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[[File:Ref_116613_hero.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Photo: bobswatches.com]]
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 116613 Submariner}}
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Submariner 116613 (2009–2020) — Production & Dial Guide | Rolexopedia
|description=Guide to the Rolex Submariner Date 116613: 2009–2020, steel and yellow gold, caliber 3135, black and blue dials, and documented auction examples.
|keywords=Rolex, 116613, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
|image=Ref 116613 hero.jpg
|image_alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 116613
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|published_time=2026-04-14T16:12:59Z
|modified_time=2026-08-04T00:07:34Z
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}


The 116613 is the ceramic-bezel Rolesor Submariner Date. It replaced the aluminum-insert 16613 around 2009 and ran until the 41mm 126613 with caliber 3235 took over in 2020. Within the ceramic-era Submariner generation, it occupies the middle position: more accessible than the full gold 116618, more distinctive than the steel 116610LN, carrying the visual language of the Rolesor bracelet — polished yellow gold center links against brushed steel outer links — into the Cerachrom age.
<small>[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]] › '''116613'''</small>


The step up from the 16613 is not incremental. Cerachrom does not fade. Glidelock replaced the older Fliplock. The maxi-format dial with Chromalight lume is physically larger and brighter. Wider Super Case lugs changed the proportions. The two-tone identity carries forward, but the watch is a different object.
<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref 116613 hero 2.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex 116613 Submariner|Rolex 116613 Submariner]]
</div>


The blue dial variant, 116613LB, carries on the "Bluesy" identity that started with the 16613LB. It is the defining configuration of the two-tone Submariner — the pairing of sunburst blue dial, blue Cerachrom bezel, and polished gold center links has a specific visual coherence that the black-dial LN variant cannot replicate. The Bluesy is the reason most buyers come to this reference.
The 116613 is the 40mm steel-and-yellow-gold Submariner Date introduced in 2009 and replaced by the 41mm 126613 in 2020. It uses caliber 3135 and a ceramic Cerachrom bezel insert. Rolex calls the steel-and-gold combination Rolesor. The 116613LN has a black dial and bezel; the blue 116613LB is often called the “Bluesy.” [https://www.fratellowatches.com/rolex-submariner-116613-versus-16613/ Fratello, “Rolex Submariner 116613 versus 16613,” 4 January 2010]


<span id="core-facts"></span>
==Core facts==
==Core facts==


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
|-
! Detail !! Specification
! detail
! value
|-
| reference
| 116613 (LN = black, LB = blue)
|-
| family
| Submariner Date
|-
|-
| production
| Reference || 116613; LN (black) and LB (blue)
| approximately 2009 to 2020
|-
|-
| movement
| Family || Submariner Date
| caliber 3135 (date, quick-set, 28800 bph, ~48hr power reserve)
|-
|-
| case
| Model run || Introduced 2009; replaced in 2020
| 40mm Super Case, Rolesor (904L steel + 18k yellow gold)
|-
|-
| crystal
| Movement || Automatic caliber 3135, quick-set date, approximately 48-hour power reserve
| sapphire with Cyclops
|-
|-
| water resistance
| Case || 40mm; steel and 18ct yellow gold
| 300m
|-
|-
| bezel
| Crystal || Sapphire with Cyclops date lens
| Cerachrom ceramic (blue or black), platinum-filled numerals
|-
|-
| lume
| Water resistance || 300m
| Chromalight (blue glow)
|-
|-
| bracelet
| Bezel || Unidirectional; Cerachrom insert with gold-coated numerals and graduations
| Oyster ref.93253 with Glidelock, solid gold center links
|-
|-
| rehaut
| Lume || Chromalight, blue emission
| engraved ROLEX ROLEX
|-
|-
| predecessor
| Bracelet and clasp || Steel-and-gold Oyster; Oysterlock safety clasp with Glidelock adjustment
| 16613
|-
|-
| successor
| Predecessor / successor || 16613 / 126613
| 126613
|}
|}


==Where it sits in the line==
The technical specifications above follow Rolex’s 116613LB brochure. [https://content.rolex.com/dam/media/brochures/submariner/m116613lb-0005.pdf Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5]
 
The 116613 is the two-tone member of the ceramic-era Submariner generation:
 
* <code>116610</code>: steel
* <code>116613</code>: Rolesor (two-tone steel/gold)
* <code>116618</code>: full 18k yellow gold
* <code>116619LB</code>: full 18k white gold
 
All four shared caliber 3135 and the Super Case architecture. The 116613 uses a steel case with 18k gold bezel, crown, crown guards, and bracelet center links. Two-tone construction places it above the steel 116610LN in price and prestige, below the full-gold 116618.
 
