One quick note before anything else. The nickname “Blueberry” has two separate meanings in the collector world. In its original use, it refers to the rare vintage GMT-Master ref. 1675 with an all-blue bezel insert. But in 2020, many collectors started calling the 126619LB (blue bezel, black dial, white gold Submariner) the “Blueberry” too. Its more widely used nickname is “Cookie Monster.”
The search for Rolex Smurf vs Blueberry almost always means the 116619LB vs the 126619LB, and that is exactly what this article covers.
Rolex Submariner “Smurf” (Ref. 116619LB): Overview
The 116619LB debuted at Baselworld 2008, released alongside two yellow gold Submariner references to mark Rolex’s 100th anniversary and the Submariner’s 55th. It was the first Submariner ever made entirely in 18k white gold, and no other reference before it had combined a white gold case with a blue dial and blue bezel.
The color stood out immediately. The bright blue lacquer dial sat against a matching blue Cerachrom bezel, creating a fully monochromatic face unlike anything in the lineup. Collectors connected the color to the cartoon The Smurfs, and the nickname followed fast. Rolex never acknowledged it, but the watch has been called the Smurf ever since.
Production ran until 2020, when Rolex retired the entire 40mm Submariner case architecture. The 116619LB was never reissued. The blue-on-blue, all-white-gold configuration is unique to this reference.
Key Specifications:
- Reference Number: 116619LB
- Production Years: 2008–2020
- Case Size: 40mm
- Case Material: 18k white gold (proprietary “gray gold” alloy)
- Bezel: Unidirectional rotating blue Cerachrom, platinum-filled numerals, 60-minute graduation
- Dial: Lacquered blue, Maxi Dial layout, Chromalight lume
- Bracelet: 18k white gold Oyster, solid end links, Glidelock clasp
- Movement: Caliber 3135, automatic, 31 jewels, Parachrom hairspring
- Power Reserve: ~48 hours
- Water Resistance: 300m / 1,000ft
Rolex Submariner “Cookie Monster” / “Blueberry” (Ref. 126619LB): Overview
The 126619LB launched in 2020 as the direct successor to the Smurf. It sits in Rolex’s refreshed 126xxx Submariner generation, which updated the case architecture and movement across the entire sport watch lineup. Rolex kept the white gold construction and the blue Cerachrom bezel, but changed the dial to black.
That single dial change split collector opinion. The blue-bezel-over-black-dial combination reminded many of Cookie Monster from Sesame Street, and that nickname spread quickly through forums and social media. Some buyers still call it the “Blueberry,” borrowing from older collector vocabulary.
The watch is in current production and available through authorized dealers, though allocation is limited. Beyond the visual change, the 126619LB carries two meaningful technical updates over the Smurf: a new case geometry and the Cal. 3235 movement.
Key Specifications:
- Reference Number: 126619LB
- Production Years: 2020–present
- Case Size: 41mm
- Case Material: 18k white gold
- Bezel: Unidirectional rotating blue Cerachrom, platinum-filled numerals, 60-minute graduation
- Dial: Glossy black, Chromalight lume
- Bracelet: 18k white gold Oyster, Glidelock clasp
- Movement: Caliber 3235, automatic, Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Water Resistance: 300m / 1,000ft
116619LB vs 126619LB: Most Notable Differences
Five differences separate these two references. Two you’ll notice immediately. The other three show up over time as you actually live with the watch.
1. Dial Finish
This is where the personality split really starts. On the 116619LB, everything is blue. The dial has that lacquered, almost wet look that plays with light. Because the bezel is the same color, the whole watch reads as one solid block. It’s bold, and nothing else in the Submariner line quite looks like it.
The 126619LB takes a different route. Black dial, blue bezel. That contrast makes it easier to read at a glance and tones things down visually. Same watch family, completely different presence on the wrist.
2. Movement Generation
This is less about specs on paper and more about how the watch fits your routine. The 116619LB uses the Cal. 3135. It’s been around for decades for a reason. Reliable, easy to service, and good for about 48 hours of power reserve.
The 126619LB moves to the Cal. 3235. The big upgrade here is efficiency. You get around 70 hours of power reserve, which means you can take it off Friday and it’s still running Monday. That’s the kind of difference you actually notice.
3. Case Architecture
Alt text: Rolex 116619LB Super Case vs 126619LB tapered lug architecture diagram
You feel this the moment you put both on. The 116619LB uses what people call the “Super Case.” Thicker lugs, broader shoulders, and more wrist presence than the 40mm size suggests. On smaller wrists, it can wear larger than expected.
The 126619LB refines that shape. The lugs are slimmer and more tapered, so it sits flatter and more naturally. Even at 41mm, most people find it wears better day to day.
