Rolex Nicknames: The Collector’s Guide

Love them or hate ’em, nicknames for Rolex watches are ubiquitous in the watch enthusiast space. Many collectors rely on Rolex nicknames rather than having to remember long reference numbers. Isn’t it easier to say “Batman” instead of “126710BLNR”? Plus, they’re also shorthand for a particular model, material, color, or style within one general collection. Again, it’s simpler to say “Batman” than to say “steel GMT-Master II with a blue and black bezel and Oyster bracelet.”

While most people know the nicknames for the most popular Rolex watches, unless you’re steeped in Rolex collecting culture, it can be hard to keep up with the dozens of Rolex watch nicknames out there. So, we’ve compiled your go-to guide to Rolex nicknames, which we’ll continue to update as new ones come up.

Scroll on through to see how many you recognize.

GMT-Master Nicknames

Most GMT-Master watches have bi-colored bezels, which makes them easy to spot among the various Rolex models. These eye-catching bezel colors have paved the way for some of the most well-known Rolex nicknames.

Rolex Pepsi

A Rolex Pepsi is any GMT-Master watch with a blue and red bezel. The very first Rolex GMT-Master watch that debuted in 1955 featured a blue and red Pepsi bezel. Most recently, Rolex offered the famed colorway on the steel GMT-Master II ref. 126710BLRO and white gold ref. 126719BLRO, both of which were part of the 2026 discontinued Rolex lineup.

A Rolex Pepsi is also known as a BLRO, which is short for Bleu Rouge or Blue Red in French.

Rolex Pepsi References

• GMT-Master 6542
• GMT-Master 1675
• GMT-Master 16750
• GMT-Master 16700
• GMT-Master II 16710
• GMT-Master II 116719
• GMT-Master II 126710
• GMT-Master II 126719

Rolex Superman/Meteorite Pepsi

The Rolex Superman is the nickname given to the white gold GMT-Master II ref. 126719BLRO with a meteorite dial and red and blue Pepsi bezel. Introduced in 2019, it was the first GMT-Master II to feature a meteorite dial. The watch is also commonly known as the Meteorite Pepsi, although the Superman nickname plays on both the red and blue colorway and the dial’s extraterrestrial origins.

Rolex Pussy Galore 

A Rolex Pussy Galore is the nickname given to the GMT-Master ref. 6542 (the first GMT-Master produced). The name is taken from the character played by Honor Blackman who wore the watch in the James Bond film Goldfinger (1964).

Rolex Batman and Batgirl

A Rolex Batman is any GMT-Master II watch with a black and blue bezel and an Oyster bracelet. On the other hand, a Rolex Batgirl is a GMT-Master II watch with a blue and black bezel and a Jubilee bracelet.

The original GMT-Master II ref. 116710BLNR debuted in 2013 exclusively on an Oyster bracelet. When Rolex replaced it with the ref. 126710BLNR in 2019, the new model initially came only on a Jubilee bracelet, prompting collectors to nickname it the Batgirl. Rolex added the Oyster bracelet option to the ref. 126710BLNR in 2021, and both versions remain available today.

Rolex Batman and Batgirl watches are also known as BLNR, which is short for Bleu Noir or Blue Black in French.

Rolex Batman/Batgirl References

• GMT-Master II 116710 (Batman only)
• GMT-Master II 126710 (Both Batman and Batgirl)

Rolex Root Beer

A Rolex Root Beer is any GMT-Master watch with brown in its bezel. Vintage GMT-Master Root Beer watches were fashioned from yellow gold or steel/yellow gold and featured brown and gold bezels. Modern GMT-Master II Root Beer watches are crafted from Everose gold or a combination of Oystersteel and Everose gold, and feature black and brown bezels.

Rolex Root Beer References

• GMT-Master 6542/8
• GMT-Master 1675/3, 1675/8
• GMT-Master 16753, 16758
• GMT-Master II 16713, 16718
• GMT-Master II 126711CHNR, 126715CHNR

Rolex Clint Eastwood

The Rolex Clint Eastwood is the nickname given to the vintage two-tone GMT-Master ref. 16753 with a Root Beer bezel because Clint Eastwood frequently wore one both on and off screen, including in several of his films.

Rolex Coke

A Rolex Coke is any GMT-Master II watch with a red and black bezel. The red and black bezel colorway debuted in 1983 with the introduction of the GMT-Master II ref. 16760. The traditional Coke remained in production until 2007, although Rolex has more recently revisited the color combination with rare gem-set off-catalog models nicknamed “Coke With Ice.”

Rolex Coke References

• GMT-Master II 16760
• GMT-Master II 16710
• GMT-Master II 126758RUSA “Coke With Ice”, 126779RUSA, 126778RUSA

Rolex Fat Lady

While the GMT-Master II ref. 16760 is also a “Coke” thanks to its red and black bezel, this specific reference has another nickname: the Fat Lady.

