So, I had this crazy idea, right? I’m scrolling through my phone, and bam, I see this Rolex GMT-Master II with that “Root Beer” bezel. You know the one, brown and black, super classy. And I thought, “Why not try to make my own version of that?” Not a real one, of course, but a little project just for fun.
I started by digging around online. Found some folks talking about these watches on Amazon, even some from a brand called Stuhrling. But I wasn’t looking to buy, I wanted to build. I wanted to get my hands dirty. I remembered someone online saying the “Root Beer” bezel is like a little piece of sunshine, and I loved that. It made me even more determined to do this.
- First, I needed the parts. This was a whole new world to me. I found some basic watch movements online, you know, the guts of the thing.
- Then, the case. I wanted something that looked similar to that Rolex, but obviously not a straight-up copy. More like an homage.
- The tricky part was the bezel. I spent hours, seriously, hours, looking for a brown and black one. Finally, I found one that was close enough. It wasn’t perfect, but hey, this whole thing is just a bit of fun, right?
Putting it all together was a bit of a nightmare, to be honest. Tiny screws, delicate hands, and my clumsy fingers didn’t exactly get along. There were a few moments where I nearly threw the whole thing across the room. But I kept at it. I kept pushing. I mean, who hasn’t dreamed of being a watchmaker at some point? Even if it’s just for a day.
The Final Result
And you know what? It actually worked! It wasn’t pretty, not by a long shot. And it definitely wasn’t a Rolex. Some forums said the “BLRO is probably the best modern Rolex,” but mine was more like the “BLRO’s distant, slightly wonky cousin.” But it was ticking, and that brown and black bezel, well, it did bring a little smile to my face. It was like I had captured a tiny bit of that “Root Beer” magic. I saw a post somewhere that “Dry January starts with two Rolex GMT-Master II Root Beer models,” but for me, my project ended with one very amateur, but very satisfying, imitation Root Beer watch. It even had “126711 CHNR” on it, just like the real one I saw online for “17.865 €”. Mine, of course, wasn’t worth anywhere near that!
Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a fun challenge, and I learned a lot. Plus, now I have a one-of-a-kind watch that tells a story. A story of late nights, a few choice words, and a whole lot of determination. It taught me that sometimes, the journey is more rewarding than the destination, especially when you’re creating something with your own two hands.
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