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Reference:116619LB: Difference between revisions

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Deep correctness, source, image and anti-slop audit: qualified production, dial, Cerachrom, hallmarks, bracelet, special-branch and auction claims, cleaned links, and added gallery.
Deep audit: qualify 116619LB hallmark and white-gold wording
 
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 116619LB Submariner}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 116619LB Submariner}}
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|title=Rolex Submariner 116619LB 'Smurf' — White Gold, 2008–2020 | Rolexopedia
|title=Rolex Submariner 116619LB, white-gold Cerachrom Submariner Date | Rolexopedia
|description=The 116619LB is the first white gold Submariner and the first Submariner with a Cerachrom ceramic bezel. Rolex introduced it at Baselworld 2008, two years…
|description=The Rolex 116619LB is the white-gold Submariner Date with a blue lacquer dial, blue Cerachrom bezel, caliber 3135, and 40mm Super Case, produced approximately from 2008 to 2020.
|keywords=Rolex, 116619LB, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
|keywords=Rolex, 116619LB, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
|image=Ref 116619LB hero 2.jpg
|image=Ref 116619LB hero 2.jpg
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|og_type=article
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|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:08Z
|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:08Z
|modified_time=2026-09-28T00:00:00Z
|modified_time=2026-08-04T00:07:40Z
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
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The 116619LB is the first serially produced white-gold Submariner cited in the reference literature, and it launched at Baselworld 2008 alongside the yellow-gold 116618. Both introduced Cerachrom bezels to the precious-metal Submariner line before the steel 116610LN followed in 2010. Collectors call the blue-dial, blue-bezel watch the “Smurf.” The case and bracelet are 18k white gold, although photographs can make them resemble steel.
The 116619LB is the white-gold Submariner Date with a blue dial and blue Cerachrom bezel. Rolex introduced it at Baselworld 2008 alongside the yellow-gold 116618, before ceramic bezels reached the steel Submariner in 2010. “Smurf” is a collector nickname for the blue-on-white-gold combination. The 40mm case uses caliber 3135 and a Glidelock-equipped white-gold Oyster bracelet.


Published examples use the blue dial and blue bezel combination. The cited sources do not document a black-dial 116619LB.
The cited 116619LB records show a blue lacquer dial with a matching blue bezel throughout the reference. Diamond-marker examples and service replacements should be checked against the individual watch; the cited factory record does not establish a black-dial 116619LB.


<span id="core-facts"></span>
<span id="core-facts"></span>
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== Where it sits in the line ==
== Where it sits in the line ==


The 116619LB belongs to the ceramic-era Submariner generation with the yellow-gold 116618, Rolesor 116613 and steel 116610. Monochrome’s published chronology places the precious-metal ceramic models before the steel model. Earlier Submariners existed in yellow gold and Rolesor; the 116619LB adds white gold to that lineage.
The 116619LB is the white-gold member of the ceramic-era Submariner generation. It launched in 2008 alongside the full yellow-gold [[Reference:116618|116618]], the two precious-metal models carrying ceramic into the Submariner line before steel got it; Tom Mulraney's Submariner history for Monochrome (2020) puts the Rolesor [[Reference:116613|116613]] at 2009 and the steel 116610 at 2010. Cerachrom had reached Rolex three years earlier, on the 2005 GMT-Master II 116718LN, per the same Monochrome history.
 
Yellow-gold Submariners date back to the 1680/8 era, and Rolesor arrived with the 16613. White gold was new territory. Its white-gold case can look similar to steel in photographs, but the metal, hallmarks and weight must be checked on the watch.


<span id="production-outline"></span>
<span id="production-outline"></span>
== Production outline ==
== Production outline ==


The cited references date the 116619LB from 2008 to about 2020. Christie’s and Phillips records provide early examples, while the successor 126619LB establishes the later catalogue transition. Rolex does not publish a production total, and the public record does not prove that every case, clasp, dial or service component was unchanged throughout the run.
The 116619LB ran from 2008 to 2020, and the Basel introduction and the start of production fall in the same year: Christie's sold a V-serial example it dates to first-year 2008 manufacture (''Watches Online: The Collector's Edition'', 2020, lot 47), and Phillips describes the reference as Rolex's first serially produced white-gold Submariner (''Game Changers'', New York 2019, lot 33). The cited sources do not establish a complete mid-run change table or a Rolex production total.


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


The 116619LB is described with caliber 3135, quick-set date, 28,800 vph and approximately 48 hours of reserve. The same movement family appears in the 116610, 116613 and 116618. The 126619LB successor uses caliber 3235 with a longer stated power reserve. Service history and replaced components should be recorded separately.
Caliber 3135 throughout, the same movement used in the 116610, the 116613, and the 116618. Quick-set date, 28,800 vph, Microstella regulation, Parachrom blue hairspring. The steel, Rolesor, yellow-gold, and white-gold references use the same caliber family; the case, bezel, dial, and bracelet materials differ. The 126619LB successor moved to caliber 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve.


