Rolex Submariner 40mm

Buying Advice

About the 40mm Rolex Submariner

For sixty years the Submariner was a 40mm watch. The case size settled at 40mm in 1959 with the arrival of crown guards and stayed there until 2020, when Rolex moved the line to 41mm with slimmer lugs. That makes 40mm the size most people picture when they think of a Submariner, and it covers everything from vintage no-date references through the ceramic-bezel generation discontinued in 2020. WatchGuys carries pre-owned 40mm Submariners across steel, two-tone, and gold, each backed by the WatchGuys 2 Year Warranty. Browse the full Rolex Submariner collection or the wider Rolex watches inventory.

Not Every 40mm Submariner Wears the Same

This is the single most useful thing to understand before buying, and it catches people out constantly. In 2010 Rolex introduced the Super Case alongside the ceramic bezel, widening the lugs and enlarging the crown guards. The case diameter stayed at 40mm, but the visual footprint grew considerably. A ceramic-era 40mm Submariner runs close to 48mm lug to lug and around 12.5mm thick, which puts its wrist presence nearer a 42mm watch than a 40mm one. Pre-2010 references with the older slimmer case wear noticeably smaller despite sharing the same 40mm diameter. So if you are choosing 40mm because you want a compact Submariner, the reference matters far more than the number.

The 41mm Can Wear Smaller Than the 40mm

Following directly from the above, and it surprises almost everyone. When Rolex moved to 41mm in 2020 it also slimmed the lugs back down, undoing much of what the Super Case added. The result is that the current 41mm Submariner is a more refined shape than the 40mm ceramic references it replaced, and on many wrists it reads as the smaller and more elegant watch despite the larger diameter. Buyers who ruled out the current generation on size alone are usually comparing a number rather than a silhouette. If compactness is genuinely the goal, a pre-2010 40mm reference is the answer, not a 2010 to 2020 one. For how sizes compare across the catalogue, see our most popular Rolex sizes comparison.

The Ceramic Era: 2010 to 2020

The last decade of 40mm production is where most buyers land, because these watches combine the modern Cerachrom bezel with the smaller case that is no longer made. The Rolex Submariner 116610 was the first Submariner with a ceramic bezel, running Caliber 3135 with a 48-hour reserve and 300 metres of water resistance, offered as the black Rolex Submariner 116610LN and the green Hulk. Alongside it, the Rolex Submariner 114060 covered the no-date configuration on Caliber 3130, and holds the distinction of being the last 40mm ceramic no-date Submariner Rolex produced. Both were discontinued in 2020, which means supply is now fixed.

The Aluminium Bezel Era

Before ceramic, Submariner bezels used anodised aluminium inserts, and this is where the 40mm case wears at its most classical. The references produced from 1989 to 2010 carry slimmer lugs, smaller crown guards, and a case that sits closer to the wrist than anything that followed. Aluminium behaves differently from ceramic in ownership terms: it marks and it fades, with black inserts often going grey and blue inserts fading toward slate over decades. Collectors treat honest fading as character rather than damage, but a replaced insert affects value, so originality matters here in a way it does not on ceramic. Browse the wider category in our vintage Rolex collection.

40mm Submariners in Two-Tone and Gold

The 40mm era covers every material Rolex has used on the model. Two-tone Rolesor pairs an Oystersteel case and bracelet with an 18k yellow gold bezel and centre links, and it sits at a substantially lower price than solid gold while still reading as a precious metal watch. Solid yellow gold and white gold references were produced throughout the 40mm run, with blue dial and bezel combinations among the most recognisable, and gold Submariners generally trade well below their original retail while remaining considerably more expensive than steel. Compare finishes in our two-tone Rolex, gold Rolex, and stainless steel Rolex collections.

