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[[File:Ref_116619LB_hero.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Photo: monochrome-watches.com]]
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 116619LB Submariner}}
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Submariner 116619LB, white-gold Cerachrom Submariner Date | Rolexopedia
|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
|image=Ref 116619LB hero 2.jpg
|image_alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|published_time=2026-04-14T16:13:08Z
|modified_time=2026-08-04T00:07:40Z
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}


The 116619LB holds two firsts in Submariner history: it is the first white gold Submariner ever produced, and it is the first Submariner with a ceramic bezel. Rolex introduced it at Baselworld 2008, two years before the steel 116610LN received its own Cerachrom insert in 2010. The Smurf was the proving ground for ceramic in the Submariner family.
<small>[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]] › '''116619LB'''</small>


Collectors call it the Smurf because the blue dial and blue bezel sit on a case that looks silver-toned from a distance, giving it a blue-on-white appearance. The white gold case is the trick. It looks like steel in photographs and across a room. The weight gives it away on the wrist — 18k white gold is roughly twice as dense as steel, so the 116619LB is noticeably heavier than a 116610LN despite identical dimensions. This stealth-wealth quality drives a large part of the collector appeal. The eye cannot tell it is a precious-metal watch; the wrist knows immediately.
<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref_116619LB_hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex 116619LB Submariner|Rolex 116619LB Submariner]]
</div>


Rolex produced the 116619LB exclusively with a blue dial and blue bezel. There is no black-dial 116619. A single-configuration watch for its entire 2008–2020 production run.
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.


==Core facts==
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.


{| class="wikitable"
<span id="core-facts"></span>
 
 
== Core facts ==
 
{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
|-
|-
! detail
! detail
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|-
|-
| production
| production
| approximately 2008 to 2020
| about 2008 to 2020
|-
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==Where it sits in the line==
<span id="where-it-sits-in-the-line"></span>
 
== Where it sits in the line ==
The 116619LB is the white gold member of the ceramic-era Submariner generation:
 
* <code>116610</code>: steel (from 2010)
* <code>116613</code>: Rolesor (two-tone, from 2009)
* <code>116618</code>: full 18k yellow gold (from 2008)
* <code>116619LB</code>: full 18k white gold (from 2008)
 
The 116619LB and 116618 launched together in 2008 as the first Submariners with Cerachrom ceramic bezels. Steel and two-tone models followed later. This made the Smurf the proof-of-concept reference for ceramic in the Submariner family.
 
No black-dial 116619 exists. Blue dial and blue bezel only — a deliberate identity choice. Rolex did not offer the black-dial option that exists for the 116613 and 116618. The 116619LB is the blue Submariner in white gold, full stop.
 
===Why white gold matters===
 
The 116619LB was the first time Rolex produced a Submariner in white gold. Yellow gold Submariners date back to the 1680 era. Two-tone Rolesor Submariners arrived with the 16613. But white gold was new territory. Using white gold instead of platinum or another alloy created a Submariner that could pass for steel while weighing twice as much. No previous Submariner had this character.
 
==Production outline==
 
The 116619LB ran from 2008 to 2020. Some sources treat 2008 as catalog introduction only, with retail deliveries starting in 2009. No major mid-run changes are documented. Specification was stable from launch to discontinuation.
 
Always a low-volume reference. White gold sport Rolex watches are produced in smaller numbers than steel or yellow gold. This relative scarcity contributes to its secondary market position.


==Movement notes==
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.


Caliber 3135 throughout — the same movement used in the 116610, 116613, and 116618. Quick-set date, 28800 bph, Microstella regulation, Parachrom hairspring. The 126619LB successor moved to caliber 3235 with 70-hour power reserve.
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.


As with the 116618, the movement is identical to what sits in the steel 116610LN. The premium is entirely about the case material, the blue lacquer dial, and the white gold bracelet.
<span id="production-outline"></span>
== Production outline ==


==Dial map==
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.


===Blue lacquer (the only dial)===
<span id="movement-notes"></span>
== Movement notes ==


Only one dial was ever produced: blue lacquer with maxi-format luminous markers and Chromalight lume (blue glow in the dark). No black-dial variant. No other known configurations.
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.


