, with a lug-to-lug of roughly 48 mm (WatchGuys flags the thickness as unverified). The Tudor Black Bay GMT is a 41 mm case that Watches of Switzerland lists at 14.6 mm thick, so it sits taller on the wrist even though its diameter is only 1 mm larger. Dealer and review figures for the 41 mm model run from 14.5 mm (The 1916 Company, which also measured 50.2 mm lug-to-lug) to 14.92 mm (The Watchology, which gives 51.7 mm lug-to-lug), so the exact numbers vary by source. That extra height is the main wearing difference between the two.

Tudor also sells a smaller option. The Black Bay 58 GMT is 39 mm, 12.8 mm thick and 47.8 mm lug-to-lug, so it is closer to the Rolex in thickness than the 41 mm model is, and shorter on the wrist. Its bezel is black and burgundy rather than the blue and red “Pepsi” of the larger watch, and a five-link bracelet joined the range at Watches and Wonders 2026.

The bezels differ in material. Rolex uses a bidirectional Cerachrom ceramic insert in two colours, and the nickname depends on the bracelet: WatchScanning notes the blue and black 126710BLNR is a “Batman” on Oyster and a “Batgirl” on Jubilee. The Tudor’s 24-hour bezel is anodised aluminium, which ABlogToWatch noted may patina over time. Bracelets also differ: Rolex fits an Oysterlock clasp with a 5 mm Easylink extension, while the Black Bay 58 GMT uses Tudor’s T-fit clasp. The 41 mm model has a riveted-style steel bracelet or a fabric strap.

Movement and technology

Both movements are true GMTs: the local hour hand jumps independently, so you can change the time zone without stopping the watch. Rolex has offered that since the 16760 “Fat Lady” of the early 1980s, according to WatchGuys. Tudor’s 2018 launch article described the same independently adjustable hour hand, and a review of the Black Bay 58 GMT says it moves in one-hour steps without stopping the seconds hand.

The current Rolex calibre is the 3285, in the 126-series since 2018. The Watchology lists 70 hours of power reserve, 100 m of water resistance and Superlative Chronometer certification; WatchGuys gives the Superlative rate as -2/+2 seconds a day after casing and names the Chronergy escapement. The older 116710 used calibre 3186 with roughly 48 hours of reserve.

Tudor has two GMT calibres on sale. The 41 mm Black Bay GMT uses the in-house MT5652, COSC certified, 4 Hz, with about 70 hours of reserve and 200 m of water resistance (ABlogToWatch). The Black Bay 58 GMT uses the MT5450-U, certified by both COSC and METAS, with a 65-hour reserve per Oracle of Time and Two Broke Watch Snobs. One buying guide (Grailr) says 70 hours for the 58 GMT, so check the exact figure with a dealer. Tudor’s newest GMT, the Northflag, uses an MT5652-U with a silicon balance spring and 65 hours, per Hypebeast.

In practice the Rolex has the longer reserve and tighter published rate, the Tudor offers 200 m versus Rolex’s 100 m, and the 58 GMT carries METAS certification on top of COSC, which the 41 mm model, listed as COSC only, does not. Neither brand’s own pages could be read for this page (rolex.com and tudorwatch.com returned access errors on every attempt on October 14, 2026), so these specifications come from dealers and reviews dated 2018 to 2026.

Value and collectability

The two families sit on opposite sides of retail. Current steel Rolex GMT-Master II models are US$11,800 on Oyster, according to Luxury Bazaar and Loupe, yet WatchCharts figures reported by WatchGuys in September 2026 put the 126710BLNR near $17,200 and the 126710GRNR near $20,300. By our arithmetic the Batman trades roughly 46% over list. The discontinued 126710BLRO “Pepsi” was about $21,800 on the same measure, though Bob’s Watches reported a $27,595 average in May 2026, so sources disagree.

The Tudor does the opposite. WatchScanning (updated August 16, 2026) lists the 41 mm Black Bay GMT at $4,925 on fabric and $5,275 on the bracelet, with pre-owned examples around $3,400, which is about a third below list by our arithmetic. Bob’s Watches gave a $3,800 pre-owned average in June 2026. The Black Bay 58 GMT is too new to have a settled used market; WatchScanning says it trades near list.

Collectability follows the discontinuation. Rolex dropped the steel and white-gold Pepsi (126710BLRO, 126719BLRO) at Watches and Wonders 2026, according to Man of Many, leaving no red-and-black steel professional model. Watches Off 5th adds that no successor has been announced. On the Tudor side, the 2018 79830RB launched at $3,575 on a strap and $3,900 on the bracelet (ABlogToWatch), so list prices have risen about 35% since, while the used market has barely moved from that launch price.

None of this predicts the future, and thin data means ranges, not points. But the pattern is consistent: Rolex buyers pay a premium for the privilege, and Tudor buyers can often pay less than retail by shopping pre-owned.

Buying new vs pre-owned

Buying new is a different exercise for each brand. Tudor GMTs are listed at authorised retailers with an “add to cart” button; Watches of Switzerland showed the M79830RB-0010 at $5,275 on October 14, 2026, though other retailers show some 41 mm references out of stock, and no Tudor source confirming the 41 mm model’s long-term status could be retrieved. Rolex is harder: Bob’s Watches cites waitlists of about five years at authorised dealers in 2026 (a single dealer claim), and Man of Many reports dealers were told in February that Pepsi deliveries would stop.

