38 Rolex Watch Nicknames Of Famous Rolex Watches

Last updated on April 21, 2021

Rolex watch nicknames are a great way to remember so many of Rolex’s iconic timepieces.

From soda names like Coke and Pepsi, to famous actors like Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. There is an abundance of memorable Rolex watches with quirky nicknames.

The best way to categorize all the Rolex nicknames is alphabetically. We’ve made it easy for you to jump straight to each Rolex watch nickname.

Check out some of the most famous Rolex watch nicknames around today.

We’ve gone in depth into each nickname, and also compiled a comparison chart with a picture of each watch at the end of this blog post.

Rolex Watch Nicknames

Bao Dai
Bart Simpson
Batgirl
Batman
Big Eyes
Blueberry
Bluesy
Bombay
Bubbleback
Clint Eastwood
Coke
Daytona Beach
Dirty Harry
Double Red Sea-Dweller (DRSD)
Fat Lady
Great White
Hulk
James Bond
James Cameron
Jean-Claude Killy
John Player Special
Kermit
Padellone
Patrizzi
Paul Newman
Pepsi
Polar
President
Pussy Galore
Rainbow
Root Beer
Smurf
Stella
Steve McQueen
Texas Timex
Thunderbird
Triple Six
Unicorn

Keep scrolling, or else jump straight to the Rolex Watch Nickname Comparison Chart at the end.

1. Bao Dai

The Bao Dai (Bảo Đại) was the nickname given to the Rolex Ref. 6062 watch that was sold for over $5 million. Making it one of the most expensive watches ever sold at auction.

The reason why this yellow gold and diamond encrusted watch is nicknamed Bau Dai. Is because Bảo Đại was the previous owner of this watch. And he was the last emperor of Vietnam.

2. Bart Simpson

The Rolex 5513 is one of the most sought after Submariner references that you can own.

The Brat Simpson is a Rolex 5513. These Rolex Subs were first released in the early 1960s. While the Bart Simpson watch is believed to be made in the year 1966.

The nickname comes from the points of the coronet. Which are stubby and flat looking, compared to previous models. This is what fans say looks like the spiky hair of Bart Simpson.

Some Bart Simpson Subs come with a glossy lacquer dial (as seen above) or a glossy gilt dial (as seen below).

3. Batgirl

In 2019, Rolex launched the GMT-Master II Ref. 126710BLNR to replace the Batman GMT.

While retaining all of its previous features like a blue and black Cerachrom ceramic bezel and steel construction. The Batgirl Rolex watch comes with a Jubilee bracelet rather than an Oyster one.

This makes the timepiece take on a more dressy look. So many Rolex fans have taken up the nickname of Batgirl for these GMTs. Showing appreciation for this more elegant GMT watch.

4. Batman

Rolex released the GMT-Master II Ref. 116710BLNR watch in 2013.

These Rolex GMT-Master II watches had a black and blue Cerachrom bezel inserts. These Rolex watches were quickly nicknamed the Batman GMTs due to their dark color profile that embraces the same colors as the comic book superhero, Batman.

5. Big Eyes

These rare chronograph variants of reference 6263 and 6265 are very intriguing. Their subdials are notably larger than those found on other references from the Rolex Cosmograph series.

Rolex Cosmograph collectors have named these rare variants Big Eyes. Both launched in 1969 and were offered in either stainless steel or gold.

These Rolex watches also received another interesting nickname at the time; Lycia Naff. That comes from an American actress who had three breasts in the Total Recall movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

6. Blueberry

The Rolex Blueberry is the nickname given to the Rolex GMT-Master 1675, that has the all red GMT hand and the all blue bezel.

This watch was only produced for a very short period of time during the 1970s. Making this watch super rare, with only 500 of these Rolexes believed to have been produced.

7. Bluesy

The Rolex Submariner nicknamed Bluesy, refers to the two-tone, 904L stainless steel, and 18k yellow gold Submariner.

This watch comes with a blue dial and matching blue bezel.

The original Bluesy was released in 1984. It was the Submariner Ref. 16803. Then Rolex replaced the original Bluesy in 1988, with the Submariner Ref. 16613.

Then the Ref. 116613LB replaced the 1988 Bluesy. This new model still had the two-tone, but this time it had a blue Ceramic bezel, with a sunburst blue dial.

Now again, there was a new Bluesy on the scene in 2020. The new and improved Bluesy Ref. 126613LB. Still blue, and this time with a maxi case size on offer too.

