If you’ve spent time on watch forums or Instagram, you’ve seen the Batman vs Batgirl debate. Both are GMT-Master II watches with the same black-and-blue Cerachrom bezel.
What collectors argue about is the bracelet, Oyster or Jubilee, and which one belongs on a tool watch.
That argument got more interesting in 2026. Rolex discontinued the steel Pepsi (ref. 126710BLRO) at Watches & Wonders on April 14, 2026, which left the Batman as the only modern blue-bezel steel GMT-Master II in production.
Demand shifted overnight, and the Oyster vs Jubilee question is now sitting in front of buyers who used to be cross-shopping a Pepsi.
This guide breaks down the differences in real terms: bracelet, movement, current secondary market pricing, and what to look at on the wrist before you commit. By the end, you should know which configuration belongs to you.
A Quick Note on the Names
Before we dig in, this part trips up most buyers and the search results don’t help.
Batman and Batgirl are nicknames for the same watch with two different bracelets. Rolex has never used either name officially. The “Batman” is the GMT-Master II with the black-and-blue bezel on an Oyster bracelet. The “Batgirl” is the same watch on a Jubilee bracelet. That’s the whole distinction.
What confuses people is the reference numbers. There are three configurations in play:
- 116710BLNR — the original Batman, Oyster bracelet, Caliber 3186 movement. Produced 2013 to 2019, now discontinued.
- 126710BLNR on Jubilee — the Batgirl, launched 2019, Caliber 3285. Still in production.
- 126710BLNR on Oyster — the modern Batman, added in 2021 when Rolex quietly brought the Oyster bracelet back as an option, same Caliber 3285. Still in production.
So when someone says “I want a Batman,” the next question is which one: the discontinued first-generation 116710BLNR, or the current 126710BLNR on Oyster. The Batgirl only ever refers to the 126710BLNR on Jubilee.
Rolex Batman Overview (Ref. 116710BLNR)
The original Batman debuted at Baselworld 2013 and was the first watch in the world to feature a two-tone Cerachrom bezel. That sounds like marketing language, but it was a real manufacturing breakthrough.
Bonding two different colored ceramic compounds in a single insert without the colors bleeding is genuinely difficult, and the technique set the template for every multi-color ceramic bezel Rolex has produced since, including the Pepsi and Sprite.
Collectors nicknamed it “Batman” almost immediately for the bezel’s resemblance to the superhero’s costume. Six years of production, an Oyster bracelet only, and a movement (the Caliber 3186) that was reliable but starting to look old next to Rolex’s newer in-house calibers. When it was discontinued in 2019, secondary market prices jumped almost overnight.
Key Features:
- Reference: 116710BLNR
- Case: 40mm Oystersteel, more angular and squared-off lugs than the later generation
- Bezel: Bi-color black-and-blue Cerachrom, 24-hour GMT
- Bracelet: Oyster, three-link, brushed outer links with polished center links
- Movement: Caliber 3186, 48-hour power reserve
- Lume: Chromalight blue glow
- Functions: GMT hand, date with Cyclops lens
- Water resistance: 100m / 330ft
- Production: 2013–2019, discontinued
Rolex Batgirl Overview (Ref. 126710BLNR on Jubilee)
The Batgirl arrived in 2019 as the headline change in the next-generation GMT-Master II. Same case diameter at 40mm, but Rolex slimmed the lugs and softened the case profile so the watch wears a touch more rounded and less angular than the 116710BLNR.
Pair that with the new five-link Jubilee bracelet, the first Jubilee on a steel GMT-Master II in roughly 60 years, and the watch suddenly looked like a different animal even though most of the spec sheet read the same.
The “Batgirl” name was a collector invention, used to distinguish the Jubilee version from the Oyster Batman. Rolex doesn’t recognize it. There’s also a small dial tell that helps you spot a current-generation BLNR fast: between “Swiss” and “Made” at 6 o’clock, you’ll see a tiny Rolex coronet. The 116710BLNR doesn’t have it.
