The Rolex Submariner is the most consequential dive watch ever made. Seventy-three years after the original Reference 6204 launched in 1953, the Submariner remains the single most-searched, most-faked, and most-traded sport watch in the pre-owned market.
The current production lineup runs the no-date 124060, the date 126610LN in black, the 126610LV "Starbucks" in green-on-black, the two-tone 126613LB "Bluesy," and the yellow gold 126618 variants. Watches and Wonders 2026 reshaped the catalog by discontinuing the white gold 126619LB "Cookie Monster," leaving the modern Sub without a white gold representative for the first time since 2008.
This is the comprehensive 2026 buying guide. Every modern Submariner reference, what they cost at retail, what they trade for on the secondary market, and the honest dealer read on which one is right for which buyer.
All images in this post are AI-generated and may not perfectly represent the actual watch references discussed. They are intended for illustration only.
The current production Rolex Submariner Date 126610LN. The flagship reference of the modern lineup at $11,350 retail and $15,000 to $16,300 unworn on the pre-owned market.
The Short Answer
If you are scanning, the buy logic compresses to a few decisions.
- For most first-time buyers: the 124060 No-Date or the 126610LN Date. The 124060 retails $10,050 and offers the cleaner symmetric dial. The 126610LN retails $11,350 and adds the date and Cyclops magnifier.
- For visual standouts in current production: the 126610LV Starbucks (green bezel, black dial) or the 126613LB Bluesy (blue bezel, blue dial, two-tone steel and gold).
- For collector value: the discontinued 116610LV Hulk (all-green, 2010 to 2020) trades $18,000 to $25,000 and continues to appreciate against the broader Rolex index.
- For the smart neo-vintage play: the 16610 from the 1989 to 2010 production window at $9,000 to $11,000 with the last-generation aluminum bezel.
- What you cannot buy new anymore: the 126619LB Cookie Monster (white gold, blue bezel, black dial) was discontinued at Watches and Wonders 2026.
The Submariner is one of the few sports watches you can buy at grey market pricing and still rarely lose money on resale.
The Modern Generation: 2020 to Present (41mm)
The current Submariner generation launched in 2020 with a 41mm Oystersteel case, the slimmer reworked Oyster bracelet, and the caliber 3230 or 3235 movement at the heart of every reference.
The case grew 1mm from the prior 40mm, but the proportions look more balanced because the lugs slimmed and the bracelet became more elegant. The caliber 3230 (no-date) and 3235 (date) introduced the Chronergy escapement, lifting power reserve from 48 to 70 hours and improving magnetic resistance and timekeeping accuracy. The Cerachrom ceramic bezels are virtually fade-proof and scratch-proof, a permanent improvement over the aluminum bezels of the previous era.
Submariner No-Date 124060
The 124060 is the purist pick of the current lineup. No date, no Cyclops, no complications. Hours, minutes, seconds, and a 60-minute timing bezel. Caliber 3230 inside.
Retail in 2026 is $10,050. On the secondary market, unworn examples typically trade between $11,500 and $13,500 according to WatchCharts dealer-market listings. The premium over retail has compressed from the 2021 to 2022 peak when Submariners traded 80 to 100 percent above retail, and current grey market premiums sit in line with historical norms.
The 124060 is only available in Oystersteel with a black dial. There is no two-tone, no green, no precious metal No-Date version. If you want a green bezel, blue dial, or gold case, the Date model is your only route into the modern Sub.
The Submariner No-Date 124060. Perfectly symmetrical dial, no Cyclops magnifier, the purist's Submariner at $10,050 retail.
Submariner Date 126610LN
The 126610LN is the most-bought, most-recognized Rolex Submariner ever produced. Black ceramic bezel, black dial, Cyclops over date, Mercedes hour hand, lollipop seconds hand. Caliber 3235.
Retail in 2026 is $11,350, reflecting Rolex's January 5.8 percent increase on the steel sport models. Secondary market unworn examples currently trade between $15,000 and $16,300, sitting 35 to 45 percent above retail.
The 126610LN is the gold standard for daily wear. The dial is the purest interpretation of the Submariner template. The bezel is the most legible Cerachrom in the catalog. The Cyclops is one of those design choices that divides collectors but works for buyers who actually use the watch.
Submariner Date 126610LV "Starbucks"
The 126610LV pairs a green ceramic bezel with a black dial. The nickname came from the green-and-white similarity to the coffee chain logo. The watch launched in 2020 as the third green-bezel Submariner Date, after the 2003 Kermit (green aluminum bezel, black dial) and the 2010 to 2020 Hulk (green ceramic bezel, green dial).
Retail in 2026 sits between $11,900 and $13,150 depending on regional pricing. Secondary market trading runs $15,000 to $17,500 for clean examples.
