Pepsi, Batman, Hulk, Panda, Root Beer, Starbucks, Kermit, Coke, Smurf, Wimbledon. If you’ve ever felt like Rolex collectors are speaking a different language, this is your dictionary.
The first time someone told me they were “trying to get a Batgirl on Jubilee,” I genuinely thought they were talking about a comic book. It took an embarrassingly long time before I realized that Rolex collectors have developed an entire parallel vocabulary for describing watches, and that nobody bothers to explain it to newcomers because everyone assumes you already know.
You don’t have to already know. Here’s every major Rolex nickname, what it refers to, and where it came from.
GMT-Master II Nicknames
This is where the nickname culture is most developed, because the GMT-Master II’s bi-color bezels practically beg for shorthand.
Pepsi (ref. 126710BLRO): Blue and red Cerachrom bezel. Named after the Pepsi-Cola logo, which uses the same color combination. The Pepsi is the most historically significant GMT colorway, paying homage to the original 1955 GMT-Master designed for Pan Am pilots. Available on both Oyster and Jubilee bracelets, though the Jubilee is most closely associated with the nickname thanks to the 2018 reintroduction that kicked off the modern GMT craze.
Batman (ref. 116710BLNR): Blue and black bezel on an Oyster bracelet. The previous generation GMT-Master II, now discontinued. Named for the dark color combination evoking the Dark Knight. If someone says “Batman,” they specifically mean this older reference on the Oyster bracelet.
Batgirl (ref. 126710BLNR): Same blue and black bezel, but the current generation on a Jubilee bracelet. The community needed a way to distinguish it from the Batman, and “Batgirl” stuck. Some people dislike the name. Those people are outnumbered.
Sprite (ref. 126720VTNR): Green and black bezel with a left-handed crown at 9 o’clock. Named after the green Sprite soft drink logo. The newest addition to the GMT family and the most visually distinctive thanks to the lefty crown configuration.
Root Beer (ref. 126711CHNR): Brown and black bezel on an Everose Rolesor (steel and rose gold) case. Named for the color of root beer. The nickname has been used for brown-bezelled GMT references since the 1970s, making it one of the oldest in the Rolex vocabulary.
Coke (vintage refs.): Red and black bezel. Primarily associated with vintage GMT-Master references like the 16710. Named after the Coca-Cola color scheme. There’s no current-production Coke, which is why the rumor mill goes into overdrive every year before Watches and Wonders speculating about its return.
Submariner Nicknames
Hulk (ref. 116610LV): Green dial and green Cerachrom bezel. Discontinued in 2020. Named because the all-green look was bold, aggressive, and impossible to miss. The Hulk has become one of the most sought-after discontinued Rolex references, trading well above its original retail price.
Kermit (ref. 16610LV): Green bezel on a black dial, with an aluminum bezel insert. The original green-bezel Submariner, produced from 2003 to 2010 for the Submariner’s 50th anniversary. Named after Kermit the Frog. Preceded the Hulk and carries strong collector premiums.
Starbucks (ref. 126610LV): Green Cerachrom bezel on a black dial. The current-production replacement for the Hulk. Named after the green Starbucks logo. Some collectors call it the “Cermit” (ceramic Kermit), but Starbucks has won the naming war.
Smurf (ref. 116619LB): Blue dial and blue Cerachrom bezel in white gold. Named after the Smurfs for obvious color reasons. The all-blue look in white gold gives it a presence that’s completely different from the steel Submariners. Now replaced by the current ref. 126619LB, which has inherited the nickname.
No-Date (ref. 124060): Not technically a nickname in the creative sense, but universally used to distinguish the Submariner without a date window from the Submariner Date. When someone says “the No-Date,” every collector knows exactly what they mean.
Daytona Nicknames
Panda (ref. 126500LN, white dial): White dial with black subdials. The contrast creates a face that resembles a panda bear. The Panda Daytona is arguably the single most sought-after watch in the current Rolex catalogue.
Reverse Panda (ref. 126500LN, black dial): Black dial with silver subdials. The inverse of the Panda. Both are stunning. The Panda gets more attention, but the Reverse Panda has a dedicated following who’ll argue all day that it’s the better daily wearer.
Paul Newman (vintage refs.): An exotic dial variant found on certain vintage Daytona references (most famously the ref. 6239), featuring an Art Deco-style dial with contrasting subsidiary dials and a stepped minute track. Named after the actor, who famously wore one given to him by his wife Joanne Woodward. Paul Newman’s personal Daytona sold at auction in 2017 for $17.8 million, making it one of the most expensive watches ever sold.
John Mayer (ref. 116508): The yellow gold Daytona with a green dial. Not an official nickname, but it entered the lexicon after musician John Mayer famously wore and championed this reference, helping to spark a surge in demand for what had been a relatively under-the-radar configuration.
Datejust and Day-Date Nicknames
Wimbledon (various refs.): A Datejust or Day-Date dial featuring green Roman numerals on a slate grey background. Named because the color combination resembles the Wimbledon tennis tournament’s branding. Available across multiple Datejust configurations and increasingly popular.
Tiffany (ref. 126000): The Oyster Perpetual with a turquoise blue dial, reminiscent of the Tiffany & Co. signature blue. Rolex never officially called it this, but the nickname stuck instantly and the watch became one of the most hyped Oyster Perpetuals in recent memory. Now discontinued, which has only increased the frenzy.
President: Not a specific reference but a nickname for the Day-Date itself, and specifically for its signature bracelet (the President bracelet). Named after the association with US presidents, reportedly beginning with Dwight D. Eisenhower. When someone says “the President,” they mean a Day-Date on the President bracelet.
Explorer and Other Nicknames
Polar (ref. 226570, white dial): The Explorer II with a white dial. Named because the white dial and orange GMT hand evoke Arctic exploration. The Polar is the more visually distinctive of the two Explorer II dial options and carries a dedicated following.
Bluesy (ref. 126613LB): The two-tone Submariner in steel and yellow gold with a blue dial and blue bezel. Named for the blue color scheme. The Bluesy is one of the more approachable two-tone Rolex sport watches and has developed a strong following among buyers who want something warmer than full steel.
Why Nicknames Matter
Rolex never uses these names. You won’t find “Pepsi” or “Batman” in any official catalogue. These are entirely community-created, which is part of what makes them meaningful. They represent a shared language among collectors, a shorthand that signals you’re part of the conversation.
They’re also practically useful. Saying “I’m looking for a Pepsi on Jubilee” communicates more information in six words than a full reference number and bracelet specification. When you’re talking to a dealer, a collector, or browsing listings, knowing the nicknames saves time and signals that you know what you’re looking for.
And honestly? They’re just fun. The watch community can be intimidating to newcomers, but the fact that grown adults are earnestly debating the merits of a “Batgirl vs. a Sprite” should tell you that nobody here takes themselves too seriously. Well, most of us don’t.
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