Watch Paparazzi

Actor Orlando Bloom spotted wearing Rolex

Orlando Bloom was photographed at what appears to be a film industry evening event, dressed in a black suit with an open-collar white shirt — and on his wrist, the unmistakable flash of a red-and-blue ceramic bezel that only one watch in the world produces: the Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLRO, universally known as the 'Pepsi.'

The reference 126710BLRO debuted at Baselworld 2018 and immediately became one of the most talked-about Rolex releases in years. For the first time, Rolex paired the bi-colour Cerachrom insert — engineered from a single block of ceramic and fired to produce distinctly red and blue halves — with an Oystersteel case. Previously, the Pepsi bezel had been restricted to the white-gold 116719BLRO since 2014. The 2018 steel version also revived the Jubilee bracelet for the GMT-Master II family, a callback to early references 1675 and 16750. The case measures 40 mm and houses the in-house Calibre 3285, a movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and GMT function allowing independent setting of the hour hand for a second time zone.

Among collectors, the 126710BLRO occupies rarefied air. At launch it carried a list price under $10,000, yet secondary-market demand immediately pushed it to multiples of retail. It is considered a 'Holy Trinity' Rolex alongside the Daytona and the Sky-Dweller in terms of waitlist difficulty at authorised dealers. The Jubilee bracelet execution — with its five-link construction and brushed-and-polished finishing — is widely regarded as one of the most refined metal bracelets Rolex produces.

Bloom, best known for his roles in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, has demonstrated consistent taste in horology that leans toward robust, tool-oriented sport watches rather than dress pieces. The GMT-Master II fits that profile precisely: it is a pilot's and traveller's instrument first, a status symbol second.

On the grey market the 126710BLRO has softened from its post-2018 peak but continues to trade well above retail. Current secondary pricing hovers in the $16,000–$19,000 range depending on condition and papers, making it one of the more accessible 'unicorn' Rolex references for serious buyers.