8. Bombay

Also nicknamed Bombay Lugs. This Rolex watch nickname is referring to the long and curved lugs on these timepieces.

This nickname comes from the French word bombée. Which is translated to bulging.

This lug style can be found on some vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual models from the 1950s. However they are very rare timepieces.

9. Bubbleback

The vintage Rolex watches with a bubble shaped caseback were popular during the 1930s and 1940s.

These cases have a distinctively domed back that was needed to accommodate their rotor for their automatic movement.

Rolex opted to allow it’s curved bubble shaped caseback protrude out further so that enough space would exist inside for the movement. They opted for this rather than making the overall case size larger.

The additional nickname of big egg is used when referring to these vintage Rolex timepieces as well.

10. Clint Eastwood

Refer to the Rolex watch nickname; Root Beer.

11. Coke

The red and black Coke bezel on the first Rolex GMT-Master II model was called Coke because of its resemblance to the brand colors of Coca-Cola.

The Coke bezel is only present in aluminum, never Cerachrom ceramic.

The Coke Rolex made its debut on a reference 16760 in 1983, and continued to use it on the following reference 16710, in 1989.

12. Daytona Beach

Rolex Daytona Beach Chronographs (Phillips)

The Rolex watch series, nicknamed Daytona Beach. Refers to a collection of color chronographs. These watches were released in 2001, and they stopped production in 2005.

These watches are actually called the Cosmograph Daytona Beach.

These chronographs are rare. They were released in the colors; green, yellow, blue, and pink. These Cosmographs are fitted with hard stone dials. Which is where the name for them seems to come in.

13. Dirty Harry

Refer to the Rolex watch nickname; Root Beer.

14. Double Red Sea-Dweller (DRSD)

The Double Red SeaDweller (DRSD) dive watches were produced from about 1967 to 1977.

The reason for this Rolex nickname is due to their dial. This nickname would help distinguish these earlier Sea-Dweller Ref. 1665 models. As these models had two lines of red text on the dial.

Whereas the later versions have lines of white text instead. All the Double Red Sea-Dwellers were phased out by 1977.

Then these Sea-Dwellers Ref. 1665, also got given a Rolex watch nickname. They have been nicknamed the Great White.

15. Fat Lady

The nickname the Fat Lady, or the more seductive nickname of Sophia Loren. Was due to a fairly subtle change in the thickness of the Ref. GMT-Master II Ref. 16760.

The extra thickness only added up to around 0.5mm, yet it gave the watch a more rounded and curved look. Earning them the nicknames.

Above you can see a combination of the Fat Lady and the Coke nicknames colliding in 1987 to create that GMT-Master II Ref. 16760.

16. Great White

The Great White was the nickname given to the very first Sea-Dwellers. Instead of just being lumped into the Rolex Submariner category.

Sea-Dwellers are Rolex’s deepsea dive watch collection, which we all know well today.

The main aesthetic difference from the earlier Double Red Sea-Dweller, is that the Great White have only white lines of text on their dials. Instead of two (double) red lines of text.

The first Rolex Great Whites, the Sea-Dwellers Ref. 1665, were introduced in 1977.

17. Hulk

The Submariner Ref. 116610LV is the Submariner that’s likened to the Marvel comic book character, the Incredible Hulk.

It’s nicknamed the Hulk because of its thick and all green color profile. Which includes the dial and the ceramic bezel.

Although not the first time that Rolex has used green on their watches of course. Rolex does have the aptly nicknamed green Kermit Submariner, that features a green bezel. Which was released before the Hulk Sub.

The Hulk stands out, as it features both an all green dial and corresponding green bezel insert.

18. James Bond

The James Bond Rolex watch nickname refers to the Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538. Made famous by featuring in the first four James Bond movies. They were:

Dr. No (1962)
From Russia With Love (1963)
Goldfinger (1964)
Thunderball (1965)

The James Bond Rolex, the Sub 6538, was only featured on the wrist of Bond played by Sean Connery.

Also this watch is sometimes referred to as the James Bond NATO. This is because the Bond Sub had a NATO looking nylon strap on it.

Learn more about all the watches worn by James Bond in every Bond movie.

19. James Cameron

The Rolex James Cameron is the Rolex Deepsea saturation dive watch. This watch is a beast that can withstand up to 3,900 metres (12,800 ft) of water pressure.

Rolex played a pivotal role in James Cameron’s successful 2012 descent to the deepest part of the world’s oceans. So it made sense for them to release their special edition Deepsea Sea-Dweller watch, and for it to be nicknamed after him.

