Two Rolex GMT-Master IIs. Both 40mm, both two-tone, both running the same Calibre 3285. From a distance, the Root Beer and the Guinness look nearly identical. Up close, the differences in gold type, bezel color, and bracelet construction put them in genuinely different territory.
The Rolex Root Beer vs Guinness debate comes up because these are still the only two two-tone GMT-Master IIs in production. You are not choosing between different sizes or different movements. You are choosing between two design identities that share the same case and diverge on almost every visible detail.
That choice got more interesting in 2026. With the steel Pepsi discontinued and gold prices pushing retail up, these two are now among the more sensible ways into a precious-metal GMT. This article covers the specs, the real differences, current 2026 pricing, and what each watch means as a purchase.
Rolex GMT-Master II “Root Beer” Overview (126711CHNR)
The Root Beer name stretches back to the early 1970s, when Rolex introduced the ref. 1675/3 as the first brown-toned two-tone GMT-Master. The warm brown bezel paired with stainless steel and yellow gold reminded collectors of the soft drink, and the nickname stuck. A second nickname, “Clint Eastwood,” followed after the actor wore the reference regularly on screen.
The lineage ran through the ref. 16753 in the 1980s and the ref. 16713 through the early 2000s. Both used yellow gold and aluminum bezels.
In 2018, Rolex reintroduced the concept with the ref. 126711CHNR and made two changes: yellow gold gave way to Everose (Rolex’s proprietary rose gold alloy), and the aluminum bezel became Cerachrom ceramic in brown and black. CHNR stands for Chocolat/Noir, French for chocolate brown and black.
The 126711CHNR is a current production reference on the Oyster bracelet only. There is no Jubilee configuration for it. The full Everose gold counterpart, ref. 126715CHNR, shares the same bezel and dial but is a separate, higher-priced reference.
Key Specifications:
- Reference Number: 126711CHNR
- Production Years: 2018 to present
- Case Size: 40mm
- Case Material: Oystersteel (904L) and 18k Everose gold
- Bezel: Bidirectional rotating Cerachrom ceramic, brown/black (CHNR), Everose gold frame and numeral fill
- Dial: Black
- Bracelet: Oyster, Oystersteel with Everose gold center links; Oysterlock clasp with 5mm Easylink
- Movement: Calibre 3285, automatic
- Power Reserve: Approximately 70 hours
- Water Resistance: 100m (330ft)
Rolex GMT-Master II “Guinness” Overview (126713GRNR)
The Guinness debuted at Watches and Wonders in April 2023 alongside its full yellow gold sibling, the ref. 126718GRNR. It carried two firsts: yellow gold returned to the GMT-Master II lineup after several years away, and a gray and black Cerachrom bezel appeared on a GMT-Master II for the first time.
The nickname situation is unsettled. Collectors use Guinness (the black and gold of the Irish stout), Zombie (the muted gray sector), and Bumblebee (yellow gold against black). All three refer to the same watch, ref. 126713GRNR, where GRNR stands for Gris/Noir, French for gray and black.
In secondary market listings the terms Guinness and Zombie are both used heavily, so search under both if you’re shopping.
The 126713GRNR is a current production reference on the Jubilee bracelet only. There is no Oyster option. It is the two-tone version in the GRNR family; the 126718GRNR is the full yellow gold piece.
Key Specifications:
- Reference Number: 126713GRNR
- Production Years: 2023 to present
- Case Size: 40mm
- Case Material: Oystersteel (904L) and 18k yellow gold
- Bezel: Bidirectional rotating Cerachrom ceramic, gray/black (GRNR), yellow gold frame and numeral fill
- Dial: Black
- Bracelet: Jubilee, Oystersteel with yellow gold center links; Jubileelock clasp with 5mm Easylink
- Movement: Calibre 3285, automatic
- Power Reserve: Approximately 70 hours
- Water Resistance: 100m (330ft)
Root Beer vs Guinness: The Real Differences
At a glance, the 126711CHNR and 126713GRNR share the same foundation. Case size, movement, dial layout, power reserve, and water resistance are identical. What separates them is not the core watch, but how each reference presents itself through material, color, and wear. The differences look subtle on paper, but they define how the watch reads on the wrist.