==Two-tone Submariner lineage==
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! reference
! years
! case material
! bezel material
! successor retail
|-
| 16613
| 1988–2009
| Rolesor (steel/gold)
| aluminum (fades)
| —
|-
| 116613
| 2009–2020
| Rolesor (steel/gold)
| Cerachrom ceramic
| —
|-
| 126613LB
| 2020–present
| Rolesor (Oystersteel/gold)
| Cerachrom ceramic
| $18,900 USD
|}


The 116613 succeeded the 16613 after a 21-year run. The 2020 refresh moved to Oystersteel branding, a 41mm case, new bracelet width, and caliber 3235. The 116613 retained the 40mm case and 3135 throughout.
<span id="where-it-sits-in-the-line"></span>
== Where it sits in the line ==


==What changed from the 16613==
The 116613 replaced the aluminum-bezel 16613. Its wider lugs and crown guards give the case the blockier profile collectors call the “Super Case,” although the nominal diameter stayed at 40mm. The same generation included the steel 116610, yellow-gold [[Reference:116618|116618]] and white-gold [[Reference:116619LB|116619LB]]. [https://www.fratellowatches.com/rolex-submariner-116613-versus-16613/ Fratello, “Rolex Submariner 116613 versus 16613,” 4 January 2010]


The 116613 inherited the Bluesy and black-dial identities from the 16613, but the execution is substantially different:
<span id="two-tone-submariner-lineage"></span>
== Two-tone Submariner lineage ==


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Reference !! Place in the line !! Case diameter !! Bezel insert
|-
|-
! feature
| 16613 || Preceding generation || 40mm || Aluminum
! 16613
! 116613
|-
| bezel insert
| aluminum, fades and scratches
| Cerachrom ceramic, fade-proof
|-
| bracelet clasp
| Fliplock with divers extension
| Glidelock (20mm micro-adjust)
|-
| lug width
| slimmer
| wider (Super Case)
|-
| lug holes
| present
| absent
|-
| lume
| SuperLuminova or Luminova (green glow)
| Chromalight (blue glow)
|-
| markers
| standard
| Maxi (larger)
|-
|-
| gold center links
| 116613 || Introduced 2009 || 40mm || Cerachrom ceramic
| hollow on some, solid on late
| solid throughout
|-
|-
| rehaut
| 126613 || Introduced 2020 || 41mm || Cerachrom ceramic
| plain (early) / engraved (late)
| engraved throughout
|}
|}


On the 16613, the aluminum bezel was known for fading — on blue examples, the bezel would age from vivid blue to a softer, lighter shade that collectors call "ghost" bezels. Cerachrom eliminates both the patina appeal and the fading problem. Collectors assessing a 16613LB always evaluated bezel condition as a primary factor. That evaluation does not apply to the 116613.
Rolex dates the 41mm redesign to 2020, when the Submariner Date adopted caliber 3235. Rolex also uses the Oystersteel name in its 116613 brochure. [https://www.rolex.com/watches/submariner/from-tool-watch-to-icon Rolex, Submariner history, 2020 entry] [https://content.rolex.com/dam/media/brochures/submariner/m116613lb-0005.pdf Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5]


==Production outline==
<span id="what-changed-from-the-16613"></span>
== What changed from the 16613 ==


The 116613 ran for roughly eleven years. Both the LB (blue) and LN (black) variants were available throughout. No major mid-run mechanical changes are documented. Caliber 3135 stays for the full production run.
The main changes were the ceramic bezel insert, broader case profile and Glidelock bracelet adjustment. The 16613’s long production run complicates some comparisons, particularly bracelet and dial details. [https://www.fratellowatches.com/rolex-submariner-116613-versus-16613/ Fratello, “Rolex Submariner 116613 versus 16613,” 4 January 2010]


