Your Detailed Guide To Rolex Nicknames And Official Terminology, Fake Watches

Over the years, Rolex collecting has developed a unique culture and terminology. Today, we will take stock of Rolex’s nicknames, unofficial names, and exclusive terms (sorted by English initials).

Batman——Batman

The GMT-Master II blue and black circle watch was released in 2013. The watch is also known as the Bruiser or BLNR (according to the model 116710BLNR).

Bombay Lugs——Bombay Lugs

The lugs and bracelet style of the Oyster case in the 1940s. The picture shown is a Ref. 5018 watch from 1948.

Bubbleback——bubble back

Antique watch case style from the 1930s to 1950s, characterized by a curved case back (purpose to accommodate the winding oscillating weight). Some styles even earned the nickname “Ovettone,” Italian for “big egg.”

Cerachrom

Ceramic material developed by Rolex and used in professional models. The Cerachrom ceramic word ring offers a variety of color schemes, such as Batman, Coke, and Pepsi.

Coca-Cola——Cola circle

This nickname belongs to all GMT-Master II red and black bezel watches. The bezel is available in aluminum and ceramic versions and was initially produced in 1982. Fake watches.

Dirty Harry——Dirty Harry

The GMT-Master Ref. 1675 watch, famous for being worn by Clint Eastwood (who played Harry in “Dirty Harry”), is also known as Root Beer. The watch shown in the picture was produced in 1970. In 2016, Antiquorum valued it at US$4,000 to US$6,000.

Double-Red——Double red (word)

The Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000 watch from the late 1960s is named after the two rows of red on the dial (correspondingly, there is also a single red). The Ref.9315 watch shown in the picture was produced in 1977 and sold by Antiquorum in 2014.

Everose – eternal rose gold

Rolex’s proprietary term for an 18ct pink alloy created in its foundry, whose formula is protected by multiple patents and trade names and offers unparalleled durability and extraordinary luster.

Fat Lady——Fat Lady

The Ref. 16760 GMT-Master II red and black circle watch produced between 1983 and 1988 was named after its size, which is 1 mm larger than similar products. The picture shows this exquisite timepiece, built in 1984 and sold by Antiquorum in 2012.

10.Freccione – big arrow

A 1971 Ref. 1655 Explorer II watch is equipped with a 24-hour hand with a large arrow, and “Freccione” means “big arrow” in Italian. The watch is also known as the “Steve McQueen” because Steve McQueen was rumored to have worn it, but this is disputed.

Gilt——gold-plated

The dials of Submariner watches produced from the late 1950s to the 1990s were gold-plated. The Ref.6536 watch shown in the picture was sold by Antiquorum Hong Kong in 2016.

Great White

A 1977 Ref. 1665 Sea-Dweller watch has replaced its iconic red letters with white letters.

Hulk——Hulk (green water ghost)

The Submariner Reference 116610LV watch released in 2010 has a green dial and green Cerachrom bezel.

14.Jean-Claude Killy——Jean-Claude Killy

The only Rolex watch that combines timekeeping and a full calendar (also known as “Dato-Compax”), it is scarce. Later, Jean-Claude Killy also became a Rolex brand ambassador. This type of watch was produced from 1940 to 1960 and is divided into four swiss models. The last model, Ref. 6236, is the most collectible. The Ref.6036 steel watch shown in the picture was produced in 1951.

15.Kermit——Kermit frog

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Submariner series in 2003, the brand launched the Reference 16610LV watch, equipped with a black dial and a green bezel. The nickname “Kermit” comes from the timid and gentle Kermit the Frog from “The Muppet Show.”

Mercedes——Mercedes (pointer)

It is named after the classic hour hand shape, first seen in the Explorer Ref. 6150 watch launched in 1953. The Mercedes logo-like design is also designed to accommodate fluorescent materials better. The watch pictured here sold for $10,200 at Antiquorum in 2010.

Nipple——nipple (time scale)

The dial is inlaid with raised dot-shaped hour markers, a design usually seen on watches with a Root Beer color scheme.