James Cameron on his world record solo dive into Mariana Trench

20. Jean-Claude Killy

One of Rolex’s most iconic and desirable timepieces, the Dato-Compax series. These watches are an ultra rare combination of chronograph and full calendar.

They were produced over two decades, from the 1940s till the 1960s. There are five references in total; 4768, 4767, 5036, 6036 and 6236.

The Ref. 6236 version has become one of the rarest Rolex because it only had a production run for two years before being replaced by models with broader appeal to more consumers.

Jean-Claude Killy in a Rolex Explorer II Commercial (Rolex Magazine)

Jean-Claude Killy is a retired French Olympic champion, alpine skier who dominated skiing during the late 1960s. As a Rolex brand ambassador, Jean-Claude Killy was at the center of different advertising campaigns for many Rolex watches.

The Dato-Compax series was nicknamed the Jean Claude Killy series. He wore these Rolex’s many times in his personal life. This Rolex collection was nicknamed after him following his retirement as an athlete.

21. John Player Special

The name John Player Special is given to Rolex Daytona Ref. 6241 watches that are made in rare yellow gold.

These nicknames originated from the strong Italian collector and dealer network, but still stuck around even after many years. The name probably came from Italian F1 and Rolex fans.

The watch itself resembles the Lotus Formula 1 cars which were sponsored by John Player & Sons cigarettes who had their own brand of specials at the time.

You can see the John Player Special (JPS) F1 car in action below. It does have the same coloring as the Rolex watch.

22. Kermit

The Rolex Kermit was a Submariner released on the 53th anniversary of the Rolex Sub back in 2003.

It’s known as the Kermit due to it’s green bezel. There was another green Rolex released after the Kermit. It was even greener with a green dial and bezel, and it’s nicknamed the Rolex Hulk.

23. Padellone

For many vintage enthusiasts, the Rolex reference 8171 is an extremely sought after Rolex vintage timepiece.

The 38mm watch was released in 1949 when watches were quite small. With the average size for a men’s wristwatch at that time being about 30mm.

So the watch was nicknamed Padellone which means large frying pan. It earned its nickname due to the watches curved lugs and sharp corners sticking out from where they are attached to the case.

The Rolex Padellone comes with a moonphase complication, along with a triple calendar function. So it’s packed with features.

24. Patrizzi

There exists a rare variety of Rolex Daytona Ref. 16520, nicknamed Patrizzi. After Osvaldo Patrizzi, who is the founder of the Antiquorum auction house and a watchmaker himself.

They were made with silver rings outlining their trio of subdials but over time these subdial rings oxidized to dark brown, due to the varnish used when producing them.

Osvaldo Patrizzi was the person who first identified this Rolex watch phenomenon.

25. Paul Newman

The Rolex Paul Newman is the most expensive Rolex watch ever sold at a watch auction.

This Rolex Daytona Ref. 6241 watch is the most expensive mass produced timepiece ever sold. It was owned by Hollywood actor Paul Newman, which is why this Rolex watch has the nickname.

The Paul Newman Daytona sold for an unbelievable $17.7 million! In New York, at the Phillips auction house, in 2017.

You can learn more about this watch along with all the other most expensive watches in the world.

26. Pepsi

Rolex’s first GMT watch was the GMT-Master Ref. 6542. However, instead we’ve all likened it to the popular soda drink; Pepsi. As the bezel of the Ref. 6542 does match those colors.

Any Rolex GMT-Master original Ref. 6542, or GMT-Master II can be referred to with the Rolex nickname of Pepsi, or Pepsi GMT. Just once it features that Pepsi bezel.

You can learn more about GMT watches in our guide.

27. Polar

The super cool Rolex Polar got its watch nickname thanks to its white dial.

The Rolex Polar describes the Explorer II line of Rolex watches. Sometimes they’re nicknamed the Polar Explorer, or the Polar Explorer II as well.

The references for the Polar are 16550, 16570, and 216570.

28. President

The Rolex President refers to a yellow gold Datejust, that was famously worn by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

However, another reason for the Rolex watch’s nickname is that when Rolex launched them in 1956. They came fitted to a brand new bracelet style called the President bracelets.

Billionaire Warren Buffett also relies on a Rolex President, as well as the famous Tony Soprano character from The Sopranos, and also basketball legend Michael Jordan.

29. Pussy Galore

The Pussy Galore Rolex watch is a GMT-Master Ref. 6542.

