Jump to content

Reference:116618: Difference between revisions

From Rolexopedia
[unchecked revision][checked revision]
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
Import reference 116618 article
Deep audit: qualify 116618 gold, hallmark and bracelet claims
 
(54 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Ref_116618_hero.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Photo: millenarywatches.com]]
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 116618 Submariner}}
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Submariner 116618, yellow-gold Cerachrom Submariner Date | Rolexopedia
|description=The Rolex 116618 is the full 18k yellow-gold Submariner Date from the Cerachrom and caliber 3135 generation, produced approximately from 2008 to 2020.
|keywords=Rolex, 116618, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
|image=Ref_116618_hero.webp
|image_alt=Yellow-gold Submariner, Cerachrom
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:04Z
|modified_time=2026-08-04T00:07:37Z
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}


The full gold Submariner is not a new idea. Rolex introduced the first yellow gold Submariner Date — the 1680/8 — in 1969, the same year as the Apollo 11 moon landing. By the time the 116618 arrived around 2008–2009, the gold Submariner had been in continuous production for nearly four decades across four preceding references. The 116618 is the fifth generation of that lineage, and the first to pair a full gold case with a Cerachrom ceramic bezel.
<small>[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]] › '''116618'''</small>


Where the steel 116610LN is the workhorse and the white gold 116619LB is the stealth play, the 116618 is the overt statement piece — a full gold dive watch with polished center links that catch light from across the room. The Field Manual notes that those polished center links provide "extra visual pop," and that the sunburst blue dial responds to natural sunlight in a distinct manner, appearing in shades from deep midnight blue to pale sky blue. This is a Submariner that performs in light.
<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref_116618_hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex 116618 Submariner|Rolex 116618 Submariner]]
</div>


The successor, the 126618LB, retails new at $48,600 USD. The 116618 trades on the secondary market well below that figure, reflecting both the caliber difference (3135 versus 3235) and the case-size transition from 40mm to 41mm. For collectors who want the gold Submariner identity without paying current retail, the 116618 is the entry point.
The 116618 is the full 18k yellow-gold Submariner Date of the Cerachrom era, in production from roughly 2008 to 2020 on caliber 3135. Rolex has offered a full yellow-gold Submariner Date since the 1680/8 appeared in 1969. The 116618 is the ceramic-bezel generation of that line.


==Core facts==
The yellow-gold case distinguishes it from the steel 116610LN and the white-gold 116619LB.


{| class="wikitable"
<span id="core-facts"></span>
 
== Core facts ==
 
{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
|-
|-
! detail
! detail
Line 21: Line 39:
|-
|-
| production
| production
| approximately 2008 to 2020
| about 2008 to 2020
|-
|-
| movement
| movement
Line 42: Line 60:
|-
|-
| bracelet
| bracelet
| full gold Oyster ref.93258 with Glidelock, polished center links
| full gold Oyster ref.97208 with Glidelock, polished center links
|-
|-
| rehaut
| rehaut
Line 54: Line 72:
|}
|}


==Gold Submariner lineage==
<span id="gold-submariner-lineage"></span>
== Gold Submariner lineage ==


The 116618 is a chapter in a continuous story. Rolex has offered a full yellow gold Submariner Date through every major reference generation since 1969.
Rolex has offered a full yellow-gold Submariner Date across every major generation since 1969.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 82: Line 101:
| 126618LB / LN
| 126618LB / LN
| 2020–present
| 2020–present
| 41mm; caliber 3235; thinner lugs; 21mm bracelet; $48,600 retail
| 41mm; caliber 3235; thinner lugs; 21mm bracelet
|}
|}


Five references, more than 55 years. The gold Submariner has been a permanent fixture in the Rolex catalog since Nixon's first term.
<span id="where-it-sits-in-the-generation"></span>
 
== Where it sits in the generation ==
==Where it sits in the generation==
 
The 116618 is the full-gold member of the ceramic-era Submariner generation:
 
* <code>116610</code>: steel
* <code>116613</code>: Rolesor (two-tone)
* <code>116618</code>: full 18k yellow gold
* <code>116619LB</code>: full 18k white gold
 
The 116618 and 116619LB launched together around 2008 as the first Submariners with Cerachrom ceramic bezels — the precious-metal models were the beta testers for ceramic in the Submariner family. The steel 116610LN and two-tone 116613 followed in 2009–2010.
 
