Rolex Nicknames: Complete List and Explanations of the Legendary Models

Among watch enthusiasts, Rolex watches occupy a special place. True icons of luxury, precision, and timeless design, certain models have acquired a special aura, to the point of receiving nicknames that have become legendary. These names, often given by collectors or enthusiasts, are inspired by their appearance, their color palette, or deep-rooted cultural references. Hulk, Pepsi, Batman, Kermit… Behind these original names lies a whole story. PSB Watches offers you a complete overview of the most famous nicknames of the Rolex brand.

The most famous nicknames of the GMT-Master and GMT-Master II

The Rolex GMT-Master is probably the model family with the most nicknames. Introduced in the 1950s for Pan Am pilots, this dual-time watch was distinguished by its iconic two-tone bezels. Over time, these color combinations inspired a whole host of nicknames.

• Pepsi : red and blue bezel, emblematic of the first GMT-Masters (ref. 1675, 16710, 126710BLRO).

• Coke : black and red glasses, in reference to the famous soft drink (ref. 16760, 16710).

• Root Beer : brown and gold bezel, appeared on the two-tone and rose gold versions. Reference to the North American brown-colored drink (ref. 1675/3, 16713, 126711CHNR).

• Batman : black and blue bezel on Oyster bracelet, nickname adopted upon its release in 2013 (ref. 116710BLNR, 126710BLNR).

• Batgirl : same configuration as Batman but with a Jubilee bracelet (ref. 126710BLNR).

• Bruce Wayne : dark gray and black glasses, sober and elegant design evoking the civilian costume of Batman's alter ego (ref. 126710GRNR).
  

• Sprite : green and black bezel, with the crown moved to the left of the case (ref. 126720VTNR).

• Fat Lady or Sophia Loren : thicker case of the first GMT-Master II model (ref. 16760).

• Blueberry : rare all-blue bezel, not officially mass-produced (ref. 1675).

• Pussy Galore : nickname given to the GMT-Master with a two-tone red and blue bezel to distinguish between day and night, worn by the character of the same name in James Bond (ref. 6542).

The iconic nicknames of the Rolex Submariner

Created in 1953 for professional divers, the Submariner is now one of Rolex's most recognizable models. Some versions have acquired iconic nicknames, often inspired by their color or their use in film.

• Hulk : green bezel and dial on steel case, released in 2010 (ref. 116610LV).

• Kermit : black dial and green bezel, introduced for the 50th anniversary of the Submariner in 2003 (ref. 16610LV).

• Starbucks : nickname given to the modern version of the Kermit, with a larger box (ref. 126610LV).

• Smurf : blue bezel and dial on white gold case (ref. 116619LB).

• Bluesy : blue bezel and blue dial on two-tone version (ref. 16613LB, 116613LB, 126613LB).

• No date : Version without date window at 3 o'clock (ref. 124060 or 14060/114060 before)

• James Bond : reference to the Submariner worn by Sean Connery in the 60s (ref. 6538 then 5508, 5510, 5513 by subsequent actors).

• Milsub : modified versions for the Royal Navy, which have become ultra-collectible (ref. 5513 modified).

Nicknames for the Rolex Daytona

The Rolex Daytona, born for motor racing, has become one of the brand's most coveted models. Some versions have been propelled to legendary status by personalities or their unique features.

• Panda : white dial with black sub-dials, typical of modern or vintage Daytonas with marked contrast (ref. 116500LN)

• Reverse Panda : black dial with white sub-dials, the reverse of the "Panda" (ref. 116500LN)
  

• Rainbow : bezel set with multi-colored sapphires in a rainbow gradient, present on certain Daytonas (ref. 116595RBOW)

• Paul Newman : nickname given to the models with “exotic” dials, popularized by the actor (ref. 6239, 6241, 6263, 6262...)

• John Player Special : black and gold dial reminiscent of Formula 1 cars from the 70s (ref. 6241, 6264)

• Big Red : “Daytona” inscription in bright red above the totalizer (ref. 6263, 6265)

• Patrizzi : dials becoming brown over time, natural aging effect (ref. 16520)

• John Mayer : green dial on yellow gold, made famous by the American musician (ref. 116508)

• Eye of the Tiger : bezel and dial set with diamonds in a feline motif (ref. 116588)

• Zenith : Model between 1988 and 2000 equipped with the modified El Primero movement (ref. 16520)

Explorer, Sea-Dweller, Day-Date: rarer but more striking nicknames

Less numerous, the nicknames attributed to the Explorer, Sea-Dweller Datejust or Day-Date models often have a more historical or aesthetic origin.

• Freccione : Explorer II with orange needle, also wrongly nicknamed “Steve McQueen” (ref. 1655)

• Polar : Explorer II with white dial (ref. 16570, 216570, 226570...)

• Blackout : Explorer I with numbers 3, 6 and 9 painted in black, produced briefly (ref. 14270)

• Double Red : Sea-Dweller with two red lines on the dial (ref. 1665)

• Great White : Sea-Dweller with all-white text (ref. 1665).

• James Cameron : Deepsea with blue bezel/solid case, homage to diving in the Mariana Trench (ref. 116660)

• President : name of the Day-Date bracelet, worn by many heads of state (ref. 1803 and following)

• Wimbledon : Datejust with slate dial and green numerals, in partnership with the tennis tournament (ref. 126334, 126331...)

• Thunderbird : Datejust with rotating bezel, developed for American fighter pilots (ref. 1625)

• Roulette : nickname given to Datejusts displaying odd days in red and even days in black.

Why are these nicknames so popular?

Originally unofficial, these nicknames originated in forums, collector's catalogs, and enthusiast circles. They allow a watch to be quickly identified based on its distinctive features without referring to a complex reference. But beyond their practicality, these names add an emotional and cultural dimension to objects already rich in history. They reflect the collective enthusiasm surrounding certain models that have become cult classics, whether they are still in production or are now unobtainable.

Conclusion

Rolex nicknames reflect the brand's place in the collective imagination. They reveal the attention to detail, the collectors' love, and the way certain watches have made a lasting impression.

Feel free to explore our articles to learn more about iconic watches from yesterday and today.