You might know some watches by their official names, but do you know their nicknames? Or vice-versa, you may only know a watch by its nickname and not the one given to it at the factory. Here are a few of the more famous nicknamed Rolex watches.
Papa Smurf:
A white-gold ref. 116619 Submariner launched in 2008 with powder-blue dial and bezel. This 2010 example is up for sale at Antiquorum Hong Kong this July, estimated between $10,300 and $20,600.
Polar
White-on-white dial ref.16570 Explorer II.
Thunderbird
The rotating-bezel Turn-O-Graph version of the Datejust from the Fifties, of which Rolex produced special marked dial versions for the team pilots of the USAF’s hotshot Thunderbirds display team.
Bombay Lug
A stylised bracelet attachment on Forties Oysters.Showing a ref. 5018 from 1948.
Single Red
The Submariner 1680 (the first with date) with ‘Submariner’ in red writing, produced from 1966–73.
Double Red
The Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000 from the late 1960s, with the latter nomination appearing as two lines on the dial, both in red.
Fat Lady
Ref. 16760 GMT-Master II made between 1983 and 1988 with red and black bezel only, so-named for its case being 1mm larger than its counterparts.
Freccione
A 1971 Explorer II 1655, named after the Italian for “big arrow” in reference to the extra hour-hand with the large arrow tip. AKA “Steve McQueen” due to a hotly disputed rumour that the King of Cool himself wore one.
Jean Claude-Killy
Ultra-rare version of Rolex’s only ever combination of chronograph and full calendar, known as the Dato-Compax and named after the 1968 triple-gold-medallist Olympic skier who wore one, and went on to be a Rolex ambassador. Produced between 1940-1960 in four references, of which the 6236 was the last and, perhaps, most desirable.
Pussy Galore
The ref. 6542 GMT-Master without crown guards, named after Honor Blackman’s Bond girl, who wore this watch in the third 007 film, Goldfinger (1964).
Nipple
Style of dial with applied, raised dots at 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11 o’clock, often in ‘Root Beer’ colour scheme.
Meredes
Classic style of hours hand ‘dot’ first introduced with 1953’s Explorer 6150, ideally shaped to hold lume material.
I have probably missed a few, but this just shows you how popular Rolex models are and the level of interest in each model.
CHARLEY PHOTO OF THE WEEK: The Fourth of July is not Charley’s favorite holiday, so she took her moose pillow to the basement where it was nice and quiet.