40mm Rolex Submariner Price

Steel sets the range. Aluminium-bezel references from the 1989 to 2010 era generally trade from around $8,000 to $12,000 depending on year, condition, and papers. The ceramic no-date 114060 typically runs $9,000 to $12,000, and the ceramic 116610LN between $11,000 and $14,000. Green-bezel references command clear premiums, with the discontinued Hulk generally trading between $18,000 and $25,000. Two-tone references usually sit between $12,000 and $18,000, and solid gold well above that depending on metal and dial. Genuine vintage no-date references vary enormously with condition and originality. For live market context, see our Rolex Market Report.

Which 40mm Submariner Should You Buy?

If you want the modern ownership experience in the smaller case, the 116610LN gives you the ceramic bezel, the Glidelock clasp, and 904L steel at a clear discount to current production. If you prefer dial symmetry and no date window, the 114060 is the one, and its status as the final 40mm ceramic no-date gives it a collector story the date version does not have. If you want a Submariner that genuinely wears small, look before 2010 rather than after, because the Super Case undoes most of what buyers expect from a 40mm watch. And if the compact silhouette matters more than the diameter on the caseback, handle a current 41mm before ruling it out.

Trusted Dealer

Why Buy a 40mm Rolex Submariner From WatchGuys

The Submariner is one of the most counterfeited watches in the world, and the 40mm era spans sixty years of production across three bezel technologies and four case materials. Reference accuracy, bezel originality, and bracelet condition are where the money sits. Every 40mm Rolex Submariner for sale at WatchGuys is authenticated in house by our watchmakers before it is listed.

Common Questions

40mm Rolex Submariner FAQ

• Which Rolex Submariner References Are 40mm?

  Every Submariner produced between 1959 and 2020. That covers the ceramic-bezel generation from 2010 to 2020, including the 116610LN, the green 116610LV, and the no-date 114060, plus the aluminium-bezel references made from 1989 to 2010 in steel, two-tone, and gold, and the earlier vintage references before those. Only the current generation introduced in 2020 is 41mm.

• How Much Is a 40mm Rolex Submariner?

  Aluminium-bezel steel references generally trade from around $8,000 to $12,000 depending on year, condition, and papers. The ceramic no-date 114060 typically runs $9,000 to $12,000 and the ceramic 116610LN between $11,000 and $14,000. Green-bezel references carry clear premiums, with the discontinued Hulk generally between $18,000 and $25,000. Two-tone usually sits between $12,000 and $18,000, with solid gold well above.

• Does a 40mm Submariner Wear Smaller Than the 41mm?

  Often not, and this surprises people. The 2010 to 2020 ceramic references use the Super Case, with wider lugs and larger crown guards that push the visual footprint closer to a 42mm watch. When Rolex moved to 41mm in 2020 it slimmed the lugs back down, so the current generation frequently reads as the more refined watch on the wrist despite the larger number. If you want a Submariner that genuinely wears small, look at pre-2010 references.

• What Is the Super Case?

  It is the revised case Rolex introduced in 2010 alongside the ceramic bezel, with broader lugs and enlarged crown guards. The diameter stayed at 40mm but the watch gained significant visual bulk, running close to 48mm lug to lug and around 12.5mm thick. Opinion is genuinely split: some buyers want the wrist presence, others find it heavy-handed next to the slimmer pre-2010 case. It is worth handling both before deciding.

• Is the 40mm Submariner Discontinued?

  Yes. Rolex ended 40mm production in 2020 when the 41mm generation arrived, so supply on the secondary market is now fixed and will only shrink. That is part of why the last 40mm ceramic references have held value well since discontinuation. It also means condition and completeness matter more than they did while these were still being made, since there is no longer a factory supply to fall back on.

• Should I Buy a Ceramic or Aluminium Bezel Submariner?

  Ceramic is virtually scratch-proof and will not fade, which makes it the practical choice for a watch you intend to wear hard. Aluminium marks and fades over time, and on older references collectors often value that patina, though a replaced insert reduces value. Ceramic references also bring the Glidelock clasp and later movements. Choose aluminium if you want the slimmer pre-2010 case and a more classical look, ceramic if you want durability.

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