Walk into any conversation about Rolex and you will hear people talk about Pepsis, Hulks and Pandas. None of those names appear in Rolex’s catalog. They are nicknames that collectors, dealers and enthusiasts invented to describe watches whose reference numbers are harder to remember than their colors.
This guide lists the nicknames you are most likely to meet, the references behind them, and a few tips for using them without getting confused.
Why do Rolex watches have nicknames?
Reference numbers are precise but hard to remember: 126710BLRO, 116610LV, 126500LN. A nickname summarizes the look of a watch in one word, and in a market where the same model can come in a dozen colors, that is useful. Nicknames also carry history. Many started in collector forums or at auction and stuck because they captured something people loved about the watch.
The catch is that nicknames are informal. Two people can use the same name for different references, and some names shift over time. That is why, when you buy, the reference number is what counts. Our guide to Rolex reference numbers shows how to read them.
GMT-Master II nicknames
The GMT’s two-color 24-hour bezel produced the richest set of nicknames:
- Pepsi: blue and red bezel. Current steel reference 126710BLRO; the classic vintage version is the 1675. See our Pepsi guide.
- Batman: blue and black bezel on the 116710BLNR from 2013, on an Oyster bracelet.
- Batgirl: the 126710BLNR, the blue and black successor launched on a Jubilee bracelet.
- Bruce Wayne: grey and black bezel, 126710GRNR, introduced in 2024.
- Sprite: green and black bezel with a left-hand crown, 126720VTNR, from 2022. Also called “Destro” for its left-side crown.
- Root Beer: brown and black bezel on Everose Rolesor (126711CHNR) or Everose gold (126715CHNR), reviving a 1970s two-tone GMT.
- Coke: red and black bezel on earlier aluminum references such as the 16760 and 16710.
- Fat Lady or Sophia Loren: the 16760, the first GMT-Master II, with a thicker case.
All of them are compared side by side in GMT-Master II bezel colors explained.
Submariner nicknames
- Kermit: 16610LV, black dial with green aluminum bezel, from 2003.
- Hulk: 116610LV, green dial with green ceramic bezel, 2010 to 2020.
- Starbucks (sometimes “Cermit”): 126610LV, black dial with green ceramic bezel, from 2020.
- Smurf: 116619LB, white gold with blue dial and blue bezel.
- Cookie Monster: 126619LB, white gold with black dial and blue bezel.
- Bluesy: the two-tone yellow Rolesor Submariner with blue dial and bezel.
- Red Sub: vintage 1680 with red “Submariner” text on the dial.
The details and how to tell them apart are in Kermit, Hulk, Starbucks and Cookie Monster.
Daytona nicknames
- Panda: white dial with black subdials, today the steel 116500LN and 126500LN.
- Reverse Panda: black dial with white or silver subdials.
- John Mayer: the yellow gold 116508 with a green dial, named after the musician who championed it.
- Paul Newman: vintage manual-wind Daytonas with “exotic” art-deco dials, named after the actor.
- Rainbow: gem-set Daytonas with multicolored sapphire bezels.
Other models
- Polar: the Explorer II with a white dial, most often the 16570.
- Wimbledon: Datejust with a slate grey dial and green Roman numerals, named for its tennis-inspired colors.
- Celebration: the Oyster Perpetual dial with multicolored bubbles, introduced in 2023.
- James Cameron: the Deepsea with a D-Blue gradient dial, commemorating the 2012 Mariana Trench dive.
- SD4K: the Sea-Dweller 116600, rated to 4,000 feet (1,220 meters).
- Double Red: vintage Sea-Dweller 1665 with two lines of red text.
Where do new nicknames come from?
Most new nicknames appear within days of a Rolex launch, usually on social media and collector forums, and a few survive. The ones that last tend to be short, visual and obvious once you hear them: nobody needs “Hulk” explained after seeing a green-on-green Submariner. Names tied to people, like “John Mayer” or “Paul Newman”, come from famous owners and often attach to specific dial variants rather than whole references.
Some nicknames are regional. You may see a watch called one thing by US dealers and another in Europe or Asia, which is another reason reference numbers are the only universal language.
A quick nickname cheat sheet
| Nickname | Model | Key reference | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepsi | GMT-Master II | 126710BLRO | Blue and red bezel |
| Batman | GMT-Master II | 116710BLNR | Blue and black bezel |
| Bruce Wayne | GMT-Master II | 126710GRNR | Grey and black bezel |
| Sprite | GMT-Master II | 126720VTNR | Green and black, left-hand |
| Root Beer | GMT-Master II | 126711CHNR | Brown and black bezel |
| Hulk | Submariner | 116610LV | Green dial and bezel |
| Starbucks | Submariner | 126610LV | Black dial, green bezel |
| Panda | Daytona | 126500LN | White dial, black subdials |
| Polar | Explorer II | 16570 | White dial |
| Wimbledon | Datejust | 126334 and others | Grey dial, green numerals |
How should you use nicknames when buying?
Use nicknames to find watches and references to compare them. In practice:
- Check the reference in every listing. A “Hulk” with a black dial is a 126610LV and should be priced like one.
- Watch for nickname drift. Batgirl, for example, is used for the Jubilee 126710BLNR by most people and for any 126710BLNR by some.
- Be wary of invented nicknames. New names sometimes appear in listings to make an ordinary watch sound special.
- Remember nicknames describe colors, not quality. Condition, originality and papers matter more than what a watch is called.
Do nicknames affect price?
Indirectly. A popular nickname usually signals a popular watch, and popular watches command higher prices. The Pepsi, Hulk and Panda have historically sat at the top of their families on the pre-owned market. But the price is driven by the reference, condition, completeness and demand, not the name itself. Two “Kermits” can differ hugely in price if one is an early flat-4 example with papers and the other a late watch with a replacement bezel.
Are nicknames trademarks?
No. Nicknames like “Pepsi” or “Batman” are community terms that describe colors, and they do not imply any connection with the owners of those names. Dealers use them because buyers search for them. On our site they appear in quotes as collectors’ nicknames, and every listing states its reference number.
Where can you shop by nickname?
Our Pepsi and Hulk pages list every example in stock, and the menu at the top of every page includes the most popular nicknames. Each page shows the references behind the name, so you can compare like with like.
Frequently asked questions
Does Rolex use nicknames like Pepsi and Batman?
No. Rolex refers to its watches only by model name and reference number. Nicknames are created and used by collectors, dealers and the watch community.
What is the most famous Rolex nickname?
The Pepsi, for the blue and red GMT-Master bezel, is probably the best known, followed by the Hulk, Batman and Panda. Each has been in use for years and is recognized across the market.
What is the difference between Batman and Batgirl?
The Batman is the 116710BLNR on an Oyster bracelet with the calibre 3186. The Batgirl is the newer 126710BLNR, launched on a Jubilee bracelet with the calibre 3285. Both have a blue and black ceramic bezel.
Can the same nickname mean different watches?
Yes. For example, “Kermit” has been applied to both the 16610LV and the 126610LV by different people. Always check the reference number rather than relying on the nickname alone.