Key Features:
- Reference: 126710BLNR
- Case: 40mm Oystersteel, slimmer lugs, more rounded profile than the 116710BLNR
- Bezel: Black-and-blue Cerachrom, 24-hour GMT
- Bracelet: Jubilee, five-link, with Oysterlock safety clasp and Easylink 5mm extension
- Movement: Caliber 3285, 70-hour power reserve, Chronergy escapement
- Lume: Chromalight blue glow
- Functions: GMT hand, date with Cyclops lens
- Water resistance: 100m / 330ft
- Production: 2019–present, still in production
What’s Different on the Wrist
Strip away the marketing and the differences come down to four things: the bracelet, the movement, the case proportions, and what each one signals when you wear it.
The Bracelet
The bracelet is the whole reason these nicknames exist, so it gets covered first.
The Oyster bracelet on the Batman is three flat links (brushed outers and polished center) with the Oysterlock folding clasp and the Easylink 5mm extension. It feels solid, anchored, and slightly heavier on the wrist. The polished center links pick up hairline scratches faster than collectors usually expect, and the brushed outers do most of the work in hiding daily wear.
The Jubilee bracelet on the Batgirl is five smaller links with the same Oysterlock clasp. The smaller link count and tighter articulation makes it noticeably more flexible.
It drapes the wrist instead of sitting on top of it, and the broken-up surface area hides hairline scratches and fingerprints far better than the Oyster does. Most owners report it as more comfortable for long-haul travel, which, given the GMT-Master II’s actual purpose, is a fair point.
The trade-off is character. The Oyster is the historical sport-watch bracelet, what a tool watch is supposed to wear. The Jubilee was traditionally a Datejust bracelet, and some collectors feel it softens the GMT-Master II too much for a watch that started as a pilot’s instrument. Neither view is wrong. It depends on what you want at a glance. We break down Jubilee vs Oyster in detail across the Rolex lineup if you want the wider context.
The Movement
Under the case back, the Caliber 3186 in the 116710BLNR is a Parachrom-hairspring movement with a 48-hour power reserve. Reliable, COSC-certified, and well-proven, but it dates to 2007 and is a generation behind the rest of the modern Rolex movement lineup.
The Caliber 3285 in the 126710BLNR brings the power reserve to 70 hours, adds the Chronergy escapement for better efficiency, and is rated to Rolex’s tighter Superlative Chronometer spec of -2/+2 seconds per day.
In practical terms, the 70-hour reserve means you can take it off Friday night and it’s still running when you put it back on Monday morning. The 3186’s 48 hours doesn’t make it through a full weekend.
This is the one place where the older Batman is genuinely behind. If you wear your watch daily it doesn’t matter, but if you rotate between several pieces, the longer reserve is real quality of life.
The Case Proportions
Both watches are 40mm, but they don’t wear identically.
The 116710BLNR has thicker, more angular lugs. The case feels squared-off and substantial. The 126710BLNR was redesigned with slimmer lug taper and a slightly more rounded profile, which is why side-by-side comparisons make the modern reference look a touch slimmer even though the diameter hasn’t changed.
On smaller wrists, the 126710BLNR sits a little easier. On bigger wrists, some collectors prefer the chunkier presence of the older case. There’s also a weight difference of a few grams in favor of the older case, which most people don’t notice but which some long-term owners say makes the 116710BLNR feel more anchored on a workday wrist.
What Each One Signals
The Batman on Oyster reads as a tool watch with bezel color. It works with jeans, a polo, or a beat-up canvas strap, and the brushed outer links shrug off bumps and hairlines without telegraphing them.
The Batgirl on Jubilee reads as a sport-dress hybrid. It still looks correct under a cuff, and the broken-up bracelet finish reflects light differently. There’s a quiet jewelry quality to it that the Oyster doesn’t have, which is why it tends to win for buyers who want one watch that genuinely covers both casual and dressed-up settings.
Neither signal is better. They’re different jobs.
Rolex Batman vs Batgirl Price in 2026
This is where most buyers want a real number, so here it is.