==What changed from the 16618==
 
The same generational package that the 116610LN brought to steel arrived for the gold Submariner: Cerachrom ceramic bezel in place of aluminum, Glidelock clasp replacing Fliplock, Maxi Case with broader lugs, Chromalight lume replacing SuperLuminova, and engraved rehaut.
 
The aluminum bezel on the 16618 was subject to the same fading issues as on steel models — the blue ceramic insert on the 16618LB would fade over years of UV exposure. Cerachrom does not fade. The numerals on the ceramic are filled with gold (not platinum as on the steel models), matching the yellow gold aesthetic.
 
==Production outline==


The 116618 ran for roughly twelve years. Both LB (blue) and LN (black) variants were available throughout. No major mid-run changes are documented beyond the standard ceramic-era specification.
The 116618 is the full-gold member of the ceramic-era Submariner generation, alongside the steel 116610, the Rolesor [[Reference:116613|116613]], and the full white-gold [[Reference:116619LB|116619LB]]. The two precious-metal models launched together around 2008 and carried the first Cerachrom ceramic bezels in the Submariner family. The steel 116610LN and two-tone 116613 only followed in 2009–2010.  


Case, bezel body, crown, crown guards, bracelet, and case back are all 18k yellow gold. This makes the 116618 one of the heaviest Submariner references in any generation. Forum owners report a weight of approximately 227.5g fully linked, and the density of gold gives the watch a heft that is immediately apparent compared to the steel 116610LN or even the two-tone 116613.
<span id="what-changed-from-the-16618"></span>
== What changed from the 16618 ==


==Movement notes==
The gold Submariner took the same generational package the 116610LN brought to steel. Cerachrom ceramic replaced the aluminum insert, the Glidelock clasp replaced the Fliplock, the case widened into the broader-lugged Super Case, Chromalight replaced SuperLuminova, and the rehaut picked up engraving. The 16618 used an aluminium insert that can fade and scratch; the Cerachrom insert is more resistant to those forms of wear, though ceramic can still chip or be damaged.


Caliber 3135 throughout — the same movement used in the 116610, 116613, and 116619LB. Quick-set date, 28800 bph, Microstella regulation, Parachrom hairspring.
<span id="production-outline"></span>
== Production outline ==


The Parachrom hairspring is made from a paramagnetic niobium-zirconium alloy that resists magnetic interference — a meaningful attribute for a watch worn in environments near electromagnetic fields. The 3135 is case-material-agnostic: the same movement goes into steel, two-tone, yellow gold, and white gold Submariners. The 116618's premium over the 116610LN is entirely about materials and finishing, not mechanics.
Both LB (blue) and LN (black) variants are documented across the production period. The cited sources do not establish a complete mid-run change table for every dial and market.


The successor 126618 moved to caliber 3235, which added 70-hour power reserve, the Chronergy escapement, and updated regulation. That is the functional gap between the 116618 and the current reference.
The case, bezel body, crown, crown guards, bracelet, and case back are 18k yellow gold. Total weight varies with bracelet sizing and links, so a forum-reported weight is not a specification.


==Dial map==
<span id="movement-notes"></span>
== Movement notes ==


===Blue dial (LB)===
Caliber 3135 throughout, the same movement that runs the 116610, the 116613, and the 116619LB. Quick-set date, 28,800 vph, Microstella regulation, and a Parachrom blue hairspring in Rolex's paramagnetic niobium-zirconium alloy, more resistant to magnetic interference than the older hairspring alloys. The same caliber family appears in the steel, two-tone, yellow-gold, and white-gold Submariners of this generation. The 116618 differs from the 116610LN in case, bracelet, bezel, and dial materials; the movement specification remains caliber 3135.


Like the two-tone 116613LB, the blue-dial 116618LB underwent a dial finish transition during production. Earlier examples carried a flatter blue finish, while later production shifted to the more pronounced sunburst blue that became the standard across the gold Submariner line. The exact timing of this transition on the 116618LB is not as well documented as on the 116613LB.
The successor 126618 moved to caliber 3235, which brought a 70-hour power reserve, the Chronergy escapement, and updated regulation. That is the functional gap between the 116618 and the current gold Submariner.


