Price Guide: How Much Is a Rolex Submariner?

The Submariner is not only one of Rolex’s oldest Oyster Professional models but also one of its most coveted. Born as a tool watch for SCUBA divers in 1953, the Submariner has evolved over the decades into a luxury sports watch with immense popularity that goes well beyond the original niche audience. It’s no secret that Rolex is an aspirational brand, famous for selling expensive watches that people are proud to wear.

So, how much is a Rolex Submariner? As with many things, it’s not a clear-cut answer. Yes, there are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) published by the brand and the Submariner is officially priced somewhere in the middle of Rolex’s lineup. However, current Rolex Submariner prices can get more complicated when you’re actually ready to buy a Submariner since you have to contend with factors like limited availability at retail and demand-driven prices in the secondary market. What’s more, if you add discontinued pre-owned Submariners and collectible vintage Submariners to the mix, then the price range of a Sub expands dramatically.

Welcome to our comprehensive Rolex Submariner price guide, which includes pricing data about current-production watches, discontinued models, and vintage references.

Current Rolex Submariner Prices

From time to time, Rolex will increase the prices of its watches. Even the Submariner collection, which has not welcomed any new models since 2020, underwent a price hike. So how much is the Rolex Submariner in 2023? Below you’ll find a comparison between MSRP of current-production Rolex watches from the Submariner collection and how much you can expect to pay in the secondary market.

Stainless Steel Submariner Prices

Rolex currently manufactures three stainless steel Submariner models: the Submariner ref. 124060, Submariner ref. 126610LN and 126610LV. While all of these feature stainless steel 41mm Oyster cases water-resistant to 300 meters, stainless steel Oyster bracelets with the Glidelock diver’s extension clasp, and unidirectional Cerachrom ceramic bezel inserts graduated to 60 minutes, the Submariner 124060 is the no-date version of the Rolex’s famous dive watch.

As a result, the no-date Submariner ref. 124060 is the most affordable of the trio with an official retail price of $9,100. The difference between the Submariner Date 126610LN and the 126610LV is the color of the Cerachrom ceramic bezel fitted to the two watches. The LN (Lunette Noir) has a black dial paired with a black ceramic bezel, while the LV (Lunette Verte) has a black dial and a green ceramic bezel. and the ref. 126610LN has a retail price of $10,250, while the ref. 126610LV has an official retail price of $10,800. That said, the green Submariner is more expensive than the black one – particularly on the secondary market.

If you look at the comparison between the Submariner retail price and secondary market price, you’ll quickly notice that the prices are higher for pre-owned Submariners. This is because the demand for stainless steel Submariners far outpaces the supply available. The discontinued all-green Submariner “Hulk” is an especially coveted reference and its market value has grown substantially since its debut in 2010. Even the current-production green Submariner with a 41mm case and black dial still sells for more than its original retail price on the pre-owned market.

Reference	Retail Price
Submariner ref. 124060	$9,100
Submariner Date ref. 126610LN	$10,250
Submariner Date ref. 126610LV	$10,800

Gold Submariner Prices

Rolex also makes three versions of the gold Submariner: the Submariner ref. 126618LN, the Submariner ref. 126618LB, and the Submariner ref. 126619LB. While all of these are all Submariner Date versions with 18k gold 41mm Oyster cases, 18k gold Oyster bracelets, and Cerachrom ceramic bezel inserts, the first two references are fashioned from yellow gold while the latter is in white gold. The difference between the Submariner 126618LN and the 126618LB is the color of the dial and bezel. The LN (Lunette Noir) has a classic black dial and bezel. while the LB (Lunette Bleu) has a blue dial and matching blue ceramic bezel with 18k gold-filled numerals. The current 18k white gold Submariner 126619LB with a 41mm case features a black dial with a blue bezel insert, making it unique from the previous white gold Submariner, which also featured a blue dial and a 40mm case.

