The fruit of internal research and the development of a patented process, Rolex has mastered ceramics for making durable, virtually scratch-proof components whose colour is unaffected by ultraviolet rays. Thanks to its chemical composition, ceramic is inert and cannot corrode. Moreover, it can be highly polished for a long-lasting lustre.
The Swiss company particularly played a pioneering role in the development of special ceramics for making monobloc bezels and bezel inserts. The cutting-edge innovation debuted in 2005 on the Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II. Later named Cerachrom, it opened a new chapter in Rolex's industrial history as the brand established all the necessary facilities to completely and independently produce ceramic components.
One of the challenges was to give ceramic a dual-colour aesthetic that characterised the original GMT-Master from 1955. The professional tool watch featured an additional 24-hour hand with a triangular tip and a graduated rotatable bezel, whose insert was made from Plexiglas with the colours red and blue distinguishing the hours of day and night. By setting the bezel, the GMT-Master could simultaneously display a second time zone.
In 1959, Rolex replaced the Plexiglas with anodised aluminium, and the bezel insert was also fashioned in red and blue. Rolex's first watch with a ceramic bezel insert was a yellow gold GMT-Master II launched in 2005. In 1982, Rolex launched the GMT-Master II, whose new movement enabled the hour hand to b.