20 Rolex Nicknames Every Beginner Must Know

If you are a beginner, trying to find your feet in the world of horology but find yourself overwhelmed by the vast history of watches, then it is best to simplify things down to what you can learn and pick up because it can be complicated.

The best place to start would be Rolex who are the King of Watches and the most popular watchmaking brand in the world. One key area to gain knowledge would be reference numbers and nicknames which are used to describe Rolex watches.

Not many brands are referred to through their reference numbers because they can be lengthy and forgettable but Rolex has cleverly implemented 4, 5 or 6-digit reference numbers in order to enable people to remember their watches.

Alternatively, the watch community of collectors, enthusiasts and fanatics have formed nicknames for certain models which are commonly used more than their reference numbers. This is extremely helpful if you are a beginner because they are easy to understand and memorise. So, we have selected 20 nicknames that every beginner must know featuring the most well-known and familiar titles.

Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi”

Although this list is in no order, we start off with possibly the most popular nickname of them all - the “Pepsi.” Since the mid-1950s, Rolex has been producing a blue-red bezel for the GMT-Master’s bi-directional bezel, the first being the reference 6542. Therefore, this is quite a historical nickname, attached to the blue-red bezel for approximately 70 years which is why it is extremely popular.

The “Pepsi” bezel remains a feature today, part of the GMT-master II collection in stainless steel reference 126710BLRO and in 18CT white gold reference 126719BLRO. Rolex created the blue-red bezel in dedication for the pilots of Pan American Airways but despite that, enthusiasts refer to the model as the “Pepsi.”

Rolex Daytona “Panda”

Another popular nickname and highly sought after Rolex model is the Daytona “Panda.” The “Panda” nickname comes from the distinctive white dial which features black outer rings for the chronograph’s white sub-dials.

This dial was released in 2016, part of the Daytona reference 116500LN which gained a high demand instantly. In 2023, Rolex released a new reference of the Daytona, the 1265000LN, consisting of some changes to the case and an updated movement. One thing that didn’t change was the distinctive dial, remaining part of the Daytona collection, keeping its white face and black outer rings.

Rolex Submariner “Kermit”

To celebrate 50 years of the Submariner, the Crown unveiled the reference 16610LV which featured a distinctive light green aluminum bezel. Due to the light shade of green, enthusiasts nicknamed the model the “Kermit,” alluding to the Muppets character.

This reference was discontinued in 2010 and has become a solid collectible piece from enthusiasts due to its anniversary purpose and nickname. Also, it is the predecessor for further green bezel Submariner models which we will explore below in this article.

Rolex GMT-Master II “Batman” / “Batgirl”

Like the GMT-Master II “Pepsi,” the “Batman” or “Batgirl” are extremely popular models part of the GMT collection. In 2013, Rolex released the reference 116710BLNR “Batman” which consists of historical significance being the first model to feature a dual-colour ceramic bezel.

This model was discontinued in 2019 and replaced by the 126710BLNR reference which included the jubilee bracelet and not the oyster bracelet which was part of the 116710BLNR “Batman.” However, in 2021, Rolex released the 126710BLNR with the Oyster bracelet allowing the choice of pairing the model with the Oyster or Jubilee bracelet.

The nicknames are determined by the types of bracelets partnered with the model. The GMT-Master II with the blue-black bezel and Oyster bracelet obtains the “Batman” nickname which is pictured on the left side of the image above. When the model is fitted with the “Jubilee” bracelet, then it is referred to as the “Batgirl" which is on the right side of the picture.

Rolex Daytona “Platona”

(Image from Subdial)

The Daytona is arguably the most iconic model to have been produced by Rolex, so when the 50th anniversary of the model hit in 2013, there were high expectations for what the Crown would unveil at BaselWorld.

Rolex released an extremely special piece which had mouths watering and people in awe of this magnificent release. The Swiss brand unveiled the reference 116506 in platinum featuring a beautiful ice blue dial and brown ceramic bezel, powered by the Calibre 4130.

There is huge historical significance surrounding this piece. This is the only Daytona model produced in platinum which is the main reason as to why fanatics made a playful attempt on the word Daytona name by nicknaming this reference the “Platona.”

Moreover, this is an anniversary piece which is an absolute heavy-hitter weighing much more than the average Rolex watch and standing out on the wrist. There have been different variations of the model consisting of diamond hour markers and even an Arabic dial.