Introduced in 1983 as the first GMT-Master II, the ref. 16760 was equipped with the new Caliber 3085, which allowed the 12-hour hand to be adjusted independently of the 24-hour hand. The new movement required a thicker case, hence the Fat Lady nickname. The ref. 16760 is also known as the Rolex Sophia Loren due to the case’s curvy silhouette.

Rolex Sprite

A Rolex Sprite is the nickname given to the GMT-Master II ref. 126720VTNR left-handed watch with a green and black bezel. Introduced in 2022, the watch is also sometimes called the Green Lantern after the DC Comics superhero, another nickname inspired by its distinctive green and black colorway. Another nickname, Destro (Italian for “right”), refers instead to its unusual configuration, with the winding crown positioned on the left side of the case and the watch intended to be worn on the right wrist.

Rolex Sprite-Hulk / Green Hornet

In 2025, Rolex expanded its lineup of left-handed GMT-Master II watches with the ref. 126729VTNR, an 18k white gold model featuring a green and black bezel and matching green ceramic dial. The combination quickly picked up the nickname Sprite-Hulk, pairing the name of the existing green and black GMT-Master II with the famous green-dial Submariner Hulk. The watch is also sometimes called the Green Hornet. Notably, its green Cerachrom dial was the first ceramic dial ever used on a Rolex watch.

Rolex Bruce Wayne

A Rolex Bruce Wayne is the nickname given to the GMT-Master II ref. 126710GRNR, which debuted in 2024 as the first stainless steel GMT-Master II with a grey and black Cerachrom bezel.

The watch is available with either an Oyster or Jubilee bracelet and takes its nickname from Bruce Wayne, the alter ego of Batman, thanks to its darker and more subdued colorway compared to the blue and black Rolex Batman.

Rolex Guinness/Zombie/Bumblebee

When Rolex introduced the GMT-Master II refs. 126713GRNR and 126718GRNR in 2023, the combination of a gray and black Cerachrom bezel with yellow gold quickly earned the nickname Guinness, a nod to the dark stout and its distinctive creamy head.

The GRNR suffix is short for Gris Noir, or Gray Black in French. Since then, Zombie has also emerged as a nickname for the two-tone ref. 126713GRNR, whereas Bumblebee generally refers to the full yellow gold ref. 126718GRNR, thanks to its combination of black and yellow gold.

Rolex Guinness References

• GMT-Master II 126713GRNR — Guinness / Zombie
• GMT-Master II 126718GRNR — Guinness / Bumblebee

Rolex SARU

A SARU is any GMT-Master II watch with sapphires and rubies set into the bezel. These red and blue stones mimic the style of a Pepsi bezel.

Rolex SARU References

• GMT-Master II 116758SARU, 116759SARU
• GMT-Master II 126755SARU

Rolex Ice

The most expensive Rolex watch (retail price wise) during its era, the Rolex Ice is the GMT-Master II 116769TBR, which is a white gold model paved entirely in diamonds. Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo wears one.

Rolex Blueberry

Although the legitimacy of these models is debated, a Rolex Blueberry is any vintage GMT-Master ref. 1675 watch with a blue bezel insert, rumored to be custom-made for the United Arab Emirates military.

Rolex Cornino

Vintage Rolex GMT-Master ref. 1675 watches with pointy crown guards are nicknamed Cornino, which is Italian for horn.

Rolex Concorde

Taken from the famed supersonic commercial jetliner, Rolex Concorde watches are vintage GMT-Master ref. 1675 watches in yellow gold with stick hands.

Rolex Pink Panther

The Rolex Pink Panther refers to a vintage GMT-Master ref. 1675 with a bezel that’s transformed into a vibrant fuchsia color. The watch is sometimes also called the GMT-Master Fuchsia.

Rolex Long E

The Long E is a vintage GMT-Master ref. 1675 with a Mark 1 matte dial, produced around the late 1960s and early 1970s. Its nickname comes from a tiny detail in the Rolex signature: the middle horizontal stroke of the letter “E” is noticeably longer than on other dial variations. These Mark 1 dials are also characterized by their thin Rolex coronet and represent one of several subtle dial variations that collectors use to distinguish vintage GMT-Master 1675 watches.

Submariner Nicknames

Rolex Submariner watches are some of the most famous in the world, beloved by celebrities, fictional characters, and regular folks alike. Many of these iconic divers made by Rolex also go by notable nicknames.

Rolex Kermit

The Rolex Kermit refers to the Submariner ref. 16610LV, which was the first Submariner fitted with a green bezel. Introduced in 2003 to celebrate the collection’s 50th anniversary, the watch features a green aluminum bezel and black Maxi dial with larger hour markers. Its distinctive green bezel inspired this particular Rolex nickname, taken after Kermit the Frog, the famous green Muppet character.

The LV suffix is short for Lunette Verte, or green bezel in French, and is used for several green-bezel Submariner references.

