Rolex Root Beer

Buying Advice

About the Rolex Root Beer

The Rolex Root Beer is the brown-bezel Rolex GMT-Master and GMT-Master II, one of the longest-running color themes in the entire GMT-Master lineup with a 55-year production history spanning five references across two distinct eras. The nickname was coined in the 1970s for the vintage 1675/3 and its brown-and-gold aluminum bezel, echoing the color of root beer soda. Over five decades the name has been applied to multiple reference generations and two distinct bezel color schemes, from the vintage two-tone pieces worn by Clint Eastwood to the current brown-and-black ceramic 126711CHNR and full Everose gold 126715CHNR. WatchGuys carries authenticated pre-owned and unworn Root Beer examples across the full reference range, each backed by a 2-year warranty and our Buyer Protection program.

What Is the Rolex Root Beer?

The Rolex Root Beer is the collector nickname for any GMT-Master or GMT-Master II fitted with a brown-toned bezel paired with a two-tone steel-and-gold or full gold case. The original nickname was coined for the 1970s 1675/3 and its warm brown-and-gold aluminum bezel, which reminded collectors of the color of root beer soda. The nickname has since been applied to every brown-bezel GMT-Master reference Rolex has produced. Rolex itself does not use the Root Beer name. Internally, the modern references carry the CHNR suffix, short for Chocolat-Noir (chocolate-black), which acknowledges the updated color scheme on the ceramic era pieces. For the complete Rolex reference numbering system and how to decode every GMT suffix, see our Rolex reference numbers guide.

Vintage Root Beer (1675/3, 16753, 16713)

Three vintage references define the original Root Beer era, each with distinct technical and aesthetic characteristics. The Rolex 1675/3 (1970 to 1979) was the first, a two-tone Oystersteel and 18k yellow gold GMT-Master with a brown and gold aluminum bezel, matte brown "nipple dial" with raised gold hour markers, and Caliber 1575. The Rolex 16753 (1980 to late 1980s) added a quickset date and Caliber 3075, and introduced the collectible metallic brown "Tiger Eye" sunburst dial that shifts color under light. Clint Eastwood famously wore a 16753 Root Beer in films including Firefox (1982), Tightrope (1984), and In the Line of Fire (1993), giving rise to the Rolex Clint Eastwood alternate nickname for this specific reference. The Rolex 16713 (1989 to 2006) was the first GMT-Master II Root Beer, running the Caliber 3185 with an independently adjustable 24-hour hand and a longer production run that included champagne and silver Serti dial variants. For a deeper look at the vintage era, including nipple dial and Tiger Eye detail, see our Rolex 1675 Root Beer review and the 16713 two-tone review.

Modern Root Beer (126711CHNR and 126715CHNR)

After a 12-year production gap, Rolex returned the brown bezel to the GMT-Master II lineup at Baselworld 2018 with two new references. The Rolex 126711CHNR is two-tone Rolesor, combining Oystersteel with 18k Everose (rose) gold on the bezel, crown, and centre bracelet links. The Rolex 126715CHNR is crafted entirely from 18k Everose gold. Both share a 40mm case, brown-and-black ceramic Cerachrom bezel, black lacquer dial, and the Caliber 3285 with a 70-hour power reserve and independently adjustable local hour hand. The modern era departs from the vintage Root Beers in three material ways: the bezel is ceramic instead of aluminum, the precious metal is Everose instead of yellow gold, and the dial is black instead of brown. For a detailed hands-on evaluation of the two-tone modern Root Beer, see our 126711CHNR review.

Rolex Root Beer Price

Pre-owned Rolex Root Beer prices at WatchGuys typically range from $15,000 to $23,000+ for the mainstream references, with the full Everose 126715CHNR sitting well above this range. Vintage 1675/3 and 16753 examples generally trade in the low to mid teens depending on dial variant, bezel patina, and whether the watch has been polished or retains original parts. Tiger Eye dial 16753s command premiums. The neo-vintage 16713 sits in a similar range, with Serti dial configurations commanding further premiums. The modern two-tone 126711CHNR trades in the high teens to low twenties, typically $18,000 to $22,000 on the secondary market against a current retail price around $14,800. The full Everose gold 126715CHNR sits well above this range, usually $35,000+ depending on condition and dial variant (standard black, Tiger Iron stone dial, and so on). The Root Beer spans our Rolex under $20,000 and Rolex over $20,000 segments. For live market context across the full GMT-Master II family, see our Rolex GMT Market Update.