The color scheme of the dial/bezel of the yellow gold Submariner does not impact the retail price – the blue and black versions are priced the same. However, the white gold Submariner is more expensive than the yellow gold version. It’s worth noting that the ref. 116619 was the first white gold Submariner ever made (except for the special edition gem-set versions), and it has since been replaced by the current ref. 126619 that features a larger 41mm case and now features a black dial instead of a gloss blue one like before.

Unlike the stainless steel Submariners, used Rolex gold Submariners in some cases can be priced less than MSRP. In fact, you can save around $10,000 when buying a used gold Submariner, although this is not always true for all references, simply depending on their specific age, model, and collectibility.

Reference	Retail Price
Submariner Date 126618LN	$39,000
Submariner Date 126618LB	$39,000
Submariner Date 126619LB	$42,000

Two-Tone Submariner Prices

In Rolex’s current catalog, there are two two-tone Submariner models: the Submariner ref. 126613LN and the Submariner 126613LB. Officially known as the Yellow Rolesor Submariner (Yellow Rolesor is the name Rolex gives to its watches that combines yellow gold and stainless steel details on one watch), the Sub ref. 126613 watches sports 41mm steel Oyster cases fitted with a yellow gold winding crown and yellow gold knurled bezel ring, an Oyster bracelet with yellow gold center links flanked by stainless steel links, and Cerachrom ceramic bezel inserts with gold-filled graduations.

Yet again, the letters in the reference numbers denote the dial/bezel colorway – LN for the black dial and bezel option and LB for the blue dial and bezel version. The two-tone Submariner with the blue dial and bezel is sometimes referred to as the Rolex “Bluesy.” Both references have identical retail prices and both can be purchased for less in the pre-owned Rolex market.

Reference	Retail Price
Submariner Date 126613LN	$15,600
Submariner Date 126613LB	$15,600

The prices of the Rolex Submariner in 2023 follow similar patterns with other Rolex sports watches, which is to say that the stainless steel versions are often valued higher than MSRP in the secondary market. And for a luxury watch reference that is over a decade old but is not a vintage watch yet, that is impressive value retention and speaks to the enduring popularity of modern steel Rolex sports watches.

Discontinued Rolex Submariner Prices

Some of the least costly Submariner watches that can be purchased in the secondary market are discontinued models that are not old enough to be considered true vintage watches yet. Namely, these are the Submariner Date references made in the 80s, 90, and 2000s until the introduction of the Cerachrom Sub in the late-2000s. A notable exception to this is the green “Kermit” Submariner, which is a highly collectible reference and typically valued more than twice the black bezel reference.

Reference	Secondary Market Price
Submariner 116610LN	Starting at $13,795
Submariner 116610LV	Starting at $23,995
Submariner 116613	Starting at $14,995
Submariner 116618	Starting at $36,995
Submariner 16610	Starting at $10,495
Submariner 16613	Starting at $12,995
Submariner 16618	Starting at $32,495
Submariner 116619	Starting at $42,994
No-Date Submariner 14060/14060M	Starting at $9,995

Vintage Rolex Submariner Prices

Thanks to their immense desirability among watch collectors, vintage Submariners are some of the priciest Rolex watches in the pre-owned market. It’s not uncommon to find vintage steel Subs valued at multiple times the price of the newest Submariner in full 18k gold.

The most affordable (relatively speaking) vintage Submariners are typically the later versions of the ref. 5513, 5512, and 1680 with matte dials and printed text. But these still normally start in the five-figure range.

Ultra collectible vintage Submariner references—particularly those with uncommon design traits—can command six-figure prices. In 2018, a Submariner ref. 6538 with an “Explorer-style” dial broke the $1 million mark, selling for $1,068,500 – the most expensive Rolex Submariner ever sold at auction.

Rolex Submariner Price History

Over the decades, this watch has seen a lot of changes and upgrades. However, one of the most shocking changes is the price of the Submariner. A lot of the time, people assume that low prices from decades-past can be chopped up to inflation, but there’s plenty of history that has propelled the Rolex Submariner from a watch that cost a couple of hundred bucks to one that will set you back eight or nine grand for a basic model in stainless steel.