Buying pre-owned changes the comparison. A used Tudor 79830RB costs roughly $3,400 to $3,800, so you are paying for the watch and not for scarcity. A Rolex from the ceramic era costs more than the new price, so the genuine saving is on the older generations: the 116710LN is about $12,200 and the aluminium-bezel 16710 about $13,300 (WatchCharts, September 2026, via WatchGuys). Those watches have the older 3186 or 3185 movement and about two days of reserve rather than three.

Gold is a separate decision. Rolex lists two-tone GMT-Master II models at about $20,050 to $20,450 and gold at $48,400 and up per Luxury Bazaar, while Tudor’s steel-and-gold Black Bay GMT S&G was introduced in 2022 and its current catalogue status and US price could not be verified here. A dealer may still hold stock of either.

Whatever you choose, ask for the exact reference and bracelet, the year of manufacture, and proof of service history on pre-owned examples, and compare at least three dated listings. Every price on this page is indicative and was observed on the dates stated.

Which should you buy?

Myths and mix-ups, corrected

• “The Tudor uses a Rolex movement.” Tudor’s GMT calibres (MT5652, MT5450-U) are described as in-house manufacture calibres, not the Rolex 3285.
• “The Rolex Pepsi is still available new.” The steel 126710BLRO and white-gold 126719BLRO left the catalogue at Watches and Wonders 2026, according to Man of Many, with no replacement announced.
• “Batman and Batgirl are different watches.” WatchScanning says the blue and black 126710BLNR is a Batman on Oyster and a Batgirl on Jubilee.
• “Every Black Bay GMT is 41 mm.” The Black Bay 58 GMT is 39 mm and uses a different calibre, the MT5450-U.
• “A Tudor GMT is a ‘fixed’ hour-hand GMT.” The Black Bay GMT has an independently adjustable local hour hand, as does the Rolex.
• “Pre-owned Rolex GMTs are cheaper than new.” Ceramic-era 126710 models trade above the $11,800 list price; only older references such as the 116710LN or 16710 are below it, around $12,200 to $13,300.

Sources

Luxury Bazaar, Loupe, Watches Off 5th, Man of Many, The Watchology, Grailr, WatchGuys, WatchScanning and Bob’s Watches for Rolex lineups, discontinuations and prices; Watches of Switzerland, Bucherer, Time+Tide, Oracle of Time, Two Broke Watch Snobs, ABlogToWatch, Crown Watch Blog and Hypebeast for Tudor models, specifications and prices. The Watchology, 5dwatches, Authentic Wrist, Belmont Watches, The 1916 Company, Majestix, Wikipedia, Webchronos and Chrono 10:10 are also cited for references, dimensions and status. Rolex.com and tudorwatch.com could not be read (access errors on every page tried, October 14, 2026), so lineups are reconstructed from authorised retailers, price guides, release articles and dated grey-market and pre-owned listings. Prices are indicative US-dollar figures retrieved on October 14, 2026, unless a different date is given.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Tudor Black Bay GMT a good alternative to the Rolex GMT-Master II?

Yes for most buyers on price: the Black Bay GMT is a true GMT with 200 m of water resistance at about $4,925 to $5,650 new, against $11,800 for a steel Rolex. The Rolex has a longer power reserve and holds value above retail.

How much does a Rolex GMT-Master II cost in 2026?

Steel models are $11,800 on Oyster and $12,000 on Jubilee, with the left-hand-crown 126720VTNR at $12,300 on Oyster. Two-tone is about $20,050 to $20,450, observed October 14, 2026.

How much is a Tudor Black Bay GMT?

The 41 mm model is $4,925 on fabric and $5,275 on the bracelet, and the 39 mm Black Bay 58 GMT is $5,275 to $5,650, according to WatchScanning, Watches of Switzerland and Bucherer.

Is the Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi discontinued?

Yes. Man of Many reports the steel 126710BLRO and white-gold 126719BLRO left the Rolex catalogue at Watches and Wonders 2026, and no successor has been announced.

Is the Tudor Black Bay Pro a GMT?

It shows a second time zone on a fixed 24-hour bezel and uses the MT5652 (reference 79470, 39 mm, about 14.6 to 14.9 mm thick), but it is not a rotating-bezel GMT. The 1916 Company listed it at $4,725 in October 2026.

Does Tudor make its own GMT movement?

Yes. The 41 mm Black Bay GMT uses the in-house MT5652 and the Black Bay 58 GMT uses the MT5450-U.

What is the power reserve of each watch?

The Rolex calibre 3285 has 70 hours. The Tudor MT5652 has about 70 hours and the MT5450-U 65 hours, though one guide cites 70 hours for the latter.

Which GMT holds its value better, Rolex or Tudor?

The Rolex. WatchCharts figures reported by WatchGuys in September 2026 put the 126710BLNR near $17,200, over its $11,800 list price, while the Tudor 79830RB trades near $3,400 to $3,800 against $5,275 new.

What older Rolex GMT-Master II can I buy pre-owned?

The 116710LN (2007 to 2019) is about $12,200, the 116710BLNR Batman about $14,300 and the aluminium-bezel 16710 about $13,300 as of September 2026.

Related Reading

Model History Rolex GMT-Master Model History Tudor Black Bay GMT Model History Tudor Black Bay 58 Model History Tudor Black Bay Pro Buying Guide Best Watches Under $15,000 Buying Guide Best Watches Under $5,000