<span id="dial-map"></span>
<span id="dial-map"></span>
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<span id="blue-lacquer-the-only-dial"></span>
<span id="blue-lacquer-the-only-dial"></span>
=== Blue lacquer (the only dial) ===
=== Blue lacquer dial ===
 
 
Blue lacquer dial with Maxi-format luminous markers, the oversized plots of the ceramic era, and Chromalight lume. The lacquer reads differently from the sunburst blues on the 116618LB and 116613LB. It is generally described as a deeper, more uniform blue than the sunburst dials used on some yellow-gold and Rolesor examples; photographs and lighting can change its appearance.


[[File:Ref_116619LB_hero_2.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB|Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB]]
[[File:Ref_116619LB_hero_2.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB|Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB]]


Published examples use a blue lacquer dial with Maxi-format markers and Chromalight descriptions. The 116618LB and 116613LB are catalogued with different blue-dial treatments in some sources, but color, finish and lume should be checked against the individual watch and period documentation. White-gold markers and hands are consistent with the white-gold case.
White-gold markers and hands distinguish it from the yellow-gold 116618LB, whose blue dial uses gold surrounds in the cited examples.


<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>
<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>
== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==
== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==
[[File:Ref_116619LB_detail.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Detail view|Detail view]]


<span id="case"></span>
<span id="case"></span>
=== Case ===
=== Case ===


40mm 18k white gold in Super Case proportions, with broader lugs than the five-digit era, full crown guards, and a Triplock crown sealing to 300m. The case back is solid 18k white gold. From across a room the blue dial and bezel do the identifying; the case reads as steel.
40mm 18k white gold in Super Case proportions, with broader lugs than the five-digit era, full crown guards, and a Triplock crown sealing to 300m. The case back is solid 18k white gold. White gold can resemble steel in photographs, so weight, hallmarks and the individual watch record help distinguish the metals.


<span id="bezel"></span>
<span id="bezel"></span>
=== Bezel ===
=== Bezel ===


Blue Cerachrom ceramic insert matched to the dial. Numerals and graduation marks are platinum-filled, where the 116618 uses gold filling to match its yellow-gold case; the platinum gives a silver-grey tone that sits with white gold. Rolex describes Cerachrom as highly resistant to scratching and UV-related fading; the condition of an individual insert still needs inspection.
Blue Cerachrom ceramic insert matched to the dial. Numerals and graduation marks are platinum-filled, where the 116618 uses gold filling to match its yellow-gold case; the platinum gives a silver-grey tone that sits with white gold. Cerachrom is more resistant to fading and scratching than aluminium, but ceramic can still chip or be damaged.


<span id="crystal"></span>
<span id="crystal"></span>
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=== Hallmarks ===
=== Hallmarks ===


Hallmarks should be checked against Swiss precious-metal requirements and the individual case and bracelet. A 750 mark denotes 18k gold; other assay and maker marks may appear on the case or bracelet. Their location and legibility are evidence for the component in hand, not proof of the whole watch’s originality.
Hallmarks follow the standard Swiss precious-metal system. A 750 stamp indicates 18k, or 750 parts per thousand gold content. The St. Bernard "Barry" mark is the Swiss precious-metals stamp used post-1995, replacing the older Helvetia bust mark. Hallmark placement varies by case and bracelet component, so the watch should be checked directly.


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


The 116619LB is paired with the 18k white-gold Oyster bracelet commonly identified as ref. 97209 and a Glidelock clasp. Finishing and clasp parts should be checked on the individual bracelet; the public record does not establish that every bracelet remained unchanged across the full run.
Full 18k white-gold Oyster ref.97209 with a Glidelock extension giving roughly 20mm of micro-adjustment. Finishing is brushed throughout, with a brushed finish documented on the cited examples. The bracelet and clasp should be checked on the individual watch because service parts can change them. The cited examples use this bracelet configuration; service parts and later changes should be recorded from the individual watch.


<span id="special-branches"></span>
<span id="special-branches"></span>
== Special branches ==
== Special branches ==


The cited catalogue and auction record centers on one blue-dial, blue-Cerachrom configuration. No factory military or retailer branch is established in the sources reviewed. Reports of service or replacement parts should be tied to the individual watch rather than treated as a new reference.
The cited sources document one regular blue-dial configuration and no separate special branch. Dial finish and colour should still be checked against the individual watch and service history. The 116613LB and 116618LB both moved from flat to sunburst mid-production; the 116619LB's lacquer stayed constant.


<span id="weight"></span>
=== Weight ===


Owners posting on Rolex Forums report about 226.8g with 12 bracelet links fitted. Auction-catalogued examples read lighter: Antiquorum listed a 2008-2009 case at approximately 219g and a 2008 case at 213.8g, both weighed on their full bracelets as sold. The gap between the forum figure and the two catalogued figures is more likely bracelet length and link count than a real spec difference; nobody has published a link-by-link breakdown to settle it.