The blue lacquer is distinct from the sunburst blue dials on the yellow gold 116618LB and the two-tone 116613LB. Lacquer has a deeper, more uniform blue appearance — less directional shimmer than a sunburst, more of an even, saturated blue that holds its color across lighting conditions. In direct comparison, the 116618LB's sunburst blue shifts and plays with light while the 116619LB's lacquer blue stays more constant. Both are blue, but they are different blues.
<span id="dial-map"></span>
== Dial map ==


White gold markers and white gold hands sit against the blue lacquer with platinum-toned accents, creating a cool-temperature color palette. The 116618LB, by contrast — gold markers on blue sunburst — produces a warm-temperature palette. The Smurf reads cold and clean; the 116618LB reads warm and rich.
<span id="blue-lacquer-the-only-dial"></span>
=== Blue lacquer dial ===


==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes==


===Case===
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.


40mm 18k white gold with the Super Case proportions (broader lugs than the five-digit era). Crown guards are present. Triplock crown seals to 300m. Solid 18k white gold case back.
[[File:Ref_116619LB_hero_2.webp|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB|Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB]]


The white gold case and bracelet look similar to steel in photographs and at a distance. The primary visual identifier from afar is the blue dial and blue bezel, but those exist on multiple Submariner references. Weight is the tell — immediately apparent when picking up the watch or putting it on the wrist.
White-gold markers and hands distinguish it from the yellow-gold 116618LB, whose blue dial uses gold surrounds in the cited examples.


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


Blue Cerachrom ceramic insert, matching the dial. Numerals and graduation marks are filled with platinum, not gold — a visual distinction from the yellow gold 116618, which uses gold filling. The platinum-filled numerals create a silver-grey tone that complements the white gold case.
<span id="case"></span>
=== Case ===


This blue Cerachrom was the first ceramic bezel insert in any Submariner, debuting in 2008 before the steel models received ceramic in 2010. The blue ceramic does not fade, scratch, or discolor.
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.


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


Sapphire with Cyclops magnifier at 3 o'clock. Anti-reflective coating on the inner surface.
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.


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


Hallmarks for 18k white gold follow the standard Swiss precious metal system. After 1995, the St. Bernard dog "Barry" mark is used for Swiss precious metals (replacing the earlier Helvetia bust hallmark). Check the mid-case underside of lugs, case back, and bracelet blades for hallmarks. The 750 stamp indicates 18k gold content.
Sapphire with Cyclops at 3 o'clock and anti-reflective coating on the inner surface.


==Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes==
<span id="hallmarks"></span>
=== Hallmarks ===


===Bracelet===
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.


The 97209 is a full 18k white gold Oyster with Glidelock extension clasp. Approximately 20mm of micro-adjustment without tools.
<span id="bracelets-end-links-clasps-and-packaging-notes"></span>
== Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes ==


The white gold bracelet contributes significantly to the watch's weight and stealth-wealth character. Visually, the white gold Oyster reads almost identically to a steel bracelet — brushed finishing on the outer links, consistent Oyster three-link pattern. No polished center links as on the yellow gold 116618 or the two-tone 116613. This all-brushed approach reinforces the under-the-radar aesthetic.
<span id="bracelet"></span>
=== Bracelet ===


The bracelet does not change during the run. All 116619LB examples carry the same Glidelock-equipped 97209.
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.


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


No special branches. Produced in a single configuration throughout its run. The absence of dial variants (no black dial, no sunburst, no alternative colors) makes the 116619LB one of the simplest references to catalog in the modern Submariner line.
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.


One distinction: the 116619LB is the only ceramic-bezel Submariner to retain a flat (non-sunburst) blue dial for its entire production run. While the 116613LB and 116618LB both transitioned from flat to sunburst blue dials during their runs, the 116619LB's blue lacquer dial remained unchanged from 2008 to 2020. This consistency is a quiet collector talking point — the lacquer finish is a period marker for the 116619LB era.


