Rolex Submariner or Rolex GMT Master II? Diver or Traveler?

The Rolex Submariner or Rolex GMT Master II? Are they really different? What is the point of these two models? Is the GMT just the same case/ watch with an additional hand? These two are the most selling watches on our store and these are some legit questions, it’s time to answer those questions.

On the face of it they might look very similar, maybe even identical to some. At this level of craftsmanship and details the differences also very precise details, especially in a watch which has a professional lineage.

Talking about the most iconic watches in the world there is absolutely no chance you can miss a Rolex Submariner or Rolex GMT Master II. These are not just the watches which have maintained their iconic looks and signature aesthetics over the period of many decades, but they are both also historically rich with the Heritage and the prestige that you can talk all day about each of them.

To answer the questions, we are using two of the most sought-after configurations. A Black Submariner 41 and the Pepsi GMT Master II 40. There are other configurations available in these watches w.r.t colors and materials. To view the different models available you can check out the collection of Rolex Submariner and Rolex GMT Master II at caliber 24 by clicking here.

Timepieces With a Purpose:

Both the GMT master and the submariner were originally made to serve a profession. The GMT being a watch for Pilots & frequent flyers, enabling them to track a second time zone while the Submariner being a watch for professional divers to be able to time the dive.

Evolution Of Perfection:

Rolex have continued to evolve and improve these watches over the period of time where today both of these professional watches still stay true to their function and specifications they come with. The attributes of jewelry, Precision workmanship, quality and Aesthetics and in today’s world both are worn mostly by those with an eye for Perfection, Prestige and these jewelry characters, so while they are completely different watches for the experience on the wrist. They have many common attributes as they are both Rolex professional watches.

The OH-SO-Similar

When we say these watches share many common attributes it is easy to spot what’s so similar between the two for example

• Both watches share exactly the same dial shade and the glossy texture
• Both watches share exactly the same shape for hour markers and the dial layout
• Both watches come with a cyclops lens
• Both watches have a ceramic bezel that is virtually scratch resistant and will not lose its pristine
• Both watches come with a crown guard
• There’s a screw down Crown
• Both of these watches come with a printed crown on the dial between the text Swiss made just below the 6:00 hour marker
• Both watches also come with an oyster bracelet, (but the GMT does come with an option for a Jubilee bracelet whereas the Rolex Submariner only has one option of oyster bracelet)

The Differences: Rolex Submariner or Rolex GMT Master II

Bezel:

The biggest Visual and Practical difference in these watches come at the bezel. The Bezel on the Rolex Submariner is a unidirectional single-color bezel with a lume pip at 12’o clock position. There are 1-minute markers till 15 minutes and then 5-minute markers till the pip. The pip is used to time the dive duration, while the 1-minute markers are used to measure the decompression time after the dive.
The Bezel on the Rolex GMT Master II is a bidirectional dual tone with 24 markers to distinguish the full day cycle. The equal color split of the bezel is to gauge the night and day in the 24 hour cycle. If you want you can also enable a third time zone with the bezel.
In the modern day, you may not be using these watches for diving or second time zone. You can still use these bezels to time anything like a walk or cooking time if you fancy cooking. In a beautiful comment on one of our Youtube videos, the commentator said that he has both these watches but prefers the GMT as daily driver, because its bidirectional bezel makes it easy for him to time his cooking and baking. What a wonderful way to enjoy your timepiece.
We will be doing a thorough blog on bezels soon, stay tuned and subscribe to our newsletter.

Dial Color:

while the text below the 12:00 hour marker is the same on both of these watches the Submarina comes with four lines of text above 6:00 marker whereas on the GMT we have one less line of text.

Hands:

GMT naturally comes with a fourth hand in the dial which is there to read the second time zone. In the Pepsi configuration the GMT hand is red while in the Batman the GMT hand comes in blue. Speaking about the dial hands if you notice closely, the Mercedes hand on the Submariner is much more pointed and narrow at the tip as compared to the hand on the GMT and then while the minute hand is very slightly larger on the GMT the seconds hand is ever so slightly larger on the Submariner. The lume circle on the second hand of GMT Master is also slightly bigger than that of Submariner.

Case Size:

Rolex market the size of the Submariner as 41 mm and the GMT a 40 mm watch. It is worth comparing their sizes measured by our caliper to see and gauge the actual differences in the size. The size measured on the outer extremity of the bezel on the GMT is 40.3 MM and measuring the same on the Submariner the size is 40.6 mm so while Rolex Market the GMT as a 1 mm smaller watch than the sub, the difference on the face of the watch is only a third that is 0.3 mm. Another point to note here is that the new Submariner has its lugs trimmed down to give it a more conventional profile and looks, the GMT continues to remain in a relatively chunkier case which in the Rolex collector’s world is called a super case. This is a similar case with wider or let’s say broader case lugs as was the case with the ceramic 40 mm Submariner that this 41mm sub replaced.

