Rolex Submariner date vs no-date: 126610LN or 124060?

The Rolex Submariner 126610LN and 124060 are the same watch from the dial outwards: a 41mm Oystersteel case, a black Cerachrom bezel, the Oyster bracelet with Glidelock, and 300 metres of water resistance. The 126610LN adds a date at 3 o'clock under a Cyclops lens and runs Calibref 3235. The 124060 has no date and no Cyclops, and runs Calibre 3230. If you'll use the date, buy the 126610LN. If you'd rather have the symmetrical dial, buy the 124060.

That's the short answer. The rest covers the detail: what the date changes in daily wear, what the price gap looks like, what to check on a pre-owned example, and how to tell both apart from the 40mm generation they replaced in 2020.

What's the difference between the 124060 and 126610LN at a glance?

Four things separate the Submariner 124060 from the Submariner Date 126610LN: the date window, the Cyclops lens over it, the movement, and how many versions Rolex makes of each. The case, bezel, bracelet, water resistance and power reserve are identical. This table lists only what differs.

What's actually different on the dial?

The 124060 has a fully symmetrical dial and the 126610LN doesn't. On the no-date, an inverted triangle sits at 12 and rectangular markers sit at 3, 6 and 9, with round markers in between. On the 126610LN, the date window takes the 3 o'clock position, so only 6 and 9 keep their rectangles.

The 3 o'clock position

This is the difference you'll see every time you check the time. On the no-date, nothing interrupts the circle of markers. The date model gives up that symmetry in exchange for a function. Neither is the correct Submariner, and photos are a poor way to judge which you prefer.

The Cyclops lens

Rolex lists the 126610LN's crystal as scratch-resistant sapphire with a Cyclops lens over the date. The lens magnifies the date 2.5 times and sits raised on the crystal, so you see it in profile and it catches light at an angle. The 124060's crystal is plain sapphire with nothing raised on it. If you're checking a pre-owned date model, the date should fill the window under the lens. A small, weakly magnified date is one of the warning signs covered in our guide on how to tell if a Rolex is real.

Calibre 3230 vs Calibre 3235

Calibre 3235 is Calibre 3230 with a date. Both are self-winding Rolex movements from the same generation, both were introduced in the Submariner in 2020, and Rolex lists the same figures for each: approximately 70 hours of power reserve and a precision of -2/+2 seconds a day after casing, under its Superlative Chronometer certification. Both use the blue Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers.

The 3235 adds an instantaneous date with rapid setting through the crown. The 3230 has centre hours, minutes and seconds with stop-seconds for setting the time. Neither movement is better. The choice is about whether you want the function.

One no-date, a family of dates

The 124060 exists in a single configuration: Oystersteel, black dial, black bezel. Rolex makes no gold no-date, no two-tone no-date and no colored-bezel no-date in the current line. The Submariner Date is a whole range. In steel there's the 126610LN and the 126610LV, the green-bezel "Starbucks". There are also Rolesor and 18 ct yellow and white gold versions with blue or black bezels.

This matters if you think you'll want a different Submariner one day. The date line gives you somewhere to move within the family. The no-date line has one watch in it.

What do the 124060 and 126610LN have in common?

Everything outside the dial and movement is shared. Both references use the same 41mm Oyster case in Oystersteel, the same black Cerachrom bezel, the same Oyster bracelet and clasp, and the same 300 metre water resistance. The specifications below are from Rolex's published technical details.

Rolex doesn't publish a case thickness on either model page. Figures you'll see online are third-party measurements, and they vary, so we don't quote one.

Do they wear differently on the wrist?

No. The case, lugs and bracelet are identical, so the fit and the Glidelock adjustment are the same on both. What changes is how the watch reads. At arm's length the two look almost the same. Up close, the raised Cyclops is what gives the 126610LN away.

The Glidelock lets you extend the bracelet in small steps without tools, which helps in Miami summers when a wrist swells by the afternoon. That works identically on both references.

If you can, see both side by side before choosing. Photos flatten the Cyclops and make the dials look more alike than they are in person.

Does the date matter if you own more than one watch?

It matters more than most comparisons admit. If the Submariner is your only watch, the date costs you almost nothing. If it's one of several, the date becomes something you reset every time you pick the watch up.

As your only watch

Worn every day, either reference keeps running on wrist movement alone. You set the date once. After that, the only correction is at the end of any month with fewer than 31 days, because the date wheel counts to 31 every month. That's five corrections a year: February, April, June, September and November. With rapid setting on Calibre 3235, each one takes seconds.

As part of a rotation

With roughly 70 hours of reserve, a Submariner left off the wrist for about three days will stop. When you come back to a stopped 126610LN, you set the time and the date. When you come back to a stopped 124060, you set the time. If you rotate between three or four watches, that difference adds up over a year, and it's a fair reason some collectors who own several watches choose the no-date.

In the water

No difference. Both have the same bezel, the same Triplock crown and the same 300 metre rating. The date plays no part in timing a dive.

How much more does the 126610LN cost than the 124060?

The Submariner Date 126610LN costs more than the 124060 both at Rolex retail and on the secondary market. In our own recent listings at The Timeless Collector, the 124060 has been priced in the low $13,000s and the 126610LN close to $15,000, a gap of roughly $1,600. Pricing moves with the market. Ask us for a current quote.

