{"id":941,"date":"2017-06-23T14:25:36","date_gmt":"2017-06-23T14:25:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/TheWatchClub\/?p=941"},"modified":"2022-10-19T00:37:36","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T00:37:36","slug":"how-rolex-watches-got-their-nicknames","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/2017\/06\/23\/how-rolex-watches-got-their-nicknames\/","title":{"rendered":"Rolex Watch Nicknames"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Every Rolex tells a story”, so goes one of their campaigns. But some Rolexes\u00a0tell more than others – because of their place in history or in pop culture.<\/p>\n

Some of these watches have earned themselves nicknames because of these associations. And a number\u00a0have been so commonplace among collectors and watch enthusiasts alike\u00a0that they can be considered “official” even without appearing in the Rolex catalog.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the most popular Rolex watch<\/a> nicknames, and how they came about:<\/p>\n

\"President<\/a>THE PRESIDENT :\u00a0Rolex President<\/a> Day-Date<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Introduced in 1956, the Rolex Day-Date<\/a> was nicknamed the “President” after the company gave one to Dwight Eisenhower. It has since graced the wrists of other Presidents such as Ford, Johnson, Nixon, Kennedy, Reagan, and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

pictured:\u00a0President Day-Date 18k Yellow Gold <\/a><\/div>\n
Mens Watch 18238<\/a><\/div>\n
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\"RolexJAMES BOND\u00a0:\u00a0Rolex Submariner <\/a>ref. 6538<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Sean Connery wore the Submariner<\/a> ref. 6538 in the James Bond films\u00a0Dr. No,\u00a0From Russia with Love,<\/em>Goldfinger<\/em>, and\u00a0Thunderball<\/em>. The watch is characterized by its oversized crown and lack of crown guards, and was worn by Connery on a striped textile strap.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Explorer<\/a>STEVE MCQUEEN :\u00a0Rolex Explorer<\/a> II ref.\u00a01655<\/strong><\/div>\n
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The watch got its nickname after American actor Steve McQueen whose celebrity Rolex used to boost the sales of this slightly obscure watch in the ’70s. Designed for speleologists, its unique feature is its large, bright orange 24-hour hand.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

pictured:\u00a0Explorer II Steve Mcqueen Vintage Steel Watch 1655<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"RolexPAUL NEWMAN :\u00a0Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref\u00a06239, 6241, 6262, 6263, 6264, or 6265<\/strong><\/div>\n
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In the ’60s, Rolex produced an “exotic dial” for their Daytona watch<\/a>es, characterized by the art deco font, and\u00a015\/30\/45\/60 numerals on the 9 o’clock subdials. The legendary actor and race car driver\u00a0was so often seen wearing the model,\u00a0that\u00a0it is now more commonly referred to in watch circles as the Paul Newman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Seadweller<\/a>JAMES CAMERON :\u00a0Rolex Seadweller Deepsea ref. 116660<\/strong><\/div>\n
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In 2012, director James Cameron worked with Rolex and other companies to design a submersible vessel called the Deepsea Challenger. He piloted it himself and\u00a0dove 11,000 meters\u00a0into the\u00a0Pacific Ocean to record the experience for a new film. The watch was created\u00a0to commemorate the expedition’s success.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

pictured:\u00a0Seadweller Deepsea D-Blue Dial Cameron Mens Watch 116660<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"GMT<\/a><\/strong><\/span>Rolex GMT-Master<\/a> II Pepsi ref. 1675, 16750, 16710, 116719<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Introduced in 1955, the GMT-Master<\/a> II was created as a pilot’s watch, and made with a bi-color bezel to help distinguish between day and night hours. The original model had a blue and red bezel, made to match Pan-Am airline’s company colors, and which closely resembled the logo\u00a0of the popular soda.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

pictured:\u00a0GMT Master II Blue Red Pepsi Bezel Oyster Bracelet Watch 16710<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Rolex<\/a>ROOTBEER\u00a0:\u00a0Rolex GMT-Master<\/a> ref 1675\/3 &\u00a016753<\/strong><\/div>\n
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In the early ’60s, Rolex introduced a two-tone version of the GMT-Master<\/a>\u00a0ref 1657\/3 in steel and yellow gold. To complement this mix, they used a brown and gold bezel insert, giving the watch its rootbeer hue. In the ’80s, Rolex launched the GMT-Master<\/a> II 16753 which also used the rootbeer bezel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

pictured:\u00a0Rolex GMT Master Rootbeer Gold Steel Nipple Dial Vintage Watch 16753<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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COKE :\u00a0Rolex GMT-Master<\/a> II ref. 16710<\/strong>\"GMT<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n
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Rolex first used the black and red bezel combination on the first GMT-Master<\/a> II model. The watch quickly became known as the “Coke” in reference to the soda brand’s colors and in keeping with the GMT-Master<\/a> II’s soda nickname theme.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

pictured:\u00a0GMT Master II Black Red Coke Bezel Automatic Mens Watch 16710<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"GMT<\/a>BATMAN :\u00a0GMT-Master II ref. 116710<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Perhaps the most popular GMT-Master<\/a> II model offered today, the Batman features a black and blue combination on the Cerachrome ceramic bezel. What makes it special is that when Rolex first introduced the ceramic bezel, it was deemed impossible to produce it in two tones, but they were eventually able to overcome that with the Batman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

pictured:\u00a0GMT Master II Batman Blue Black Ceramic Mens Watch 116710<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Submariner<\/a>HULK :\u00a0GMT-Master<\/a> II ref. 116610LV<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Hulk refers to the\u00a0Green-dial, green-Cerachrom-bezel Submariner<\/a> launched in 2010, obviously named after the green Marvel Comics fictional hero. It marks the first time that Rolex used any other color other than black and blue on a bezel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

pictured:\u00a0Submariner Hulk Green Dial Ceramic Bezel Mens Watch 116610LV<\/a><\/div>\n
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____<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

SEE MORE OF THE WATCHES IN OUR VIDEO:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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