Rolex Hulk

The Rolex Hulk refers to the Submariner ref. 116610LV, which replaced the Kermit in 2010 as the second green Submariner. Whereas the Kermit paired a green aluminum bezel with a black dial, the Hulk introduced a green ceramic bezel and matching green dial. Produced from 2010 to 2020, the Hulk remains the only Rolex Submariner to feature both a green dial and green bezel. Between its all-green colorway and beefier Super Case proportions, it’s easy to see how the watch earned the Hulk nickname after the famously green and muscular Marvel superhero.

While Rolex no longer produces the Submariner Hulk, it remains one of the most popular models on the secondary market.

Rolex Starbucks 

The Rolex Starbucks is the nickname given to the current Submariner ref. 126610LV, which replaced the Hulk in 2020 as the third green Submariner. Like the original Kermit, the Starbucks pairs a green bezel with a black dial, but it features a ceramic bezel and the new-generation 41 mm case. Its green, black, and white color scheme inspired the Starbucks nickname after the famous coffee chain’s branding. The watch is sometimes also called the Cermit: Ceramic + Kermit.

Collectors further distinguish between MK1 and MK2 versions of the Starbucks. Around 2023, Rolex began using a noticeably lighter shade of green for the ceramic bezel, which collectors call the MK2. The earlier, darker green bezel is therefore known as the MK1.

Rolex Bluesy

The Rolex Bluesy is the nickname given to two-tone yellow gold and stainless steel Rolex Submariner watches with a blue bezel and matching blue dial. The colorway dates back to the transitional ref. 16803 introduced in the 1980s and continues today with the 41 mm ref. 126613LB.

The LB suffix is short for Lunette Bleu, or blue bezel in French, while the Bluesy nickname is simply a playful reference to the watch’s abundant use of blue.

Rolex Bluesy References

• Submariner 16803
• Submariner 16613
• Submariner 116613
• Submariner 126613

Rolex Smurf

The Rolex Smurf is the nickname given to the now-discontinued Submariner ref. 116619LB, characterized by its 18k white gold construction, blue ceramic bezel, and matching blue dial. Introduced in 2008, it was the first Rolex Submariner produced in white gold. Its combination of bright blue and white gold inspired the Smurf nickname after the famous blue and white cartoon characters.

The Smurf was discontinued in 2020 and replaced by the white gold Submariner ref. 126619LB, which retained the blue ceramic bezel but swapped the blue dial for a black one.

Rolex Cookie Monster

The Rolex Cookie Monster is the nickname given to the white gold Submariner ref. 126619LB, which replaced the Smurf in 2020. While it retained its predecessor’s blue ceramic bezel, Rolex swapped the blue dial for a black one and increased the case size from 40 mm to 41 mm. The combination of a bright blue bezel, black dial, and white gold case and bracelet inspired the Cookie Monster nickname after the famous blue, black, and white Sesame Street character.

Rolex discontinued the Cookie Monster in 2026, bringing an end to the brand’s run of white gold Submariners that began with the Smurf in 2008.

Rolex James Bond/Big Crown

The vintage Submariner ref. 6538 is known as the James Bond because Sean Connery famously wore the watch while playing Agent 007 in several early Bond films, beginning with Dr. No in 1962. The ref. 6538 is also one of the vintage Rolex Submariners known as a Big Crown, named for the oversized 8 mm winding crown found on the watch.

The Big Crown nickname isn’t exclusive to the ref. 6538. It also applies to the earlier Submariner ref. 6200 and later ref. 5510, the latter of which was the final Rolex Submariner produced with an 8 mm crown.

Rolex MilSub

MilSub is the nickname given to vintage Submariner ref. 5513 and 5517 watches made for the British Ministry of Defense (MOD). Since these military-issued Submariners had to adhere to standards set out by the MOD, they feature some distinct design traits such as fixed bars for straps, a tritium “T” marking on the dial, sword-shaped hands, and hash marks for each of the 60 minutes on the timing bezel.

Rolex Red Submariner

The Rolex Red Submariner is the nickname of the vintage Submariner ref. 1680 watches with the SUBMARINER name printed in red on the dial.

Rolex Bart Simpson

The Rolex Bart Simpson refers to select vintage Submariner ref. 5513 watches (produced around 1966) where the Rolex coronet resembles the head of the famous yellow cartoon character.

Sea-Dweller / Deepsea Nicknames

A number of Rolex Sea-Dweller and Deepsea models have also earned themselves nicknames, notably among them the “James Cameron” Deepsea and the vintage “Double Red” Sea-Dweller.

Rolex James Cameron

The Rolex James Cameron is the nickname given to Deepsea watches with a blue-to-black gradient dial, officially known as the D-blue dial. Rolex introduced the special dial in 2014 to commemorate James Cameron’s record-breaking solo dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 2012. The dial transitions from brilliant blue to black to represent the descent into the ocean’s depths, while the bright green DEEPSEA lettering was inspired by the color of Cameron’s submersible.

Rolex James Cameron References

• Deepsea 116660
• Deepsea 126660
• Deepsea 136660

Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller

The Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller (also known as the Rolex DRSD) is the nickname given to vintage Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 watches with two lines of text (SEA-DWELLER // SUBMARINER 2000) printed in red on the dial.

