Rolex Submariner: price, value and references to know (2026)
Date or no date, black or green bezel, 16610, 116610 or 126610 generation: what a Submariner is really worth in 2026, reference by reference, and what moves its market value.
Model values · · 8 min read
The Submariner is the most copied, most sought-after and most liquid dive watch on the pre-owned market. It is also one of the few steel pieces whose market value stays durably above its retail price. Before buying or selling one, you need to know which reference you are talking about: ten years apart, two Submariners that look identical can differ in value by €4,000.
One family, several generations
Since 1953, the Submariner has changed its case, movement, bezel and bracelet, but never its silhouette. For market value, four periods really matter in 2026:
- The "five-digit" references (16610, 14060, 16613, 16618) produced from 1988 to around 2010: aluminium bezel, slim case, glossy dial. They are now sensible collector's watches, still wearable every day.
- The "six-digit" references with the "Maxi" case (116610LN, 116610LV, 114060) from 2010 to 2020: Cerachrom ceramic bezel, broad lugs, bracelet with Glidelock clasp.
- The 41 mm generation (126610LN, 126610LV, 124060) since 2020: slightly larger case, slimmer lugs, calibre 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve.
- The gold and two-tone versions (126613, 126618, 126619), whose value follows a different logic, closer to the metal price and dial rarity.
The reference number is engraved between the lugs at 12 o'clock, under the bracelet. It is the first thing to check, even before condition.
2026 value grid by reference
The ranges below correspond to watches in good condition, full set (box, papers, warranty card), as we record them at certified dealers and in private sales in Europe. Retail prices are those of the French price list after the January 2026 increase, rounded.
| Reference | Period | Indicative retail price | Observed range 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 124060 (no date, black) | 2020 – | ~€9,800 | €10,000 – €11,800 |
| 126610LN (date, black) | 2020 – | ~€11,000 | €11,500 – €13,500 |
| 126610LV (date, green "Starbucks" bezel) | 2020 – | ~€11,500 | €14,000 – €17,000 |
| 116610LN (date, black) | 2010 – 2020 | discontinued | €10,000 – €12,000 |
| 116610LV ("Hulk", green dial and bezel) | 2010 – 2020 | discontinued | €15,000 – €19,000 |
| 114060 (no date) | 2012 – 2020 | discontinued | €8,800 – €10,500 |
| 16610 (date, aluminium bezel) | 1989 – 2010 | discontinued | €7,500 – €10,000 |
| 16610LV ("Kermit", 50th anniversary) | 2003 – 2010 | discontinued | €13,000 – €17,000 |
| 14060 / 14060M (no date) | 1990 – 2012 | discontinued | €6,500 – €8,500 |
| 126613LB (two-tone, blue dial) | 2020 – | ~€16,500 | €15,000 – €17,500 |
| 126618LB (yellow gold, blue dial) | 2020 – | ~€44,000 | €38,000 – €45,000 |
Two readings stand out. First, the current steel Submariner still trades at a premium over retail, modest for the black, clear for the green. Second, discontinued references do not depreciate: a 2015 116610LN is now worth roughly what it was worth new, price increases included. For an updated range tailored to your example, the Submariner page and the valuation tool refine by year and condition.
What pushes the value up or down
Within the same reference, the gap between two watches comes down to five factors, in this order of importance according to our surveys:
- The full set. Box, booklet, warranty card with the right serial number: the difference reaches 8 to 12% on a 126610LN. A watch-only example remains saleable, but it gets negotiated down.
- The year on the warranty card. A five-year Rolex warranty still running is worth a real premium; a 2024 watch sells for more than a 2021 watch in equal condition.
- Case condition and [polishing](/glossaire/polissage). A case with sharp edges, never polished, is sought after. Excessive polishing that rounds the lugs takes off 5 to 10%.
- The original bezel and dial. The aluminium bezels of 16610s develop patina; a slightly faded original insert is preferred to a new replacement insert. Beware of watches reassembled with parts from several eras: that is the definition of a frankenwatch.
- Servicing. A recent Rolex service, with an invoice, reassures and is reflected in the price, especially for references over fifteen years old.
Date or no date: which one to choose?
The question comes up with every purchase. Technically, the 124060 and the 126610LN share the case and most of the calibre; the difference is the date window and its Cyclops magnifier. On the market, the no-date is about €1,500 cheaper to buy and its relative depreciation is identical. It is slightly rarer pre-owned, but also slightly less in demand. For a first purchase, the choice is aesthetic before it is financial.
Green bezels are a different case. The 126610LV and its predecessor the 116610LV are produced in smaller quantities and benefit from a constant scarcity effect: their premium has been stable since 2023, after the market correction. They remain the best candidates for high value retention in the range, with the usual caveat: the past guarantees nothing.
Buying: boutique, certified dealer or private seller
In a boutique, the wait for a steel Submariner is still counted in months, sometimes years, and depends on your purchase history. We detail the gaps between the waiting list and the grey market, model by model, in our article buying in a boutique or on the grey market.
At a certified dealer, you pay the premium but get a watch that is available, authenticated and guaranteed for one to two years. Between private individuals, the price is 5 to 10% lower but the risk is entirely yours: insist on the serial number and the warranty card, and have the watch opened by a watchmaker before paying. A €12,000 Submariner deserves a €150 check.
Selling a Submariner in 2026
The market is buying complete Submariners in good condition. Three tips from our surveys:
- Do not have the watch polished before the sale. An informed buyer prefers honest scratches to rounded lugs.
- Gather everything: outer and inner box, booklet, card, removed links, purchase invoice. Every missing item is a negotiating argument.
- Compare at least three offers: buy-back by a dealer (the fastest, 10 to 15% below market value), consignment (slower, 10 to 20% commission) and direct sale (the best price, the most effort).
On the tax side, in France a watch sold for more than €5,000 by a private individual is subject to the flat tax on precious objects of 6% (6.5% with the CRDS), unless you opt for the capital gains regime with proof of acquisition. If you live in another country, check the rules that apply there. Our sell your watch page details the steps.
In short
The Submariner is a safe bet in the strict sense: liquid, readable, well documented. That does not make it an investment, and the 2022-2023 correction reminded those who had bought a 126610LV at €20,000. Buy it to wear, at a price consistent with the grid above, and with all its papers. Before any transaction, calculate your Submariner's market value: reference, year, condition and accessories are enough to get a range based on our price surveys.
The model's value: Rolex Submariner