<span id="historical-market-and-auction-record"></span>
<span id="historical-market-and-auction-record"></span>
== Historical market and auction record ==
== Historical market and auction record ==


The auction record includes full-set Bonhams and Antiquorum lots with different dates, currencies and estimates. Results vary with condition, papers, bracelet completeness, venue and timing; the cited sample does not establish a reference-wide price ranking or a stable premium against the yellow-gold 116618.
The 116619LB appears mainly in dealer and auction listings. Results vary with condition, bracelet size, papers, service history, and sale venue. The Bonhams and Antiquorum results listed below are individual data points; they do not establish a fixed premium over the yellow-gold 116618 or a universal market ranking.
 


== Related references ==
== Related references ==


* [[Reference:116618|Submariner 116618]] (yellow gold, 2008–2020)
* [[Reference:116618|Submariner 116618]]: Yellow Gold (2008–2020)
* [[Reference:116613|Submariner 116613]] (2009–2020)
* [[Reference:116613|Submariner 116613]]: 2009–2020
* [[Reference:116610LV|Submariner 116610LV]] ("Hulk", green dial, 2010–2020)
* [[Reference:116610LV|Submariner 116610LV]]: "Hulk", Green Dial (2010–2020)
* [[Reference:116610LN|Submariner 116610LN]] (2010–2020)
* [[Reference:116610LN|Submariner 116610LN]]: 2010–2020
* [[Reference:114060|Submariner 114060]] (2012–2020)
* [[Reference:114060|Submariner 114060]]: 2012–2020
* [[Reference:16610LV|Submariner 16610LV]] ("Kermit", green bezel, 2003–2010)
* [[Reference:16610LV|Submariner 16610LV]]: "Kermit", Green Bezel (2003–2010)


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]].
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]].
== Gallery ==


<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
Ref_116619LB_hero.webp|White-gold 116619LB with blue dial and bezel
File:Ref_116619LB_hero_2.webp|White-gold 116619LB with blue dial and bezel
Ref 116619LB hero 2.webp|116619LB dial and case view
File:Ref_116619LB_detail.webp|Case and bezel detail
Ref 116619LB detail.webp|Case and bezel detail
</gallery>
</gallery>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolex Wikipedia, "Rolex" — general company history]
* [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://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.the1916company.com/blog/rolex-smurf-guide.html The 1916 Company Smurf guide]; The 1916 Company, The 1916 Company
* [https://www.the1916company.com/blog/rolex-smurf-guide.html The 1916 Company Smurf guide] — The 1916 Company, The 1916 Company
* [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://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://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.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/ Gray & Sons Submariner Date history]; Gray & Sons editorial, Gray & Sons
* [https://www.grayandsons.com/blog/rolex-submariner-date-history/ Gray & Sons Submariner Date history] — Gray & Sons editorial, Gray & Sons
* [https://professionalwatches.com/rolex-submariner-reference-guide/ Rolex Submariner Reference Guide]; Professional Watches editorial, Professional Watches
* [https://professionalwatches.com/rolex-submariner-reference-guide/ Rolex Submariner Reference Guide] — Professional Watches editorial, Professional Watches
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/26250/lot/911/rolex-a-white-gold-blue-submariner-bracelet-watch-ref-116619lb-no-v762980-with-box-certificate-original-receipt-3-spare-links/ Rolex Ref. 116619LB, case V762980]; Bonhams, "Evolutionary Time," Hong Kong, 2020-07-22, Lot 911
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/26250/lot/911/rolex-a-white-gold-blue-submariner-bracelet-watch-ref-116619lb-no-v762980-with-box-certificate-original-receipt-3-spare-links/ Rolex Ref. 116619LB, case V762980] — Bonhams, "Evolutionary Time," Hong Kong, 2020-07-22, Lot 911
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29988/lot/1155/rolex-or-submariner-ref116619lb-smurf-a-white-gold-bracelet-watch-with-date-circa-2010/ Rolex Ref. 116619LB "Smurf," case V528909]; Bonhams, Hong Kong online sale, 2024-04-05, Lot 1155
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29988/lot/1155/rolex-or-submariner-ref116619lb-smurf-a-white-gold-bracelet-watch-with-date-circa-2010/ Rolex Ref. 116619LB "Smurf," case V528909] — Bonhams, Hong Kong online sale, 2024-04-05, Lot 1155
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116619lb-submariner-lot-361-127 Rolex Ref. 116619LB, case V712568]; Antiquorum, Hong Kong, 2023-06-13, Lot 127
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116619lb-submariner-lot-361-127 Rolex Ref. 116619LB, case V712568] — Antiquorum, Hong Kong, 2023-06-13, Lot 127
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116619lb-submariner-smurf-white-gold-lot-388-154 Rolex Ref. 116619LB "Smurf," case V479064]; Antiquorum, Monaco, 2026-06-28, Lot 154
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-116619lb-submariner-smurf-white-gold-lot-388-154 Rolex Ref. 116619LB "Smurf," case V479064] — Antiquorum, Monaco, 2026-06-28, Lot 154


[[Category:Submariner]]
[[Category:Submariner]]
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