Rolex Great White

The Rolex Great White refers to vintage Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 watches that replaced the Double Red around 1977, swapping the two lines of red dial text for all-white lettering. Rolex also dropped the SUBMARINER 2000 designation from the dial.

Rolex Triple Six

The Triple Six is the nickname given to the Sea-Dweller ref. 16660, named for the three sixes in its reference number. Introduced in 1978, it was the first Sea-Dweller to feature a sapphire crystal and doubled the collection’s water resistance to 1,220 meters (4,000 feet).

Rolex Polipetto

The Rolex Polipetto is an exceptionally rare Sea-Dweller ref. 16600 made in 2008 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Italian State Police diving unit. Limited to 78 pieces, the watch features the unit’s octopus emblem on the dial, which inspired the Polipetto nickname, Italian for “little octopus.”

Daytona Nicknames

Arguably the most valuable of all Rolex watches, Daytona chronographs are highly sought-after across vintage, retail, and secondary markets. Some Daytona models are especially famous, often known by their very own nicknames.

Rolex Panda

The Rolex Panda is the nickname given to Daytona watches with white dials and contrasting black subdials, a color combination that resembles the face of a giant panda. Panda is a common nickname throughout the watch world for chronographs with this distinctive black-and-white dial configuration.

Among the best-known modern examples are the stainless steel Daytona refs. 116500LN and 126500LN with white dials and black ceramic bezels.

Rolex Panda References

• Daytona 126500LN
• Daytona 116500LN
• Daytona 116519
• Vintage four-digit Daytona references, including 6239, 6241, 6262, 6264, 6263, and 6265

Rolex Darth Vader

The Rolex Darth Vader is the nickname given to stainless steel Daytona models with black dials and black ceramic bezels. Essentially the darker counterpart to the Rolex Panda, the watch’s predominantly black color scheme inspired the Darth Vader nickname after the famous Star Wars villain.

Rolex Darth Vader References

• Daytona 116500LN
• Daytona 126500LN

Rolex Ghost

The Rolex Ghost is the nickname given to white gold Daytona models with silver-gray dials, contrasting black subdials, black ceramic bezels, and Oysterflex bracelets. The original ref. 116519LN debuted in 2017 and was replaced by the current ref. 126519LN in 2023.

The nickname is also sometimes applied to the ref. 116509 with the same silver-gray and black dial, although that version features a white gold bezel and matching Oyster bracelet rather than the black ceramic bezel and Oysterflex bracelet of the traditional Ghost.

Rolex Ghost References

• Daytona 116519LN
• Daytona 126519LN
• Daytona 116509 — sometimes called Ghost

Rolex Space Panda

The Rolex Space Panda is the specific nickname given to white gold Daytona models with meteorite dials, contrasting black subdials, black ceramic bezels, and Oysterflex bracelets. Meteorite comes from space, black subdials on a light dial make a Panda, and voilà: Space Panda. This Rolex nickname practically writes itself.

Rolex Space Panda References

• Daytona 116519LN with meteorite dial
• Daytona 126519LN with meteorite dial

Rolex John Mayer

The Rolex John Mayer is the nickname given to the yellow gold Daytona ref. 116508 with a green dial. Although the watch debuted in 2016, it shot to fame after musician and noted watch collector John Mayer praised it during a 2019 episode of Talking Watches on Hodinkee. The nickname stuck, and the green-dial Daytona became one of the most sought-after versions of the ref. 116508 before Rolex discontinued it in 2023.

In 2025, Rolex revived the green and yellow gold combination with the newer Daytona ref. 126508, quickly nicknamed the John Mayer 2.0. The new version retains the green dial but replaces the original’s matching green subdials with contrasting gold ones.

Rolex John Mayer References

• Daytona 116508 — John Mayer
• Daytona 126508 — John Mayer 2.0

Rolex Rainbow Daytona

The Rolex Rainbow Daytona is any Daytona watch that features multicolored sapphires set into the bezel in a rainbow gradient. Rainbow Daytonas have been produced in yellow gold, white gold, and Everose gold, with the first versions appearing in 2012. Rolex introduced the Everose gold Rainbow in 2018, followed by a new generation of Rainbow Daytonas beginning in 2024.

Rolex Rainbow References

• Daytona 116598RBOW, 126598RBOW (Yellow gold)
• Daytona 116599RBOW, 126599RBOW (White gold)
• Daytona 116595RBOW, 126595RBOW (Everose gold)

Rolex Sinner Daytona

The Sinner Daytona is an emerging nickname for the Everose gold Daytona ref. 126515LN with a Sundust and bright black dial, black ceramic bezel, and Oysterflex bracelet. The name comes from Rolex ambassador and tennis star Jannik Sinner, who wore the watch while lifting the Wimbledon trophy after winning the tournament in both 2025 and 2026.

Rolex Eye of the Tiger

The Eye of the Tiger is the nickname given to the yellow gold Daytona ref. 116588TBR, introduced in 2019. This special “off-catalog” gem-set Daytona features baguette diamonds set into the bezel and a black lacquer dial intertwined with diamonds.

