Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Marco Bizzarri spotted wearing 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.