Reference:116619LB: Difference between revisions

From BezelBase
[unchecked revision][checked revision]
VisualWikitext
Import reference 116619LB article
 
Resize hero: 340px -> 250px
 
(24 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
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.
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex 116619LB Submariner — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges | BezelBase
|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…
|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=2026-04-29T02:46:15Z
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}


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.
<small>[[Reference:submariner|Submariner]] -> '''116619LB'''</small>


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 first white-gold Submariner and the first Submariner fitted with a Cerachrom ceramic bezel. Rolex introduced it at Baselworld 2008, two years before the steel 116610LN received ceramic in 2010. Collectors call it the Smurf, for the blue dial and blue bezel on a case that reads silver from across a room. White gold looks like steel in photographs, but weighs roughly twice as much, and the difference is obvious on the wrist the moment the watch goes on. That stealth-wealth quality drives much of the collector appeal.


==Core facts==
The 116619LB was produced exclusively with a blue lacquer dial and blue bezel across its entire 2008–2020 run. No black-dial 116619 exists.
 
<span id="core-facts"></span>
 
[[File:Ref 116619LB hero 2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB|Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB]]
 
== Core facts ==


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 19: Line 36:
|-
|-
| production
| production
| approximately 2008 to 2020
| about 2008 to 2020
|-
|-
| movement
| movement
Line 58: Line 75:
|}
|}


==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==
 
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.
 
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.
 
==Dial map==
 
===Blue lacquer (the only dial)===
 
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.


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.
The 116619LB is the white-gold member of the ceramic-era Submariner generation. The steel 116610 arrived in 2010, the Rolesor [[Reference:116613|116613]] in 2009, the full yellow-gold [[Reference:116618|116618]] in 2008, and the full white-gold 116619LB alongside it — the white and yellow gold pair launched together as the first ceramic-bezel Submariners, with steel and two-tone following.


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.
Yellow-gold Submariners date back to the 1680/8 era, and Rolesor arrived with the 16613. White gold was new territory — a precious-metal Submariner that could pass as steel, with the weight and the market signaling that a gold Submariner never offered.


==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes==
<span id="production-outline"></span>
== Production outline ==


===Case===
The 116619LB ran from 2008 to 2020. Some sources treat 2008 as the catalog introduction year with retail deliveries starting in 2009. No mid-run changes are documented. The reference was always low-volume — white-gold sport Rolex watches are produced in much smaller numbers than their steel or yellow-gold siblings.


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


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.
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 premium over the steel 116610LN runs entirely on case material, dial, and bracelet rather than on the mechanics. The 126619LB successor moved to caliber 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve.


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


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="blue-lacquer-the-only-dial"></span>
=== Blue lacquer (the only dial) ===


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.
Blue lacquer dial with Maxi-format luminous markers and Chromalight lume. The lacquer reads differently from the sunburst blues on the 116618LB and 116613LB — deeper, more uniform, without the directional shimmer of a sunburst finish. It holds its color across lighting conditions rather than shifting with the angle of the light.


===Crystal===
White-gold markers and hands on that blue lacquer produce a cool palette: platinum-toned metal against dense blue, where the 116618LB's gold-on-sunburst reads warm and rich. The two references sit on opposite sides of the same blue-dial generation.


Sapphire with Cyclops magnifier at 3 o'clock. Anti-reflective coating on the inner surface.
<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>
== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==
[[File:Ref 116619LB detail.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Detail view|Detail view]]


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


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.
40mm 18k white gold in Super Case proportions — broader lugs than the five-digit era, with crown guards present and a Triplock crown sealing to 300m. The case back is solid 18k white gold. From across a room, the primary visual identifier is the blue dial and bezel; the case itself reads as steel.


==Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes==
<span id="bezel"></span>
=== Bezel ===


===Bracelet===
Blue Cerachrom ceramic insert matching the dial. Numerals and graduation marks are filled with platinum rather than gold — a visual distinction from the 116618, which uses gold filling to match its yellow-gold case. Platinum filling gives a silver-grey tone that works with the white-gold case. Cerachrom does not fade, scratch, or discolor.


The 97209 is a full 18k white gold Oyster with Glidelock extension clasp. Approximately 20mm of micro-adjustment without tools.
<span id="crystal"></span>
=== Crystal ===


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


The bracelet does not change during the run. All 116619LB examples carry the same Glidelock-equipped 97209.
<span id="hallmarks"></span>
=== Hallmarks ===


==Special branches==
Hallmarks follow the standard Swiss precious-metal system. The St. Bernard "Barry" mark is the Swiss precious-metals stamp used post-1995, replacing the older Helvetia bust mark. Markings appear on the mid-case under the lugs, on the case back, and on bracelet blades. The 750 stamp indicates 18k — 750 parts per thousand — gold content.