Rolex’s official retail price for the 126710BLNR after the January 2026 adjustment sits around $11,800 to $12,000, identical for the Oyster and Jubilee versions. That’s the sticker. Authorized dealer availability is essentially zero for most buyers, which is why secondary market pricing is the number that matters. We cover Rolex retail vs grey-market pricing across the lineup in a dedicated breakdown.
Current 2026 secondary market ranges, based on Chrono24 listings, eBay Authenticity Guarantee transactions, and WatchCharts data:
- 116710BLNR (discontinued Batman, Oyster): roughly $14,000 to $17,000 depending on year, condition, and box-and-papers status. The full-set premium is real. A bare watch trades several thousand below a complete set.
- 126710BLNR Batman (modern, Oyster): roughly $16,000 to $20,000.
- 126710BLNR Batgirl (modern, Jubilee): roughly $16,000 to $20,000. The Jubilee typically commands a small premium over the Oyster, though the gap fluctuates.
Two market factors are worth knowing about right now.
First, the Pepsi discontinuation in April 2026 pulled some buyer attention back toward the Batman as the only steel blue-bezel GMT-Master II still being made. That’s putting upward pressure on the modern 126710BLNR pricing on both bracelets.
Second, the older 116710BLNR has a fixed supply since it’s discontinued, which means clean examples with original surfaces and full sets are quietly getting harder to find at the lower end of that range.
Discontinued doesn’t automatically mean the price keeps climbing. The 116710BLNR has appreciated about 6% over the past year per WatchCharts, which is below the broader Rolex GMT-Master Index. It’s stable, but it’s not a Pepsi-style spike. We break down how the Batman compares to the Pepsi in a separate guide if you’re weighing both.
Quick Comparison
Three configurations, one bezel. Here’s how they line up side by side, with the spec differences and current 2026 pricing.
| Feature | Batman 116710BLNR | Batman 126710BLNR (Oyster) | Batgirl 126710BLNR (Jubilee) |
| Production | 2013–2019, discontinued | 2021–present | 2019–present |
| Bracelet | Oyster, three-link | Oyster, three-link | Jubilee, five-link |
| Movement | Caliber 3186 | Caliber 3285 | Caliber 3285 |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 70 hours | 70 hours |
| Case profile | Thicker, more angular lugs | Slimmer lug taper | Slimmer lug taper |
| Dial tell at 6 o’clock | “Swiss Made” only | Coronet between “Swiss” and “Made” | Coronet between “Swiss” and “Made” |
| Retail (2026) | N/A — secondary only | ~$11,800–$12,000 | ~$11,800–$12,000 |
| Secondary market (2026) | $14K–$17K | $16K–$20K | $16K–$20K |
This is the part where most comparison articles cop out. Here’s a real answer.
Choose the Batman (Oyster, either reference) if:
- You want a sport watch that looks like a sport watch. The Oyster is the historically correct pairing for the GMT-Master II and reads as a tool watch in any setting.
- You wear the watch daily and don’t mind the brushed surfaces showing honest wear over time.
- You want the option to dress it up later. The Oyster handles a NATO, a leather strap, or a rubber strap better than the Jubilee, which doesn’t really come off the bracelet.
Choose the discontinued 116710BLNR specifically if:
- You care about owning the original first-generation Batman with the older case profile and the Caliber 3186. Some collectors value the chunkier case feel on the wrist.
- You want a slightly lower entry price on a Batman, accepting that the movement is a generation behind.
- You’re comfortable buying pre-owned from a reputable seller and value original surfaces over fresh-from-AD condition.
Choose the Batgirl (Jubilee) if:
- All-day wrist comfort is your priority. The Jubilee’s articulation makes a real difference on long flights and 12-hour days.
- The watch needs to work under a dress shirt without looking out of place. The Jubilee handles formal settings the Oyster doesn’t.
- You like that the bracelet hides scratches and fingerprints. If you’re hard on your watches, this matters.
If you’re cross-shopping these for a first Rolex sport watch, the safest bet is the modern 126710BLNR on whichever bracelet you prefer wearing. You get the better movement, the more refined case profile, and current production support. Our full GMT-Master II buying guide covers the wider lineup if you want the cluster view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Batgirl a women’s watch?
