GMT BLNR, one month after

[Woooster]

It is a little bit more than one month now that I got my GMT BLNR. So it's time to make a review.

On the bright side :
- the design is superb, so often imitated but never overclassed. The balance of proportions, the quality of the materials : everything is great.
- accuracy is as good as expected
- comfort is so perfect that you forget you're wearing a watch

Not so good :
- the various positions of the winding botton are not so precise : sometimes you don't know were you sit exactly, and therefore which function you are about to activate
- I have already some few scratches on the bracelet. nothing serious so far, but what about after 10 or 20 years of daily sporting
- the blue hand is nice, but not very contrasted on the black dial : this makes it not immediately readable for frequent travellers.
- the winding button in normal position is not aligned !

[Matt748]

Short and to the point.
Are you keeping it? There are more negative comments than positive.

[sechsgang]

The polished links do scratch hilariously quickly...but it just helps me realize that its just something to be worn and worn all the time. It fits the Rolex...now my Pateks...ugh I do try to keep those scratch free...

[Woooster]

Originally Posted by Matt748

Short and to the point.
Are you keeping it? There are more negative comments than positive.

Of course I am keeping it. I love it ! (maybe I should have started with that !)

[Rashid.bk]

Cool review, but no pictures. Is is too ugly....


No, never get tired of seeing pictures, different people different perspective.
Let me give you hand for the folks that are wondering what a BLNR is.

[Cru Jones]

seems like the PCLs are you biggest gripe? if you can, try to relax about the PCLs....from my experience, they look much better once there are enough scratches that a fine haze/patina develops (i posted a pic of mine below).

or, just get the bracelet brushed?

[Rashid.bk]

^I concur. PCLs are my third favourite feature(1st Bi color bezel, 2nd GMT function).
Without the PCLs I'd second guess purchasing this watch at all, that's how much I like them. My buddy has an M serial GMT2c LN, one of the first generation with the ceramic bezel. He's not a wis nor has any particular interest in watches, just bought it because a family member recommended that it would be the last watch he would ever need to buy because it will never break.

His watch looks brand new staring at it from normal interaction distances, but if you pick it up in your own hands or take macro pictures, you think it was in a blender.....guess what though, a brushed bracelet shows just as much with it's finely brushed unidirectional surface, just not as sensitive.

[mailman]

Great pictures Rashid

Boy if some of you guys could see the polished part of the clasp on mine, you'd have a heart attack

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by mailman

Great pictures Rashid

Boy if some of you guys could see the polished part of the clasp on mine, you'd have a heart attack

I take so many pictures of my watch you'd think it was one of my children.
What I'm finding though is that taking so many pictures of my watch I've been able to capture a memory in "real" time. Looking at that picture I can now remember exactly what I was doing at that moment in time and that day....only with a picture of a watch.

Probably true regarding your clasp, but that is only of a person who is truly enjoying there watch, so good for you. These things weren't meant to be in a safe or worn indoors carefully at home....which is ironic since there's alway this talk about what is or isn't a tool watch or pcls this or that, but then the same demographic turns around and doesn't even want to get the watch wet.

Now lets see some pics OP or it didn't happen.

[Auerr]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

His watch looks brand new staring at it from normal interaction distances,

This.

People won't even notice the scratches from a normal distance. You only see them upclose.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

I take so many pictures of my watch you'd think it was one of my children.
What I'm finding though is that taking so many pictures of my watch I've been able to capture a memory in "real" time. Looking at that picture I can now remember exactly what I was doing at that moment in time and that day....only with a picture of a watch.

Probably true regarding your clasp, but that is only of a person who is truly enjoying there watch, so good for you. These things weren't meant to be in a safe or worn indoors carefully at home....which is ironic since there's alway this talk about what is or isn't a tool watch or pcls this or that, but then the same demographic turns around and doesn't even want to get the watch wet.

Now lets see some pics OP or it didn't happen.

Same goes for me in regards to the pictures When I look at the pics I can also tell you which watch I was wearing even if it isn't visible in the pics

Life's too short. I like to enjoy what I have while I'm here. If I find myself not using something, I get rid of it. In the big picture, they're only watches

[sea-dweller]

Nice photos!

[watchwatcher]

Thanks for the review. It is a great watch.