1. Gold Alloy
The first distinction is the tone of the gold, and it sets the character of each watch. The Root Beer uses Everose gold, Rolex’s proprietary rose gold alloy, which carries a softer, warmer tone. It appears on the bezel frame, crown, and the center links of the Oyster bracelet, and extends into the engraved bezel numerals.
Under direct light that warmth stays consistent and slightly muted, giving the watch an understated presence despite being two-tone.
Everose has one practical advantage worth knowing: Rolex adds a small amount of platinum to the alloy, which stops the pink tone from fading toward yellow over years of wear. A ten-year-old Everose piece should still read the same color as a new one.
Guinness takes the opposite approach with traditional 18k yellow gold. The same components are executed in a brighter, more saturated tone that reflects light harder. The bezel numerals follow that yellow gold fill, so the whole watch reads sharper at a glance. Side by side, the Root Beer feels subdued while the Guinness leans into a classic, high-contrast two-tone look. That split between warm and bright runs through much of the Rolex catalog, and we go deeper on how the two golds compare across the range in a separate guide.
2. Bezel Color
That difference in tone continues into the bezel, where each watch builds its own identity. The Root Beer pairs black with brown, a combination that is still unique within the GMT-Master II lineup. The brown section carries real depth in natural light and stays within the same warm palette as the Everose gold.
The Guinness uses a gray and black bezel that behaves more dynamically. In daylight the gray is clearly defined, but under indoor or dim lighting it shifts toward near-black. That variability gives the watch a changing presence depending on where you are.
3. Bracelet Construction
The bracelet choice changes how each watch sits and how it feels over a long day. The Root Beer comes on the Oyster bracelet, a three-link design with polished Everose center links and brushed steel outer links. It has a flatter, more rigid structure that holds its shape.
On larger wrists that creates a clean, balanced drape. On smaller wrists, the lack of flex is more noticeable.
The Guinness uses the Jubilee bracelet, a five-link design with smaller, more articulated links. The added flexibility lets it contour around the wrist more naturally, which matters more over extended wear and on slimmer wrists.
The Jubilee also carries a slightly dressier presence, drawn from its association with Rolex’s more formal models, while the Oyster keeps the Root Beer firmly in sport-watch territory. If the bracelet is the detail you keep circling back to, our Jubilee vs Oyster comparison weighs the two designs on their own terms.
4. Clasp
The bracelet difference carries through to the clasp, though both are equally secure. The Root Beer uses the Oysterlock clasp, a compact three-blade folding system that sits low on the wrist. It includes Rolex’s Easylink extension for a quick 5mm adjustment without tools.
The Guinness uses a concealed folding clasp built into the Jubilee, often called the Jubileelock. It blends into the bracelet for a more continuous look, but has a slightly wider footprint and sits more prominently. The difference is not in capability, only in how visible and integrated the clasp feels.
What Changed for These Watches in 2026
Two shifts in 2026 changed the context around both watches, even though the watches themselves are unchanged.
The steel Pepsi is gone. Rolex discontinued the stainless steel Pepsi (126710BLRO) and its white gold sibling (126719BLRO) at Watches and Wonders Geneva in spring 2026, leaving no red-bezel GMT in the current steel catalog.
Secondary prices on the discontinued Pepsi jumped well past $30,000. With the sportiest steel GMT off the menu, buyer attention has shifted toward the remaining GMTs still in production, including these two two-tone references. For a direct sense of how the departed steel model stacks up against the warmer two-tone, our Root Beer vs Pepsi breakdown lines them up side by side.
