Famous Rolex watches and their nicknames

Kermits , Batmans , Pepsis , root beer – when these are mentioned, they are not always necessarily referring to film characters or drinks. These terms are more of a sign that a conversation is taking place between real Rolex connoisseurs. Die-hard fans of the brand often have has a special vocabulary that often puzzles outsiders. But knowing the famous Rolex models with memorable nicknames is not rocket science. With our overview, you will always be able to join in the conversation in the future - regardless of whether the topic is Root Beer or Smurf .

The Rolex Vocabulary for Beginners

Rolex is known to be something like seventh heaven for watch lovers - with sophisticated timepieces from the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer, the brand's numerous fans enter higher spheres. The passion of Rolex fans goes so far that it has already developed its own technical language. As a result of this culture, some of the most famous Rolex models of all time have been given unusual nicknames. These are unofficial and therefore not listed in catalogues etc., but dealers, journalists and Rolex enthusiasts always know exactly what they are. You can find out below how the charming nicknames came about, which often represent a strong contrast to the strictly serious, luxurious image of the brand.

Keep Green and Kermit on

Over time, some models in the Submariner series have been given affectionate nicknames by fans. One in particular stands out: Kermit. Officially launched as reference 16610LV, this Submariner was brought onto the market in a new guise as the Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date 50th Anniversary Edition for its 50th anniversary in 2003. The initials at the end of the reference stand for "Lunette Vert", French for "green bezel" - and it is precisely this green aluminum bezel that makes the timepiece a real eye-catcher. The nickname Kermit was naturally created as a reference to the famous green puppet frog from the Muppet Show. Like every piece in the Submariner collection, the model impresses with a water-resistant Oyster case with screw-down crown, automatic winding, as well as endurance, robustness, precision and the highest quality workmanship.

The Joy of Pepsi

This model is still the most prominent nickname in the Rolex family. The outstanding GMT Master and GMT-Master II models with red and blue bezels are called Pepsi because the colors are very similar to the logo of the well-known beverage manufacturer. Rolex originally chose the color combination because of the logo of the American airline Pan Am, for which the watch manufacturer was to develop timepieces that display a second time zone in the 1950s. Fans, however, decided that the bezel was simply more reminiscent of Pepsi cans. GMT "Pepsis" have been launched in many different editions to date, for example as a steel model with a ceramic bezel in 2018.

Have a Coke and a Smile

After the success of Pepsi, Coke followed: In 1983, Rolex launched the first GMT-Master II with a red and black bezel. The nickname "Coke" came about at the same time as the timepiece was introduced, because the color combination immediately reminded watch fans of the black drink in the glass bottle with the bright red label. The very first Coke was also known as the "Fat Lady" or "Sophia Loren" due to its wide case.

I am Batman

The first Rolex timepiece with a two-tone ceramic bezel was launched in 2013 as reference 116710BLNR. This time, the black and blue color combination was not associated with a soft drink, but with an action hero: Batman. The watch was hugely popular because the steel-cased GMT "Batman" marked a technological breakthrough. The monobloc middle section of the ceramic case could only be produced using a sophisticated chemical process.

Bring Home the Root Beer

Here, Rolex fans have once again chosen a soft drink as their name. It is assumed that this nickname originated in the late 1970s or early 1980s and referred to the watch with the reference 16753. The bezel of this Rolex model is brown and cream-colored - similar to root beer, a popular non-alcoholic drink from America, which never achieved the same fame in Europe. Later, all Rolex watches with a two-tone gold and steel case, two-tone bracelets or brown dials with gold indices were also called root beer.

The Smurfs

This is a piece from the legendary Submariner series from Rolex . The dial and bezel of this special example are not the usual black, but bright blue. The reference 116619 from 2008 had the very first Cerachrom bezel on a Submariner and was nicknamed "Smurf" thanks to its design. The color reminded fans of the world-famous deep blue cartoon characters from Belgium. The watch with a white gold case enjoyed enormous popularity with various celebrities and, just like its "Smurf sister" with the reference 116618 with a yellow gold case, will certainly never be forgotten thanks to its nickname alone.

