For most of the last six years, this comparison had an easy shortcut: one was discontinued, one you could still order. That shortcut is gone.
Rolex retired the 126619LB at Watches & Wonders in April 2026, which means both white gold Submariners in this comparison are now out of production. Neither one is a phone-call-to-your-AD situation anymore.
So the decision changes. It is no longer new versus used. It is which retired white gold Sub you want to live with, and what each one is realistically costing right now.
Below: what the “Blueberry” nickname really refers to, the five differences that matter, current 2026 pricing on both, and a straight read on which buyer each one suits.
Why “Blueberry” Means Two Different Watches
In its original collector usage, “Blueberry” refers to the vintage GMT-Master ref. 1675 with an all-blue bezel insert, not a Submariner at all. The name has been attached to that watch for decades.
Then 2020 happened. When Rolex launched the 126619LB (blue bezel, black dial, white gold), a chunk of the market started calling it the Blueberry too. Its more common nickname is the Cookie Monster.
Muddying it further, some dealers list the 126619LB as a “Smurf,” which is flatly wrong. The Smurf is the blue-on-blue 116619LB and always has been.
In practice, anyone searching Rolex Smurf vs Blueberry is comparing the 116619LB against the 126619LB. That is the comparison this article runs.
Rolex Submariner “Smurf” (Ref. 116619LB): Overview
The 116619LB debuted at Baselworld 2008, launched alongside two yellow gold Submariners (the 116618LB and 116618LN) in a year that marked 100 years since the Rolex name was registered and the Submariner’s 55th.
It was the first Submariner made entirely in 18k white gold. No reference before it had paired a white gold case with a blue dial and a blue bezel.
The color did the rest. A bright blue lacquer dial against a matching blue Cerachrom bezel gave it a fully monochromatic face, collectors connected it to the cartoon, and the nickname stuck. Rolex has never acknowledged it.
Production ran to 2020, when Rolex retired the 40mm Submariner case entirely. Retail sat around $38,350 at the end.
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, Oysterlock clasp with Glidelock extension
- Movement: Caliber 3135, automatic, 31 jewels, Parachrom hairspring
- Power Reserve: ~48 hours
- Water Resistance: 300m / 1,000ft
Rolex Submariner “Cookie Monster” (Ref. 126619LB) Overview
The 126619LB arrived in 2020 as the direct successor, part of Rolex’s refreshed 126xxx Submariner generation that updated the case and movement across the sport lineup. White gold stayed. The blue Cerachrom bezel stayed. The dial went black.
That one change split the room. Blue bezel over black dial reminded people of Cookie Monster from Sesame Street, and the nickname spread through forums fast.
It ran for six years. In April 2026, Rolex pulled it from the catalog at Watches & Wonders, alongside the steel and white gold Pepsi GMT-Master II references.
With the 126619LB gone, there is no white gold Submariner in current production at all. Steel, yellow gold, and two-tone Rolesor are what remain.
Key Specifications:
- Reference Number: 126619LB
- Production Years: 2020–2026
- 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, Oysterlock clasp with Glidelock extension
- Movement: Caliber 3235, automatic, Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Water Resistance: 300m / 1,000ft
5 Key Differences Between the 116619LB and 126619LB
Five things separate these references. Two you notice in the first ten seconds. The other three show up once you live with the watch. If you are still mapping the wider family, our Rolex Submariner buying guide covers the full lineup.
1. Dial: All-Blue Lacquer vs Glossy Black
This is where the personality split starts. On the 116619LB, everything is blue. The dial has a lacquered, almost wet look that shifts as light moves across it.
Because the bezel matches, the whole watch reads as one solid block of color. No other Rolex reference replicates it, which is exactly why some people love it and others find it too loud.
The 126619LB goes the other way. Black dial, blue bezel. The contrast is easier to read at a glance and far quieter on the wrist. Same family, completely different presence.
2. Movement: Cal. 3135 vs Cal. 3235
Less about paper specs, more about how the watch fits your week. The 116619LB runs the Cal. 3135, a movement that stayed in production for decades because it is reliable and every watchmaker knows it.
Power reserve is about 48 hours. Take it off Friday night and it is stopped by Sunday morning.
The 126619LB uses the Cal. 3235 with the Chronergy escapement, and the meaningful gain is efficiency: roughly 70 hours. Off on Friday, still running Monday. If you rotate watches, that difference shows up constantly.
3. Case: Super Case vs Slimmer Tapered Lugs
You feel this the second you put both on. The 116619LB uses the Super Case, with thick lugs and broad crown guards that give it far more presence than 40mm suggests on paper.
