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[[File:Ref_116618_hero.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Photo: millenarywatches.com]]
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 116618 Submariner}}
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Submariner 116618 — Yellow Gold, 2008–2020 | BezelBase
|description=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…
|keywords=Rolex, 116618, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
|image=Ref 116618 detail 2.jpg
|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.
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 in every generation since the 1680/8 arrived in 1969, and the 116618 is the fifth chapter of that line — the first one to pair the full-gold case with a Cerachrom ceramic bezel.


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.
Within its own generation it is the loud one. The steel 116610LN is the workhorse and the white-gold 116619LB is a stealth play that reads as steel on the wrist. The 116618 reads as gold in every light.


==Core facts==
<span id="core-facts"></span>
 
[[File:Ref 116618 detail 2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Yellow-gold Submariner, Cerachrom|Yellow-gold Submariner, Cerachrom]]
 
== Core facts ==


{| class="wikitable"
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| production
| production
| approximately 2008 to 2020
| about 2008 to 2020
|-
|-
| movement
| movement
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|-
|-
| bracelet
| bracelet
| full gold Oyster ref.93258 with Glidelock, polished center links
| full gold Oyster ref.97208 with Glidelock, polished center links
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| rehaut
| rehaut
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|}


==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"
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|}


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 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. Gold led the generation in.


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.
<span id="what-changed-from-the-16618"></span>
== What changed from the 16618 ==


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.
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's aluminum bezel faded under UV exposure. The ceramic insert does not.


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


Caliber 3135 throughout — the same movement used in the 116610, 116613, and 116619LB. Quick-set date, 28800 bph, Microstella regulation, Parachrom hairspring.
Both LB (blue) and LN (black) variants ran the full twelve years, with no mid-run changes documented beyond the standard ceramic-era specification.


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.
Case, bezel body, crown, crown guards, bracelet, and case back are all 18k yellow gold, which makes the 116618 one of the heaviest Submariner references in any generation. Owners posting on Rolex Forums report a total weight near 227.5g fully linked. The density is obvious on the wrist next to a steel 116610LN, and still obvious next to a Rolesor 116613.


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


==Dial map==
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. Rolex fits the 3135 to steel, two-tone, yellow-gold, and white-gold Submariners without modification, so the 116618's premium over the 116610LN buys materials and finishing. Mechanically the two watches are the same.


===Blue dial (LB)===
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.


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.
<span id="dial-map"></span>
== Dial map ==


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="blue-dial-lb"></span>
=== Blue dial (LB) ===


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.
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.


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.
The sunburst blue is the 116618's signature configuration. In shadow it reads deep midnight blue; in full direct sunlight it reaches pale sky blue. The gold Maxi markers, the oversized lume plots of the ceramic era, and the gold hands widen that range, since a gold case throws back more light than a steel one. Set against the blue Cerachrom, the result is warm gold framing cool blue. The Rolesor 116613LB gets close, but its steel outer links and steel case back dilute the gold; on the 116618 there is no steel anywhere.


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


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.
Black dial with gold Maxi markers. Black against a full gold case reads more formal than the blue, closer to a tuxedo than to a sport watch.


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


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


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.
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.


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.
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 called the new lugs pointier and closer to the original 1680/8, a retreat from the blocky Maxi Case shape. The 116618 is where that broad-lug geometry peaked.


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


===Bezel===
Cerachrom ceramic, the change that defines the generation. It does not fade and it does not scratch the way the 16618's aluminum insert did. Numerals and graduation marks are filled with gold instead of the platinum used on the steel and white-gold models, matched to the case. It is the only gold-filled bezel in the generation.


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


===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.


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="hallmarks"></span>
=== Hallmarks ===


===Hallmarks===
Hallmarks follow the standard Swiss precious-metal system. A 750 stamp, meaning 18k or 750 parts per thousand fine gold, should appear on the case and case back. The St. Bernard "Barry" mark is the Swiss precious-metals stamp used post-1995.


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


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


===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 and does none of it.


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.
Full-gold construction makes this one of the heaviest bracelets in the Submariner catalog. The bracelet does not change during the run; every 116618 carries the same Glidelock-equipped 97208.


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.
<span id="production-volume-estimates"></span>
== Production volume estimates ==


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.
Estimates published in the early 2010s put combined gold Submariner output, 116618 and 116619LB together, at roughly 8,000 units a year. Rolex publishes no production figures, so the number circulates through the trade with no factory source behind it. Read it as an order of magnitude, not a count.