The Starbucks is the current green-bezel option in the lineup. It is less rare than the discontinued Hulk and less polarizing than the all-green configuration. WatchCharts data shows the Starbucks up 3.3 percent over the past year, with a median sell time of 17 days, faster than 87 percent of watches on the market.
The Submariner 126610LV Starbucks. Green bezel, black dial, distinct from the all-green Hulk.
Submariner Date 126613LB "Bluesy"
The 126613LB is the two-tone yellow gold and steel Submariner Date with a blue Cerachrom bezel and blue sunburst dial. The Yellow Rolesor combination of Oystersteel case and 904L stainless steel bracelet centers with 18k yellow gold bezel, crown, and bracelet outer links.
Retail in 2026 is $18,900, up 7.4 percent from the prior year reflecting Rolex's more aggressive 2026 price increases on precious metal content. Secondary market trades typically run $15,000 to $22,000 for the older 116613LB pre-2020 references and approach $20,000 to $25,000 for the current 41mm 126613LB.
The Bluesy sits in a specific market position. It is the most accessible precious metal Submariner. It trades below all-steel sport models in pure dollar terms in the older generations, but the current 126613LB has held its premium because Rolex's gold pricing leadership has moved precious metal Subs into a new tier.
Submariner Date 126619LB "Cookie Monster" (Discontinued)
The 126619LB is the recently discontinued white gold Submariner with a blue ceramic bezel and black dial. It launched in 2020 as a successor to the all-blue 116619LB Smurf, offering the same white gold case with a stealthier contrasting black dial.
At Watches and Wonders 2026, Rolex quietly removed the 126619LB from the catalog, as Gear Patrol confirmed in its post-show analysis. The retirement leaves the modern Submariner lineup without a white gold representative featuring a contrasting dial and bezel for the first time since the Smurf launched in 2008. Whether Rolex returns a steel version of the Cookie Monster configuration remains an open question.
Pre-discontinuation retail sat around $44,000 for the white gold reference. Secondary market trades will move upward in the coming months as the discontinuation is digested, on the same trajectory as the discontinued Pepsi GMT-Master II from the same Watches and Wonders 2026 catalog purge.
Submariner Date 126618LN and 126618LB (Solid Yellow Gold)
The 126618 references are the solid 18k yellow gold Submariner Dates. The 126618LN carries a black dial and black bezel, the 126618LB carries a blue dial and blue bezel.
Retail starts around $40,000 for the LN and approaches $45,000 for the LB. Secondary market pricing varies widely with weight and condition. These are the references for the buyer who already owns a steel Submariner and wants a precious metal alternate, not first-Sub material.
The Previous Generation: 2010 to 2020 (40mm)
The 116610 generation ran from 2010 to 2020 with a 40mm "Super Case" design featuring wider lugs, the first ceramic Cerachrom bezels in the Submariner line, and the caliber 3130 (no-date) or 3135 (date) movements.
The Super Case proportions are polarizing. Some collectors prefer the slimmer current lugs. Others love the substantial wrist presence of the older case. The aluminum bezel was already gone by this generation, so this is the first all-ceramic Submariner era.
Submariner No-Date 114060
The 114060 is the no-date version of the 40mm Super Case generation. Black ceramic bezel, black dial, no Cyclops. Caliber 3130.
Secondary market pricing runs $7,500 to $9,500 for clean examples. The 114060 is the value play of the 40mm ceramic era. It carries the modern Cerachrom bezel and reliability of the 3130 movement with vintage-leaning 40mm proportions, at a meaningful discount to the current 124060.
Submariner Date 116610LN
The 116610LN is the previous-generation steel Submariner Date that ran from 2010 to 2020. Same template as the 126610LN, but with the 40mm Super Case and the older caliber 3135 with 48-hour power reserve.
Secondary market pricing currently sits $10,000 to $12,500 for clean examples. The 116610LN is one of the strongest value plays in modern Rolex. The watch is fully ceramic, mechanically robust, and offers the 40mm proportions that some buyers prefer over the current 41mm. It trades roughly 25 percent below the 124060 No-Date and roughly 30 percent below the current 126610LN.
Submariner Date 116610LV "Hulk"
The Hulk is the all-green Submariner Date that ran from 2010 to 2020. Green ceramic bezel, green sunburst dial. It is the watch that defines the 116610 era for most collectors.
Secondary market trading currently runs $18,000 to $25,000 for clean examples, depending on year and condition. The Hulk has appreciated 30 to 40 percent since its 2020 discontinuation per the dealer market consensus, outperforming the broader Rolex Sport Index over the same window.
The Hulk is one of the few modern Rolex references that has consistently appreciated on the secondary market over multi-year holds. The combination of bold colorway, ceramic bezel, and the closed Maxi dial layout that the current generation moved away from has created a permanent collector premium.