4. Production Status
This one matters if you’re thinking long-term. The 116619LB is discontinued. What’s out there is all that’s left, and over time, more of those pieces get locked into collections. That blue-on-blue configuration hasn’t come back.
The 126619LB is still in production. You’ll see both new and pre-owned examples regularly, and it comes with Rolex’s current five-year warranty. Much easier to source, much easier to replace.
5. Bracelet Integration
On paper, these are the same. In hand, they’re not quite. Both use an 18k white gold Oyster bracelet with Glidelock, so the comfort and adjustability are identical.
The difference is how the bracelet meets the case. The 116619LB follows the older, wider case geometry. The 126619LB uses updated end links that sit tighter and cleaner against the slimmer lugs. It’s a small detail, but it makes the whole watch feel more finished.
Price and Market Demand
These two references behave very differently in the market, and the reason is straightforward: one is discontinued, the other is not.
Smurf (116619LB): Secondary Market Only
The 116619LB trades entirely on the secondary market. Typical asking prices sit in the mid-to-high five figures (USD), with the range shifting based on condition and completeness. WatchCharts data shows the 116619LB has outperformed the broader Rolex Submariner Index over the past year, a direct result of its discontinued status and shrinking available inventory (source).
- Full set premium: Box, original papers, and unpolished case push examples toward the top of the range
- Condition discounts: Polished cases, missing papers, and non-Rolex service history all reduce value
- Key demand driver: No new supply. Every clean example that enters a long-term collection removes one from the market
Cookie Monster / Blueberry (126619LB): Retail-Anchored
The 126619LB carries a current retail price of approximately $42,000 USD at authorized dealers. Secondary market prices track close to retail, which is normal for a watch still in production. Pre-owned examples in solid condition with full set transact near or slightly below retail. The retail price effectively caps secondary market appreciation near-term.
Liquidity is stronger on the 126619LB side. There is more inventory, which means faster transactions but less upside. The Smurf is harder to find at fair value, but the scarcity is structural, not seasonal (source).
Side-by-Side Comparison (At a Glance)
| Specification | Smurf | Cookie Monster / Blueberry |
|---|---|---|
| Reference | 116619LB | 126619LB |
| Production Years | 2008–2020 | 2020–present |
| Case Size | 40mm | 41mm |
| Case Architecture | Super Case (wide lugs) | 126xxx (slim tapered lugs) |
| Case Material | 18k white gold | 18k white gold |
| Dial | Blue lacquer (monochromatic) | Glossy black |
| Bezel | Blue Cerachrom, platinum numerals | Blue Cerachrom, platinum numerals |
| Movement | Caliber 3135 | Caliber 3235 |
| Power Reserve | ~48 hours | ~70 hours |
| Bracelet | 18k white gold Oyster, Glidelock | 18k white gold Oyster, Glidelock |
| Water Resistance | 300m / 1,000ft | 300m / 1,000ft |
| Production Status | Discontinued | Current production |
| Market | Secondary only | AD + secondary |
Which Rolex Should You Choose?
Both the Smurf (116619LB) and the Cookie Monster / Blueberry (126619LB) offer the same white gold construction and Submariner DNA, but they fit different types of buyers. The decision comes down to how you plan to wear the watch, what details matter to you, and how you approach ownership. Here is a straightforward way to decide.
Choose the Smurf (116619LB) if:
- The blue-on-blue dial is specifically what draws you to this watch, no other reference replicates it
- You prefer the 40mm case diameter and are comfortable with the Super Case lug width on your wrist
- You are buying on the secondary market and know how to authenticate and inspect a pre-owned piece
- The discontinued status and historical significance of the reference are part of the appeal
Choose the Cookie Monster / Blueberry (126619LB) if:
- You want a current-production piece with AD access and a full five-year Rolex warranty
- The Cal. 3235 with 70-hour power reserve matters to you in daily wear
- The slimmer 126xxx lug geometry is a better fit for your wrist size and wearing preference
- A blue-bezel-over-black-dial contrast suits your style better than an all-blue face
Final Thoughts on the Rolex Smurf vs Blueberry
The 116619LB and 126619LB share the same material and the same Submariner DNA, but they are not interchangeable. The Smurf is the discontinued original, a watch Rolex made once and never repeated. Its all-blue execution gives it a distinct identity that stands apart, and that alone keeps it relevant in conversations years after production ended.
The Cookie Monster is the technically stronger watch by most objective measures. It brings a newer movement, longer power reserve, and a more refined case profile that fits better for daily wear. It feels more modern, more usable, and easier to own without the concerns that come with sourcing a discontinued piece.
The decision usually comes down to this: one is irreplaceable, the other is current. Both are serious watches with clear strengths. Neither feels like a compromise. It simply depends on whether you value what cannot be made again or what works best right now.