Rolex Day-Date “Anniversary” / “Olive”

From one anniversary to feature in the list to the next, we include the Day-Date 40 228235 crafted in 18CT Everose gold and with the sunray-finished olive green dial. This model reference was released to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Day-Date with the olive green dial being rather fitting due to the colour being synonymous with Rolex, as seen on the Submariner “Kermit.”

This is commonly referred to as the Day-Date “Anniversary” or “Olive” due to the anniversary behind the model’s release and the unique colour and shade of green dial. A huge fan favourite and enthusiasts dream watch, this Day-Date reference 228235 is an extremely sought after and collectible piece.

Rolex Submariner “Hulk”

Following the discontinuation of the Submariner 16610LV “Kermit” in 2010, Rolex released the Submariner 116610LV “Hulk.” This reference changed in appearance and aesthetics by creating an all-green colour-way featuring a darker shade of green bezel and green sunburst dial in comparison to the “Kermit’s” light green bezel and black dial.

In addition to this, the bezel material is different with the “Hulk’s” bezel being made out of Cerachrom which is Rolex’s patented ceramic material. The bezel is thicker and larger with the lugs and crown guards appearing bulkier making the Submariner a proper tool watch.

Due to the all-green colour-way and larger appearance, the model gains the nickname “Hulk” which alludes to the Marvel superhero who is a gigantic green monster. Like the “Kermit,” the “Hulk” has become a true collector’s watch, especially when the model was discontinued from Rolex’s catalogue in 2020. This model even appeared in our most investable Rolex watches of 2025!

Rolex GMT-Master II “Root Beer”

(Image from Time+Tide Watches)

Similar to the "Pepsi" nickname for the GMT-Master II, the “Root Beer” is quite a long-lasting and popular nickname which also stems from the bezel colour. The nickname arose from a vintage GMT-Master II model reference 16753 produced in the 1970s which featured a brown and gold bezel with a brown copper dial.

At Baselworld in 2018, Rolex revived the model releasing the references 126711CHNR and 126718CHNR in a two-tone of Oystersteel and Everose gold and full Everose gold, respectively. Instead of the brown and gold bezel though, Rolex incorporated a brown-black bezel which looks better and more like the colour of root beer.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual “Bubble” / “Celebration” 

(Image from Hodinkee)

The first nickname to appear for the Rolex Oyster Perpetual in this list is the “Bubble” or “Celebration.” As highlighted with the Day-Date reference 228235, some models obtain two nicknames from fanatics and here we have another example. This “Bubble” or “Celebration” nickname comes from the interesting and playful dial Rolex released with the Oyster Perpetual 31, 36 and 41.

In 2023, Rolex released this special dial for the Oyster Perpetual references 277200, 126000 and 124300. The base colour of the dial is turquoise blue with 51 bubbles spread out consisting of different colours such as candy pink, yellow, coral red and green.

The “Bubble” nickname is applied to the model for obvious reasons. The alternate nickname “Celebration” is also applied to the watch because the colourful bubbles displayed on the dial were previous colours that were discontinued the same year or a year before this dial was released. Therefore, people viewed this dial as a celebration of the previous dials and Rolex were simply commemorating that.

For Rolex, this was extremely bold and unconventional with the dial design obtaining mixed reception from enthusiasts. However, the dial was a slow burner, managing to gain popularity gradually over time but it was all too late as this year, Rolex discontinued the dial.

Rolex Submariner “Smurf”

Having already appeared in this list for other nicknames, the Submariner is full of various references gathered by horological fanatics. Another one being the Submariner Date reference 116619LB which is nicknamed the “Smurf.”

In 2008, the Crown unveiled this 18CT white gold piece which features a blue ceramic bezel and vibrant blue dial. This model is similar to the Submariner “Hulk” in the sense that Rolex created a matching coloured bezel and dial. Due to the all-blue apparel, enthusiasts and fanatics refer to this reference 116619LB as the “Smurf” because it reminds them of the blue cartoon character.

Rolex GMT-Master II “Coke”

(Image from Bob's Watches)

That is right, there is a GMT-Master II “Pepsi” and a GMT-Master II “Coke.” From 1983 all the way up to 2007, Rolex incorporated a red and black aluminium bezel for two references: 16760 and 16710. Rolex discontinued all aluminium bezels from their catalogue in 2007, replacing them with new Cerachrom bezels for all GMT-Master II models.

