jamie weiss
What are the most iconic bezel color combinations? I’m sure everyone knows what comes to mind. Pepsi Bezel Watches hold a special place in the world of watches, captivating watch enthusiasts with their unique and iconic designs. Named after the Cola brand’s red and blue logo and made famous by the Rolex GMT-Master, one of the world’s most popular watches, these watches feature bicolor bezels and a vibrant As well as adding a visual element, they often serve a practical purpose as well, providing comfort to the wearer. Easily track multiple time zones, utilize different colors to differentiate elapsed time on your dive watch… or maybe you just want to enjoy the atmosphere. Either way, the Pepsi bezel design has become a classic look that has transcended trends and continues to be a popular look. Here are some of the best Pepsi bezel watches on the market at different price points.
brief history
The Pepsi bezel color and format originated with the original Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 6542, which also contributed to the birth of the term “GMT watch”. GMT-Master itself has its roots in the now-defunct American airline Pan Am Airways. Pan Am ordered this watch from Rolex for its pilots in 1954. Pilots constantly travel between multiple time zones, so they needed a watch that could display the time at home. (or a reference time such as UTC/GMT), you can easily set the new local time upon landing without interfering with the displayed home time.
The red and blue colors of the GMT-Master’s bicolor bezel were actually chosen to reflect Pan Am’s corporate colors rather than referencing the popular beverage brand. The name “Pepsi” was coined entirely by enthusiasts, who have also popularized beverage-themed nicknames as well. Other color combinations include black and red “Coke” (debuted in the original GMT-Master II Ref. 16760) and brown and gold “Root Beer” (debuted in the original GMT-Master II Ref. 16760). GMT-Master ref. 1675/3), and more recently the black and green ‘sprite’ (as seen on the left-handed GMT-Master II ref. 126720VTNR). But the one that has proven most enduring is the term “Pepsi” for the red and blue bezel. But not all Pepsi are Rolexes. Here are some other cool Pepsi bezel watches.
Casio Duro MDV107D-1A3
Pepsi’s bezel design debuted on the GMT watch, and most Pepsi watches you’ll see in the wild are indeed GMT watches, but the color combination has recently found its way into other types of watches as well. A great example is the Casio Duro. A cheap and cheerful diver’s watch that offers the GMT-Master vibe without the complications and at a fraction of the price. Famously worn by Bill Gates, the Duro is an unassuming and rugged quartz-powered diver with a unidirectional rotating bezel and water resistance of 200 meters. Perfect for those who want a sip of Pepsi, so to speak. Price: $146 USD from Time+Tide Shop
Timex Q reissue
The Timex Q Reissue also ranks as one of the most affordable Pepsi bezel watches on the market. It’s not technically a GMT watch as it doesn’t have a seconds hand, but you can use the bezel to keep track of different time zones. The addition of a navy blue dial to match the blue half of the Pepsi bezel adds visual differentiation to this Q, and the quartz movement keeps price and hassle down. Since the lugs are hidden, it looks like it is integrated with the bracelet, which is very trendy. Price: $189
Seiko Prospex Speed Timer Pogue SSC947
itself an homage to the original Seiko Ref. 6139 “Pogue” Chronograph, so named because it was worn by Colonel William Pogue during the Skylab 4 space mission. This Prospex Speedtimer Pogue can also be described as having a Pepsi bezel. This shows that not all Pepsi bezel watches need to be in GMT. Or a diver. These Pepsi colors contrast with the same striking yellow sunburst dial as the Ref. 6139, but this modern chronograph borrows from the original chronograph with three subdials and a solar-powered quartz movement. Price: $700
Baltic Aquascape GMT
Baltic Aquascaphe GMT is another standout affordable product in the Pepsi category that blends vintage design with modern GMT features. Much like the original GMT-Master, the Kohler-style GMT has a distinctly domed crystal and sapphire bezel insert, giving it a strong retro feel. While balanced, the red part of the bezel leans more toward orange, but it’s still safe to call this a Pepsi bezel watch. It also focuses on the origins of the diver’s watch and is available with either a Tropic-style strap or a Beads of Rice bracelet. Price: USD 1,047 at Time+Tide Shop
Tudor Black Bay GMT
It’s perhaps unsurprising that Rolex’s sister brand Tudor also offers a Pepsi bezel, but this Black Bay GMT is confused with a milky white dial. Paired with the white luminous hour markers and snowflake hands, it looks decidedly more vintage than a modern GMT-Master, and the matte anodized aluminum blue and burgundy bezel insert adds a pop to the watch’s aesthetic and personality. It’s also more water resistant than its Rolex counterpart to 200 meters and is powered by a similarly COSC-certified movement. Price: $4,375
Rolex GMT Master II
I’ve written this buying guide primarily with affordable Pepsi bezel watches in mind, but I can’t talk about Pepsi alternatives without discussing the OG. The original GMT-Master Ref. 6542 had a Bakelite bezel. The Pepsi model currently in the Rolex catalog, the GMT-Master II ref. 126710, features a “Cerachrom” bicolor ceramic bezel insert instead, making it more durable and scratch-resistant. Housed in a 40mm 904L stainless steel case, available with an Oyster or Jubilee bracelet, it is powered by the Caliber 3285 with a Chronergy escapement and a 70-hour power reserve. This Raleigh is much more expensive than the other watches on this list (nearly impossible to score at retail anyway), but the original is still the best. Price: $10,700
