How Rolex Achieved the Impossible: The Cerachrom Two-Tone Red and Blue Bezel Explained (Part 3)
Discover the story behind the iconic Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi bezel and its groundbreaking Cerachrom technology. Check out the full SwissReplicaClub homepage for more premium super clone watches.
In 2005, Rolex introduced the Cerachrom bezel—its own proprietary ceramic, first seen in black on the GMT-Master II. By 2007, this ultra-hard, scratchproof material had expanded into rich colors like green and blue, featured on models such as the Submariner Date and Yacht-Master II. But one major challenge remained: how to create a true dual-color ceramic bezel.
Why Two-Tone Ceramic Is So Difficult
Traditional ceramic colorants are mineral-based and must withstand sintering at over 1,600°C. While colors like black or blue are stable under these conditions, red pigments are notoriously unstable and prone to degradation. For years, creating a red Cerachrom bezel was thought impossible.
But Rolex’s research department didn’t back down. In 2013, the brand released the world’s first two-tone ceramic bezel: the blue-and-black version of the GMT-Master II (the “Batman”). This proved that ceramic could be colored in two tones—but red was still out of reach.
The Breakthrough: Red and Blue Cerachrom (Pepsi)
In 2014, Rolex unveiled what many thought was impossible: a red-and-blue ceramic bezel for the GMT-Master II in white gold. The result of years of R&D, the process was so revolutionary that Rolex filed two patents to protect it. Here’s how they did it.
The Patented Process
- Initial Formation: The bezel starts as a mixture of ceramic powders and binders, injection-molded into a rough blank.
- First Firing: A high-temperature treatment burns off binders, leaving only dense ceramic—typically in red.
- Color Transformation: Half of the red bezel is immersed in a secret chemical solution. This reacts with the ceramic during re-firing, turning the red into vivid blue on one side.
- Second Firing: The entire insert is sintered at 1,600°C. The high heat solidifies the ceramic and fixes the two distinct colors permanently.
- Machining: The inner and outer edges are diamond-cut to precise tolerances.
- Engraving: The numerals and 24-hour markers are carved directly into the surface.
- Platinum Filling: Using Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), platinum is deposited into the engravings to enhance legibility.
- Polishing: A final diamond polish removes excess metal and enhances gloss, leaving a razor-sharp dual-color ceramic bezel.
The Super Clone Version
While we don’t claim to replicate Rolex’s exact patents, our super clone GMT-Master II Pepsi uses advanced dual-tone ceramic composite technology to closely mimic the same red-to-blue fade and sharp contrast lines. The transition is vivid, seamless, and resistant to UV fading.
A Legacy of Innovation
Rolex has a long history of overcoming what others thought impossible. From the first waterproof watch in 1926 to the first wristwatch certified as a marine chronometer in 1914, the brand has applied the same boundary-pushing mindset to every generation of innovation.
Today’s red-and-blue Cerachrom bezel represents more than visual flair—it symbolizes material science perfected. And with our top-tier super clone, you can now enjoy this masterpiece without a six-figure price tag or multi-year waitlist.