The sunburst blue dial is the 116618's signature configuration. Gold applied maxi markers and gold hands sit on a blue sunburst surface that responds to light more dramatically than the flat blues seen on earlier references.
<span id="dial-map"></span>
== Dial map ==


In shadow, the dial reads deep midnight blue. In full direct sunlight, it reaches a pale sky blue. Between those extremes lies the full range of saturated intermediate blues. This optical range is more pronounced on the 116618LB than on steel-cased models because the gold markers and hands create more reflective surface area, amplifying the interaction with changing light.
<span id="blue-dial-lb"></span>
=== Blue dial (LB) ===


Paired with the blue Cerachrom bezel and the yellow gold case, the dial creates a specific color palette — warm gold hardware framing cool blue surfaces — that no other Submariner reference replicates. The Rolesor 116613LB comes close but the steel outer links and case back dilute the gold presence. On the 116618, there is no steel anywhere.
[[File:Ref 116618 detail 2.webp|thumb|right|280px|alt=Yellow-gold Submariner 116618LB, sunburst blue dial and Cerachrom bezel|Yellow-gold 116618LB; sunburst blue dial, Cerachrom bezel]]


===Black dial (LN)===
Like the two-tone 116613LB, the blue-dial 116618LB went through a dial-finish transition during production. Earlier examples carried a flatter blue; later production moved to the more pronounced sunburst blue that became the standard across the gold Submariner line. The exact timing on the 116618LB is less well-documented than on the two-tone reference.


Black dial with gold maxi markers. The 116618LN is less frequently seen in the market and sometimes trades at a slight discount to the blue. Black on a full gold case creates a more formal, tuxedo-like appearance compared to the blue's sporty warmth.
The blue dial can appear darker or lighter as the sunburst catches different light. It has gold Maxi markers, large luminous plots, and gold hands, paired with the blue Cerachrom bezel.


==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes==
<span id="black-dial-ln"></span>
=== Black dial (LN) ===


===Case===
The LN pairs a black dial with gold Maxi markers and a black Cerachrom bezel.


The entire case is 18k yellow gold: case body, bezel, crown, crown tube, crown guards, and case back. Super Case with broader lugs than the earlier 16618. Crown guards are present. Triplock crown seals to 300m.
<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>
== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==


A 40mm case with a 20mm bracelet. When Rolex refreshed the line in 2020, the 126618LB moved to 41mm with thinner, more tapered lugs and a wider 21mm bracelet. The Fratello review of the 126618LB noted that the new lugs are pointier and thinner than the predecessor — a design closer to the original 1680/8 lineage, stepping back from the blocky Maxi Case aesthetic. The 116618's broader-lug Super Case profile is therefore the maximum expression of that Maxi Case era.
<span id="case"></span>
=== Case ===


Weight is substantially more than the steel 116610 due to the density of 18k gold (approximately 15.5 g/cm3 versus 8.0 g/cm3 for steel).
The entire case is 18k yellow gold: body, bezel, crown, crown tube, crown guards, and case back. Lugs and crown guards are heavier than the 16618's, the geometry collectors call the Super Case or Maxi Case. Triplock crown, sealed to 300m.


===Bezel===
The 116618 uses a 40mm case on a 20mm bracelet. The successor 126618 went to 41mm with thinner, more tapered lugs and a 21mm bracelet; Fratello's review of the 126618LB describes the new lugs as more tapered than the earlier Maxi Case.


Cerachrom ceramic — the generation-defining upgrade. No fading, no scratching like the aluminum inserts of the 16618. Numerals and graduation marks are filled with gold (not platinum, as on the steel and white gold models), matching the yellow gold aesthetic. This gold-filled numeral detail is unique to the 116618 within its generation.
<span id="bezel"></span>
=== Bezel ===


===Crystal===
Cerachrom ceramic, the change that defines the generation. It is more resistant to fading and surface scratches than the 16618's aluminum insert, although ceramic can chip under a hard impact. Numerals and graduations are filled with gold to match the case; the steel and white-gold models use different filling materials.


Sapphire with Cyclops over the date window. The inner rehaut is engraved with repeating ROLEX ROLEX text and serial number at 6 o'clock.
<span id="crystal"></span>
=== Crystal ===


===Hallmarks===
Sapphire with Cyclops over the date window. The inner rehaut is engraved with repeating ROLEX ROLEX text and the serial number at 6 o'clock.


