Rolex Submariner Date vs No-Date: 126610LN vs 124060

The difference between the Rolex Submariner Date and the no-date Submariner is a date window and the movement behind it: the Submariner Date 126610LN has a date at 3 o'clock under a Cyclops lens and runs the calibre 3235, while the no-date 124060 has a clean, symmetrical dial and runs the calibre 3230. Both are 41 mm Oystersteel dive watches with a black dial, a black Cerachrom bezel and 300 metres of water resistance, both introduced in 2020, so the choice is about dial layout and daily habit, not about quality. This guide compares them side by side and explains who each one suits. Bizak & Co. is a sourcing desk, not an authorised Rolex retailer; the Rolex Submariner collection shows the references we can seek to order.

Last reviewed on October 27, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Listings are catalogue entries sourced to order, not stock. Sources: Rolex, Submariner collection and Rolex, watch care and service.

What is the difference between the Submariner Date and the no-date Submariner?

The difference is the date function. The 126610LN shows the date in a window at 3 o'clock magnified by a Cyclops lens on the crystal, and the 124060 leaves the window out, which removes the Cyclops and gives the dial a balanced, uncluttered face. Rolex replaced two predecessors in 2020: the 126610LN took over from the 116610LN, and the 124060 took over from the 114060. Both new references grew from a 40 mm case to 41 mm, and both moved to a newer movement. The two watches share the same case architecture, the same ceramic bezel and the same Oyster bracelet, so on the wrist they read as close siblings. Both are also cut from the same Oystersteel, which our guide to Rolex Oystersteel and 904L steel explains. If you are weighing the older aluminum-bezel generation too, our guide to the Submariner 16610 vs 116610LN aluminum and ceramic bezel eras covers that change.

Submariner Date 126610LN vs no-date 124060: how do the specs compare?

On paper the two watches are nearly identical, and the table shows the few places they differ.

Rolex's own pages remain the authority on specifications, and they are worth checking against any individual watch you are offered.

Does the date change how the watch looks and wears?

Yes, mostly in how the dial looks. The 126610LN carries a date window with a magnifying Cyclops, which makes the dial busier and more functional and gives the watch its recognisable profile. The 124060 has no window and no Cyclops, so the markers, hands and bezel sit in clean symmetry, which many collectors find closer to the original dive-tool idea. The case size, bezel and bracelet are shared, so weight and presence on the wrist feel very similar; the difference you notice is on the dial, not on the arm. If you try both on, look at the dial from a normal reading distance, because that is where the preference usually settles.

Is the Submariner Date or the no-date the better watch?

Neither is objectively better; each is better for a different wearer. Choose the Submariner Date if you want one watch to handle the calendar as well as the time, if you glance at the date daily, or if you like the classic Cyclops look. Choose the no-date if you value a symmetrical dial, if you rotate between several watches and do not want to reset a date, or if you simply prefer the cleaner face. Both use a modern 70-hour movement from the same family, so reliability and power reserve do not separate them. The date is a convenience, not a premium feature, and it is easy to live without.

Which Submariner is easier to resell or trade?

Both are among the most recognised and most traded Rolex sports watches, so neither is hard to place. The Submariner Date has long been the more common configuration in the dealer market, and the no-date has a loyal following among buyers who want the purist layout. Condition, completeness of the set and the exact reference matter more to a future buyer than the date window. If resale is a priority, buy the dial you will enjoy wearing and keep the box, papers and service records together. Our pre-owned Rolex Submariner watches page shows how the used market is listed, and a pre-owned 124060 Submariner entry shows a typical used no-date listing.

How do prices compare between the two?

Pricing moves with condition, year and set, so we do not publish a number in an article that will age. Compare the from-prices on the linked listings for each reference, and treat them as a guide to the market, not as a quote. The date model and the no-date have traded in a similar band over time, with the exact gap shifting as supply changes. Sourcing on demand means we confirm the specific watch, its photographs and the final price before any commitment, which is the point at which a real comparison becomes possible. For the wider range, browse the steel Rolex Submariner watches and the black-dial Submariner models side by side.

What should you check before buying either Submariner?

• Reference and case. Confirm the reference engraved between the lugs and match it to the listing; 126610LN and 124060 are both 41 mm and look alike at a glance.
• Serial and card. The warranty card serial should match the rehaut engraving on the dial edge; ask for a photograph of both.
• Date window. On the 126610LN, check that the date changes cleanly and the Cyclops sits flat and clear.
• Bezel and crystal. The ceramic should be free of chips, and the bezel should click firmly in one direction only.
• Bracelet and clasp. Hold the watch by the clasp and look for stretch; check the clasp closes cleanly.
• Photographs of this watch. Insist on images of the exact watch, not stock images, before money moves.

Our authenticity page explains what to check and what our buyer-protection terms cover.

Quick answers

What is the difference between the Rolex Submariner Date and no-date?

The Submariner Date 126610LN has a date window with a Cyclops lens and the calibre 3235; the 124060 has no date and the calibre 3230. Case, bezel, bracelet and water resistance are shared.

Are the 126610LN and 124060 the same size?

Yes. Both have a 41 mm Oystersteel case, up from the 40 mm cases of the 116610LN and 114060 that they replaced in 2020.

Is the Submariner Date more valuable than the no-date?

Not by a fixed rule. Both are heavily traded, and condition, year and completeness of the set drive the price more than the date window. Compare the from-prices on the linked listings.

Does the no-date Submariner have a different movement?

Yes, the calibre 3230 instead of the 3235. Both are automatic with a power reserve of about 70 hours, and the 3230 simply lacks the date mechanism.

Which Submariner should I buy first?

Whichever dial you will enjoy wearing daily. Pick the date if you use it, and the no-date if you want the cleaner face.

Request a Submariner sourcing quote

Tell us the reference (126610LN or 124060), new or pre-owned, and your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, card and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: Submariner Date 126610LN, Submariner 124060, pre-owned 124060; browse all Rolex Submariner references or the pre-owned Rolex Submariner watches.

Related reading: Submariner 126610LN guide · Submariner 124060 guide · Submariner 124060 specs and 114060 differences · Submariner 114060 vs 124060 · Best first Rolex