Giraffe Daytona

It’s not hard to see where the Rolex Giraffe Daytona gets its nickname. This off-catalog 2025 Rolex release is the spiritual successor to the Eye of the Tiger Daytona above.

Rolex Platona

The Rolex Platona is the nickname given to platinum Daytona watches, with the name simply combining “platinum” and “Daytona.” Rolex introduced the first platinum Daytona in 2013 with the ref. 116506, pairing the precious metal with an ice-blue dial and chestnut brown ceramic bezel. The current ref. 126506 continues the signature color combination and adds a transparent caseback.

Rolex Platona References

• Daytona 126506
• Daytona 116506
• Daytona 116576TBR

Rolex Beach Daytona

The Rolex Beach Daytona refers to a special collection of four white gold Daytona ref. 116519 watches introduced in 2000 with colorful dials and matching lizard straps. The green and turquoise versions feature hardstone dials, while the pink and yellow versions have mother-of-pearl dials. Collectively nicknamed the “Beach” Daytonas for their playful, summery colors, these unusual watches have become highly collectible.

The four versions are:

• Green — chrysoprase
• Turquoise — turquoise
• Pink — pink mother-of-pearl
• Yellow — yellow mother-of-pearl

Barbie Daytona

The ultra-exotic pink off-catalog 2024 Rolex release known as the “Barbie Daytona” (ref. 126538TRO) has been spotted on the wrists of Mark Wahlberg, Lionel Messi, Caroline Wozniacki, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Mirka Federer.

Rolex Le Mans

The Rolex Le Mans is a special version of the Cosmograph Daytona originally created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 2023. The first model, the white gold ref. 126529LN, features a black ceramic bezel with the number “100” in red, a reverse panda dial with vintage-inspired subdials, and a special Caliber 4132 that allows the chronograph to measure up to 24 hours rather than the standard Daytona’s 12.

Rolex discontinued the original white gold Le Mans in 2024 after a remarkably short production run, replacing it with an off-catalog yellow gold ref. 126528LN. That version was similarly short-lived and was followed in 2025 by the Everose gold ref. 126525LN

Rolex Le Mans References

• Daytona 126529LN — white gold
• Daytona 126528LN — yellow gold
• Daytona 126525LN — Everose gold

Baby Le Mans Daytona

The Rolex Daytona Baby Le Mans is the collector nickname for the white gold ref. 126519LN-0002 released in 2023. Like the Le Mans Daytona released that same year, it has a reverse panda dial and black ceramic bezel, but that’s largely where the similarities end. The Baby Le Mans runs on the standard Daytona Caliber 4131, has a 12-hour chronograph counter, solid caseback, and Oysterflex bracelet.

Despite the name, there’s nothing “baby” about its size: it’s the same 40 mm as other modern Daytonas. Rather, the nickname refers to its status as the more attainable little sibling of the exceedingly rare Le Mans.

Pikachu Rolex (Pokémon Rolex)

The Pikachu Rolex is the nickname given to yellow gold Daytona refs. 116518LN and 126518LN on Oysterflex bracelets with champagne/golden dials and contrasting black subdials. The black subdials, along with the yellow gold color scheme, resemble a “surprised Pikachu” face. Since Pikachu is the most popular character from the Pokémon series, you might also hear this watch referred to as the “Pokémon Daytona.”

Rolex SACO

The nickname SACO can refer to any Rolex Daytona with cognac-colored sapphires set into the bezel. SACO is short for SAphirs COgnac, French for cognac sapphires.

Rolex SACO References

• Daytona 116578SACO
• Daytona 116588SACO
• Daytona 116598SACO

Leopard Daytona

The Leopard is the nickname given to the Rolex Daytona ref. 116598SACO with a leopard-style dial, cognac-colored sapphires set into the bezel, and a leopard-patterned leather strap.

Rolex Zenith Daytona

Made from 1988 to 2000, Rolex Zenith Daytona watches are known as such because they run on Zenith El-Primero-based chronograph movements called Caliber 4030.

Rolex Zenith References

• Daytona 16520
• Daytona 16523
• Daytona 16528
• Daytona 16529
• Daytona 16516 (Only 4-5 made)
• Daytona 16518
• Daytona 16519

Rolex Chairman Daytona

Produced in 1991, the yellow gold ref. 16528 with a galvanized ocean blue dial is often called the Chairman Rolex Daytona. It’s rumored that only 10 of these pieces exist as they were made for high-level Rolex executives and never produced for the public.

Rolex Patrizzi

Patrizzi refers to a particular dial design found on select Daytona reference 16520 watches where the subdials transformed from white to beige or brown due to a manufacturing defect. Daytona Patrizzi watches are named after Osvaldo Patrizzi (watch expert and founder of Antiquorum), who discovered the anomaly.

Rolex Paul Newman

Daytona watches that are nicknamed Paul Newman are vintage four-digit references that are fitted with special dials, which were officially called exotic dials. These Daytona Paul Newman dials are characterized by contrasting sub-dials, Art Deco-style numerals, square-tipped hashmark, and other design details.