Focusing on the GMT-Master II “Coke,” this model has become a true collector’s watch with many hoping for a re-edition of the “Coke” bezel to be released at Watches and Wonders using Rolex’s Cerachrom material to produce a modern black-red bezel. Referring to the nickname, black and red are two colours that, when combined together, are familiar to the Coca-Cola brand which is why the “Coke” nickname was linked to the model.

Rolex Datejust “Wimbledon”

Since 1978, Rolex has sponsored Wimbledon, being the official timekeeper of the tournament which has been a highly successful sponsorship that just makes sense. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Wimbledon name is applied to a model.

Like the “Bubble” or “Celebration” nickname, the “Wimbledon” nickname stemmed from a Rolex dial, solely exclusive to the Datejust model. In 2009, Rolex released this slate grey dial for the Datejust II model which was discontinued in 2016 and replaced by the Datejust 41.

Whilst the model went through some changes in aesthetics and movement, the “Wimbledon” dial remained the same. Importantly, this is an unofficial collaboration between Rolex and Wimbledon, it is merely just a nickname but why was the Wimbledon title given to the dial?

On the slate grey dial are black roman numerals outlined in green which reminded people of the Wimbledon tournament. This is because the dark green outline supposedly represents the green boards on the court which are placed behind the players in play. Not only the boards but also Wimbledon’s overall aesthetic consists of this dark shade of green which we see all around the event through a birds-eye view.

Rolex Submariner “Starbucks”

Following the discontinuation of the Submariner reference 116610LV “Hulk,” Rolex released the reference 126610LV. This is the current generation of the Submariner date featuring some notable changes like an increased case size jumping up from the previous 40mm to the bigger 41mm and an upgraded movement Calibre 3235.

What remained the same was the green ceramic bezel which is darker than the previous green bezels seen for the Submariner “Kermit” and “Hulk.” This shade of green is similar to the green used by the coffee company Starbucks which is why the model gets this reference.

Interestingly, there are two variations of the Submariner “Starbucks” which are commonly known as either the M1 (Mark 1) or M2 (Mark 2.) The M1 “Starbucks” has a deeper green bezel, produced from 2020-2023 whereas the M2 “Starbucks” possesses a brighter green closer, yet still darker, to the Submariner “Kermit.” Whether it is the M1 or M2, the “Starbuck” nickname is still applied, just as long as it is the reference 126610LV produced from 2020.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual “Tiffany"

(Image from Fratello Watches)

Nicknames can cause some confusion, requiring clarification. For example, the Rolex Datejust “Wimbledon” which sounds like an official collaboration between the King of Swiss watches and the most prestigious tennis event. But as highlighted, it is just a nickname that stemmed from the green outline on the roman numerals.

Here, we have another example of a nickname being applied to a model that sounds like an official collaboration between two brands but in reality, it is a nickname given to a watch by fanatics. This is the Oyster Perpetual “Tiffany” which was released in 2020, available for the 31, 36 and 41mm case sizes.

The Oyster Perpetual “Tiffany” models feature a vibrant turquoise dial, a colour synonymous with the Tiffany&Co. Brand. Other brands have incorporated a turquoise dial which typically also obtains the “Tiffany” nickname, despite the fact that it is an unofficial collaboration.

Rolex Daytona “John Mayer”

It is a rare occasion to see a watch that is highly unknown and out of favour gain huge popularity because of celebrity influence as, usually, celebrities wear luxury timepieces that are already coveted.

In 2016, Rolex released a new reference of the Daytona with this example being the 116508 in full 18CT yellow gold with a green dial. What is a beautiful configuration was never a success until musician and watch collector John Mayer spoke of this Rolex watch in an interview with Hodinkee.

In the second installment of the “Talking Watches” series, Mayer highlighted this yellow gold, green dial Daytona model as a “sleeper hit” denoting that there was strong potential for this Rolex watch to become a huge favourite amongst enthusiasts and fanatics.

Little did Mayer know that he would be the reason for this model’s rise in popularity and demand to the point where his name even aligned to the watch. Therefore, this reference 116508 is commonly referred to as the Daytona “John Mayer.” To this day, it is one of the most sought after Rolex watches, especially since its discontinuation in 2023.

Rolex Submariner “Bluesy”

Throughout this article, we have mentioned three green bezel Rolex Submariners but what about another blue appearing Submariner model like the “Smurf.” The “Bluesy” nickname is an old reference like the “Pepsi” and “Root Beer” which were part of older vintage Rolex models.

