Nicknames for Rolex Watches

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The Rolex watches were first nicknamed in forums a few years ago. Currently, collectors all over the world as well as auction houses, retailers and enthusiasts use nicknames to identify a Rolex. Some of them already stand for well-known icons in the world of Rolex collecting, such as Paul Newman or James Bond while others are quite recent and funny. We’re sharing here some of the most commonly used nicknames for Rolex watches:

Bart Simpson

In the dial of the reference 5513, the watch crown calls to mid thebrush-like hair of Bart Simpson character, hence the nickname "Bart Simpson Dial".

Batgirl

GMT-Master II with blue and black bezel and Jubilee bracelet.

Batman

GMT-Master II with blue and black bezel and Oyster bracelet.

Bluesy

The name "Bluesy" refers to all steel and gold (Rolesor) Submariners with a blue dial and bezel. This includes the references 16803, 16613, 116613, and 126613.

Buckley

A Day-Date or a Datejust kind of dial in which the Roman numerals are painted in, and not applied to it. The nickname comes from John Buckley, a New York collector/dealer and a great fan of that specific dial.

California Dial

The “California dial” has Roman numerals on its upper part and Arabic ones on its lower part.

Coke or Coca-Cola

GMT-Master with red and black bezel.

Cookie Monster

In 2020, Rolex launched a Submariner with the reference 126619LB which boasts a black dial and blue bezel, which swiftly earned the nickname COOKIE MONSTER. Cookie is a large monster with blue fur and prominent, swivelling eye sockets that bear a resemblance to the watch's big hour markers.

Double Red

Submariner with doublered writing.

Eye of the Tiger

GMT-Master with a bronze dial called "tiger’s eye” after the similarity with the colour of tiger’s iris.

Feet first

Dial displaying depth in “feet” first, and then in “meters”.

Gabus

Chronograph with a square case (Ref. 8206).

Hulk

Submariner ref. 116610LV with green dial and bezel.

James Bond

Submariner “no date” without protection on the winding crown (ref. 6204, 6205, 6200, 6538, 6538A, 6536, 6536/1, 5508, 5510).

Kermit

Submariner Date with green bezel (ref 16610LV).

Leopard

Yellow gold Daytona, ref 116598 SACO, with speckled leather strap and leopard-skin print dial.

Meters first

A dial displaying depth in “meters” first, and then in “feet”.

Panda

Daytona with white dial and black counters.

Patrizzi

Daytona with counters tending to a brown colour tone (ref 16520).

Paul Newman

Highly exclusive design and colour combinations for the “Newman” dial (light shade dial -dark counters and vice versa).

Paul Newman John Player Special - “JPS”

Rare P.N. dial that matches the colour scheme of the John Player Special Lotus Formula 1 livery from the 1970s (black and gold).

Pepsi

GMT-Master with redand blue bezel.

Pikachu Dial

A Rolex Daytona model, ref. 116508 and 116518LN, with a a champagne dial and black sub-dials. The watch was given the nickname 'Pikachu' due to its color scheme being similar to that of the well-known Pokémon character, PIKACHU.

Octopus/ Polipetto

Sea-Dweller made for the State Police Diving Unit with reference 16600T. The dial shows the logo of the Unit: a small octopus.

Pussy Galore

GMT-Master with a thicker case (ref 6542).

Rainbow

In the Rainbow models, the tachymeter scale of the bezel is replaced by sapphires in the same chromatic sequence of the rainbow.

Root Beer

In the GMT "Root Beer" models, the bezel insert is two-tone: brown and gold.

Smurf

White gold Submariner with blue bezel and blue dial.

Sprite/Lefty

Ref. 126720VTNR with black/green bezel and winding crown on the left side of the watchcase.

Starbucks

A hybrid of Kermit and Hulk, with a green bezel and a black dial.

Stella

Vintage Day-Date with coloured enamel dial.

Steve McQueen / Freccione

The first Explorer II with ref. 1655.

Texan

It was produced for only about two years: the reference 5100 - with an imposing case in solid gold - was nicknamed TEXAN because it reminded one of the undiplomatic yet tough and overbearing character of a wealthy Texas magnate.

Triple Six

Sea-Dweller (ref. 16660).

You can find all these models in the three volumes of the “NEW ROLEX ENCYCLOPEDIA" You'll come across many other Rolex nicknames and you’ll be able to learn everything about modern and vintage Rolex watches from 1905 until today.