Actor and racecar driver Paul Newman was often seen wearing a Rolex Daytona with an exotic dial when he was alive, which explains the now-famous nickname. It’s been reported that Italian auctioneers coined the moniker in the 1980s to boost sales of this once slow-selling Rolex watch. In 2017, Paul Newman’s very own Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman” sold for a record-breaking $17.8 million at auction.

Rolex Paul Newman References

• Daytona 6239
• Daytona 6241
• Daytona 6262
• Daytona 6263
• Daytona 6264
• Daytona 6265

Rolex Big Eye

Big Eye Daytona watches refer to vintage pieces with larger than normal subdials.

Rolex Big Red

Big Red Daytona models include a large DAYTONA inscription printed in red on the dial, right above the subdial at 6 o’clock.

Rolex Solo

The Daytona Solo is a particular ultra-rare version of the vintage reference 6240 with only the word “Rolex” on the dial and nothing else.

Rolex John Player Special

Nicknamed after the ’70s-era John Player livery found on Lotus Formula One team cars, the Rolex John Player Special refers to vintage yellow gold Daytona watches (references 6241 and 6264) with black bezels and black dials with gold subdials.

Datejust and Day-Date Nicknames

The Datejust and Day-Date are two of Rolex’s most famous classic watches, each defined by the calendar indications on their dials. Some Datejust and Day-Date watches have gained nicknames due to distinct design details.

Rolex Wimbledon

Rolex Wimbledon is the nickname given to Datejust watches fitted with a slate dial and distinctive green-outlined Roman numeral hour markers. The green detailing and Wimbledon nickname are a nod to Rolex’s longstanding relationship with the famous tennis tournament, where the brand has served as Official Timekeeper since 1978.

Rolex Wimbledon References

• Datejust 36 126234, 126233, 126231, 126200
• Datejust 41 126300, 126334, 126331, 126333, 126303, 126301
• Datejust II 116333

Rolex Thunderbird

Rolex Thunderbird is the nickname given to Turn-O-Graph watches, characterized by their rotating timing bezels. The original Turn-O-Graph ref. 6202 debuted in 1953, before the model was incorporated into the Datejust collection with subsequent references. The nickname dates back to the 1950s, when the United States Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squadron adopted the Turn-O-Graph for use by its pilots. Rolex embraced the connection and began marketing the Datejust Turn-O-Graph as the “Thunderbird” in the North American market.

Rolex Thunderbird/Turn-o-Graph References

• Turn-O-Graph 6202
• Datejust Turn-O-Graph 6309, 6609
• Datejust Turn-O-Graph 1625
• Datejust Turn-O-Graph 16250, 16253, 16258
• Datejust Turn-O-Graph 16263, 16264, 16268
• Datejust Turn-O-Graph 116261, 116263, 116264

Rolex Buckley Dial 

The Buckley dial is characterized by painted Roman numerals found on older Datejust watches. This particular dial style is named after Rolex collector and dealer, John Buckley, who popularized the design.

Rolex President

The Rolex President or Presidential is the unofficial but ubiquitous nickname for the Day-Date watch. The name comes in part from the Day-Date’s bracelet, officially called the President bracelet, as well as the watch’s long association with world leaders, including several American presidents.

Rolex Plain Jane

Plain Jane is a nickname commonly used for a Rolex without diamonds or other flashy embellishments, particularly a classic Day-Date or “President” left in its original, unadorned form. The term was famously referenced by A$AP Ferg in his 2017 song Plain Jane, in which he mentions a “presi Plain Jane,” referring to a Rolex President without added diamonds.

Rolex Emoji / Puzzle / Jigsaw

The Rolex Emoji, Puzzle Dial, or Jigsaw Dial refers to a series of unconventional Day-Date 36 watches introduced in 2023 with colorful champlevé enamel puzzle-piece dials. Rather than displaying the day and date, the two calendar windows show inspirational words at 12 o’clock and one of 31 emojis at 3 o’clock. The watches were produced in yellow, white, and Everose gold with colorful gemstone hour markers.

Rolex Puzzle Dial / Emoji References

• Day-Date 36 128238-0106 — yellow gold
• Day-Date 36 128239-0056 — white gold
• Day-Date 36 128235-0063 — Everose gold

Rolex Texas Timex

Rich Texans couldn’t get enough of gold Rolex Day-Date watches thanks in large part to it being the go-to timepiece of President Lyndon Johnson (a Texas native). These flashy signals of wealth became so omnipresent in certain circles in the Lone Star state that the Texas Timex moniker eventually stuck; the nickname even grew to describe any full gold Rolex watch.

Rolex Texan

The rare vintage Rolex ref. 5100 quartz watch is affectionately known as the Rolex Texan due to its beefy silhouette and full gold construction.

