There’s a fanbase for everything, and this does not exclude watches. Many are brand loyalists, but some watches are so popular, they have a fanbase of their own. With all the love comes nicknames and alternate, unofficial names for certain watches — especially Rolex watches. From Batman to Paul Newman, we’re here to explain the meaning behind the monickers.

Color Code:

Sometimes the Rolex watch nicknames are simply inspired by the colors featured on the dial and bezel. Unique colorings can make a piece truly distinct and a refreshing take on the typically subdued Rolex colorings.

Recently, the “Batman” has become a hot item. The fan-dubbed Batman is a GMT-Master II with a blue and black bezel. Some also call it Bruiser or Phantom. Another classic and coveted coloring is the “Pepsi.” This watch features a blue and red bezel on a GMT-Master. The first was introduced in 1954 and the most recent Pepsi bezel was released in limited quantity at a high price in 2014 as a GMT-Master II. Similar, but less popular than the Pepsi bezel, the Coke bezel is a black and red version of the GMT-Master and GMT-Master II.

The Submariner also gets its own playful colors. A coloring that’s gaining in popularity is called the “Hulk” by fans. The reasoning for this is obvious — the bezel and dial are both in a distinctly Rolex shade of green. The case is also a large, 40mm. In the past year, since the release of the model, it’s become a quick success for collectors and trendsetters alike.

Famous Fans:

Some watches are named by wearers for their appearance while other watches are named for the wearers themselves. Two classic examples are a Submariner model and an exotic Daytona.

There a bit of contention surrounding the idea of what a Steve McQueen watch is, or at least should be. An Explorer-II with a distinct orange hand is often called the Steve McQueen. However, many watch enthusiasts and Steve McQueen fans believe that a true “Steve McQueen” is the Submariner Ref. 5512, which McQueen wore often.

Though widely accepted, the Paul Newman watch is still met with its own debate. The watch at hand is a Daytona with and exotic, panda dial. The font and coloring is also distinct. When the watch was first released it was actually unsuccessful and less than desired by consumers. The debate comes from the origins and legitimacy of the “Paul Newman” name. The unproven story is that Paul Newman was photographed for the cover of an Italian magazine wearing the watch. Officially, the only thing that ties Newman to the watch is a single photograph of him posing for a photoshoot while wearing the piece. Nonetheless, the watch is a truly rare, vintage piece that is still highly desired my collectors around the globe.

World Leader:

Some see a timepiece as a mark of achievement. Either you are celebrating a major milestone in your life by purchasing a luxury timepiece or the signal is more subtle. A beautiful, quality timepiece with a luxurious reputation like Rolex can signify your standing and importance in society — as was the case with the Rolex Day-Date.

The President gets its name from the people to famously wear the watch, whom obviously were presidents. Dwight Eiesenhower was the first president to wear the Day-Date and then so did Lyndon Johnson. Not-so-coincidentally, Rolex ran an ad campaign at the same time as these presidential terms which positioned the Day-Date as “the presidents’ watch.”

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