It Started with a Mouse

In fact, this watch is exactly what you might think: a collaboration between Disney and Rolex during the sixties or seventies. Walt Disney enjoyed wearing watches from the Swiss manufacturer for many years. The two companies teamed up to put a classic version of Mickey Mouse on a watch face. Over time, there has been more and more debate online about whether these watches are really genuine, because Rolex 's serious image no longer matches the design. This raised many doubts. Most people assumed that the watches were genuine Rolex models, but that the dial with the mouse was added later. There is some truth to this theory, because such reworked Rolex watches do exist - but so do the original pieces with Mickey Mouse on the dial. The homage to the iconic mouse can be found in Oyster Date and similar models, for example, but there are very few of them. All watches were made of stainless steel and had a case diameter between 35 and 36mm. Back then, the pieces were intended for men, even though the case size today suggests a women's or children's model. Definitely an interesting collector's item that evokes nostalgic feelings.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

The Rolex "Rainbow" Daytona model became a cult object practically overnight. The stunning timepiece in yellow or white gold was extremely limited and was highly sought after by rock stars, Hollywood icons and collectors all over the world. Rolex later released the magnificent watch in Everose rose gold. The bezel is set with 36 colored sapphires in the order of the rainbow. The centerpiece of the case also has 56 diamonds and the radiant black dial comes with 18-carat gold crystals. This is probably the most artistic example of a watch that Rolex has ever created.

sapphires and rubies

The Rolex GMT-Master with reference number 16758 was given the nickname SARU - a fusion of the words sapphires and rubies, with which the attractive watch is not too sparingly equipped. The yellow gold timepiece came onto the market in the eighties and is considered one of the brand's most exclusive creations. Many passionate collectors have set themselves the goal of one day having such a piece of jewelry in their collection.

The Eye of the Tiger

Another Rolex GMT Master II was nicknamed "Tiger Eye". The timepiece with the reference 16753 was named this because of its two-tone bezel in yellow and brown. But another detail stands out about this watch from the 1980s: the so-called nipple dial, where the indexes protrude from the dial like small, stiff nipples. A fine men's watch, as it should be in the textbooks.

Time for a Starbucks

The Rolex Submariner Date with reference number 126610LV is at least as well-known as the famous franchise chain with which it shares a (nick)name. Due to its black dial in combination with the green bezel, the watch with date display and luminous indices is affectionately called " Starbucks " among connoisseurs.

The Bruce Wayne

Closely linked to the Rolex Batman , the Rolex GMT-Master II with the reference 126710GRNR bears the nickname "Bruce Wayne". Unlike the Batman, the bezel on the Bruce Wayne model is not two-tone, but completely black. The two Rolex watches can also be distinguished by the 24-hour hand: this is blue on the Batman, but green on the Bruce Wayne.

Cute as a Panda

The Rolex Daytona with its white dial and black-framed totalizers has secured itself one of the cutest nicknames. The high-quality sports watch is reminiscent of the face of a panda thanks to its color scheme. An impression that is further reinforced by the black bezel. But the work with contrasts that has been implemented so impressively in this design also has a practical background: the black totalizers stand out sharply from the white dial, so that a quick glance is enough to read the display precisely.

It's getting Bluesy

While Pepsi , Batman and Kermit are familiar names to any watch lover with a penchant for Rolex timepieces, the Bluesy is one of those models that you hear about a little less often. It is a very special Submariner, whose special charm comes from the combination of strong blue with simple stainless steel and rich gold. The royal blue dial of the reference 126613LB is framed by a blue bezel with gold numerals, which in turn merges into a bicolor bracelet made of gold and stainless steel.

Thirsty for Sprite

In the version nicknamed "Sprite", the Rolex GMT-Master II presents itself in perhaps its freshest and most lively form. The watch on the sporty stainless steel bracelet immediately catches the eye with its black and green bicolor bezel, while the jet black, no-frills dial also gives it a timeless, thoroughly elegant character.

The Fat Lady

When we talk about the Rolex Fat Lady, we mean the GMT-Master II with reference number 16760. The reason for the unusual nickname is the thicker case of this model, which makes the watch appear a little more bulky.

It's Bond, James Bond

It is no secret that several Rolex watches have appeared on screen in the popular James Bond films. The first Rolex to find its place on the wrist of the box office hit agent was the Rolex Submariner with reference number 6538. It was worn by Sean Connery in the action film “Dr. No” and thus earned the nickname “James Bond”.

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