More about Rolex Quartz: Rolex Quartz Watches – The Complete Guide

Rolex Stella

Produced primarily in the 1970s and 1980s, Rolex Stella watches are vintage Day-Date models fitted with brightly colored lacquered dials. Stella dials came in a range of vivid colors, including turquoise, coral, red, yellow, green, and orange.

Rolex Bark

Some vintage Rolex Day-Date and Datejust watches feature a textured finish on the bezel, bracelet links, or both that resembles the bark of a tree, hence the Rolex Bark nickname.

Rolex Wide Boy

The Rolex Wide Boy nickname refers to select vintage Datejust and Day-Date watches fitted with unusually wide baton hour markers and matching wide hands. Primarily associated with watches from the late 1960s and 1970s, the distinctive dial configuration gives these otherwise classic Rolex models a bolder look.

Yacht-Master Nicknames

Yacht-Masters don’t get as much attention from collectors as most of the other Rolex lineups, so they don’t usually get nicknames. The notable exceptions are two off-catalog releases with multicolor sapphire bezels. Both were offered with either black dials or pave diamond dials.

Haribo Yacht-Master / Tutti Frutti Yacht-Master

The “Haribo” Yacht-Master (ref. 116695 SATS), also known as the “Tutti Frutti” Yacht-Master, was made from 2017-2019. The nickname for this 40mm yellow gold Yacht-Master comes from its colorful candy-like bezel.

Cotton Candy Yacht-Master

Ref. 126679, known as the “Cotton Candy” Rolex, is a white gold Yacht-Master 40 with pink, blue and purple sapphires in the bezel. It’s a captivating color combination that was only made from 2022-2023.

Explorer I and II Nicknames

Rolex Blackout Explorer

The Blackout Explorer is the nickname given to some rare Explorer ref. 14270 watches made for a brief time in the 1990s that featured black Arabic numerals rather than the customary white ones.

Rolex Polar

The Rolex Polar nickname refers to Explorer II watches with white dials, distinguishing them from their black-dial counterparts. White-dial Explorer II Polar watches have been produced across several generations, including the current 42 mm ref. 226570.

Rolex Polar References

• Explorer II 16550
• Explorer II 16570
• Explorer II 216570
• Explorer II 226570

Rolex Steve McQueen ( Freccione)

The Rolex Steve McQueen refers to the vintage Explorer II 1655 because it was erroneously reported that the actor wore one. The Explorer II 1655 is also known as the Freccione, derived from the Italian word for arrow in reference to the watch’s prominent arrow-tipped orange hand.

Other Rolex Nicknames

In addition to the model-specific Rolex nicknames we outlined above, there are others worth knowing that describe particular design traits, notable vintage models, or rare one-off pieces. Many of the dials mentioned below are covered in greater detail in our Complete Guide to Every Special Rolex Dial Ever Produced.

Rolex Tiffany Dial

A Rolex Tiffany refers to any Rolex watch that’s co-branded with the Tiffany & Co. logo on the dial. Tiffany & Co. was once an official retailer of Rolex watches and had the authority to stamp Rolex dials with its logo.

Rolex Khanjar

Rolex Khanjar watches are pieces bearing the khanjar, the traditional crossed-swords-and-dagger emblem of Oman. These watches were commissioned during the reign of Sultan Qaboos bin Said and presented as gifts rather than sold through normal retail channels. The khanjar emblem can appear on the dial or caseback and is found on a variety of Rolex models, including the Daytona, Submariner, Sea-Dweller, and Day-Date.

Rolex Jubilee Dial

Jubilee dial is a collector shorthand for certain decorative Rolex dials rather than a specific watch or reference. The traditional Rolex Jubilee dial debuted in 1985 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Datejust. Also known as the Anniversary or Computer dial, it features a repeating ROLEX pattern across the entire dial. Although it first appeared on the Datejust, the distinctive design was subsequently used on other Rolex watches, including the Lady-Datejust and Day-Date.

In 2026, Rolex introduced an entirely different take on the Jubilee dial for the Oyster Perpetual. Officially described as a “multicoloured, Jubilee motif” dial, the new design features colorful geometric shapes arranged across the dial and is available on the Oyster Perpetual 31, 36, and 41.

Rolex Sigma Dial

A Rolex Sigma dial refers to any vintage Rolex dial with tiny Greek letters Sigma on the bottom of the dial to indicate the hands and hour markers are made from 18k gold.

Rolex Nipple Dial

Rolex Nipple dials describe dials on select vintage Submariner and GMT-Master watches where the faceted hour markers are slightly raised and filled with lume.

Rolex Serti Dial

Derived from the French word “sertissage” (setting), a Rolex Serti dial refers to gem-set hour markers. This nickname is most commonly used to describe vintage Submariner and GMT-Master watches with indexes set with precious gems like diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.

Rolex Rail Dial

A Rolex Rail dial denotes a vintage dial where the letter “C” in “Chronometer” aligns with the letter “C” in “Certified” in the ‘Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified’ inscription.

