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Rolex Submariner Date
Ref. 126619LB
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Stepping up in Rolex's range
The 126619LB arrived in 2020 as the successor to the much-loved 116619LB — the all-blue "Smurf" — and immediately earned its own nickname. Where the previous generation paired blue bezel with blue dial, this one puts the vivid ceramic Cerachrom bezel against a glossy black dial, a contrast sharp enough that collectors settled on "Cookie Monster" almost immediately. It is a deliberate step back toward the original Submariner aesthetic: legible, punchy, unambiguous. The case grew by 1mm but reads as more than that on the wrist, because the real change was structural. Rolex slimmed and tapered the lugs considerably and widened the bracelet to 21mm, which distributes the 241 grams of solid 18ct white gold far more convincingly than the outgoing Super Case profile managed. At 12.3mm thick it wears closer than most full precious-metal divers, and the refined geometry means the case follows the wrist rather than sitting above it. The Calibre 3235 underneath carries Rolex's Chronergy escapement and Parachrom hairspring, certified as a Superlative Chronometer, and its 70-hour reserve means a weekend off the wrist does not require resetting on Monday morning.
- Reference
- 126619LB
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Submariner
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 12.3mm
- Lug width
- 21mm
- Case material
- White gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3235
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 300m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 48.2mm
- Power reserve
- 70 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 4 collections
This watch appears in Automatic Watches (1,742), Sports Watches (830), Dive Watches (590) and Solid Gold Watches (162).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 300m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- 48.2mm lug-to-lug keeps the 41mm case wearable
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 70-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Rolex Submariner Date alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 126619LB | 1502-170-3/93 | 1-36-13-03-90-33 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £34,950 | £36,130 | £25,400 |
| Case size | 41mm | 44mm | 43.2mm |
| Water resistance | 300m | 300m | 300m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber strap | Rubber strap |
| Power reserve | 70 hours | 48 hours | — |
| This watch |
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Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 300m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 70 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
What size strap does it take?
21mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 48.2mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £34,950, against £37,450 at Goldsmiths. Two UK retailers stock this reference new.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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