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


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.
The 116618 trades in a different segment from the steel Submariners. The price gap against a 116610LN is too wide for the two to be a genuine cross-shop; the comparison that matters is against other precious-metal sport watches and against the white-gold 116619LB.


==Market and collector context==
The successor 126618LB retails at $48,600 USD. The 116618 sells well under that on the secondary market, discounted for the 40mm case, the older caliber 3135, and the absence of a current warranty. Blue LB dials turn up far more often than black LN, and the LN sometimes trades a little softer for it.


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.
There is no meaningful auction record for the 116618. Gold Submariner lots at the major houses belong to the 1680/8 and the vintage references; the 116618 is recent enough that it still moves through the dealer market, and asking prices there are the better signal.


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.


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.
== Related references ==


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.
* [[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)


==Sources==
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]].


* [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


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

Latest revision as of 22:17, 8 August 2026


Submariner -> 116618

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 in every generation since the 1680/8 arrived in 1969, and the 116618 is the fifth chapter of that line — the first one to pair the full-gold case with a Cerachrom ceramic bezel.

Within its own generation it is the loud one. The steel 116610LN is the workhorse and the white-gold 116619LB is a stealth play that reads as steel on the wrist. The 116618 reads as gold in every light.

Yellow-gold Submariner, Cerachrom
Yellow-gold Submariner, Cerachrom

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; $48,600 retail

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. Gold led the generation in.

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's aluminum bezel faded under UV exposure. The ceramic insert does not.

Production outline

Both LB (blue) and LN (black) variants ran the full twelve years, with no mid-run changes documented beyond the standard ceramic-era specification.

Case, bezel body, crown, crown guards, bracelet, and case back are all 18k yellow gold, which makes the 116618 one of the heaviest Submariner references in any generation. Owners posting on Rolex Forums report a total weight near 227.5g fully linked. The density is obvious on the wrist next to a steel 116610LN, and still obvious next to a Rolesor 116613.

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. Rolex fits the 3135 to steel, two-tone, yellow-gold, and white-gold Submariners without modification, so the 116618's premium over the 116610LN buys materials and finishing. Mechanically the two watches are the same.

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)

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 sunburst blue is the 116618's signature configuration. In shadow it reads deep midnight blue; in full direct sunlight it reaches pale sky blue. The gold Maxi markers, the oversized lume plots of the ceramic era, and the gold hands widen that range, since a gold case throws back more light than a steel one. Set against the blue Cerachrom, the result is warm gold framing cool blue. The Rolesor 116613LB gets close, but its steel outer links and steel case back dilute the gold; on the 116618 there is no steel anywhere.

Black dial (LN)

Black dial with gold Maxi markers. Black against a full gold case reads more formal than the blue, closer to a tuxedo than to a sport watch.

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.

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 called the new lugs pointier and closer to the original 1680/8, a retreat from the blocky Maxi Case shape. The 116618 is where that broad-lug geometry peaked.

Bezel

Cerachrom ceramic, the change that defines the generation. It does not fade and it does not scratch the way the 16618's aluminum insert did. Numerals and graduation marks are filled with gold instead of the platinum used on the steel and white-gold models, matched to the case. It is the only gold-filled bezel in the generation.

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, meaning 18k or 750 parts per thousand fine gold, should appear on the case and case back. The St. Bernard "Barry" mark is the Swiss precious-metals stamp used post-1995.

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 and does none of it.

Full-gold construction makes this one of the heaviest bracelets in the Submariner catalog. The bracelet does not change during the run; every 116618 carries the same Glidelock-equipped 97208.

Production volume estimates

Estimates published in the early 2010s put combined gold Submariner output, 116618 and 116619LB together, at roughly 8,000 units a year. Rolex publishes no production figures, so the number circulates through the trade with no factory source behind it. Read it as an order of magnitude, not a count.

Market and collector context

The 116618 trades in a different segment from the steel Submariners. The price gap against a 116610LN is too wide for the two to be a genuine cross-shop; the comparison that matters is against other precious-metal sport watches and against the white-gold 116619LB.

The successor 126618LB retails at $48,600 USD. The 116618 sells well under that on the secondary market, discounted for the 40mm case, the older caliber 3135, and the absence of a current warranty. Blue LB dials turn up far more often than black LN, and the LN sometimes trades a little softer for it.

There is no meaningful auction record for the 116618. Gold Submariner lots at the major houses belong to the 1680/8 and the vintage references; the 116618 is recent enough that it still moves through the dealer market, and asking prices there are the better signal.


Related references

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

Sources

Retrieved from "https://bezelbase.org/index.php?title=Reference:116618&oldid=6939"