Crystal/Dial size:

I’ve measured the size of the crystals on top on both of the dis washes and we have a 29.8 MM Crystal on the GMT whereas on the Submariner the crystal is 29.7mm. Allowing some human error in the readings it is safe to say that the size of the dial/crystal on both of these watches is more or less the same

Wearability/ lug-lug Height:

How the watch wears on the wrist is estimated from its Lug to Lug height and measuring the same on the GMT it is 47.8mm tall watch and measuring the Lug to Lug on the Submariner it is exactly the same and Returns the reading of 47.8 mm. Looking at the size of the case on both of these watches while they’re marketed as 1 mm different in their sizes for all intents and purposes and for how large or small they would wear on the wrist they are both more or less the same and you’d be pushed to find a difference in their sizes even when the Rolex Submariner or Rolex GMT Master II are side by side

Bracelet:

The bracelet is wider on the new Submariner 41 and it comes with a 21 mm wide bracelet as opposed to the GMT which has a more conventional 20 mm bracelet. The bracelet on the Submariner continues to remain wider and it tapers down to 16.5mm at the clasp versus the GMT which tapers down to 15.4mm at the clasp. The GMT also comes with polished Center links and brushed side links whereas in the Submarina we have a more tool form with the bracelet and the clasp that are all brushed and have no polished surfaces on the top side.

Clasp:

The width of the clasp on the sub is also wider and it is 18.6 mm versus the class width on the GMT which is 17.6 mm so due to a wider bracelet the Submariner does look more substantial and chunkier on the wrist compared to the GMT. Both watches come with flip lock safety clasp. Where the GMT comes with 5mm Easy Link micro adjustments, the Submariner takes the bracelet length adjustment to a whole new level and has a Glide-lock mechanism which makes it such a versatile watch that it can virtually be worn by two people with different race size without the use of any tools at all.

The use of Glide-lock system here is essentially for… you guessed it, divers!! The watch can be worn normally on the wrist and when you put on the diving suit/gear, you can increase the bracelet size by the glide-lock system so it can be worn over the body suit. 

Case Thickness:

The GMT Master measured on my caliber comes at 12mm as opposed to the Submariner which is 12.3mm, so the GMT is a slightly thinner watch of the two and the difference is hardly noticeable what’s interesting is that if you look at the thickness of the steel case below the bezel the Submariner case side is thinner by about half mm despite the fact that it is a 3 mm thicker watch of the two so what is it that makes the Submarina eventually a thicker watch it is the case-back that protrudes out further on the sub as compared to the GMT.

Lume:

In the dark both watches come with a lume that is bright and beautiful. The Lume on both of these watches is also very similar but as I pointed earlier while hour markers are the same on both of them if you look at the lume circle for the seconds hand the GMT has a larger size of the two. The Submariner on the Right comes with a loom pip on the bezel and the GMT on the left has a loomed fourth hand for the GMT. I left the watches in the dark for another 5 minutes so while GMT is a relatively newer watch the Submariner maintained the brightness better which is aligned with its diving function and specifications and Rolex rarely disappoint on the professional functionalities of their watches and so is the case here as well.

Wrist Presence:

On the wrist the 40mm GMT wears beautifully. With those dual tone bezel colors it fills the wrist beautifully and there’s no sense that it is a small or a large watch for my wrist rather it looks very proportionate. The shiny and the blingy elements on the GMT do make it more suitable watch for formal or dressier occasions and then the bracelet does complement the overall blingy elements of the watch. On the other hand the Submariner 41 wears the same on the wrist as the GMT, largely because it has the same lug to lug height. So to say that it wears larger is merely an untrue statement. That being said since it has a wider bracelet it does look chunkier and adds more heft to the wrist but not at the cost of wearability. The bracelet is also all brushed so the Submariner is rather more suited for casual and sporty occasions but that is not to say that it can’t be worn for a dressier occasion.

Conclusion:

Rolex GMT Master and the Submariner are two of the best Rolex professional models to exist in the flesh and if you compare these two based on their strengths or weaknesses, there really is no winner or loser here. They are both completely different watches in terms of their functionality and specifications. The GMT having the capability to measure the second time zone with a bidirectional Bezel. The Submariner with a water resistance of 300M to make it a professional diving watch with a loomed pip on a unidirectional bezel. In terms of their Aesthetics variability and sizes they are more or less the same with both offered with ceramic bezel and a case size that regardless of whether you call it a 40 mm or a 41 mm wears on the wrist exactly the same. The Submariner does look more substantial but that’s due to a wider bracelet and not really the case itself for all intents and purposes they are both amazing pieces that are completely different in terms of their looks and experience on the wrist.

You may use a phone for time and zones, you may use a dive computer for diving, so what’s the point of these watches. The Rolex Submariner & the GMT Master II don’t need a rechargeable power source, they are Oyster Perpetual which literally translates to “LASTS FOREVR”.

I don’t think you are reading this and comparing these to decide which one to buy. But to decide which one to buy first, Rolex Submariner or Rolex GMT Master II?

TL:DR