Hallmarks for 18k yellow gold follow the standard Swiss precious metal system. The 750 stamp (indicating 18k / 750 parts per thousand fine gold) should appear on case and case back. The St. Bernard dog "Barry" mark is used for Swiss precious metals post-1995.
<span id="hallmarks"></span>
=== Hallmarks ===


==Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes==
Hallmarks follow the standard Swiss precious-metal system. A 750 stamp denotes 18k gold, or 750 parts per thousand fine gold. Swiss precious-metal hallmarks and the St. Bernard "Barry" mark should be checked on the individual case and bracelet components; their placement varies by component and production detail.


===Bracelet===
<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging-notes"></span>
== Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes ==


The 93258 is a full 18k yellow gold Oyster with Glidelock extension clasp allowing approximately 20mm of micro-adjustment. Polished center links are a deliberate visual feature — they catch and reflect light in a way that the brushed outer links do not, creating a play of finishes along the wrist. The Field Manual specifically cites this polished center link "visual pop" as distinct to the gold Submariner bracelets — on the steel 116610LN, the entire Oyster bracelet is brushed.
<span id="bracelet"></span>
=== Bracelet ===


Bracelet width is 20mm at the lugs, a point of distinction from the 2020-onward 126618, which widened to 21mm. That additional millimeter is perceptible in hand.
The 97208 is a full 18k yellow-gold Oyster with a Glidelock extension giving roughly 20mm of micro-adjustment. Polished center links sit against brushed outer links, so the bracelet shifts finish as it moves; Colin A. White's ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' treats that contrast as a distinguishing quality of the gold Submariner bracelets. The steel 116610LN Oyster is brushed throughout.


Full gold construction makes the 116618 bracelet one of the heaviest in the Submariner catalog. The bracelet does not change during the run. All 116618 examples carry the same Glidelock-equipped 93258.
The full-gold bracelet is substantially heavier than the steel bracelet used on the 116610. Published examples use the Glidelock-equipped 97208. Service or replacement bracelets can occur, so the bracelet should be checked on the individual watch.


==Production volume estimates==


Industry estimates from the ~2010 era suggest Rolex produced approximately 8,000 gold Submariners per year across all gold references (116618 and 116619LB). If those figures held roughly steady, the 116618's share over its twelve-year run would be a modest total — though Rolex does not publish production numbers and these figures are approximations circulated among dealers and collectors.


==Market and collector context==
<span id="market-and-collector-context"></span>
== Market and collector context ==


The 116618 trades in a different segment than the steel Submariners. Buyers choosing a 116618 are not comparing it to a 116610LN — the price gap is too wide for that to be a real decision. The 116618 competes with other precious-metal sport watches and with its white gold sibling, the 116619LB.
The 116618 appears less often at auction than vintage gold Submariners and is more commonly seen in dealer and certified-pre-owned listings. Results vary with dial, case condition, bracelet, papers, service history, and whether the watch is LB or LN. One Bonhams 2020 blue-dial lot is cited below. It is a single documented sale, not a price guide.


The retail anchor is the successor: the 126618LB now retails at $48,600 USD. The 116618 trades on the secondary market at a meaningful discount, reflecting the 40mm case, caliber 3135, and the lack of current warranty. For collectors who want the full gold Submariner identity at a relative discount, the 116618 represents value within its segment.
== Related references ==


The blue LB variant is more commonly seen and traded. The 116618LN (black dial) is less frequently encountered and sometimes trades at a modest discount to the blue.
* [[Reference:116619LB|Submariner 116619LB]]: "Smurf", White Gold (2008–2020)
* [[Reference:116613|Submariner 116613]]: 2009–2020
* [[Reference:116610LV|Submariner 116610LV]]: "Hulk", Green Dial (2010–2020)
* [[Reference:116610LN|Submariner 116610LN]]: 2010–2020
* [[Reference:114060|Submariner 114060]]: 2012–2020
* [[Reference:16610LV|Submariner 16610LV]]: "Kermit", Green Bezel (2003–2010)


No specific lot-level auction data has been captured for the 116618. Recent enough that dealer market pricing is more relevant than auction hammer prices for most examples. The gold Submariner's auction prominence belongs to the 1680/8 and early references; the 116618 circulates primarily in the dealer market.
See also the [[Reference:submariner|Submariner family index]], [[Reference:Movements|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers|serial numbers by year]].


