Watch Paparazzi

Actor Mel Gibson spotted wearing Rolex

The sighting captures Mel Gibson mid-scene, his left wrist clearly displaying a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II fitted with the unmistakable red-and-blue bicolor bezel — the configuration that earned this reference the enduring 'Pepsi' nickname among collectors and enthusiasts worldwide. The production context adds a layer of intrigue: Gibson is known for bringing personal wardrobe pieces to set, making it entirely plausible this is his own watch rather than a prop.

The watch is consistent with the Rolex GMT-Master II reference 16710, produced from 1989 through 2007. Powered by the Calibre 3185 — a self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve and independently adjustable 24-hour GMT hand — it was the definitive professional two-timezone tool watch of its era. The aluminum bezel insert, black matte dial with applied luminous hour markers, and Oyster bracelet with folding Oysterlock clasp are all clearly visible in the image and match the 16710 specification precisely. Case diameter sits at 40mm, relatively modest by contemporary standards, which lends the watch an elegant wrist presence even on a larger frame.

From a collector standpoint, the 16710 'Pepsi' occupies a sweet spot in the GMT-Master lineage. It predates the divisive switch to the all-ceramic 'Pepsi' bezel introduced on the ref. 126710BLRO in 2018, and many purists prefer the warmer, more analog aesthetic of the aluminum insert. Strong examples with original bracelet and box-and-papers regularly transact well above retail in secondary markets, and the reference shows no signs of cooling.

Mel Gibson's taste in watches has historically skewed toward functional, no-nonsense tool watches rather than dress pieces — a sensibility entirely consistent with the GMT-Master II's working-professional DNA. The GMT was designed for pilots, not boardrooms, and that utilitarian ethos aligns with Gibson's on-screen and off-screen persona across decades of action-oriented work.

On the grey market, clean examples of the ref. 16710 with Pepsi bezel have been trading in the $8,000–$13,000 range depending on condition and provenance, representing significant appreciation over the original retail price point. For a reference discontinued nearly two decades ago, that sustained demand reflects both the model's iconic status and Rolex's enduring brand equity in the pre-owned segment.