Rolex Root Beer vs. Rolex Pepsi

The Root Beer and the Rolex Pepsi are the two most recognizable colorways in the GMT-Master family. The Pepsi is the red-and-blue bezel on stainless steel or white gold, historically the dominant sports-watch Rolex GMT. The Root Beer is the brown bezel on two-tone Rolesor or solid gold, a warmer, more understated alternative. The Pepsi's modern steel and white gold ceramic references (126710BLRO and 126719BLRO) were discontinued on April 14, 2026 at Watches and Wonders Geneva, leaving no red-bezel GMT in the current steel catalog. The Root Beer remains in active production with both the 126711CHNR and 126715CHNR. For buyers choosing between the two, the Pepsi is the higher-impact, sportier option that typically trades at a premium. The Root Beer is the warmer, two-tone or full-gold alternative at a more accessible price point (for the 126711CHNR) or as a full precious-metal statement piece (for the 126715CHNR). For the complete GMT-Master history across every bezel color, see our GMT-Master Buyer's Guide.

Trusted Dealer

Why Buy a Rolex Root Beer From WatchGuys

The Root Beer spans 55 years of Rolex production and five distinct references, which means buying one well requires fluency across vintage aluminum-bezel pieces, neo-vintage sapphire-crystal models, and modern ceramic-era references. Every pre-owned Rolex Root Beer for sale at WatchGuys is authenticated in-house by our watchmakers and backed by the policies below, regardless of which reference or era you are shopping.

Common Questions

Rolex Root Beer FAQ

• What Is the Rolex Root Beer?

  The Rolex Root Beer is the collector nickname for any GMT-Master or GMT-Master II fitted with a brown-toned bezel paired with a two-tone steel-and-gold or full gold case. The original nickname was coined for the 1970s 1675/3 and its warm brown-and-gold aluminum bezel, which reminded collectors of the color of root beer soda. The nickname has since been applied to every brown-bezel GMT-Master reference Rolex has produced, across five references and 55 years of production.

• How Much Does a Rolex Root Beer Cost?

  Pre-owned Rolex Root Beer prices at WatchGuys typically range from $15,000 to $23,000+ for the mainstream references. Vintage 1675/3 and 16753 examples generally trade in the low to mid teens depending on dial variant and condition. The neo-vintage 16713 sits in a similar range, with Serti dial and Tiger Eye configurations commanding premiums. The modern two-tone 126711CHNR trades in the high teens to low twenties, typically $18,000 to $22,000. The full Everose gold 126715CHNR sits well above this range, usually $35,000+.

• What References Are the Rolex Root Beer?

  Five references carry the Root Beer nickname. The 1675/3 (1970 to 1979) was the first, with a nipple dial and Caliber 1575. The 16753 (1980 to late 1980s) added a quickset date and the collectible Tiger Eye dial. The 16713 (1989 to 2006) was the first GMT-Master II Root Beer. After a 12-year production gap, the modern 126711CHNR in Oystersteel and Everose gold and the full-Everose 126715CHNR launched in 2018, both with a brown and black Cerachrom bezel and Caliber 3285 with a 70-hour power reserve.

• Is the Rolex Root Beer Discontinued?

  The vintage references (1675/3, 16753, 16713) have been out of production for decades. The original aluminum-bezel Root Beer line ended in 2006 with the 16713. After a 12-year gap, Rolex relaunched the nickname in 2018 with the modern ceramic 126711CHNR and 126715CHNR, both of which remain in active production as of April 2026. All Root Beer references are available on the pre-owned and unworn market at WatchGuys, from vintage 1675/3 examples through the current 126711CHNR and 126715CHNR.

• Who Is the Clint Eastwood Rolex?

  Clint Eastwood famously wore a Rolex GMT-Master 16753 Root Beer in films including Firefox (1982), Tightrope (1984), and In the Line of Fire (1993), as well as in his personal life. The association was strong enough that "Clint Eastwood Rolex" is an alternate nickname specifically for the 16753, and by extension the earlier 1675/3. The nickname does not generally apply to the later 16713 or the modern CHNR ceramic references, which launched after the actor's peak run with the watch.

• What Is the Difference Between the 126711CHNR and the 126715CHNR?

  Both references share the same brown-and-black Cerachrom bezel, black lacquer dial, Caliber 3285 movement, 40mm case, and Oyster bracelet. The difference is the material. The 126711CHNR is two-tone Rolesor, combining Oystersteel with 18k Everose (rose) gold on the bezel, crown, and centre bracelet links. The 126715CHNR is crafted entirely from 18k Everose gold. The full-gold 126715CHNR has a significantly higher retail price and trades around $35,000 and up on the secondary market, compared to $18,000 to $22,000 for the two-tone 126711CHNR.

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