The price history of the Rolex Submariner starts with its release in the 1950s when you could pick one up for a cool $150. Even when taking inflation into account, that works out to still less than $2,000 – still quite “cheap” for a luxury timepiece in today’s market. Over the next two decades, between the 1950s and 1970s, the Submariner gained serious popularity. It was already renowned for its water-resistance, but its highly versatile aesthetics, along with features in major films, like the James Bond series, made this watch more than a dive tool and turned it into a mainstream status symbol.

Yet, by the 1970s there hadn’t been a huge price increase for the Rolex Submariner, despite its tremendous success. For example, the stainless steel Submariner Date was priced at just $230 at the time, which is still far less than Rolex’s absolute least-expensive watch today. Even the full solid 18k gold Submariner was selling for $2,000, which would be roughly about the same price as what Rolex charges for a brand-new two-tone model. However, the relatively low prices of this decade are a direct reflection of the downfall of the industry during the Quartz Crisis when lighter and cheaper quartz watches were outselling mechanical watches.

However, by the time the 1980s were ushered in, the industry had mostly regained its footing and repositioned itself in the market. For the first time in a long time, mechanical watches weren’t seen as antiquated technology, but rather a luxury item. Rolex watches had always been seen as high-end items; however, it was during this decade that we saw them fully embrace their luxury status. The price of the Rolex Submariner was pretty much blown out of the water. The 18k gold Submariner that went for a couple of grand in the 1970s was now priced at $10,850 – or nearly $30,000 today, adjusting for inflation. The newly-introduced two-tone stainless steel and yellow gold Rolex Submariner was priced at $2,975 (almost $10k today). Even the standard stainless steel Submariner saw a major price increase, jumping from a couple hundred in the early 1970s to $1,325 just a decade later.

During the 1990s, the prices continued to rise, with the stainless steel Submariner Date jumping to $3,350 in 1996 and then to $6,000 by 2008. Today, the modern version of that same watch (ref. 126610LN) will cost you some $10,250 – another significant jump in a decade. Even the basic no-date Submariner now costs $9,100.

Steel Submariner Price History (adjusted for inflation)

• 1950s – $1,440
• 1970s – $1,570
• 1980s – $2,950
• 1990s – $5,608
• 2000s – $7,340
• 2020 – $8,950
• 2023 – $11,995

The Rolex Submariner Price Scale

If you have a budget in mind to buy a Submariner, below you’ll find some solid options divided into various price ranges.

Rolex Submariner for $9,000 to $10,000

The $9,000 to $10,000 range is stocked primarily with steel versions of the world’s favorite dive watch, particularly those from the previous three generations of Rolex’s iconic dive watch.

An especially tempting purchase in this price bracket, for a couple of reasons, is the last of the non-Cerachrom bezel series, the stainless steel ref. 16610 Submariner Date or the ref. 14060 no-date models, introduced in 1988 and 1990, respectively.

Firstly, they can be the least expensive buy-in to the Submariner family; a beautiful, robust watch that gives a lot of bang for the buck. And secondly, take a quick look at some examples of any hardworking Rolex sports model from a generation ago, and you’ll see the sort of time-faded aluminum bezel that has a story to tell – and vintage collectors love a story.

The new ceramic material Rolex has been using in the Submariner’s latest incarnation since 2008, while technically impressive in terms of strength, has been designed to resist fading, robbing modern watches of the chance to develop a unique patina that sets them apart from any other. The versions that precede this series-wide innovation are likely to become highly sought-after future classics.

The Cerachrom Subs themselves, of course, benefit from a number of modernizations that keep them at the forefront of the industry, and you’ll come across plenty of these models too for right around $10,000.

