Rolex Submariner Date vs No-Date

Quick answer

The 124060 and the 126610LN share their case, bezel, bracelet, lume and accuracy. Choose by one question: do you look at the date? If yes, buy the Date. If not, the no-date is cheaper, cleaner and closer to the 1950s original.

We are independent and sell nothing. Prices are October 2026 dealer and marketplace levels, with MYR at 4.08 per US dollar.

Submariner Date vs No-Date specifications

Read down the table and you will find almost no differences. Only the calibre number, the crystal and the price change.

Both launched in September 2020 and replaced the 116610LN and 114060 respectively. Both measure 41 mm by 12.5 mm and carry the 300 m rating. In fact, Rolex uses one case design for the pair.

Design and wearability

The dial: symmetry against utility

Remove the date and the dial changes character. The 124060 has a marker at 3 o'clock, matching the ones at 9, and the hands sweep a perfectly balanced face. Its text also reads simply "Oyster Perpetual" under the coronet, without the word "Date".

The 126610LN replaces the 3 o'clock marker with a white date disc. Above it sits the Cyclops, which magnifies the numeral about 2.5 times. Fans argue it is part of the Rolex identity; critics call it a bump on an otherwise clean crystal. Either way, it is the single biggest visual difference.

Historically, however, the no-date has the stronger claim. The first Submariners of 1953–54 had no date, and the long-running 5513 stayed date-free into the late 1980s. Rolex only added a date in 1969 with the 1680. So the 124060 is the direct heir of the tool watch, while the 126610LN descends from the later, more practical branch.

Case, lugs and bracelet

In practice, they are indistinguishable from the side. Both wear comfortably from about 16 cm (6.3 in) upwards, and the Glidelock lets you add up to about 20 mm without tools. Therefore fit is no reason to pick one over the other. Our bracelet guide explains the clasp.

Movement: calibre 3230 vs 3235

The two calibres are siblings from Rolex's 2015-onwards generation. Each has the Chronergy escapement, a blue Parachrom hairspring, Paraflex shock absorbers and 70 hours of reserve. Each is a Superlative Chronometer at −2/+2 seconds a day.

The 3235 adds a date that jumps instantly at midnight and a quickset in the first crown position. The 3230 has no date module, so the crown goes straight from winding to time setting. In practice that makes the no-date slightly quicker to set after it stops.

Servicing is near identical. Rolex suggests roughly ten-year intervals for these calibres, and the 3230 has fewer parts to check. That said, any cost difference at a service centre is small. See our service and value guide for detail.

Price comparison: Date vs No-Date in 2026

This table includes both current models and their predecessors, since a used 114060 or 116610LN is a realistic alternative to a new-generation watch.

Retail is the current (or last) US list price. Pre-owned bands are rounded market ranges for October 2026; MYR ≈ USD × 4.08.

At retail

The 124060 lists at US$10,050 (RM43,600). The 126610LN lists at US$11,350 (RM49,100). So the date costs $1,300 in the US and RM5,500 in Malaysia. That is a large price for a date wheel, and it is the strongest argument for the no-date.

Pre-owned

Used, however, the gap narrows. An excellent 124060 with papers sits at US$12,800 – US$14,500, about RM52,200–59,150. An excellent 126610LN sits at US$14,000 – US$15,600, about RM57,100–63,650. As a result, the difference is roughly $1,000–1,200. The no-date's premium over list is a few points higher, because more buyers chase it as the entry Submariner.

Previous generations are also worth a look. A 114060 at US$11,500 – US$12,800 saves about $1,500 over a used 124060, at the cost of the older 48-hour calibre 3130 and broader "Maxi" lugs. The 116610LN at US$12,200 – US$14,300 offers a similar saving on the Date side. Our 5-digit vs 6-digit Submariner comparison covers the older generations.

Common mistakes when choosing between them

Assuming the no-date is the "lesser" watch

Some buyers see the 124060 as a budget model. It is not. The case, bracelet, bezel and lume are identical, and the 3230 is certified to the same −2/+2 seconds a day. Indeed, many collectors who own both wear the no-date more, because it looks cleaner.

Judging from photos instead of the wrist

Product shots exaggerate the Cyclops, because they are taken straight on and close up. On the wrist, at reading distance, it is far less dominant. Equally, the no-date's symmetry is subtle in person. So try both at a dealer, ideally side by side, before deciding on looks alone.

Paying a premium for the wrong generation

Listings sometimes describe a 114060 or 116610LN as "current" or "41 mm". They are 40 mm with broad "Maxi" lugs and a 48-hour reserve. Check the reference between the lugs and on the warranty card. Also confirm the coronet between "SWISS" and "MADE" at 6, which only the 2020-onwards models have.

Ignoring how you actually set the watch

If you rotate between several watches, the no-date is easier to pick up after a few days in a drawer. You set the time and go. By contrast, the Date also needs its date corrected, which takes a minute of crown work. For a single-watch owner, however, the 70-hour reserve means the date rarely needs resetting at all.

Ownership and resale

Both watches are allocated at Malaysian authorised dealers rather than sold over the counter. In our experience, neither is reliably easier to get. The no-date tends to go to clients buying their first Rolex, partly because it is the cheapest entry to the line. The retail vs market price guide explains how allocation works.

Buying pre-owned in Malaysia

If you skip the AD queue, the grey market gives you both models quickly. Kuala Lumpur dealers, Singapore dealers and international marketplaces all list them. Prices are usually set in US dollars or tracked against them, so the exchange rate matters. At 4.08 MYR per dollar, the roughly $1,100 pre-owned gap works out to about RM4,500.

Whichever you buy, ask for the warranty card, the box and every removed bracelet link. Also confirm the card date: a 2024–2026 card leaves Rolex guarantee time to run, which supports resale later. Local classifieds can be cheaper, but they carry more risk, so meet at a watchmaker or a dealer who can verify the watch. Our used Rolex price guide explains how condition affects price.

Resale

On resale, the Date is the more liquid of the two. It is the default Submariner most buyers search for, so dealers turn it over quickly. The no-date has a slightly smaller pool, mostly purists and first-time buyers, but it still sells within days at a fair price. In either case, a full set with a dated card adds hundreds of dollars; see box and papers.

Which Submariner should you buy?

Other comparisons: Submariner vs GMT-Master II, Submariner vs Sea-Dweller, or browse the Submariner collection.

Submariner Date vs No-Date FAQ