126000Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36$10,5008.0% over126710GRNRRolex Bruce Wayne$24,00023.5% over310.30.42.50.01.001Omega Moonwatch$5,8906.2% over124060Rolex Submariner$12,9905.7% over124300Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41$9,99015.0% over224270Rolex Explorer$9,4909.1% over126610LNRolex Submariner Date$14,5009.1% over126900Rolex Air-King$9,50014.8% over215.30.44.21.01.001Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M$4,59512.3% over126610LNRolex Submariner Date$14,0005.4% over79030BTudor Black Bay 58$2,69910.8% under79830RBTudor Pepsi$3,2005.8% under126500LNRolex Cosmograph Daytona$33,75915.4% over124300Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41$9,0003.6% over126622Rolex Yacht-Master 40$15,89713.6% over126334Rolex Datejust 41$12,9414.5% under126600Rolex Sea-Dweller$11,9501.5% under116520Rolex Cosmograph Daytona$27,53926.2% over126333Rolex Datejust 41$15,5007.8% overSBGA211Grand Seiko Snowflake$5,07514.0% over15510STAudemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding 41$38,9009.4% under226570Rolex Explorer II$11,3003.5% over326934Rolex Sky-Dweller$16,9884.5% under228238Rolex Day-Date 40$63,67536.9% over126300Rolex Datejust 41$9,00211.3% under79000NTudor Black Bay 54$3,89913.5% over126334Rolex Datejust 41$12,2669.5% under126610LVRolex Starbucks$15,69513.7% over116610LVRolex Hulk$21,89515.9% over126300Rolex Datejust 41$10,9958.3% over

Rolex reference numbers and bezel codes explained

By WATCH.MARKETS · Updated 18 Oct 2026 · Editorial approach

A Rolex reference number tells you more than the model. Read correctly, it gives the generation, the case material and, for many sports models, the bezel colours.

Generations: five digits and six

Older Rolex references have five digits; most current ones have six. Successive generations of the same model often share a stem. The Submariner Date went from the 16610 to the 116610 in 2010 and to the 126610 in 2020. Each step usually brings a new movement, case or bezel, and the prices of each generation can differ widely, so always check the full number.

The last digit: material

On most references the final digit of the number indicates the material: 0 for Oystersteel, 1 for Everose Rolesor (steel and Everose gold), 2 for steel and platinum, 3 for yellow Rolesor (steel and yellow gold), 4 for white Rolesor (steel and white gold), 5 for Everose gold, 6 for platinum, 8 for yellow gold and 9 for white gold. So a 126610 is steel, a 126613 is steel and yellow gold, and a 126618 is solid yellow gold.

Bezel codes

Letters after the number describe the bezel, from French colour names. LN (Lunette Noire) is a black bezel, LV (Lunette Verte) green, LB (Lunette Bleue) blue. Two-colour GMT-Master II bezels combine two codes: BLRO (Bleu Rouge, blue and red: the "Pepsi"), BLNR (Bleu Noir, blue and black), CHNR (Chocolat Noir, brown and black: the "Root Beer"), GRNR (Gris Noir, grey and black) and VTNR (Vert Noir, green and black).

Why it matters for value

Watches that look alike can be very different on the market. A steel sports model and its two-tone or gold sibling, or two GMT-Masters with different bezels, can be far apart in price and in how well they hold value. Search by the full reference, including the letters, to get the right value.

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