The 2020 Rolex Submariner Ref:126610LN

by Patrick Gilbertson June 08, 2021

The most anticipated launch of the year is finally here! After two viral teaser adverts and months worth of enthusiast mock-ups, the 2020 Rolex Submariner has been announced. Here are the answers to some of your most pressing questions on the latest additions to the line that many would describe as the king of the luxury dive watch genre.

What size is it?

The new Sub is 41mm...but put down your pitchforks, its slimmer and less beefy than the case on the previous generation 114060. If anything, the case is more reminiscent of the enthusiast-favourite pre-ceramic reference 14060(M). While not yet confirmed by the press release (Rolex don’t like people putting straps on their new watches), from the pictures, it looks like the new Sub has retained its 20mm lug-width - hoorah!

The difference in lugs between the previous no-date and the new one.

What metals/colour variants does it come in?

Ok, so we’ve got: a black no-date in steel (125060), a black date in steel (126610LN), a black dial green bezel in steel (126610LV), a black dial blue bezel in white gold (126619LB), a blue dial with blue bezel and gold accents in steel and yellow gold (126613LB), a black dial black bezel in steel and yellow gold (126613LN), a black dial black bezel in all yellow gold (126618LN) and finally, a blue dial blue bezel in all yellow gold (126618LB).

The glorious new Ref: 126610LV

Has it got a new movement?

Yes, the old 3135 and 3130 and their sub-par 48-hour power reserve have been ditched for the new 2020 Rolex Calibers 3235 (date) and 3230 (no-date). The headline changes come in the form of the addition of the Paraflex shock-absorber and an extended power reserve of 70 hours - that’s much more like it!

What is the Paraflex shock-absorber?

Paraflex is the name of Rolex’s own shock-absorbing technology. According to Calibre Corner, a great website if you like getting geeky about movements, Paraflex is a spring-loaded mounting system for the jewel bearings that support the movement’s balance wheel. Anti-shock devices help protect the balance wheel from damage in the event of dropping the watch or hitting it against something hard (e.g a door handle). This shock absorber was developed and patented in 2005, but it wasn’t rolled out until 2008 when it was first used in the calibre 3132 inside the Oyster Perpetual line. The technology has been slowly rolled-out through the years into new models ever since.

What else is new?

There’s a little 5-pointed Coronet (crown) between ‘Swiss’ and ‘Made’ down at 6 o’clock - you’ll be able to distinguish a new Sub from the old ceramic Sub at a glance.

The Ref: 126619LB - Nickname pending..

What’s the same as the older models?

The handset, the white gold Maxi indices, the gloss dial, 904L steel construction (or yellow gold), the Oyster bracelet, the brilliant Glidelock clasp, the ceramic bezel, the cyclops on the date models, Chromalight blue lume and the dial text.

How much do they cost?

Steel No-date: £6,450

Steel Date: £7,300

Steel Date Green Bezel: £7,650

Blue Bi-metal: £11,450

Black Bi-metal: £11,450

Black Yellow Gold: £29,650

Blue Yellow Gold: £29,650

Blue Bezel White Gold: £31,850

It’s been a brilliant release from Rolex - well worth waiting-up for. It seems that the brand may have done the least Rolex-y thing possible: disregarding forward-moving, trend-setting design and really listening to the enthusiast community and their preferences. I’m so pleased to see slimmer lugs, an overall sleeker case and a great range of colour and metal combinations, as well as my personal highlight of the release: the new Kermit!