==The blue dial evolution: flat to sunburst==
<span id="production-outline"></span>
<span id="production-volume-estimates"></span>
<span id="Production_volume_estimates"></span>
== Production outline ==


The most significant mid-run refinement collectors track on the 116613LB is a dial change around 2013. Early examples (approximately 2009–2012) carried a flatter, more uniform blue finish — a consistent blue across the dial surface that reads evenly at most angles. From approximately 2013, Rolex transitioned to a more pronounced '''sunburst''' (sun-ray) finishing. The sunburst dial reacts dramatically to natural light: shifting from a deep midnight blue in shadow to a brighter, more saturated blue in direct sun, catching a lighter, almost sky-blue quality at certain angles.
Robert-Jan Broer’s January 2010 comparison dates the 116613’s introduction to Baselworld 2009. Bonhams later catalogued a blue example, case V87****, as circa 2008. That approximate lot date conflicts with the launch report and does not establish an earlier introduction. [https://www.fratellowatches.com/rolex-submariner-116613-versus-16613/ Fratello, “Rolex Submariner 116613 versus 16613,” 4 January 2010] [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/25958/lot/164/rolex-a-stainless-steel-and-gold-automatic-calendar-bracelet-watch-submariner-ref-116613-circa-2008/ Bonhams, London, 17 November 2020, lot 164]


This matters to collectors for two reasons. First, the later sunburst dials are visually more complex and arguably more interesting — the dial interacts with ambient light in a way the earlier flat dial does not. Second, some purists and early-adopter collectors prefer the flat dial precisely because it is the original configuration and because its quieter character suits the two-tone aesthetic without competing with the gold center links for attention.
The 2009–2020 model run should be kept separate from dates on sales papers. Antiquorum’s 2022 lot 310, for example, records a December 2017 sale date; it does not give an exact manufacturing date. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116613lb-submariner-lot-355-310 Antiquorum, Geneva, 6 November 2022, lot 310]


The transition was not abrupt. No sharp serial-number cutoff exists between flat and sunburst. Collectors identify the dial type by visual inspection rather than production date. Both are correct configurations for the reference; the preference comes down to whether the buyer wants a more restrained or more dynamic blue dial.
<span id="the-blue-dial-evolution-flat-to-sunburst"></span>
== The blue dial evolution: flat to sunburst ==


==Movement notes==
Early blue dials have a relatively uniform finish. Later examples have a sunburst finish, with radial reflections that change as the watch tilts. Bob’s Watches dates the switch to 2013. That dealer chronology is useful as an approximate guide; a precise factory changeover or serial-number boundary remains unverified. [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/watch-review/submariner-116613-sunburst-dial.html Bob’s Watches, 116613 sunburst-dial guide]


Caliber 3135 throughout — the same proven movement used in the 16613 before it and in the steel 116610. Quick-set date, 28800 bph, Microstella regulation, Parachrom hairspring. The 116613 was the last ceramic-era two-tone Submariner to use the 3135 before the 126613 moved to caliber 3235 with its 70-hour power reserve.
<span id="movement-notes"></span>
== Movement notes ==


==Dial map==
The 116613 uses caliber 3135 with a quick-set date and stop-seconds function. Rolex’s brochure specifies a blue Parachrom hairspring and approximately 48 hours of power reserve. The 126613 successor uses caliber 3235. [https://content.rolex.com/dam/media/brochures/submariner/m116613lb-0005.pdf Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5] [https://www.rolex.com/watches/submariner/from-tool-watch-to-icon Rolex, Submariner history, 2020 entry]


===Diamond and serti dials===
<span id="dial-map"></span>
== Dial map ==


Early 116613 production included factory diamond-set (serti) dials as an option. According to Rolex Forum discussions, the diamond/serti dials were discontinued around 2013 when the sunburst dial finish appeared. Serti-dial examples are the rarer factory configuration and a distinct collector target within the reference.
<span id="diamond-and-serti-dials"></span>
=== Diamond and serti dials ===


===Blue dial (LB / Bluesy)===
Antiquorum’s Hong Kong sale of 10 May 2020 included a black diamond-set dial on a 116613, case G778362, dated circa 2010. The catalogue calls it a “Serti” dial, a term used for gem-set dials. This identifies the configuration offered at auction; original factory delivery of that dial would need separate documentation. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116613-oyster-perpetual-date-submariner-1000-ft-300-m-superlative-chronometer-officially-certified-lot-328-89 Antiquorum, Hong Kong, 10 May 2020, lot 89]