===Weight===


Forum owners report the 116619LB weighing approximately 226.8g with 12 bracelet links fitted. The density of 18k white gold makes the watch noticeably heavier than any steel Submariner — the primary on-wrist identifier.
<span id="historical-market-and-auction-record"></span>
== Historical market and auction record ==


==Historical market and auction record==
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.


The 116619LB commands a strong premium in the secondary market. It often trades above the yellow gold 116618, despite the material cost of white gold being roughly comparable to yellow gold. Several factors drive the premium:
== Related references ==


* '''First ceramic Sub''': the 116619LB was the first Submariner with a Cerachrom bezel, giving it historical significance
* [[Reference:116618|Submariner 116618]]: Yellow Gold (2008–2020)
* '''First white gold Sub''': there was no white gold Submariner before the 116619LB
* [[Reference:116613|Submariner 116613]]: 2009–2020
* '''Stealth-wealth appeal''': the ability to wear a precious-metal watch that looks like steel resonates with a specific collector profile
* [[Reference:116610LV|Submariner 116610LV]]: "Hulk", Green Dial (2010–2020)
* '''Low production volume''': white gold sport Rolex watches are produced in smaller numbers
* [[Reference:116610LN|Submariner 116610LN]]: 2010–2020
* '''Single-configuration simplicity''': blue dial only, no variant confusion
* [[Reference:114060|Submariner 114060]]: 2012–2020
* [[Reference:16610LV|Submariner 16610LV]]: "Kermit", Green Bezel (2003–2010)


The reference is well represented in dealer inventories and appears at auction with regularity. No specific hammer prices have been captured in this pass, but the Smurf has been consistently one of the highest-value modern Submariners in the secondary 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_116619LB_hero_2.webp|White-gold 116619LB with blue dial and bezel
File:Ref_116619LB_detail.webp|Case and 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.the1916company.com/blog/rolex-smurf-guide.html unknown, "The 1916 Company Smurf guide", The 1916 Company]
* [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.the1916company.com/blog/rolex-smurf-guide.html The 1916 Company Smurf guide]; The 1916 Company, The 1916 Company
* [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.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.grayandsons.com/blog/rolex-submariner-date-history/ unknown, "Gray & Sons Submariner Date history", Gray & Sons]
* [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://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
* [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/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-smurf-white-gold-lot-388-154 Rolex Ref. 116619LB "Smurf," case V479064]; Antiquorum, Monaco, 2026-06-28, Lot 154


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

Latest revision as of 10:01, 29 September 2026


Submariner › 116619LB

Rolex 116619LB Submariner
Rolex 116619LB Submariner

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.

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.


Core facts

detail value
reference 116619LB
family Submariner Date
production about 2008 to 2020
movement caliber 3135 (date, quick-set, 28800 bph, ~48hr power reserve)
case 40mm, full 18k white gold, Super Case
crystal sapphire with Cyclops
water resistance 300m
bezel 18k white gold with blue Cerachrom ceramic insert, platinum-filled numerals
lume Chromalight (blue glow)
bracelet 18k white gold Oyster ref.97209 with Glidelock
dial blue lacquer, maxi format, white gold markers
rehaut engraved ROLEX ROLEX
nickname Smurf
predecessor none (first white gold Submariner)
successor 126619LB

Where it sits in the line

The 116619LB is the white-gold member of the ceramic-era Submariner generation. It launched in 2008 alongside the full yellow-gold 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 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.

Production outline

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.

Movement notes

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.

Dial map

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.

Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB
Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB

White-gold markers and hands distinguish it from the yellow-gold 116618LB, whose blue dial uses gold surrounds in the cited examples.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

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. White gold can resemble steel in photographs, so weight, hallmarks and the individual watch record help distinguish the metals.

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. Cerachrom is more resistant to fading and scratching than aluminium, but ceramic can still chip or be damaged.

Crystal

Sapphire with Cyclops at 3 o'clock and anti-reflective coating on the inner surface.

Hallmarks

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.

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes

Bracelet

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.

Special branches

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.


Historical market and auction record

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

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

  • White-gold 116619LB with blue dial and bezel
    White-gold 116619LB with blue dial and bezel
  • Case and bezel detail
    Case and bezel detail

Sources

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