The Vault › All references › Submariner
Submariner · 2020 to present
“Smurf's Heir”
Grade C · 59/100Today's call: Watch
C: wear it, don't flip it. Ranked #113 of 129 references in The Crown Index vault.
| Original retail (2026) | $44,500 |
|---|---|
| Market today | $36,000 – $40,000 |
| Vs original retail | -15% |
| 1-year trend | +1% |
Solid gold, royal blue, impossible to miss. Trades about 15 percent under a retail price that climbs every January.
Gold spot prices and Rolex's annual increases slowly ratchet the pre-owned floor upward.
The successor to the beloved Smurf swapped the blue dial for black in 2020, instantly making its predecessor a closed chapter and itself the 'current' gold-blue Sub. Sunlight turns the blue ceramic bezel electric.
Gold Subs are the quiet money move of the catalog: huge retail, soft resale, so the pre-owned buyer gets a fortune in gold and engineering at the markdown. This is the configuration for people who already have the steel ones.
Our verdict: The flex with a safety net. Buy under retail, and the gold content caps the downside.
| Sizes | 41mm |
|---|---|
| Case & bracelet material | 18k yellow gold |
| Factory bracelet | Oyster |
| Factory bezels | Blue Cerachrom, yellow gold |
| Notable dials | Royal blue |
| Caliber | 3235 |
| Production | 2020 to present |
Live eBay listings ↗ Open in the interactive Vault