Blue dial with maxi-format luminous markers and Chromalight lume (blue glow). Gold applied markers and gold hands. Early dials (around 2009–2012) had a flatter blue finish. Later dials (from around 2013) shifted to a more saturated sunburst blue that plays in natural light — from deep midnight blue in shadow to a brighter, sky-inflected blue in direct sun.
<span id="blue-dial-lb"></span>
=== Blue dial (LB) ===


Paired with the gold markers and polished gold center links, the blue dial creates the Bluesy look that is the 116613's primary market identity. The ceramic blue bezel does not fade, so the bezel-to-dial color relationship stays consistent over time — unlike the 16613LB, where bezel fading could shift the visual balance.
The blue dial is paired with a blue ceramic bezel insert. Collectors distinguish the early flat finish from the later sunburst dial. [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/watch-review/submariner-116613-sunburst-dial.html Bob’s Watches, 116613 sunburst-dial guide]


===Black dial (LN)===
<span id="black-dial-ln"></span>
=== Black dial (LN) ===


Black dial with gold maxi markers and Chromalight lume. The 116613LN is the quieter configuration. Black reads more conservatively against the gold accents than blue, and it typically trades below the blue LB variant in the secondary market. For collectors who find the all-blue Bluesy too forward, the black dial tones down the two-tone character while keeping the Rolesor visual identity.
The LN pairs a black dial with a black ceramic bezel insert. Bonhams’ 2017 lot 6 is a documented example, with case number G55****. [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/24232/lot/6/rolex-a-stainless-steel-and-gold-automatic-calendar-bracelet-watch-submariner-ref-116613ln-sold-20th-june-2012/ Bonhams, London, 21 June 2017, lot 6]


==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes==
<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>
== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==


The case is the 40mm Super Case with broader lugs than the earlier 16613. Rolesor construction: 904L Oystersteel with 18k yellow gold bezel, crown guards, and Triplock crown. Water resistance is 300m.
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref_116613_detail_2.webp|alt=Detail view|Detail view
File:Ref_116613_detail.webp|alt=Detail view|Detail view
</gallery>


The Cerachrom ceramic insert is the defining upgrade from the 16613 — virtually scratch-proof, no fading. Numerals and graduation marks on the ceramic insert are filled with platinum.
The middle case and its crown guards are steel. The bezel surround and Triplock winding crown are yellow gold. Rolex specifies gold-coated numerals and graduations on the ceramic insert. The sapphire crystal has a Cyclops lens over the date; the case has a screw-down back and a 300m water-resistance rating. [https://content.rolex.com/dam/media/brochures/submariner/m116613lb-0005.pdf Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5]


Sapphire crystal with Cyclops. The inner rehaut is engraved with repeating ROLEX ROLEX text and the serial number at 6 o'clock. Solid case back with Rolex engravings.
<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging-notes"></span>
== Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes ==


==Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes==
Rolex specifies a three-link Oyster bracelet with an Oysterlock safety clasp and Glidelock adjustment. Antiquorum’s New York sale of 30 September 2015 identifies bracelet reference 97203 with Glidelock on a 116613, case J38N7707. Original-delivery fitment still needs to be checked against the individual watch’s documentation. [https://content.rolex.com/dam/media/brochures/submariner/m116613lb-0005.pdf Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116613-lot-293-160 Antiquorum, New York, 30 September 2015, lot 160]


The bracelet is the 93253 two-tone Oyster with polished solid gold center links and a Glidelock extension clasp. Glidelock allows approximately 20mm of micro-adjustment without tools, a major improvement over the older Fliplock system used on the 16613.
Boxes, cards and tags should be recorded for the individual watch. Antiquorum’s 2022 lot 310 included a box, guarantee card, booklets, seal and hang tag. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116613lb-submariner-lot-355-310 Antiquorum, Geneva, 6 November 2022, lot 310]


