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Politician Ralph Recto spotted wearing Rolex

Philippine politician and former Finance Secretary Ralph Recto was recently photographed wearing a Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLRO, the steel-cased 'Pepsi' variant that remains one of the most coveted references in the modern Rolex catalogue. For a man who navigates the dual time zones of domestic politics and international economic diplomacy, the choice of a dual-time-zone complication is anything but accidental.

The GMT-Master II 126710BLRO was unveiled at Baselworld 2018 and immediately sent the collector world into a frenzy. It was the first Oystersteel GMT-Master to carry the red-and-blue 'Pepsi' Cerachrom bezel in the modern ceramic era — a combination previously reserved for the 18k white gold reference 116719BLRO since 2014. The watch runs on Rolex's Calibre 3285, a movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, Paraflex shock absorbers, and a 70-hour power reserve — a meaningful upgrade over the outgoing 3186 it replaced. The bidirectional 24-hour bezel allows independent setting of a third time zone, and the case measures 40mm in Oystersteel with a Jubilee bracelet, the latter detail being another first for a steel GMT-Master at launch.

From a collector standpoint, the 126710BLRO occupies a near-mythical position. Demand has consistently outpaced supply since release, and waitlists at authorized dealers have stretched for years. The Jubilee bracelet pairing — considered more elegant than the traditional Oyster — drew initial controversy but has since been embraced as the definitive configuration. The reference routinely appears on 'holy trinity' lists of modern Rolex sports references alongside the Daytona and Submariner.

Recto, a long-serving senator and the current Secretary of Finance of the Philippines, is no stranger to high-stakes rooms — having steered the country's tax reform legislation and fiscal policy through multiple administrations. Wearing a watch associated with aviation pioneers, business executives, and world travelers signals both status and functional taste rather than ostentatious luxury.

At retail, the 126710BLRO lists at approximately $10,800 USD, though its grey-market price tells a very different story. Secondary market values have stabilized somewhat from their pandemic-era peaks but continue to command a significant premium, reflecting a watch that the market simply refuses to discount.