Blue for night, black for day. Since 2013, Rolex’s “Batman” has been the steel sports watch people ask for by nickname, and it now exists in two generations that look almost identical across a room. The difference shows up in the movement, the bracelet and the price. Here is how to tell the 116710BLNR from the 126710BLNR, what each costs today, and which one makes more sense for your wrist.
At a glance
- Watch: Rolex GMT-Master II “Batman,” 40 mm Oystersteel, black dial, blue-and-black Cerachrom bezel.
- 116710BLNR (2013–2019): calibre 3186, 48-hour power reserve, Oyster bracelet only; pre-owned about $14,000–$17,000.
- 126710BLNR (2019–today): calibre 3285, 70-hour power reserve, Jubilee or Oyster bracelet; pre-owned about $16,000–$20,000.
- Retail: about $11,800 after Rolex’s January 2026 price increase, though dealer availability remains scarce.
What is the Rolex GMT-Master II “Batman”?
The Batman is a steel GMT-Master II with a black dial and a 24-hour bezel split into blue and black halves. A fourth, arrow-tipped hand circles the dial once a day, so you can read a second time zone against the bezel, or a third by turning it. Collectors gave it the nickname for its colours; Rolex simply calls it the GMT-Master II.
When it arrived in 2013 as the 116710BLNR, it carried the first two-colour bezel Rolex had made in Cerachrom, its scratch-resistant ceramic. Producing two colours in a single piece of ceramic was difficult enough that the watch was hard to find from day one, and it has stayed that way.
116710BLNR vs 126710BLNR: what is the difference?
The movement. The 116710BLNR uses calibre 3186, with about 48 hours of power reserve. The 126710BLNR moved to calibre 3285, with Rolex’s Chronergy escapement and a 70-hour reserve, so it will survive a full weekend off the wrist.
The bracelet. The earlier watch came only on the three-link Oyster bracelet. The 126710BLNR launched in 2019 on the five-link Jubilee, a version collectors nicknamed “Batgirl,” and Rolex added an Oyster option in 2021. Today you can choose either.
The dial. The quickest tell on an Oyster-bracelet example is at 6 o’clock: the 126710BLNR has a tiny Rolex crown between the words “Swiss” and “Made.” The 116710BLNR does not. Papers, or the reference engraved between the lugs, will confirm it.
How much does a Rolex Batman cost?
At retail, the 126710BLNR rose to about $11,800 with Rolex’s January 2026 price increase, according to a leaked dealer list reported by WatchGuys. The catch is availability: most authorized dealers have long waiting lists, so the pre-owned market sets the real price.
Pre-owned, a 116710BLNR typically trades between $14,000 and $17,000, while a 126710BLNR on the Oyster bracelet runs about $16,000 to $20,000, and the Jubilee version usually commands a small premium on top. Full sets with box and papers, unpolished cases and recent service history sit at the top of those ranges.
Which Batman should you buy?
Choose the 116710BLNR if you want the original and the Oyster bracelet, and you would rather keep a few thousand dollars in your pocket. It is a complete, modern Rolex with a ceramic bezel and a robust movement; the shorter power reserve is the only real compromise.
Choose the 126710BLNR if you want the longer power reserve, the newer warranty clock, or the Jubilee bracelet, which wears more like jewelry and dresses the watch up. If you wear a watch daily and rotate rarely, the 70-hour reserve is a genuine everyday improvement.
Two generations, one silhouette. The difference is on the inside, and on the price tag.
A short history of the GMT-Master
Rolex introduced the GMT-Master in the mid-1950s for airline pilots who needed to read home time and local time at a glance; its red-and-blue bezel later earned the “Pepsi” nickname. The GMT-Master II followed in the 1980s with an independently adjustable hour hand, making it easier to change time zones on arrival. Ceramic bezels came in the late 2000s, and the Batman’s blue-and-black insert in 2013 opened the door to the two-colour ceramic bezels Rolex still makes today.
We spotted one on the Oyster bracelet this weekend among the cars at Cars of 30A in Alys Beach, worn the way it was designed to be: every day, without ceremony.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rolex Batman discontinued?
The original 116710BLNR was discontinued in 2019. The current 126710BLNR is still in production on both the Jubilee and Oyster bracelets.
What is the difference between the Rolex Batman and Batgirl?
They are the same reference, 126710BLNR. “Batgirl” is the collectors’ name for the version on the five-link Jubilee bracelet.
How can I tell a 116710BLNR from a 126710BLNR?
Look at 6 o’clock: the 126710BLNR has a small Rolex crown between “Swiss” and “Made.” The reference number between the lugs and the warranty card confirm it.
Is the Rolex Batman a good investment?
It has held value well above retail for years, but secondary prices move with the market. Buy it to wear, and treat any value retention as a bonus.
Sources: WatchGuys · WatchGuys on 2026 prices · Bob’s Watches · Sotheby’s · SG Watch Insider
