At 41Watch, we often look at wrists but rarely at the stars. It’s time for us to make up for it by taking a moment to admire the superb Rolex GMT-Master II in one of its most exclusive versions: the reference 126719BLRO with its meteorite dial.
Initially presented at Baselworld in 2019, the GMT-Master II collection is available for the first time with a truly extra-terrestrial dial. Produced on a much more confidential scale than other references, this 18ct white gold version is not the only one to feature this type of dial. Historically, they can also be found on the Daytona 116519 from the 2000s and on the Day-Date white gold models of modern collections.
The reference 126719BRO "Pepsi" in white gold
Rolex does not claim to be the pioneer in using this exclusive material; several prestigious watchmakers have also ventured into making their own meteorite dials. Among them, we can notably cite Zenith, Jaquet Droz, Parmigiani Fleurier, and Piaget with its limited edition Altiplano in rose gold presented in 2019.
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The Piaget Altiplano "Meteorite" dial
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Close-up of a Meteorite slice
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While the mystery surrounding the origin of these minerals contributes to their poetic allure, we know that these extra-terrestrial stones formed several billion years ago. They are generally the result of collisions between asteroids, most of which are located between Mars and Jupiter. Others come from much farther away, sometimes even beyond our solar system. Historically, these stones have always held a special place within various civilizations, which attributed qualities of eternity or power to them by converting them into weapons or precious objects. A meteorite iron dagger was even discovered in the sarcophagus of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
Different types of meteorites are recognized today, but it is primarily siderites that are used to make watch dials. Composed of iron and nickel, these "pieces of space" exhibit unique aesthetic patterns once transformed. Needle-shaped crystallization, a phenomenon known as "Thomson structures" or "Widmanstätten patterns," results from the material's rapid cooling.
Machined in a laboratory, creating a dial of this type requires exceptional expertise throughout various stages. The initial block is cut, polished, and then cleaned. Naturally light gray with steel reflections, the stone can be darkened through a galvanizing process, as Omega did with its limited edition Apollo-Soyuz 35th anniversary.
The Omega Speedmaster Apollo Soyuz "35th Anniversary" © @watchguru_
Contrary to what one might think, this stone from space is not that rare on Earth, and the Speedmaster is still available with this type of dial in its modern "Grey Side of the Moon" version.
A mineral by nature, you will never see the same material irregularities twice: each piece thus becomes unique. This is also true for mother-of-pearl, for example, but the mysterious and poetic dimension of this celestial mineral remains truly special. Tied both to space and time, this stone that has traveled through our solar system instantly adds extra soul to the case that houses it. It’s now up to you to make your choice—first in terms of the model... and then the dial.
New references in the Rolex catalog
In addition to reference 126719BLRO, Rolex introduced three new versions of its famous Cosmograph Daytona with a meteorite dial in April 2021: a white gold version with a black bezel on an Oysterflex bracelet (reference 116519LN), a full yellow gold version (reference 116508), and a full Everose gold version (reference 116505)
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The reference 116519LN meteorite dial ©Rolex
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The reference 116508 meteorite dial ©Rolex
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