Rolex California Dial

A California dial refers to one that mixes Roman numerals, Arabic numerals, and shapes for the hour markers–you can see this distinct layout on several Panerai watches. Rolex patented this design in 1941 and called it the “Error-Proof” dial. The California nickname was only adopted around the 1980s and there are a few theories as to its origins. The leading theory is that a California-based dial refinisher named Kirk Rich specialized in making this dial design for Rolex Bubbleback watches for the Japanese market.

Rolex Tropical

Tropical is often used to describe vintage Rolex dials that have transformed in color due to a chemical defect. The name comes from the fact that watches that were exposed to more sun and salt water tended to morph more easily than others.

Rolex Exclamation Point and Underline Dial

In the early part of the 20th Century, radium was the standard luminous material used on watch dials. However, it was soon discovered that while effective for glowing, radium was a highly dangerous substance. Therefore, watchmakers switched over to safer tritium as their go-to lume. Rolex Exclamation Point dials (characterized by a small circle under the 6 o’clock rectangular marker, which together looks like !) that rolled out around 1962 denote less radium used on the dial to adhere to new Atomic Energy Commission regulations.

On the other hand, Rolex Underline dials (characterized by a small horizontal line found above or below the hands placed near text) introduced around 1963/64 signifies even less radioactive material and the start of the transition from radium to tritium.

Rolex Bubbleback

Rolex Bubbleback watches are a sub-collection of vintage Rolex pieces that feature bubble-like protruding casebacks. The curvy caseback was necessary to make room for the rotor that served to wind up the then-new Rolex Perpetual automatic movement.

Rolex Jean-Claude Killy

Named after the champion skier (and brand ambassador), Rolex Jean-Claude Killy watches describe a group of vintage Rolex Dato-Compax chronograph calendar references (4768, 4767, 5036, 6036, and 6236).

Rolex Stelline

Stelline is the nickname given to rare vintage Rolex watches with star-shaped hour markers. The name comes from the Italian word stelline, meaning “little stars,” and is most famously associated with certain examples of the Rolex ref. 6062 triple-calendar moonphase, although the distinctive star markers can be found on other vintage Rolex watches as well.

Rolex Bao Dai 

The Rolex Bao Dai is the nickname given to a one-of-a-kind Rolex ref. 6062 purchased by the last Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty of Vietnam in 1954. When the Bao Dai watch was auctioned for over $5 million in 2017, it was the most expensive Rolex sold at the time.

Rolex Unicorn

The Rolex Unicorn is the nickname of a one-of-a-kind (and controversial) white gold Daytona ref. 6265 that once belonged to famed Rolex collector John Goldberg. The watch was auctioned in 2018 for $5.9 million.

Rolex Bombay 

Derived from the French word bombé (which means cambered or arched), Rolex Bombay is used to describe vintage pieces with arched lugs.

Rolex Octopus

Octopus refers to ornate Rolex bracelets that are set with precious gems that resemble the suction cups of an octopus.

Rolex Padellone

Taken from Italian for “big frying pan,” the Rolex Padellone is the nickname bestowed upon the vintage Triple Calendar Moonphase ref. 8171, which featured a 38mm case that was considered large for the era.

Rolex Albino

The Albino nickname can refer to two different Rolex watches. The Albino GMT-Master watches are very rare examples of the reference 6542 with white dials. Similarly, Albino Daytona watches feature monochromatic silver dials without contrasting subdials. One famous example of an Albino Daytona was a reference 6263 owned by Eric Clapton and sold at auction in 2008.

Rolex COMEX

Rolex COMEX refers to special Submariner and Sea-Dweller watches supplied to COMEX (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises), the French commercial diving company that worked closely with Rolex on developing watches for saturation diving. These rare watches are generally distinguished by the COMEX name on their dials and include several Submariner and Sea-Dweller references produced over the course of the partnership.

Rolex Super Case

Super Case is the nickname given to the beefier case design Rolex introduced across several sports watch collections beginning in the 2000s. Although case diameters generally remained unchanged, wider lugs and larger crown guards gave these watches a noticeably broader, more substantial appearance on the wrist. The Super Case is particularly associated with the previous generation of ceramic Submariner.

How Does a Rolex Watch Gain a Nickname?

So, how exactly does a Rolex watch gain a nickname? They can come from a variety of sources, including collectors, dealers, writers, auction houses, celebrities, and even social media. Some are inspired by color combinations, like Pepsi, Hulk, and Starbucks, while others come from famous owners or wearers, such as Paul Newman, John Mayer, and Clint Eastwood. Still others describe distinctive design details, from Big Crown and Wide Boy to Bubble Dial and Super Case.

In some cases, several nicknames emerge for the same watch before one becomes more widely accepted. The gray and black GMT-Master II models introduced in recent years are a good example: Bruce Wayne, Guinness, Zombie, and Bumblebee all developed around different versions of the same general color scheme.

There are no official rules, and Rolex itself rarely uses these collector-created names. Some nicknames disappear almost as quickly as they appear, while others become so deeply ingrained in watch culture that saying “Batman” or “Kermit” can be more recognizable than quoting the reference number.