On a smaller wrist it can wear like a 42mm watch. Some buyers want exactly that. Others find it blocky.
The 126619LB refines the shape with slimmer, more tapered lugs, so it sits flatter despite the extra millimeter. Most people who try both find the 41mm the more comfortable daily wear.
4. Availability: Both Discontinued, Different Scarcity
This one changed in April 2026, and it is the biggest shift in the comparison. Until then, the 126619LB was a current-production watch you could theoretically buy from an authorized dealer with a fresh warranty.
Now both are secondary-market-only. But the scarcity is not equal.
The Smurf has been out of production since 2020, so its supply has been shrinking for six years and the market has fully priced that in. The Cookie Monster left the catalog months ago, with unworn 2026 examples still working through inventory. Its supply picture is still settling. We go deeper on that shift in our Cookie Monster vs Smurf breakdown.
5. Bracelet: Same Clasp, Different End Links
On paper these are identical. Both use an 18k white gold Oyster bracelet with an Oysterlock clasp and Glidelock extension, so on-wrist adjustability is the same on either watch.
The difference is where the bracelet meets the case. The 116619LB follows the older, wider geometry. The 126619LB uses updated end links that sit tighter against the slimmer lugs.
It is a small thing. It also makes the newer watch feel more resolved, especially with the bracelet off the wrist and in your hand.
Price and Market Demand
Both trade secondhand now, but they are at different points in their pricing life. One has six years of post-discontinuation history behind it. The other has had four months.
One note before the numbers. Transaction data (what watches sold for) and listing data (what sellers are asking) rarely match, and on these two references the gap is wide. Both are quoted below, labeled, because the spread between them is the story.
Smurf (116619LB): Six Years of Settled Demand
Pre-owned Smurfs generally trade between $39,000 and $50,000, with late-production 2019 and 2020 examples sitting at the top of that band. Clean full sets cluster in the low-to-mid $40,000s.
Three things drive the number:
- Full set premium. Box, original papers, and an unpolished case push toward the top of the range
- Condition discounts. Polished cases, non-Rolex service history, and what missing papers do to value all pull it down
- No new supply. Every clean example absorbed into a long-term collection is one fewer available
Worth noting: the Smurf’s last retail was around $38,350 in 2020. It is trading above that today, which very few gold Rolex references can claim.
Cookie Monster (126619LB): Still Repricing After Retirement
The transaction number is lower than most people expect. WatchCharts put the 126619LB at roughly $34,000 in July 2026, up 2.5% over the prior twelve months while the broader Rolex index rose about 6.7%.
Asking prices sit higher. Chrono24 listings average near $39,000 across a $35,000 to $50,000 spread, with unworn 2026 pieces at the top end. That roughly $5,000 gap between asking and selling is your negotiating room.
Over five years the reference is down close to 28%, which reflects how far its retail had climbed above market. Final US retail was $52,100 before tax when it left the catalog, up from around $48,000 in May 2025 after back-to-back increases driven by gold prices.
Liquidity is decent, at a median of about 40 days to sell. The open question is whether discontinuation firms up pricing the way it did for the Smurf. That has not resolved yet.
More Submariners
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2025 NEW Rolex Submariner Date Desk Clock Black Dial Black Ceramic Bezel Stainless Steel 80mm COMPLETE SET 909010LN
Rolex Submariner Date "Bluesy" Sunburst Blue Dial Blue Ceramic Bezel Two-Tone Yellow Gold Stainless Steel 41mm MINT CONDITION COMPLETE SET 126613LB
2026 NEW UNWORN Rolex Submariner Date Black Dial Black Ceramic Stainless Steel 41mm COMPLETE SET 126610LN-0001
Rolex Submariner Date Black Dial Black Ceramic Bezel Stainless Steel 40mm MINT CONDITION COMPLETE SET 116610LN
Rolex 116619LB vs 126619LB Specs Compared
| Specification | Smurf | Cookie Monster / Blueberry |
| Reference | 116619LB | 126619LB |
| Production Years | 2008–2020 | 2020–2026 |
| 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 2020 | Discontinued 2026 |
| Market | Secondary only | Secondary only |
How to Choose Between the Smurf and the Blueberry
Same metal, same Submariner bones, two different watches to own. Here is the honest split.
Pick the Smurf (116619LB) for the Blue-on-Blue Look
This is the choice for buyers who want the watch to announce itself. The all-blue face is the entire reason the Smurf has a following, and six years of settled pricing means fewer surprises on resale.