This watch was nicknamed after the Bond villain who was wearing it. Her character name was Pussy Galore, played by Honor Blackman, in the 1964 James Bond movie called Goldfinger.

Pussy Galore in the Bond movie Goldfinger

30. Rainbow

Rolex has a wide variety of extravagant watch models. One of their most extravagant collections is their Daytona Rainbow watches. Which are forged from yellow or white gold with colored sapphires on its bezel.

These special edition chronographs are super rare timepieces, and very expensive.

31. Root Beer

This particular model was nicknamed the Root Beer, due to its light brown and rich coloring.

This watch was also nicknamed the Dirty Harry, after Clint Eastwood’s character. Even though Eastwood’s character wore a Timex instead in the famous movie of the same name.

Or this watch was also nicknamed Clint Eastwood.

The Root Beer GMT-Master Ref. 16753 was first released in 1959, and was in production until 1980.

32. Smurf

The Rolex Smurf is one of the most expensive modern Submariner references available. Known as the Submariner Ref. 116619, it was first released in 2008.

Its white gold solid 18-karat construction, along with its bright blue dial and Cerachrom bezel insert. The watch is in some way reminiscent of those fictional characters from the show Smurfs.

It’s one of the more expensive watches on this list, as it’s become a favorite among celebrities and professional athletes.

Plus this reference is no longer in production, making it even more desirable to collectors everywhere.

33. Stella

Stella is a Rolex watch collection nickname.

When we say Stella we can be referring to the Rolex Stella Day-Dates or the Stella Datejusts. These watches were first released in the 1970s, and have now become a highly sought after Rolex collectible timepiece.

Prices for these watches have shot up in the last few years, most likely due to their funky dial designs. They come in a range of gorgeous colors. Bright pops of blues, reds, oranges and more.

Yet their broad appeal is also due to their case size of 36mm. Which is an ideal size of a watch for a man or a woman.

34. Steve McQueen

The Rolex Explorer II, first introduced in the 1970s as a watch for speleologists and explorers alike to navigate caves without any light at all. Has got many Rolex watch nicknames over the years.

One is Il Freccione (roughly translated from Italian to mean “arrow”), which refers back to its most famous feature. That is the large 24-hour GMT hand that can be seen regardless of lighting conditions.

Another nickname is Steve McQueen. Who was an American actor during the 1960s and 70s. He was regarded as the King of Cool.

This Rolex watch nickname traces back to an advertising campaign during Steve McQueens career. In this ad he wore a Rolex Explorer II watch while climbing mountains, and driving race cars on dirt roads.

This resonated with Rolex fans, and so they nicknamed the Rolex after Steve McQueen. Even though McQueen never even wore a Rolex Explorer II Ref. 1665 watch in his own time.

35. Texas Timex

While it might be nicknamed a Texas Timex, this watch is very much a Rolex watch.

Texas was flooded with Rolex watches by the mid-1980s. Thanks to the oil-producing US state being flush with cash.

Plus fellow Texan, President Lyndon B. Johnson wore a Rolex President openly in public.

Texans wanted to emulate the President, and liked gold watches the best. Especially the 18k yellow gold President timepiece. Making them super common watches in the state of Texas.

So today you might hear the Rolex watch nickname of Texas Timex. This nickname refers to any gold Rolex watch.

36. Thunderbird

The Rolex watch nickname of Thunderbird is for any Datejust watch that has got a rotating bezel. Very unusual.

The U.S.’s Air Force’s Thunderbirds often used these watches during the late 1950s. Taking advantage of this, Rolex released their own special collection of Thunderbird watches with the Thunderbird logo printed on the dial.

These iconic timepieces are no longer in production. The last rotating bezel on a Thunderbird Datejust was nicknamed the Turn-O-Graph.

37. Triple Six

The Rolex watch nickname of Triple Six, was for the 2nd generation of Sea-Dwellers. This was the generation following the Double Red and the Great White Sea-Dwellers.

This Sea-Dweller watch got its nickname from having three consecutive number 6 digits within the reference number, which was Ref. 16660. So not a very interesting nickname if you ask us.

38. Unicorn

And finally, the one Rolex watch with the mystical nickname of the Unicorn. Refers to a one-of-a kind, white gold Rolex Daytona Ref. 6265.

This unique watch once belonged to the renowned collector and Rolex scholar, John Goldberger. He sold it for $5.9 million in 2018 at the Phillips watch auction. All the money went to aid the charity Children Action.

The Rolex Unicorn is believed to be the only vintage Rolex Cosmograph Daytona made from white gold.