Gold center links on the 116613 are solid throughout the production run — an upgrade from earlier two-tone Submariner bracelet construction where some center links were hollow. Polished gold links against brushed steel outer links create the visual contrast that defines the Rolesor Submariner identity.
<span id="market-and-collector-context"></span>
<span id="Market_and_collector_context"></span>
<span id="auction-record"></span>
== Auction record ==


The bracelet does not change during the run. All 116613 examples carry the same Glidelock-equipped 93253.
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Sale !! Watch and catalogue dating !! Result or estimate
==Production volume estimates==
|-
 
| [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/24232/lot/6/rolex-a-stainless-steel-and-gold-automatic-calendar-bracelet-watch-submariner-ref-116613ln-sold-20th-june-2012/ Bonhams, London, 21 June 2017, lot 6] || Black 116613LN, case G55****. The catalogue’s “sold 20th June 2012” refers to the watch’s earlier sale, not this auction. || £7,500, including premium
Industry estimates from the ~2010 era suggest Rolex produced approximately 12,000 two-tone Submariners per year. If those figures held roughly steady across the 116613's run, total production across both LB and LN variants could be in the range of 130,000 units — though Rolex does not publish production numbers and these figures are approximations circulated among dealers and collectors.
|-
 
| [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/25958/lot/164/rolex-a-stainless-steel-and-gold-automatic-calendar-bracelet-watch-submariner-ref-116613-circa-2008/ Bonhams, London, 17 November 2020, lot 164] || Blue 116613, case V87****, catalogued circa 2008; see the dating qualification above. || £8,925, including premium
==Market and collector context==
|-
| [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116613lb-submariner-lot-355-310 Antiquorum, Geneva, 6 November 2022, lot 310] || Blue 116613LB, case 8949J352. Described as new old stock and originally sold in December 2017. || CHF 18,750, reported result
|-
| [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116613lb-submariner-lot-372-485 Antiquorum, Geneva, 10 November 2024, lot 485] || Blue 116613LB, case V820560, catalogued circa 2009. || CHF 10,000–15,000 estimate
|}


The 116613 is a recently discontinued reference with good secondary market liquidity. The ceramic-bezel 116613 typically commands a premium over the aluminum-insert 16613, reflecting the Cerachrom and Glidelock upgrades.
Two catalogue measurements differ from Rolex’s 40mm specification: Bonhams’ 2017 lot lists 46mm, and Antiquorum’s 2024 lot lists 39mm. Neither catalogue explains the discrepancy. [https://content.rolex.com/dam/media/brochures/submariner/m116613lb-0005.pdf Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5]


The blue LB variant is the more desirable and higher-priced configuration. The Bluesy identity has consistently driven demand for the blue two-tone Submariner across generations. The successor 126613LB retails new at $18,900 USD; the 116613 trades at a discount to that figure on the secondary market, reflecting that buyers seeking current warranty and caliber 3235 will pay more for new production.
== Related references ==


The 2020 transition from 40mm to 41mm also introduced Oystersteel alloy branding, a wider bracelet, and thinner lugs on the successor. The 116613's broader-lug Maxi Case profile is meaningfully different from the 126613's updated geometry — collectors who prefer the heavier, blockier Maxi Case aesthetic have a reason to seek out 116613 examples specifically.
* [[Reference:116610LV|Submariner 116610LV]], green dial and bezel
* [[Reference:116610LN|Submariner 116610LN]], steel, black dial and bezel
* [[Reference:116618|Submariner 116618]], yellow gold
* [[Reference:116619LB|Submariner 116619LB]], white gold
* [[Reference:114060|Submariner 114060]], no date
* [[Reference:16610LV|Submariner 16610LV]], earlier steel model with a green aluminum bezel insert


==Sources==
See also the [[Reference:submariner|Submariner family index]], [[Reference:Movements|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets|bracelet and clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers|serial-number guide]].