==Sources==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref_116618_hero.webp|Full-gold 116618LB
File:Ref 116618 detail 2.webp|Blue dial and Cerachrom bezel detail
</gallery>


* [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://monochrome-watches.com/rolex-submariner-history-part-2-the-55xx-1680references/ History of the Rolex Submariner - Part 2, The 55XX References and 1680 Date]; Tom Mulraney, Monochrome
* [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.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/rolex-info/rolex-two-tone-submariner.html Bob's Watches two-tone Submariner history]; Bob's Watches editorial staff, Bob's Watches
* [https://www.grayandsons.com/blog/rolex-submariner-date-history/ unknown, "Gray & Sons Submariner Date history", Gray & Sons]
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/how-to-start-collecting-the-rolex-submariner The Rolex Submariner: A Complete Collector's Guide]; Stephen Pulvirent, Sotheby's
* [https://professionalwatches.com/rolex-submariner-reference-guide/ unknown, "Rolex Submariner Reference Guide", Professional Watches]
* [https://www.grayandsons.com/blog/rolex-submariner-date-history/ Gray & Sons Submariner Date history]; Gray & Sons editorial, Gray & Sons
* Morning Tundra, "The Vintage Rolex Field Manual, Chevalier Edition", unknown
* [https://professionalwatches.com/rolex-submariner-reference-guide/ Rolex Submariner Reference Guide]; Professional Watches editorial, Professional Watches
* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual''; Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/25959/lot/6/rolex-an-18k-gold-automatic-calendar-bracelet-watch-oyster-perpetual-submariner-ref-116618-purchased-27th-july-2016/ Rolex ref. 116618 Submariner, sunburst blue dial, lot 6]; Bonhams, London, 24 November 2020
* [https://newsroom.rolex.com/watches/oyster-collection/submariner The Rolex Submariner]; Rolex, Submariner history and technical overview
* [https://content.rolex.com/dam/media/brochures/submariner/m116613lb-0005.pdf Submariner Date brochure]; Rolex, caliber 3135 and Cerachrom technical specifications


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

Latest revision as of 10:00, 29 September 2026


Submariner › 116618

Rolex 116618 Submariner
Rolex 116618 Submariner

The 116618 is the full 18k yellow-gold Submariner Date of the Cerachrom era, in production from roughly 2008 to 2020 on caliber 3135. Rolex has offered a full yellow-gold Submariner Date since the 1680/8 appeared in 1969. The 116618 is the ceramic-bezel generation of that line.

The yellow-gold case distinguishes it from the steel 116610LN and the white-gold 116619LB.

Core facts

detail value
reference 116618 (LN = black, LB = blue)
family Submariner Date
production about 2008 to 2020
movement caliber 3135 (date, quick-set, 28800 bph, ~48hr power reserve)
case 40mm Super Case, full 18k yellow gold
crystal sapphire with Cyclops
water resistance 300m
bezel Cerachrom ceramic (blue or black), gold-filled numerals
lume Chromalight (blue glow)
bracelet full gold Oyster ref.97208 with Glidelock, polished center links
rehaut engraved ROLEX ROLEX
predecessor 16618
successor 126618LB / 126618LN

Gold Submariner lineage

Rolex has offered a full yellow-gold Submariner Date across every major generation since 1969.

reference years notes
1680/8 1969–~1977 First gold Submariner; nipple hour markers; early blue dials prone to tropical aging
16808 ~1977–1988 Transition reference; same basic construction
16618 1988–2008 Last aluminum-bezel gold Sub; predecessor to 116618
116618 ~2008–2020 First ceramic-bezel gold Sub; Super Case; Glidelock
126618LB / LN 2020–present 41mm; caliber 3235; thinner lugs; 21mm bracelet

Where it sits in the generation

The 116618 is the full-gold member of the ceramic-era Submariner generation, alongside the steel 116610, the Rolesor 116613, and the full white-gold 116619LB. The two precious-metal models launched together around 2008 and carried the first Cerachrom ceramic bezels in the Submariner family. The steel 116610LN and two-tone 116613 only followed in 2009–2010.

What changed from the 16618

The gold Submariner took the same generational package the 116610LN brought to steel. Cerachrom ceramic replaced the aluminum insert, the Glidelock clasp replaced the Fliplock, the case widened into the broader-lugged Super Case, Chromalight replaced SuperLuminova, and the rehaut picked up engraving. The 16618 used an aluminium insert that can fade and scratch; the Cerachrom insert is more resistant to those forms of wear, though ceramic can still chip or be damaged.