On either reference, four things move the number more than anything else:

• Year: A recent warranty card date usually supports a higher price than an early 2020 or 2021 example.

• Condition: Unworn, lightly worn or worn with polishing are different prices for the same reference.

• Box and papers: The papers tie the watch to its original sale. A complete set usually adds to the value.

• The market that week: Steel Submariner prices shift through the year, and a quote from three months ago may not hold.

Every watch we list states its own condition, year, and whether the box and papers are included, so you can compare like with like. You can see what's listed now in our Rolex Submariner collection. If neither reference is listed when you look, or you want a specific year or full set, we can source one for you.

Which holds its value better, the date or the no-date?

No one can say how either reference will be priced in five years, so we won't pretend to. What we can speak to is how we value them when we buy. When The Timeless Collector makes an offer on a 124060 or a 126610LN, the year, the condition and whether the box and papers come with it carry more weight than whether the dial has a date.

If resale matters to you, keep the papers and any removed bracelet links together, somewhere separate from the watch. And avoid polishing unless the case needs it, because a sharp case is worth more than a shiny one.

If you already own one and you're weighing a change, for example moving from the no-date to the date, you can sell your Rolex to us outright or put it toward the other reference as a trade-in.

How do you tell the current models from the previous generation?

The current Submariners, 124060 and 126610LN, replaced the 114060 and 116610LN in 2020. The older pair measure 40mm and use Calibres 3130 and 3135. The newer pair measure 41mm and use Calibres 3230 and 3235. On a listing or a set of papers, the reference number settles it.

The 40mm references are still a reasonable buy. They're a different purchase, though: an older movement with a shorter power reserve, a slightly smaller case, and a price set by their own supply. If a listing says "Submariner" without a reference number, ask for it before anything else.

Which should you buy, the 126610LN or the 124060?

If the Submariner will be your only watch, we'd point most people to the 126610LN. The date is worth having if you wear one watch every day. If it's joining a rotation, or the symmetrical dial is the reason you want a Submariner at all, buy the 124060.

Quality shouldn't decide it. Same case, same bezel, same bracelet, same certification. Neither is a lesser or upgraded version of the other.

Can you see both side by side in Miami?

Yes, by appointment only, and we don't accept walk-ins. Viewings take place at Suite 429 of the Seybold Jewelry Building, 36 NE 1st St, in Downtown Miami. Visits run Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and must be booked ahead. Tell us which references you'd like to see when you book, and we'll confirm they're available. For more, see our pre-owned Rolex in Miami.

Every watch is authenticated and inspected by experienced watchmakers before it's listed, and carries our authenticity guarantee. Purchases come with a 1-year in-house warranty, and eligible purchases with 7-day returns and exchanges. The Timeless Collector holds 200+ Google reviews at a 5.0 average. If we don't have it, we'll find it.

Call or text 786-620-9945, or email sales@thetimelesscollector.com with the reference you're after.

The Timeless Collector LLC specializes in the retail of premium Swiss watches. We are not an authorized dealer for Audemars Piguet, Breitling, Cartier, IWC, Omega, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Tudor, or any other watch or jewelry brands. These brands maintain their trademark rights and are not affiliated with The Timeless Collector LLC. Any warranties provided for our products are exclusively through The Timeless Collector LLC, not the original manufacturers. Please be aware that the original manufacturer's warranty may not be applicable to watches purchased from The Timeless Collector LLC. We operate as an independent entity and are not endorsed or associated with any watch or jewelry manufacturer or their subsidiaries.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is the Rolex Submariner no-date cheaper than the date?

Yes. The Submariner 124060 is the lower-priced of the two at Rolex retail and on the secondary market. In The Timeless Collector's recent listings, the gap to the 126610LN has been roughly $1,600. Pricing moves with the market. Contact us for current pricing.

2. Does the Submariner 124060 have a Cyclops lens?

No. The Cyclops lens only appears on date models, where it sits over the date window. The 124060's sapphire crystal is plain.

3. Are the 124060 and 126610LN the same size?

Yes. Both use the same 41mm Oystersteel Oyster case, the same 21mm lug width and the same Oyster bracelet with Glidelock. They fit the wrist identically.

4. What's the difference between Calibre 3230 and Calibre 3235?

Calibre 3235 adds an instantaneous date with rapid setting. Otherwise Rolex lists the same figures for both: approximately 70 hours of power reserve and -2/+2 seconds a day after casing.

5. Can a no-date Submariner be converted to show the date?

No. The 124060 dial has no date aperture and Calibre 3230 has no date mechanism. If you want the date, buy a Submariner Date.

6. Is the 126610LV a date or a no-date Submariner?

The 126610LV is a Submariner Date. It's the steel date model with a green Cerachrom bezel and a black dial, known as the "Starbucks". There is no green-bezel no-date in the current line.

7. Does Rolex still make the 124060 and 126610LN?

Yes. As of October 2026, both are in Rolex's current Submariner line. Rolex introduced no new Submariner at Watches and Wonders 2026.

8. How often does the date need correcting on a 126610LN?

Five times a year, if the watch keeps running. The date counts to 31 every month, so it needs moving forward at the end of February, April, June, September and November. If the watch stops, you'll set the date again along with the time.

9. Which is better for a first Rolex?

Neither is better. It's a question of use. If it will be your everyday and only watch, the 126610LN's date is useful. If you already own other watches or simply prefer the plainer dial, the 124060 is the easier one to live with.