What does “SARU / SABR / SANR / SACO” mean?

SARU, SABR, SANR and SACO are Rolex suffixes for gem-set bezels and cases. The 'SA' is generally read as 'saphirs' (sapphires), and the letters after it describe the other stones or the sapphire colour: RU for 'rubis' (rubies), BR for 'brillants' (diamonds), NR for 'noir' (black sapphires) and CO, usually explained as cognac-coloured sapphires. They appear on high-jewellery versions of sports models, such as the white gold GMT-Master II 116759SARU and 116759SANR, the white gold Submariner 116659SABR and the yellow gold Daytona 116598SACO.

These are rare, low-production pieces that are difficult to obtain new, so they trade among a small group of specialist dealers and collectors. The suffix is the key to identifying which stone combination a watch should have, which matters because aftermarket gem-setting on standard Rolex models is common. Any purchase should be checked by a gem-setting specialist who compares the stones, settings and case against the reference, with matching papers to support it.

Example: '116759SARU, white gold, sapphire and ruby bezel, papers matching the reference.'