The Hulk 116610LV. All-green dial and bezel, discontinued in 2020, trading $18,000 to $25,000 on the secondary market.
Submariner Date 116613LB and 116613LN (Two-Tone)
The 116613LB Bluesy (blue bezel, blue dial) and 116613LN (black bezel, black dial) are the previous-generation two-tone yellow Rolesor Subs. Both ran from 2009 to 2020 alongside the steel 116610 series.
Secondary market pricing typically runs $13,000 to $16,000 for the 116613LB and $11,500 to $14,500 for the 116613LN. The 116613 generation is the entry point into precious metal Submariner ownership at meaningful discount to current production, with the older Super Case proportions and proven caliber 3135.
Submariner Date 116619LB "Smurf"
The Smurf is the all-blue white gold Submariner Date that ran from 2008 to 2020. Solid 18k white gold case, blue ceramic bezel, blue sunburst dial. The 126619LB Cookie Monster replaced it in 2020 with a black dial.
Secondary market pricing runs $35,000 to $50,000 depending on year, condition, and full-set status. The Smurf is a niche reference. Its closest peers are the Smurf-replacement Cookie Monster (now discontinued) and the Cellini Cellinium platinum models from the same era.
The Neo-Vintage Era: 1988 to 2010
The neo-vintage Submariner era runs from 1988 to 2010 with aluminum bezel inserts, caliber 3000 / 3130 / 3135 movements, and 40mm Oystersteel cases. This is the value tier of the modern Submariner market for buyers who want vintage proportions without paying vintage prices.
Submariner Date 16610
The 16610 is the date Submariner that ran from 1988 to 2010, the longest production run of any modern Submariner. Aluminum bezel, caliber 3135, glossy dial with white gold surrounds.
Secondary market pricing runs $9,000 to $11,000 for clean examples in the F to V serial range. The 16610 is the textbook neo-vintage Sub. Most pre-owned Submariner inventory globally is the 16610 series because it had the longest production run and outsold every other Submariner reference of the period.
Submariner Date 16610LV "Kermit"
The 16610LV Kermit launched in 2003 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Submariner line. Green aluminum bezel, black dial. It was the first green-bezel Submariner ever produced.
Secondary market pricing runs $13,000 to $20,000 depending on serial range and condition. Early "Mark I" Kermits with the "flat 4" bezel are the most collectible variants. The 16610LV is the original ancestor of the modern Hulk and Starbucks lineage, and demand has consistently grown as the green bezel template became a core part of the Submariner story.
Submariner No-Date 14060 and 14060M
The 14060 is the no-date neo-vintage Sub that ran from 1990 to 2012, transitioning to the 14060M (modified, with COSC certification) in 2007. Aluminum bezel, caliber 3000 (3130 in the M).
Secondary market pricing runs $8,000 to $12,000 for the 14060M and slightly lower for the original 14060. The 14060M is the under-appreciated value play in modern Rolex. Clean two-line dial examples carry collector premium, while four-line dials trade at the entry tier.
The Modern Sub Price Matrix
| Reference | Era | Configuration | Retail (2026) | Secondary Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 124060 | Current | Steel, No-Date, Black | $10,050 | $11,500-$13,500 |
| 126610LN | Current | Steel, Date, Black | $11,350 | $15,000-$16,300 |
| 126610LV | Current | Steel, Date, Green Bezel/Black Dial | $11,900-$13,150 | $15,000-$17,500 |
| 126613LB | Current | Two-Tone, Date, Blue/Blue | $18,900 | $20,000-$25,000 |
| 126613LN | Current | Two-Tone, Date, Black/Black | $18,300 | $18,000-$22,000 |
| 126618LN/LB | Current | Yellow Gold, Date | $40,000-$45,000 | $42,000-$55,000 |
| 126619LB | Discontinued W&W 2026 | White Gold, Date, Blue/Black | $44,000 (last) | $48,000+ (post-disc.) |
| 116610LN | 2010-2020 | Steel, Date, Black | Discontinued | $10,000-$12,500 |
| 116610LV "Hulk" | 2010-2020 | Steel, Date, All-Green | Discontinued | $18,000-$25,000 |
| 116613LB | 2009-2020 | Two-Tone, Date, Blue/Blue | Discontinued | $13,000-$16,000 |
| 116619LB "Smurf" | 2008-2020 | White Gold, Date, All-Blue | Discontinued | $35,000-$50,000 |
| 16610 | 1988-2010 | Steel, Date, Aluminum Bezel | Discontinued | $9,000-$11,000 |
| 16610LV "Kermit" | 2003-2010 | Steel, Date, Green Aluminum | Discontinued | $13,000-$20,000 |
| 14060M | 2007-2012 | Steel, No-Date, Aluminum Bezel | Discontinued | $8,000-$12,000 |
The Submariner 126613LB Bluesy. Two-tone yellow gold and steel, blue bezel and blue dial, retail $18,900 in 2026.
