Rolex GMT-Master II 126718GRNR: Full Yellow Gold on Jubilee
The 126718GRNR is Rolex going full gold on the GMT-Master II and pairing it with the two-tone grey and black Cerachrom bezel that gives the reference its name. GRNR stands for grey and noir, the French word for black, and that subtle two-tone insert is what keeps a watch made almost entirely of 18k yellow gold from tipping into costume territory. We think it's one of the more interesting modern gold Rolexes, and the reactions we get showing it to people back that up.
The 126718GRNR inside its Rolex presentation box
Table of Contents
Case Dimensions and Weight
The case measures 40mm in diameter with an official thickness of 11.9mm and a lug-to-lug of roughly 48mm per Rolex specifications. Our own measurements at Watches Off 5th came in slightly different: 12.3mm thick and exactly 49mm lug to lug. Take those as reference only. Calipers pick up the bezel edge and clasp tolerances vary, but they give a more wrist-accurate picture than Rolex's published figures.
Digital calipers confirming the 49mm lug-to-lug measurement at Watches Off 5th
Fully dressed in 18k yellow gold, the watch weighs 226 grams, exactly half a pound on the wrist. That kind of mass is part of the experience with a full gold sport Rolex, and you feel it the moment you strap in.
The 126718GRNR on a scale registering 226 grams of 18k yellow gold
The GRNR Cerachrom Bezel
The GRNR Cerachrom insert is the piece that makes this reference work. Two-tone grey and black in a ceramic that Rolex fires as a single piece, it tones the watch down just enough while adding visual contrast to an all-yellow-gold case and bracelet. We think it's one of the more important updates to the GMT line in recent years: a sleeker, more refined read on a bezel pattern Rolex has produced in plenty of colorways before.
Bezel detail showing the grey and black two-tone Cerachrom insert with engraved 24-hour scale
You still get the full GMT-Master II functionality: a bidirectional 24-hour bezel that tracks a third time zone when combined with the independent GMT hand and the main hour hand.
Black Dial and Yellow Gold GMT Hand
The dial is glossy black with Rolex's Chromalight display, which glows a long-lasting blue in low light. Against that black dial, the yellow gold 24-hour GMT hand pops cleanly against it. That matters because the GMT hand is the one feature of this watch you're reading constantly if you actually use the complication.
Dial close-up highlighting the yellow gold GMT hand against the gloss black dial
The crown is Rolex's Triplock triple-gasket screw-down system, giving the watch 100 meters of water resistance. That's standard sport Rolex territory, which means this is a gold watch you can wear in a pool without thinking about it.
Side profile revealing the Triplock screw-down crown and 18k yellow gold case flank
18k Yellow Gold Jubilee Bracelet
Rolex only offers the 126718GRNR on the 18k yellow gold Jubilee, the five-piece link bracelet originally introduced for the Datejust's 25th anniversary. On a gold GMT-Master II, it shifts the watch toward dressier territory than the same reference on an Oyster would. The five-link construction drapes closer to the wrist and catches light differently than the three-link Oyster.
Jubilee bracelet detail showing the five-piece link construction in 18k yellow gold
The clasp is the folding Oysterlock with Rolex's Easylink 5mm comfort extension, which lets you pop a few millimeters of additional length without tools. Useful in summer or after a long meal.
Oysterlock clasp open with the Easylink 5mm comfort extension deployed
Caliber 3285 Movement
Inside is the Rolex caliber 3285, the same automatic GMT movement that powers the current generation across the GMT-Master II range. Specs: roughly 70 hours of power reserve, independent GMT hour hand, instantaneous date change at midnight. It's one of Rolex's most refined and reliable modern calibers, with the Chronergy escapement and Paraflex shock absorbers that carry through the rest of the current lineup.
New to GMT watches? Here's our step-by-step guide on how to set the Rolex GMT.
On the Wrist
The 126718GRNR carries real presence without tipping into costume. The gold shines, but the GRNR bezel keeps the top of the watch visually grounded. At 226 grams it's substantial, and the Jubilee's flexibility distributes that weight better than a stiffer bracelet would.
Wrist shot showing how the 126718GRNR wears on the arm with the Jubilee bracelet draping
A full gold GMT is a different statement than a two-tone or a steel sports Rolex. With gold prices where they are in 2026, a piece like this carries real material value alongside the design: you're paying for the watch and for the metal it's made of.
Full profile of the 126718GRNR on the yellow gold Jubilee
Frequently Asked Questions
What does GRNR stand for?
GRNR is the bezel code for the grey and black two-tone Cerachrom insert on this GMT-Master II. The letters come from French: G for grey and NR for noir (black). Rolex uses the same naming convention across the GMT range, with codes like BLRO for blue/red (Pepsi) and VTNR for green/black (Sprite).
When was the 126718GRNR released?
Rolex introduced the 126718GRNR at Watches and Wonders 2024 as the first full yellow gold GMT-Master II with the grey and black Cerachrom bezel on a Jubilee bracelet.
Can I wear the 126718GRNR in water?
Yes. The Triplock screw-down crown and screw-down caseback give the watch 100 meters of water resistance — fine for swimming, showering, and snorkeling.
Does the 126718GRNR come on an Oyster bracelet?
No. Rolex currently offers the yellow gold 126718GRNR on the Jubilee bracelet only. If you want an Oyster bracelet in full yellow gold, you're looking at the 126718GRNR's Oyster-bracelet siblings in the 126718 family with different bezel configurations.
What's the power reserve on the caliber 3285?
Approximately 70 hours. Set it down on a Friday night and it'll still be running Monday morning.
Interested?
We have the 126718GRNR in inventory right now. If this specific piece isn't the one for you, we carry the full GMT-Master II lineup — steel, two-tone, and gold, across the current bezel colorways.