Production outline

Both LB (blue) and LN (black) variants are documented across the production period. The cited sources do not establish a complete mid-run change table for every dial and market.

The case, bezel body, crown, crown guards, bracelet, and case back are 18k yellow gold. Total weight varies with bracelet sizing and links, so a forum-reported weight is not a specification.

Movement notes

Caliber 3135 throughout, the same movement that runs the 116610, the 116613, and the 116619LB. Quick-set date, 28,800 vph, Microstella regulation, and a Parachrom blue hairspring in Rolex's paramagnetic niobium-zirconium alloy, more resistant to magnetic interference than the older hairspring alloys. The same caliber family appears in the steel, two-tone, yellow-gold, and white-gold Submariners of this generation. The 116618 differs from the 116610LN in case, bracelet, bezel, and dial materials; the movement specification remains caliber 3135.

The successor 126618 moved to caliber 3235, which brought a 70-hour power reserve, the Chronergy escapement, and updated regulation. That is the functional gap between the 116618 and the current gold Submariner.

Dial map

Blue dial (LB)

Yellow-gold Submariner 116618LB, sunburst blue dial and Cerachrom bezel
Yellow-gold 116618LB; sunburst blue dial, Cerachrom bezel

Like the two-tone 116613LB, the blue-dial 116618LB went through a dial-finish transition during production. Earlier examples carried a flatter blue; later production moved to the more pronounced sunburst blue that became the standard across the gold Submariner line. The exact timing on the 116618LB is less well-documented than on the two-tone reference.

The blue dial can appear darker or lighter as the sunburst catches different light. It has gold Maxi markers, large luminous plots, and gold hands, paired with the blue Cerachrom bezel.

Black dial (LN)

The LN pairs a black dial with gold Maxi markers and a black Cerachrom bezel.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

Case

The entire case is 18k yellow gold: body, bezel, crown, crown tube, crown guards, and case back. Lugs and crown guards are heavier than the 16618's, the geometry collectors call the Super Case or Maxi Case. Triplock crown, sealed to 300m.

The 116618 uses a 40mm case on a 20mm bracelet. The successor 126618 went to 41mm with thinner, more tapered lugs and a 21mm bracelet; Fratello's review of the 126618LB describes the new lugs as more tapered than the earlier Maxi Case.

Bezel

Cerachrom ceramic, the change that defines the generation. It is more resistant to fading and surface scratches than the 16618's aluminum insert, although ceramic can chip under a hard impact. Numerals and graduations are filled with gold to match the case; the steel and white-gold models use different filling materials.

Crystal

Sapphire with Cyclops over the date window. The inner rehaut is engraved with repeating ROLEX ROLEX text and the serial number at 6 o'clock.

Hallmarks

Hallmarks follow the standard Swiss precious-metal system. A 750 stamp denotes 18k gold, or 750 parts per thousand fine gold. Swiss precious-metal hallmarks and the St. Bernard "Barry" mark should be checked on the individual case and bracelet components; their placement varies by component and production detail.

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes

Bracelet

The 97208 is a full 18k yellow-gold Oyster with a Glidelock extension giving roughly 20mm of micro-adjustment. Polished center links sit against brushed outer links, so the bracelet shifts finish as it moves; Colin A. White's The Vintage Rolex Field Manual treats that contrast as a distinguishing quality of the gold Submariner bracelets. The steel 116610LN Oyster is brushed throughout.

The full-gold bracelet is substantially heavier than the steel bracelet used on the 116610. Published examples use the Glidelock-equipped 97208. Service or replacement bracelets can occur, so the bracelet should be checked on the individual watch.


Market and collector context

The 116618 appears less often at auction than vintage gold Submariners and is more commonly seen in dealer and certified-pre-owned listings. Results vary with dial, case condition, bracelet, papers, service history, and whether the watch is LB or LN. One Bonhams 2020 blue-dial lot is cited below. It is a single documented sale, not a price guide.

Related references

See also the Submariner family index, movement reference, bracelet & clasp guide, and serial numbers by year.

  • Full-gold 116618LB
    Full-gold 116618LB
  • Blue dial and Cerachrom bezel detail
    Blue dial and Cerachrom bezel detail

Sources

Retrieved from "https://rolexopedia.net/index.php?title=Reference:116618&oldid=11403"