Most people choosing a Submariner get stuck on the same three questions: date or no date, 40mm or 41mm, and whether the newest generation is worth the premium. Here is what actually separates them, from someone who handles these every week.
Should you buy a Submariner with a date or without?
Buy the no-date if you want the cleaner dial; buy the date if you will actually use it.
The no-date has perfect dial symmetry and no Cyclops lens on the crystal. The date version adds a window at three o'clock under the magnifying Cyclops, which some people find essential and others think spoils the look.
There is no difference in build quality, water resistance or durability. It is purely what you want on your wrist, and it is worth knowing the no-date has historically been the cheaper of the two, so it is not a compromise on price either.
What actually changed between the 40mm and 41mm Submariners?
Far more than the millimetre suggests. Rolex redesigned the case, the lugs and the bracelet in 2020, and the result wears differently to the number on paper.
The 40mm generation (114060 no-date, 116610LN date) used what collectors call the Maxi or Super Case, with broad crown guards and thick lugs. The "fat lugs" were the most common criticism of these references. Lug width is 20mm.
The 41mm generation (124060 no-date, 126610LN date) has noticeably thinner lugs despite the larger case. Lug width went up to 21mm and the bracelet widened with it. The practical effect is that the bigger watch often looks more proportionate on the wrist, particularly on a smaller wrist.
The 41mm bracelet also gained the Glidelock clasp, a micro-adjustment system that extends the bracelet by up to 20mm in 2mm increments, without tools. If your wrist swells in summer or you wear the watch over a wetsuit sleeve, that is a genuinely useful feature the older references do not have.
One catch worth knowing: the 21mm lug width means straps from older Submariners will not fit, and 21mm is an awkward size to shop for in the aftermarket.
So which generation should you buy?
It comes down to supply versus comfort.
The 40mm references were discontinued in 2020, which puts a permanent ceiling on how many exist. That is the argument for buying one. The supply can only shrink, and a 40mm Submariner is what a lot of people picture when they picture a Submariner.
The 41mm references are current production. No scarcity story, but a more comfortable bracelet, a better clasp, and a case that many people find wears better despite being larger.
Neither is the right answer. It depends on whether you are buying a watch to wear or a watch to hold.
Is 40mm or 41mm better on the wrist?
Try both. This is the single best reason to buy in person rather than online.
Two Submariners a millimetre apart genuinely feel different because of the lug redesign, and no photograph will tell you which suits your wrist. We usually have both generations in the showroom. It takes five minutes to settle a decision you would otherwise agonise over for weeks.
What about the green Submariners?
There are three, and they are not the same watch.
The Kermit (16610LV) has a green aluminium bezel with a black dial, made 2003 to 2010 for the Submariner's 50th anniversary. The Hulk (116610LV) has a green ceramic bezel and a green dial, made 2010 to 2020. The Starbucks (126610LV) is the current one, with a green ceramic bezel, black dial and 41mm case.
The Kermit has become a collector's piece because it was the first green Submariner and used aluminium rather than ceramic. Aluminium fades, so surviving examples with an even, unfaded bezel are getting genuinely scarce, and that is what separates a good Kermit from an average one.
Does a two-tone Submariner make sense?
It does if you want a Submariner that works as a dress watch as easily as a tool watch.
Two-tone pairs Oystersteel with yellow gold on the bracelet centre links, bezel and crown. It sits outside the all-steel conversation, which means less competition for them, and often better value than the equivalent steel reference for the same year and condition.
How much does a pre-owned Submariner cost in Australia?
Most of our Submariners sit between AU$18,000 and AU$22,000, depending on reference, year and condition.
What moves the price within that range:
- Discontinued references carry a premium over current production
- A full set, with box, papers and original warranty card, adds meaningfully over a watch-only example
- Condition of the bezel, especially on the aluminium-bezel green references
- Unpolished cases with sharp lug edges command more than over-polished ones
See our current Submariners and Rolex stock
Is buying a pre-owned Submariner safe?
Yes, if you can inspect it before you buy. Every Rolex we list is checked and authenticated by the Horologist in the Dymocks Building before it goes on sale, and comes with a 12 month mechanical warranty covering the movement.
The real risk with a pre-owned Submariner usually is not a fake watch. It is a genuine watch with replaced parts, an over-polished case, or a service dial. Those are hard to spot in photographs and easy to spot in person. That is the case for buying from a dealer you can walk into.
Which Submariner holds its value best?
Steel sports Submariners hold value more consistently than any other Rolex line, and discontinued references tend to hold best.
The 114060 and 116610LN both ended production in 2020, which fixes their supply permanently. The Kermit is the strongest of the green references for the same reason: a short production run, and a bezel material that most surviving examples no longer have in good condition.
None of this is investment advice. It is what we observe buying and selling these watches.
Where can you buy a pre-owned Submariner in Sydney?
At The Watch Business, Suite 7, Level 9, Dymocks Building, 428 George Street, Sydney CBD. Viewing is by appointment, Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm.
Call 0423 778 091 to book a time, and tell us which references you want on the table. We will have them ready to try on. Finance is available to approved Australian buyers, and we buy Submariners from the public if you are trading up.