Entrepreneur Marco Bizzarri spotted wearing a Rolex

Marco Bizzarri, the entrepreneur who served as CEO and President of Gucci through one of the brand's most transformative decades, was recently spotted wearing a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II 'Pepsi' on a Jubilee bracelet — reference 126710BLRO, one of the most talked-about sports watch releases of the past decade.

The Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126710BLRO was introduced at Baselworld 2018 and immediately created a frenzy. Its significance lies in the bezel: for the first time since the transition to ceramic, Rolex engineered a two-tone Cerachrom insert in blue and red — the classic 'Pepsi' colour scheme — in a stainless steel case. Previous ceramic GMT bezels in steel had been limited to the black-and-blue 'Batman' configuration (ref. 116710BLNR), as bi-colour ceramic in steel presented considerable technical manufacturing challenges. The 126710BLRO also introduced Rolex's new-generation calibre 3285, a COSC-certified movement featuring the Chronergy escapement, a 70-hour power reserve, and improved resistance to magnetic fields. Case diameter holds at 40mm with a redesigned case architecture and broader, more legible hands.

The detail that collectors fixate on is the bracelet. Rolex paired the 126710BLRO exclusively with the five-link Jubilee bracelet — a departure from the Oyster bracelet that had been standard on GMT-Master models for years. The Jubilee on the 126710BLRO features an Oysterclasp with Easylink comfort extension and a glidelock system, making it both dressy and practical. That bracelet-bezel combination instantly became the defining aesthetic of the reference.

For Bizzarri, the choice resonates. A man who understands the interplay between heritage and modernity — the precise tension Gucci navigated under his leadership — the 'Pepsi' GMT-Master II is a watch that does exactly the same: it revives a colour scheme first seen in the 1950s Pan Am pilot era while deploying cutting-edge in-house manufacturing. It is a piece worn by collectors who know their history.

On the grey market, the Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLRO commands a significant premium over its retail price, reflecting persistent demand and constrained authorised dealer supply. It remains a benchmark reference in the current sports watch market.