No, the Batgirl is a 40mm GMT-Master II marketed by Rolex as a unisex sport watch. It’s the same case as the Batman, just on a different bracelet.
The “girl” in the nickname refers to the Jubilee bracelet’s slightly dressier appearance, not the gender of the wearer. Plenty of men wear the Batgirl as their daily watch, and Rolex doesn’t market the GMT-Master II as gendered in either direction.
Will the 116710BLNR keep going up in price?
Probably not at the rate some collectors hope, and certainly not on the Pepsi’s trajectory. Discontinued doesn’t automatically mean rocket-fuel appreciation.
The 116710BLNR has been climbing modestly, and that’s likely to continue as supply tightens, but it’s now a 12-year-old reference with a previous-generation movement. Buyers paying near-retail premiums on a 116710BLNR today are paying for the Oyster bracelet and the original-generation feel, not for a guaranteed appreciation curve.
If price growth is the priority, the discontinued Pepsi is the model that ran the playbook this article’s about. The Batman is steadier. We dig into which Rolex models actually hold value over time if that’s the lens you’re buying through.
Can you still buy a new Batman from Rolex?
Technically yes, but practically no. The 126710BLNR on Oyster is still in production, and authorized dealers carry it in their catalog. In practice, getting allocated one as a walk-in buyer is nearly impossible without an existing relationship. Most buyers end up on the secondary market, paying somewhere in the $16,000 to $20,000 range for a current-production piece. Our pre-owned Rolex buying guide covers what to check on any reference before you commit.
Why does the Batgirl have a Jubilee Bracelet on a tool watch?
Because the Jubilee was on early GMT-Masters in the 1950s and 1960s, so the 2019 reintroduction was a revival, not a departure. Rolex hadn’t paired a steel GMT-Master with a Jubilee in roughly 60 years, which is why it surprised so many collectors at the time.
There’s historical precedent on the GMT-Master line for both bracelet styles. The Jubilee was simply absent for a long enough stretch that newer collectors only associated it with the Datejust.
Where to Buy Authentic Watches Online
There are a handful of legitimate online channels for buying a Batman or Batgirl. Chrono24 is the largest secondary market for luxury watches with a buyer-protection escrow service, useful for comparing pricing across global sellers. We have a walkthrough on what to watch for on Chrono24 if it’s your first time using the platform.
eBay is workable specifically through their Authenticity Guarantee program, which routes high-value watches through a third-party authenticator before they ship. Grailzee runs auction-format sales and tends to have aggressive pricing if you’re patient.
There’s also a long tail of independent grey-market dealers and watch forums where private sales happen, though these require more legwork on the buyer’s end.
We also sell, buy, and trade luxury watches. The reason clients come to us instead of bidding on a marketplace listing is the layered communication before the purchase decision.
We put together tour videos of the watch you’re considering (not stock photos, not the model on Rolex’s website), walk through condition notes including the brushing on the lug edges and any bracelet stretch, and answer questions in real time from someone who has had the piece in hand. You’re not buying blind off a description.
That’s reflected in our 4.9-star Google rating, which comes from clients who appreciate that the whole conversation happens before the wire goes out, not after.
If you want that kind of walkthrough on a specific Batman or Batgirl (discontinued 116710BLNR, modern Oyster, or Jubilee) reach out and we’ll line up a few options that match what you’re after.
Browse our Rolex GMT-Master II selection. Authenticated, with full condition documentation, ready to ship worldwide.
Final Thoughts on Rolex Batman vs Batgirl
There’s no wrong choice here. Both wear the same bezel, both run on the same architecture if you go modern, and the decision is bracelet, full stop. Bracelets are personal.
If you’re on the fence, picture the watch on your wrist three years from now with brushed marks where life has touched it. Does the Oyster’s tool-watch character look better with that wear, or does the Jubilee’s articulated drape soften it the way you’d want? The bracelet that ages the way you want is the one to buy.
One bonus tip: get the bracelet sized properly. The Oysterlock clasp’s Easylink 5mm extension is your friend in summer when wrists swell, and an under-sized bracelet is the fastest way to make a $17,000 watch feel uncomfortable.