How to Choose: Buyer Profile Matrix
First-Time Sub Buyer
The 126610LN is the right starting point for most first-time Submariner buyers. The black ceramic bezel, black dial, and Cyclops over the date is the most recognizable Submariner template ever produced. It holds value better than any other modern Sub variant.
If the date complication does not matter to you, the 124060 saves $1,000 to $1,500 on the grey market and offers the cleaner dial layout. Both are correct first Subs.
If you want some visual personality without going polarizing, the 126610LV Starbucks is the smart middle path. Green bezel adds character without committing to an all-green dial.
Growing Collector
The 116610LV Hulk is the growing collector's reference. It is the only modern Sub that has consistently appreciated since discontinuation, it carries the boldest colorway in the lineage, and it represents the completion of a Submariner collection that already includes a steel Date.
The 16610LV Kermit is a deeper cut for collectors who want to anchor a Sub collection in the neo-vintage era. The 50th anniversary watch with the original green bezel commands a permanent place in any serious Submariner collection.
Investor / Flipper Perspective
The Submariner secondary market does not work like the Daytona market. Modern Subs do not consistently trade above retail in the way ceramic Daytonas do. The premiums compressed sharply from the 2021 to 2022 peak.
That said, three references continue to outperform the broader market over multi-year holds. The 116610LV Hulk has appreciated 30 to 40 percent since 2020 discontinuation. The 16610LV Kermit Mark I has continued to appreciate as the original green bezel narrative has deepened. The 126619LB Cookie Monster will appreciate over the next 18 months as the Watches and Wonders 2026 discontinuation prices in.
Hypebeast confirmed the discontinuation timing on April 14, 2026. The same secondary market dynamics that lifted the Pepsi GMT-Master II 30+ percent post-discontinuation will apply to the white gold Cookie Monster, just in a smaller volume cohort.
A Working Dealer's Read
The Submariner is the watch most buyers should start with, and the watch most collectors end up keeping longest. Seventy-three years of production has made the design a permanent reference standard in horology.
For a first watch, the 126610LN or 124060 in current production. For a growing collector, the discontinued 116610LV Hulk if you can afford it, or the 126610LV Starbucks if you want current production with personality. For a precious metal expression, the 126613LB Bluesy or the increasingly scarce 126619LB Cookie Monster while pre-owned inventory lasts.
Retail allocation at authorized dealers requires purchase history, patience, and often a wait of 6 months to 4+ years. The pre-owned market is where most Submariner buying actually happens, and the smart play is buying from a dealer who authenticates every piece.
Browse authenticated pre-owned Rolex at 5dwatches.com. Every Submariner reference covered in this guide trades through 5D Watches inventory regularly. The references that anchor this catalog are the same families that anchor the strongest pre-owned Submariner inventory globally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current Rolex Submariner retail price?
In 2026, the Submariner No-Date 124060 retails for $10,050 and the Submariner Date 126610LN retails for $11,350. The 126610LV Starbucks retails between $11,900 and $13,150 depending on region. The two-tone 126613LB Bluesy retails $18,900. Solid yellow gold variants start around $40,000.
Which Submariner holds value best?
The discontinued 116610LV Hulk has been the strongest performer over multi-year holds, appreciating 30 to 40 percent since its 2020 discontinuation. The 16610LV Kermit Mark I has also outperformed the broader Rolex Submariner Index. Among current production references, the 126610LN holds value most consistently due to liquidity and demand depth.
Is the Submariner Date or No-Date the better buy?
Both are excellent. The 124060 No-Date offers a perfectly symmetrical dial and saves $1,300 at retail or $1,500 on the secondary market. The 126610LN adds the date complication and the Cyclops magnifier. The choice depends on whether you check your watch for the date or your phone.
What was discontinued at Watches and Wonders 2026?
Rolex discontinued the white gold 126619LB Cookie Monster Submariner at Watches and Wonders 2026. The discontinuation leaves the modern Submariner lineup without a white gold representative for the first time since the Smurf launched in 2008. The GMT-Master II Pepsi 126710BLRO was also discontinued at the same show.
How does the Submariner compare to the Tudor Black Bay?
The Submariner is the original ceramic-bezel dive watch in the under-$15,000 luxury segment. The Tudor Black Bay 58 offers similar diver heritage at roughly one-third the price. The Sub has stronger value retention and broader brand recognition. The Black Bay 58 offers better entry-level value if budget is the primary constraint.
Where should I buy a pre-owned Submariner?
Buy authenticated pre-owned from a dealer with verifiable authentication standards. Browse authenticated pre-owned Rolex at 5dwatches.com. Avoid private sales without box and papers, avoid grey market listings without provenance documentation, and avoid any seller who cannot answer specific questions about serial number ranges, dial variants, and service history.