Having been aligned to Submariner models for over 30 years, the “Bluesy” nickname first aligned to the Submariner Date reference 16803 in 1984. This was a key reference for the Submariner Date being the first two-tone Submariner to have ever been released by the Crown. Crafted out of stainless steel and 18CT yellow gold, this piece featured a blue aluminium bezel and royal blue dial with an expert sunray finish.

Due to the bright blue appearance and key features, fanatics formed the nickname “Bluesy.” The latest edition of the Submariner “Bluesy” is the reference 126613LB which was released in 2020 and remains available to customers as part of Rolex’s current catalogue.

Rolex GMT-Master II “Sprite” / “Lefty”

In 2022, Rolex unveiled a surprising addition to the GMT-Master II collection with the reference 126720VTNR. This features a green-black bezel and a left-handed configuration with crown and date window positioned at 9 o’clock.

This is a noticeable difference in comparison to every other Rolex model or in comparison to all watches as conventionally, the crown and date window is placed at 3 o’clock. Therefore, this watch is for left-handed people who can adjust time with their favoured hand, wearing the watch on their right wrist.

The “Sprite” nickname is inspired by the green-black bezel which is similar to the colour scheme of the lemonade company Sprite’s branding. Then, of course, the “Lefty” nickname derives from the fact that this model is for left-handed people.

Rolex Daytona ”Paul Newman”

(Image from Amsterdam Vintage Watches)

The next three nicknames are for those who want to sound like a professional and Rolex enthusiast. Starting with the Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman” which is the most expensive watch sold at auction, selling for $17,800,000 in 2017! The specific Daytona watch was Paul Newman’s own piece, a reference 6239 that was gifted to him by his wife, Joanne Woodward.

This reference of the Daytona featured an exotic dial which is lightly cream coloured, distinguishing the model from other types of dial like the “Panda.” There are contrasting black sub-dials making the dial pop more and a black tachy-metric bezel which is common for the Daytona due to the chronograph function.

This dial is known as the Paul Newman dial which was equipped for four vintage Daytona references: the 6239, 6241, 6263 and 6265. During the four model reference’s production runs, they were not as popular as the Daytonas of today, produced and distributed in low numbers. The exotic dial was even less popular so now they are extremely valuable due to the Paul Newman nickname and rarity.

Rolex Explorer “Steve McQueen”

 

Secondly, the Rolex Explorer II “Steve McQueen” which is a vintage model reference 1655 introduced in 1971 running in production to 1985. The “Steve McQueen” nickname is a rather odd one because it has never been clarified as to why this Explorer II has the Hollywood icon’s name aligned to it.

Steve McQueen never wore the model. According to wide sources, the “Steve McQueen” nickname stemmed from his rugged and adventurous lifestyle that linked to a Rolex campaign that was made in the 1970s that demonstrated the Explorer II’s ability to withstand extreme conditions for cave explorers.

Rolex Daytona “Zenith”

(Image from SD Watches)

The final nickname to feature in this list is the Rolex Daytona “Zenith” or, as some people call it, the “Zenith” Daytona. Similar to Rolex, Zenith is a Swiss watchmaking brand that is older than Rolex, founded in 1865 by Georges Favre-Jocet in Le Locle, Switzerland.

Over a century later, Zenith unveiled the El Primero movement in 1969 which was groundbreaking at the time for being the world’s first high-frequency automatic chronograph calibre. From 1988, Rolex used Zenith’s El Primero chronograph movement for their Daytonas up until 2000 when they crafted their own in-house Daytona Calibre 4130.

The Zenith chronograph movement was incorporated into the Daytona reference 165xx, the most common model being the reference 16520 in stainless steel with the white dial. Due to Rolex’s use of the El Primero movement, enthusiasts refer to models during 1988 and 2000 as “Zenith” Daytonas because it might have well been Zenith’s own model.

Overall, nicknames for Rolex watches are incredibly helpful. They are an efficient tool in social situations when talking about Rolex watches and can also be used when looking for the watch you want. Despite Rolex not officially describing models by their given nickname, if you were to type in a nickname on Rolex’s website, the watch would appear meaning the brand has acknowledged nicknames and are clearly aware.

Of course, there are many more nicknames out there aligned to many other models, even off-catalogue Rolex watches. Additionally, there will be many more to sprout when Watches and Wonders occurs and Rolex unveil more interesting timepieces in years to come.