* [https://monochrome-watches.com/rolex-submariner-history-part-2-the-55xx-1680references/ Tom Mulraney, "History of the Rolex Submariner - Part 2, The 55XX References and 1680 Date", Monochrome, 2020-08-19]
== Sources ==
* [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/rolex-info/rolex-two-tone-submariner.html unknown, "Bob's Watches two-tone Submariner history", Bob's Watches]
* [https://www.fratellowatches.com/rolex-submariner-116613-versus-16613/ Fratello, “Rolex Submariner 116613 versus 16613,” 4 January 2010]
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/how-to-start-collecting-the-rolex-submariner Stephen Pulvirent, "The Rolex Submariner: A Complete Collector's Guide", Sotheby's, 2025-03-07]
* [https://www.rolex.com/watches/submariner/from-tool-watch-to-icon Rolex, Submariner history, 2020 entry]
* [https://www.grayandsons.com/blog/rolex-submariner-date-history/ unknown, "Gray & Sons Submariner Date history", Gray & Sons]
* [https://content.rolex.com/dam/media/brochures/submariner/m116613lb-0005.pdf Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5]
* [https://professionalwatches.com/rolex-submariner-reference-guide/ unknown, "Rolex Submariner Reference Guide", Professional Watches]
* [https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/watch-review/submariner-116613-sunburst-dial.html Bob’s Watches, 116613 sunburst-dial guide]
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116613-lot-293-160 Antiquorum, New York, 30 September 2015, lot 160]
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116613-oyster-perpetual-date-submariner-1000-ft-300-m-superlative-chronometer-officially-certified-lot-328-89 Antiquorum, Hong Kong, 10 May 2020, lot 89]
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116613lb-submariner-lot-355-310 Antiquorum, Geneva, 6 November 2022, lot 310]
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116613lb-submariner-lot-372-485 Antiquorum, Geneva, 10 November 2024, lot 485]
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/24232/lot/6/rolex-a-stainless-steel-and-gold-automatic-calendar-bracelet-watch-submariner-ref-116613ln-sold-20th-june-2012/ Bonhams, London, 21 June 2017, lot 6]
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/25958/lot/164/rolex-a-stainless-steel-and-gold-automatic-calendar-bracelet-watch-submariner-ref-116613-circa-2008/ Bonhams, London, 17 November 2020, lot 164]


[[Category:Submariner]]
[[Category:Submariner]]
[[Category:working-draft]]
[[Category:References]]

Latest revision as of 00:01, 29 September 2026


Submariner › 116613

Rolex 116613 Submariner
Rolex 116613 Submariner

The 116613 is the 40mm steel-and-yellow-gold Submariner Date introduced in 2009 and replaced by the 41mm 126613 in 2020. It uses caliber 3135 and a ceramic Cerachrom bezel insert. Rolex calls the steel-and-gold combination Rolesor. The 116613LN has a black dial and bezel; the blue 116613LB is often called the “Bluesy.” Fratello, “Rolex Submariner 116613 versus 16613,” 4 January 2010

Core facts

Detail Specification
Reference 116613; LN (black) and LB (blue)
Family Submariner Date
Model run Introduced 2009; replaced in 2020
Movement Automatic caliber 3135, quick-set date, approximately 48-hour power reserve
Case 40mm; steel and 18ct yellow gold
Crystal Sapphire with Cyclops date lens
Water resistance 300m
Bezel Unidirectional; Cerachrom insert with gold-coated numerals and graduations
Lume Chromalight, blue emission
Bracelet and clasp Steel-and-gold Oyster; Oysterlock safety clasp with Glidelock adjustment
Predecessor / successor 16613 / 126613

The technical specifications above follow Rolex’s 116613LB brochure. Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5

Where it sits in the line

The 116613 replaced the aluminum-bezel 16613. Its wider lugs and crown guards give the case the blockier profile collectors call the “Super Case,” although the nominal diameter stayed at 40mm. The same generation included the steel 116610, yellow-gold 116618 and white-gold 116619LB. Fratello, “Rolex Submariner 116613 versus 16613,” 4 January 2010

Two-tone Submariner lineage

Reference Place in the line Case diameter Bezel insert
16613 Preceding generation 40mm Aluminum
116613 Introduced 2009 40mm Cerachrom ceramic
126613 Introduced 2020 41mm Cerachrom ceramic

Rolex dates the 41mm redesign to 2020, when the Submariner Date adopted caliber 3235. Rolex also uses the Oystersteel name in its 116613 brochure. Rolex, Submariner history, 2020 entry Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5

What changed from the 16613

The main changes were the ceramic bezel insert, broader case profile and Glidelock bracelet adjustment. The 16613’s long production run complicates some comparisons, particularly bracelet and dial details. Fratello, “Rolex Submariner 116613 versus 16613,” 4 January 2010