Oysterflex (strap)

The name of the Rolex polymer strap was first launched with the Yacht-Master 40 watch in 2015 and was later extended to the Cosmograph Daytona series. This strap consists of an elastic titanium-nickel alloy piece connected to the case and Oyster safety clasp, and the outer layer is covered with high-performance black rubber.

Oystersteel——Oyster steel

Rolex gives its name to stainless steel for domestic use (as of 2018). This material is the same 904L stainless steel the brand has used since 1985, polished and polished to give off a dazzling light. The name Oystersteel does not imply improving case finishing but rather a more formalized production process.

Papa Smurf——Smurf

The Submariner Ref. 116619 white gold watch launched in 2008 has a blue dial and bezel, showing a low-key luxury charm.

Patrizzi——Patrici

Rolex Daytona 16520 watch with faded, slightly brown chronograph bezel, named after Osvaldo Patrizzi’s auction in 2006. The watch shown in the picture was produced in 1994 and sold for 30,000 Swiss francs in Antiquorum.

Paul Newman——Paul Newman

This Ref.6239 watch was a gift from Paul Newman’s wife, Joanna Woodward. The words “DRIVE CAREFULLY / ME” are engraved on the back. The evidence of Paul Newman wearing this watch was first seen in an Italian magazine. In 2017, the watch was sold by Phillips for a price of US$17.75 million (including commission). This watch was so influential that the “exotic” Daytona was known for many years as the “Paul Newman” Daytona.

Pepsi——Pepsi Circle

Initially referring to the GMT-Master red and blue bezel watch designed in cooperation with Pan American Airways in the 1950s, it was reborn in 2014 with the advent of the red and blue Cerachrom bezel.

Polar——White plate and white label

This refers to the Ref.16570 Explorer II watch, equipped with a white dial and decorated with white hour markers. The watch shown in the picture was produced in 1998.

Presidents——Presidents (table)

The day-date watch launched in 1956, with a pure gold bracelet, was favored by many U.S. presidents, dignitaries, and world leaders, the first being Dwight Eisenhower.

Pussy Galore——Bond girl Grauer

The Ref. 6542 GMT-Master watch without a crown guard is named after the Bond girl played by Honor Blackman, who wore this watch in the third 007 film, “Goldfinger.” The watch shown in the picture was produced in 1957 and was sold by Antiquorum in 2013 for 30,000 Swiss francs.

Rolesor – gold steel

The name of the patent obtained by Rolex in 1933 refers to the fact that “the outer ring, winding crown and middle links of the strap are made of 18ct yellow gold or Everose gold.

Root Beer——root beer

“Root Beer” refers to the Ref. 1675/3 GMT-Master watch with a brown dial and bezel. This watch came out in 1963 and was famously worn by Clint Eastwood. It is a “dirty watch”. Synonyms for “Dirty Harry”.

Single Red——Single Red (word)

The Submariner Ref. 1680 watch was equipped with a date display. The dial was decorated with the word “Submariner” in red. The production period was from 1966 to 1973. The watch shown in the picture was produced in 1969 and sold by Antiquorum in 2008 for 30,000 Swiss francs.

Steve McQueen – Steve McQueen

See “Freccione – Big Arrow”. Steve McQueen did not wear the Explorer II Orange Hand watch. He wore the Submariner Ref. 5512 watch. In 2009, this watch was sold by Antiquorum for $234,000.

Thunderbird——Thunderbird

A 1950s Datejust watch with a Turn-O-Graph rotating bezel, Rolex also produced a version with a unique dial imprint for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The Ref. 1625 watch shown in the picture was built in 1950 and was sold by Antiquorum in 2015 for 6,875 Swiss francs.

32.Underline——underline

Refers to the sports models from the early 1950s to the early 1960s, characterized by an underline below noon on the dial, indicating the change of Rolex’s fluorescent material from radium to tritium. The Ref.6084 watch shown in the picture was produced around 1951 and was sold by Antiquorum in 2014 for US$3,750.