Okay, so I’ve been on this kick lately, right? I’ve always liked watches, but I never really got into the whole high-end thing. Too pricey. But I started seeing these “homage” watches online, basically copies of the really expensive ones, and I got curious. I heard some chatter about this one Rolex model, the GMT-Master II, the one they call the “Root Beer.” Apparently, it’s not even made anymore, so I figured, why not try to find a good copy?
The Hunt Begins
I started by digging around online, just to see what was out there. I read some reviews, and I went on these online auctions. I’m not going to name names, but there was one site where people buy and sell this kind of stuff. I saw a listing for a “High imitation Rolex GMT-Master II Root Beer Bezel.” The seller had a bunch of pictures up, and honestly, it looked pretty good in the photos. It had that two-tone bracelet – you know, the gold and silver – and the bezel was black and brown, just like the real “Root Beer.” I was like, “Okay, this might actually be worth checking out.”
Taking the Plunge
So, I decided to take a chance and bought it. I mean, it was way cheaper than the real deal, so I figured, what’s the worst that can happen? I waited a few days, kind of excited, kind of nervous. Then, one day, it arrived. I ripped open the package like a kid on Christmas morning. First impression? Not bad, not bad at all. It felt solid, had some weight to it. The colors on the bezel were pretty close to what I saw in pictures online. I put it on my wrist, and it actually looked pretty darn good.
Modding Time
But, being the tinkerer that I am, I thought I could make it even better. I started looking into replacement parts. I know, I know, it’s a copy, why bother? But it was fun, you know? Finding a ceramic bezel that matched the brown and black of the real “Root Beer” was a pain. It took some doing, but I eventually found one that was almost perfect. There’s this company called Squale, they make some pretty nice bezels. The old one was okay, but this one from Squale made a huge difference. I also swapped out the hands. The original hands were fine, but these new ones really gave it that classic Rolex look. I don’t know what they used but it is really like the original one.
The End Result
After all that, I gotta say, I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s not a real Rolex, obviously, but it scratches that itch, you know? The “Root Beer” bezel really pops, and with the new hands, it looks really sharp. It feels like a real Rolex.
So, that’s my little adventure with the high imitation Rolex GMT-Master II “Root Beer.” It was a fun little project, and I ended up with a watch that I really enjoy wearing. Maybe it’s not for everyone, but for me, it was a fun experiment.
- What I did:
- Looked for a good imitation of a Rolex GMT-Master II “Root Beer” watch.
- Bought one online after checking out pictures and descriptions.
- Replaced the bezel and hands with higher-quality parts to make it look more like the original.
- Felt good about the final product and enjoyed the process.
It’s a cool watch, I like it, and that’s all that matters, right?
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