- The all-blue face is the reason you are here, and nothing else in the lineup does it
- You want the 40mm Super Case and like a watch with visual weight on the wrist
- You are comfortable buying pre-owned and know what to inspect
- A settled market appeals more than one still in motion
Pick the Cookie Monster (126619LB) for Daily Wearability
This is the choice for buyers who want white gold without the announcement. It is the better watch mechanically, and right now it is the cheaper of the two despite being the newer reference.
- The 70-hour reserve matters because the watch comes off during the week
- Slimmer tapered lugs suit your wrist better than the older Super Case
- Blue bezel over black dial fits how you dress
- You want the newer movement and case at a price well below its old retail
If you are torn and want to see real examples rather than stock photos, message us and we will send tour videos and condition notes on what we have in hand.
What to Check Before Buying Either Reference
Both are now pre-owned purchases, which puts the inspection on you. If you are buying remotely, our guide to spotting a fake Submariner covers what photos tend to hide. A few things matter more on white gold than they do on steel.
- Weight. Both are considerably heavier than a steel Sub. Try one on before committing if you have never worn solid gold daily
- Rhodium wear. White gold is often rhodium-plated for brightness, and high-contact areas can dull over years. A jeweler can re-plate it
- Polishing. Over-polished lugs are harder to spot on white gold than steel, and the polished versus unpolished gap is permanent
- Bracelet stretch. Gold links wear faster than steel. Check for play between links
- Papers. As noted above, most listings include box and papers, so a watch-only example should price accordingly
- Service planning. Both are out of production, so budget for Submariner service costs and confirm parts availability with your watchmaker
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to warranty and service now that the Cookie Monster is discontinued?
Existing warranties are unaffected, so any 126619LB sold new after mid-2021 still carries the balance of its five-year Rolex coverage. We break down how long Rolex warranty coverage runs in a separate guide. Discontinuation stops production, not support.
Rolex services references for many years after they leave the catalog, and the Cal. 3235 remains in current production across the Submariner line, so parts are not a near-term concern. The 116619LB and its Cal. 3135 are further along that curve but still routinely serviced.
Which one holds value better?
Right now the Smurf, though the gap may narrow. The 116619LB trades above its 2020 retail after six years off-catalog. The 126619LB sits well below its final retail, partly because that retail climbed steeply on gold prices.
Post-discontinuation demand could change that, but it is too early to call. The wider question of whether Rolex watches hold their value has a longer answer.
Does white gold scratch more than steel?
Yes, gold is a softer metal and picks up hairline marks more readily than Oystersteel (904L). Neither reference is fragile, but a white gold Sub worn daily will show wear sooner. That is worth knowing before you buy one as a beater rather than a rotation piece. We compare white gold against stainless steel in more detail elsewhere.
Which one wears bigger?
The 40mm Smurf, despite the smaller case diameter. The Super Case lugs and crown guards add visual and physical bulk that the 41mm 126619LB’s tapered lugs do not. If you have a wrist under 6.5 inches, the newer reference usually sits better.
Where to Buy Authentic Watches Online
Where you source a pre-owned watch matters on every category, and it matters more on a discontinued reference. Chrono24 carries the deepest inventory on both, and what to watch for on Chrono24 is worth reading first. eBay works through its Authenticity Guarantee program on watches above a set price.
Grailzee runs auction-format sales if you prefer bidding to fixed pricing. Forums like Rolex Forums and WatchUSeek also see private sales, though you carry the risk yourself.
We also buy, sell, and trade luxury watches, and the reason clients come to us instead of a marketplace listing is what happens before the money moves. You get tour videos of the actual watch, notes on where the case has been polished or the bracelet has stretched, and a conversation with someone who has physically handled it.
That shows up in our 4.9-star Google rating, which mostly comes from people who wanted a straight answer before committing $40,000.
If you want that kind of walkthrough on a Smurf or a Cookie Monster, reach out and we will show you exactly what condition our examples are in. If neither is in stock, we can help you source one.
Final Thoughts on the Rolex Smurf vs Blueberry
Both are now retired white gold Submariners, so the old new-versus-used shortcut is gone. The Smurf gives you a blue-on-blue face Rolex made once and never repeated, backed by a settled market. The Cookie Monster gives you the better movement, the more wearable case, and a price currently sitting below its final retail.
Two things worth knowing before you buy. Late-production Smurfs from 2019 and 2020 command a premium, so check the serial before paying it. And on either reference, ask for wrist shots in natural light. White gold photographs almost exactly like steel, and lighting hides polish work.
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