Submariner or Submariner Date? How to Choose Between the 124060 and 126610
Walk into any Rolex retailer and ask for "a Submariner," and the first question back will be: date or no date? It's the biggest decision in the line, and it's worth settling before you put your name down.
What's the same
The current generation of both arrived in 2020, and under the skin they're close siblings:
- 41mm Oystersteel case with the slimmer lugs of the current generation
- 300 meters of water resistance
- Black Cerachrom ceramic bezel, rotating one way only, so a knock can only make a timed dive look longer
- About 70 hours of power reserve. Take it off Friday evening and it's still running Monday morning.
- Oyster bracelet with the Glidelock clasp, which lets you lengthen or shorten the bracelet in small steps without tools
- Rolex's five-year guarantee when bought new from an official retailer
What's different
| Submariner (no date) | Submariner Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Reference | 124060 | 126610LN (black bezel) |
| Movement | Calibre 3230 | Calibre 3235 |
| Date window | None | At 3 o'clock, under the Cyclops magnifier |
| Dial | Fully symmetrical | Date window breaks the right side |
| Versions | Steel, black only | Steel black, steel with green bezel, plus two-tone and gold models |
| Price | The lowest-priced Submariner | Costs more than the no-date |
The case for the no-date
The 124060 descends from the original 1953 Submariner, which had no date at all. Without the Cyclops bulging out of the crystal, the dial is clean and even from edge to edge, and many collectors think it's the better-looking watch. It's also the least expensive way into a new Submariner.
It's the pick if you see a Submariner as a tool watch, or if you never look at your wrist to find out what day it is.
The case for the date
The Submariner Date has been part of the line since 1969, and for many people the 126610LN simply is the Submariner. A date is genuinely useful day to day, and the Cyclops is as recognizable a Rolex trademark as the crown on the dial.
The date version is also where the options are. If you want a green bezel (the 126610LV, which collectors call the "Starbucks"), two-tone steel and gold, or solid gold, you're choosing a Submariner Date. The no-date only comes one way.
A few practical tips
- Be specific with the retailer. Ask for the reference number, not just "a Sub." Associates log interest by reference, and an open request is easier to set aside.
- Don't hold out for the "right" one if you're torn. If you'd be happy with either, say so. It can shorten the wait.
- Look at both on the wrist. Photos exaggerate the Cyclops. Some people who swore they wanted the no-date change their minds in person, and vice versa.
- Pre-owned changes the math. On the second-hand market you can also find earlier references of both, including the green-on-green "Hulk" Date, which Rolex no longer makes.
Where to try them on
Every official retailer we list carries both, subject to stock: Chicago, New York, Miami and Dallas. For older references, try our Chicago pre-owned and vintage dealers.