For between $9,000 and $10,000, you can expect to come across some stunning examples of the steel Submariner, although some of the more affordable examples of yellow gold and Rolesor models from the 1980s through to the 2000s will be able to be found right outside of this price range at closer to $12k. More likely to fluctuate in value due to the ever-changing price of precious metals, they make an eye-catching alternative to the utilitarian original.

As a side note, it is possible to find Subs for less than our $9,000 start point, but if you do, it will be worth your while triple-checking the reputation of the seller.

Rolex Submariner for $15,000 to $20,000

A move into five-figure territory opens up access to some very special references of the Submariner. The previous recent release of the two-tone ref. 116613, crafted from 904L steel and 18k yellow gold from Rolex’s own foundry, can be easily sourced at just over the dime mark.

Available with a blue dial and bezel (LB) or in black (LN), they each successfully tread the line between out and out tool watch and a timepiece versatile enough to wear with just about anything.

If green is your color, the Sub marked its half-century in 2003 with the introduction of the ref. 16610LV with a green aluminum bezel. A shock to the system on its launch, the unorthodox color scheme from the usually straight-laced Swiss has now become an enticing target for collectors. Seven years later, Rolex built on the success of the Kermit, as the 16610LV was quickly labeled, and brought out the Rolex Submariner 116610LV, with a green dial to go alongside the Cerachrom bezel, and earning it the nickname The Hulk. Both watches can be found within the $10k-$20k range, although due to their collectibility, a number of examples will cost more than the $20k limit.

The step-up in price also brings some of the truly classic vintages within reach, important slices of Rolex history with unrivaled pedigrees.

The ref. 5512 was released in 1958 and enjoyed a 20-year run that sealed the Sub’s reputation as an icon, a status done no harm at all by it appearing on the wrist of Steve McQueen. In 1962, the ref. 5513 joined in, another no date Sub that ran until 1989. Without getting into the fine details over the distinctions between the two, the 5512 and 5513 are, very generally speaking, the same watch, but most 5512s contained COSC rated movements, whereas the 5513 did not.

It is this subtle difference that added extra two lines of text to the 5512’s dial, designating it as a “Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified.” As is the way with vintage Rolex collectors, it’s minute details like this, along with seemingly trivial changes to elements such as bracelets, bezel coloring, and even the font used in the wording, that can add huge premiums to the price of a classic watch.

For under $20,000, some excellent versions of these two much-loved pieces are certainly attainable, considered the last of the “pure” Submariners by hardcore fans, before the arrival of the ref. 1680 in 1969 brought the hotly-debated date function and even more dividing Cyclops lens.

Rolex Submariner for $20,000 and Beyond

$20,000-plus for a watch is a lot of money in anybody’s language and it buys an awful lot of Submariner.

The two most opulent variations occupy much of the pre-owned market space at the lower end of this price point. The yellow gold Submariner ref. 116618 with a black or blue Cerachrom bezel and the white gold Submariner ref. 116619LB “Smurf” with a blue Cerachrom bezel can be found for between $20k and $30k. Additionally, all of the current-production Submariner watches crafted from solid gold will cost you at least $20k, with some priced at more than twice that, both at retail and on the secondary market.

As well as introducing more precious metal options, higher prices tend to open up real curiosities and special editions, going back through the Sub’s illustrious history. Here, you’ll find the kinds of names that are music to the ears of every die-hard vintage Rolex collector. The famous “Red Submariner” ref. 1680, which was the first Submariner to have that date function. Or the ref. 6536/1, “James Bond“ can often take you past the $30k mark, depending on condition and countless other tiny details.

Beyond that, there is only really the question of how much you want to spend. It’s not unusual to find Subs breaking the $100k mark, for which you are entitled to something extraordinary, ultra-rare specialist pieces or even one-offs.

As the world’s most famous luxury brand, it’s not hard to imagine that Rolex’s prices will continue to rise over the years… and if the last half-century is anything to go by, it will likely not deter Rolex Submariner buyers.