Gold pushed retail up. On June 1, 2026, Rolex raised prices across much of the catalog in response to climbing gold prices. The two-tone GMTs took roughly a 5% bump, with the 126711CHNR up about 5% and the 126713GRNR up around 4.9%.
Because both watches carry real gold in the case, bezel, and bracelet, their value has a floor that steel references don’t, and that floor has been rising with the metal.
Neither change makes one watch better than the other. They just explain why two-tone GMTs are getting a longer look in 2026 than they did a few years ago.
Root Beer vs Guinness: Price and Market Demand
Two-tone GMT-Master IIs sit at a structural premium over the steel references, at retail and on the secondary market. Both the Root Beer and the Guinness trade above retail for full-set examples, though the size of that premium differs.
Root Beer (126711CHNR)
Retail sits at roughly $17,400 in the US as of 2026. On the secondary market, full-set examples in good to mint condition run approximately $20,000 to $25,000, with unworn current-year pieces at the top of that band. The Root Beer has appreciated modestly over the past year, and its seven-year production history gives it a deep, steady pool of listings to price against.
Guinness (126713GRNR)
Retail is a touch higher at roughly $18,500. Full-set examples trade around $21,000 to $26,000 as of 2026. The Guinness has shown stronger short-term momentum than the Root Beer, helped by its shorter supply history and the renewed interest in yellow gold. The early post-launch hype has settled, and pricing now reflects real demand rather than novelty.
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What Moves Prices on Both
Full set (box and papers) is the single largest premium driver. Watch-only listings take a clear discount on both references. On Chrono24, the overwhelming majority of listings for both watches include box and papers, so a watch-only example stands out for the wrong reasons. How much that gap should sway you depends on the piece, and we lay out what a missing box and papers really costs you in a separate guide.
Warranty card year carries more weight on the Guinness, where a current card is expected. On the Root Beer, older cards are common and don’t automatically depress value.
Bracelet condition is the most frequent discount trigger: stretched links, polished-down gold center links, or visible wear on the bezel frame.
Liquidity edge goes to the Root Beer, with a deeper and more consistent secondary market. The Guinness shows stronger momentum but has fewer years of data behind it.
Market figures here reflect Chrono24 and WatchCharts data as of 2026 and move with gold prices, so treat them as a snapshot rather than a fixed number.
Side-by-Side Comparison (At a Glance)
| Specification | Root Beer (126711CHNR) | Guinness (126713GRNR) |
| Reference | 126711CHNR | 126713GRNR |
| Introduced | 2018 | 2023 |
| Case Size | 40mm | 40mm |
| Case Material | Oystersteel + 18k Everose gold | Oystersteel + 18k yellow gold |
| Gold Type | Everose (rose gold) | Yellow gold |
| Bezel Color | Brown/black (CHNR) | Gray/black (GRNR) |
| Bezel Frame Metal | Everose gold | Yellow gold |
| Numeral Fill | Everose gold | Yellow gold |
| Dial | Black | Black |
| Crystal | Sapphire with Cyclops | Sapphire with Cyclops |
| Bracelet | Oyster (3-link) | Jubilee (5-link) |
| Center Links | Everose gold | Yellow gold |
| Clasp | Oysterlock + 5mm Easylink | Jubileelock + 5mm Easylink |
| Movement | Calibre 3285 | Calibre 3285 |
| Power Reserve | ~70 hours | ~70 hours |
| Water Resistance | 100m | 100m |
| Lug Width | 20mm | 20mm |
| Approx. Retail (2026) | ~$17,400 | ~$18,500 |
| Secondary Market (2026) | ~$20,000 to $25,000 | ~$21,000 to $26,000 |
| Market History | 7 years | ~3 years |
Which Rolex GMT-Master II Should You Choose?
Both of these live inside a much larger Rolex range, so if you’re cross-shopping past the GMT, our broader Rolex buying guide is the wider map.