Production outline

Robert-Jan Broer’s January 2010 comparison dates the 116613’s introduction to Baselworld 2009. Bonhams later catalogued a blue example, case V87****, as circa 2008. That approximate lot date conflicts with the launch report and does not establish an earlier introduction. Fratello, “Rolex Submariner 116613 versus 16613,” 4 January 2010 Bonhams, London, 17 November 2020, lot 164

The 2009–2020 model run should be kept separate from dates on sales papers. Antiquorum’s 2022 lot 310, for example, records a December 2017 sale date; it does not give an exact manufacturing date. Antiquorum, Geneva, 6 November 2022, lot 310

The blue dial evolution: flat to sunburst

Early blue dials have a relatively uniform finish. Later examples have a sunburst finish, with radial reflections that change as the watch tilts. Bob’s Watches dates the switch to 2013. That dealer chronology is useful as an approximate guide; a precise factory changeover or serial-number boundary remains unverified. Bob’s Watches, 116613 sunburst-dial guide

Movement notes

The 116613 uses caliber 3135 with a quick-set date and stop-seconds function. Rolex’s brochure specifies a blue Parachrom hairspring and approximately 48 hours of power reserve. The 126613 successor uses caliber 3235. Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5 Rolex, Submariner history, 2020 entry

Dial map

Diamond and serti dials

Antiquorum’s Hong Kong sale of 10 May 2020 included a black diamond-set dial on a 116613, case G778362, dated circa 2010. The catalogue calls it a “Serti” dial, a term used for gem-set dials. This identifies the configuration offered at auction; original factory delivery of that dial would need separate documentation. Antiquorum, Hong Kong, 10 May 2020, lot 89

Blue dial (LB)

The blue dial is paired with a blue ceramic bezel insert. Collectors distinguish the early flat finish from the later sunburst dial. Bob’s Watches, 116613 sunburst-dial guide

Black dial (LN)

The LN pairs a black dial with a black ceramic bezel insert. Bonhams’ 2017 lot 6 is a documented example, with case number G55****. Bonhams, London, 21 June 2017, lot 6

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

  • Detail view
    Detail view
  • Detail view
    Detail view

The middle case and its crown guards are steel. The bezel surround and Triplock winding crown are yellow gold. Rolex specifies gold-coated numerals and graduations on the ceramic insert. The sapphire crystal has a Cyclops lens over the date; the case has a screw-down back and a 300m water-resistance rating. Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes

Rolex specifies a three-link Oyster bracelet with an Oysterlock safety clasp and Glidelock adjustment. Antiquorum’s New York sale of 30 September 2015 identifies bracelet reference 97203 with Glidelock on a 116613, case J38N7707. Original-delivery fitment still needs to be checked against the individual watch’s documentation. Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5 Antiquorum, New York, 30 September 2015, lot 160

Boxes, cards and tags should be recorded for the individual watch. Antiquorum’s 2022 lot 310 included a box, guarantee card, booklets, seal and hang tag. Antiquorum, Geneva, 6 November 2022, lot 310

Auction record

Sale Watch and catalogue dating Result or estimate
Bonhams, London, 21 June 2017, lot 6 Black 116613LN, case G55****. The catalogue’s “sold 20th June 2012” refers to the watch’s earlier sale, not this auction. £7,500, including premium
Bonhams, London, 17 November 2020, lot 164 Blue 116613, case V87****, catalogued circa 2008; see the dating qualification above. £8,925, including premium
Antiquorum, Geneva, 6 November 2022, lot 310 Blue 116613LB, case 8949J352. Described as new old stock and originally sold in December 2017. CHF 18,750, reported result
Antiquorum, Geneva, 10 November 2024, lot 485 Blue 116613LB, case V820560, catalogued circa 2009. CHF 10,000–15,000 estimate

Two catalogue measurements differ from Rolex’s 40mm specification: Bonhams’ 2017 lot lists 46mm, and Antiquorum’s 2024 lot lists 39mm. Neither catalogue explains the discrepancy. Rolex, 116613LB brochure, p. 5

Related references

See also the Submariner family index, movement reference, bracelet and clasp guide, and serial-number guide.

Sources

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