[Delawareguy]

scratches are good.... on a rolex, the impact causes a scratch, on most other watches, it would cause you to throw it in the trash.

[bobswatches]

The GMT BLNR is a nice choice.

[ct.matt]

I've had mine since April and the GMT hand is not only not easy to see at a glance, it's virtually impossible to see it when it's dark and the triangle is hovering above an hour marker. The lume is too weak and the positioning is awkward. I wish the lume was stronger + the triangle offset/retracted from the hour marker cups.

[AbsolutelyROLEX!]

Its a beautiful work of art, nothing like it
I hope i get one one day

[scombs263]

Great review. Thanks for sharing.

[blnrrolex]

Nice review and good observations. I agree with you on the polished links. More so, I wonder why the closing clasp which is a Rolex crown is polished underneath, because you need to use your fingernail to pull it up... thus scratching it further. I agree the watch should be used and scratches can give it a nicely worn look, but what if you only have scratches on the clasp lock area from normal usage and no other scratches. Hum...

[Alc]

Im tossed up between this watch and the Yacht Master with the blue face 116622, any input?

[Snoop_]

The Batman looks awesome on black Everest rubber band if you are worried about blemishes on your strap. I am getting one on my Sub no date 114060. Great review this is the next Rolex I want to get.

[TimeRookie]

Originally Posted by Alc

Im tossed up between this watch and the Yacht Master with the blue face 116622, any input?

I have the BLNR and a platinum Yachtmaster. Very similar to wear. The YM is slightly more comfortable. On a scale of 10 the YM is 10 and BLNR is 9.5. I find the YM to be a dressier watch. I wear it as my dress watch. The BLNR has been my daily driver since I got it. If I was to get one watch it would be the BLNR as I wear jeans and a sweatshirt 99% of the time. If I was dressed up for work, I would get the YM.

[rockmastermike]

Originally Posted by Alc

Im tossed up between this watch and the Yacht Master with the blue face 116622, any input?

For functionality, the BLNR gives the GMT complication but for looks, the 116622 is breathtaking on the wrist.

BLNR looks good, don't get me wrong, but is kinda "static" with the black dial...it is what it is, which is a great dress/tool watch.

The yachtmaster is stunning and vibrant, living and breathing on the wrist and (for me) a little more comfortable

[DaveJV]

yes, the age makes it look mature and refined. I like the way the gold looks on your watch.

[Secretariat]

Really love my BLNR.

[rnguyenn]

Originally Posted by Secretariat

Really love my BLNR.

x2

I noticed you put as a negative that the winding button/triple lock crown does not align perfectly. I spoke to the service center in Dallas regarding this the other day and it is not supposed to align perfectly. It often changes positions once you unscrew it to adjust the time but it is actually not meant to be aligned in any specific way. The only way you can get it aligned perfectly would be to force it or leave it untight, two things that you should not do. Or you could just get lucky and yours ends up aligning perfectly.. mines does not.

[ct.matt]

Originally Posted by rnguyenn

x2

I noticed you put as a negative that the winding button/triple lock crown does not align perfectly. I spoke to the service center in Dallas regarding this the other day and it is not supposed to align perfectly. It often changes positions once you unscrew it to adjust the time but it is actually not meant to be aligned in any specific way. The only way you can get it aligned perfectly would be to force it or leave it untight, two things that you should not do. Or you could just get lucky and yours ends up aligning perfectly.. mines does not.

A watchmaker could remove the stem from the crown and screw it onto the thread differently to see how it would then align once it's screwed down onto the tube. I think that's highly ocd, however:D

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[Snoop_]

GMT BLNR will be my next Rolex. I will use my brushed bracelet with glide lock from my SubC on the GMT. Not a fan of polished center link on the BLNR bracelet plus brushed bracelet is more resistant to scratches and can be adjusted for comfort.

[aczaja10]

BLNR was my first Rolex. I hated the day I noticed my first scratches on the pcl's. But, I now appreciate them. You will too. Each scratch tells a story and makes the watch special to you. Don't worry, they can be polished out when the watch is serviced. But, in time, you may not want to erase the story if your life. You might find the scratches grow on you like they have on me. The patina of your life. Truly special. Embrace it.

[Daryl]

Originally Posted by Alc

Im tossed up between this watch and the Yacht Master with the blue face 116622, any input?

i have a BLNR and Im interested on the YM with blue dial