Choose the Root Beer (126711CHNR) if:
- You prefer Everose rose gold over yellow gold on the case and bracelet
- The Oyster bracelet’s firmer, sport-forward fit suits how you wear a watch
- You want a reference with a long track record and proven liquidity
- The brown and black bezel appeals as the most distinctive color in the current GMT lineup
- You already own yellow gold pieces and want a different metal tone
Choose the Guinness (126713GRNR) if:
- Traditional 18k yellow gold is the metal you want on your wrist
- The Jubilee bracelet’s flexibility and comfort matter more to you than a sportier fit
- A newer reference with strong momentum fits how you think about buying
- The gray and black bezel suits a cooler, more neutral palette
- You want the reference that brought yellow gold back to the GMT-Master II
Rolex Root Beer vs Guinness FAQ
Is the Rolex Guinness discontinued?
No. Both the Guinness (126713GRNR) and the Root Beer (126711CHNR) remain in current production as of 2026. The GMT that left the catalog in 2026 was the steel Pepsi, not either of these two-tone references.
Can I get the Root Beer on a Jubilee or the Guinness on an Oyster?
No. Each reference is locked to one bracelet: the Root Beer ships on the Oyster only, the Guinness on the Jubilee only. If bracelet style is your deciding factor, it comes bundled with the gold color, not as a separate choice.
Is the Root Beer or the Guinness the better investment?
Neither is a guaranteed appreciator, and buying a watch as an investment is its own risk. What both share is a gold-backed floor that steel GMTs lack, which has been rising with gold prices. The Root Beer offers deeper liquidity; the Guinness offers stronger recent momentum. Buy the one you want to wear first. It also helps to understand how well Rolex tends to hold its value before you frame either as an investment.
What’s the difference between the Guinness and the gold 126718GRNR? Same gray and black bezel, different case. The 126713GRNR is two-tone (steel and yellow gold) on a Jubilee. The 126718GRNR is full 18k yellow gold, which puts it in a much higher price bracket. The two-tone is the accessible entry to the GRNR look.
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Where to Buy Authentic Watches Online
There are a handful of legitimate online channels for buying either of these GMTs. Chrono24 is the largest global marketplace, with buyer protection and escrow on most listings. It has its own quirks worth knowing first, which we cover in our guide to buying on Chrono24 safely. eBay runs an Authenticity Guarantee program that inspects watches above a price threshold before they reach you.
Grailzee is an enthusiast-focused auction platform worth watching for full-set examples. For pricing research before you buy, WatchCharts tracks real secondary-market data on both references.
We also buy, sell, and trade luxury watches. The reason clients come to us instead of a big marketplace is what happens before the purchase. We send you a full tour video of the actual watch, not stock photos, along with honest condition notes on the bracelet, bezel, and card year.
You also talk directly with someone who has had the piece in hand, so you’re not buying blind off a listing.
That approach is reflected in our 4.9-star Google rating, which comes from buyers who wanted a real conversation before committing five figures.
If you want that kind of walkthrough on a specific Root Beer or Guinness, reach out and we’ll help you source one that matches the year, condition, and set you’re after.
Final Thoughts on Rolex Root Beer vs Guinness
When comparing the Rolex Root Beer vs Guinness, the core of the watch is the same. What separates them is entirely visible and tactile, from the tone of the gold to the bezel color and the way the bracelet sits on your wrist.
The Root Beer has the advantage of time. It is established, widely recognized, and backed by a resale market that behaves predictably. The Guinness is still defining its place, feels more modern in how it presents itself, and has the momentum of yellow gold’s return behind it.
Two tips before you buy either one. First, prioritize an unpolished example with tight bracelet links over a lower price, because bracelet wear is the hardest thing to fix and the easiest to spot on two-tone gold. Second, since both carry real gold, watch the metal market as much as the watch market.
The better choice still comes down to what you actually want to wear. And if you’re still mapping the wider family before you commit, our full GMT-Master II buying guide walks through every current reference.
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