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


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.
<span id="bracelet"></span>
=== Bracelet ===


===Weight===
Full 18k white-gold Oyster ref.97209 with Glidelock offering roughly 20mm of micro-adjustment. The finishing is all brushed — no polished center links as on the 116618 or 116613, a choice that reinforces the reference's steel-appearance strategy. The bracelet is unchanged across the production run.


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


==Historical market and auction record==
No special branches, and a single configuration throughout — one of the simplest references to catalog in the modern Submariner line. The 116619LB is also the only ceramic-bezel Submariner to keep a flat, non-sunburst blue dial for its entire run; the 116613LB and 116618LB both transitioned from flat to sunburst mid-production, while the 116619LB's lacquer stayed constant.


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


* '''First ceramic Sub''': the 116619LB was the first Submariner with a Cerachrom bezel, giving it historical significance
Rolex Forum owners report about 226.8g with 12 bracelet links fitted.
* '''First white gold Sub''': there was no white gold Submariner before the 116619LB
* '''Stealth-wealth appeal''': the ability to wear a precious-metal watch that looks like steel resonates with a specific collector profile
* '''Low production volume''': white gold sport Rolex watches are produced in smaller numbers
* '''Single-configuration simplicity''': blue dial only, no variant confusion


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


==Sources==
The 116619LB often trades above the yellow-gold 116618 despite comparable material cost. Historical firsts, low production volume, and the stealth-wealth character combine to place it among the highest-value modern Submariners on the secondary market. It is well represented both in dealer inventories and at auction.


* [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


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

Latest revision as of 04:20, 30 April 2026


Submariner -> 116619LB

The 116619LB is the first white-gold Submariner and the first Submariner fitted with a Cerachrom ceramic bezel. Rolex introduced it at Baselworld 2008, two years before the steel 116610LN received ceramic in 2010. Collectors call it the Smurf, for the blue dial and blue bezel on a case that reads silver from across a room. White gold looks like steel in photographs, but weighs roughly twice as much, and the difference is obvious on the wrist the moment the watch goes on. That stealth-wealth quality drives much of the collector appeal.

The 116619LB was produced exclusively with a blue lacquer dial and blue bezel across its entire 2008–2020 run. No black-dial 116619 exists.

Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB
Rolex Submariner Ref. 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. The steel 116610 arrived in 2010, the Rolesor 116613 in 2009, the full yellow-gold 116618 in 2008, and the full white-gold 116619LB alongside it — the white and yellow gold pair launched together as the first ceramic-bezel Submariners, with steel and two-tone following.

Yellow-gold Submariners date back to the 1680/8 era, and Rolesor arrived with the 16613. White gold was new territory — a precious-metal Submariner that could pass as steel, with the weight and the market signaling that a gold Submariner never offered.

Production outline

The 116619LB ran from 2008 to 2020. Some sources treat 2008 as the catalog introduction year with retail deliveries starting in 2009. No mid-run changes are documented. The reference was always low-volume — white-gold sport Rolex watches are produced in much smaller numbers than their steel or yellow-gold siblings.

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 premium over the steel 116610LN runs entirely on case material, dial, and bracelet rather than on the mechanics. The 126619LB successor moved to caliber 3235 with a 70-hour power reserve.

Dial map

Blue lacquer (the only dial)

Blue lacquer dial with Maxi-format luminous markers and Chromalight lume. The lacquer reads differently from the sunburst blues on the 116618LB and 116613LB — deeper, more uniform, without the directional shimmer of a sunburst finish. It holds its color across lighting conditions rather than shifting with the angle of the light.

White-gold markers and hands on that blue lacquer produce a cool palette: platinum-toned metal against dense blue, where the 116618LB's gold-on-sunburst reads warm and rich. The two references sit on opposite sides of the same blue-dial generation.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

Detail view
Detail view

Case

40mm 18k white gold in Super Case proportions — broader lugs than the five-digit era, with crown guards present and a Triplock crown sealing to 300m. The case back is solid 18k white gold. From across a room, the primary visual identifier is the blue dial and bezel; the case itself reads as steel.

Bezel

Blue Cerachrom ceramic insert matching the dial. Numerals and graduation marks are filled with platinum rather than gold — a visual distinction from the 116618, which uses gold filling to match its yellow-gold case. Platinum filling gives a silver-grey tone that works with the white-gold case. Cerachrom does not fade, scratch, or discolor.

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. The St. Bernard "Barry" mark is the Swiss precious-metals stamp used post-1995, replacing the older Helvetia bust mark. Markings appear on the mid-case under the lugs, on the case back, and on bracelet blades. The 750 stamp indicates 18k — 750 parts per thousand — gold content.

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes

Bracelet

Full 18k white-gold Oyster ref.97209 with Glidelock offering roughly 20mm of micro-adjustment. The finishing is all brushed — no polished center links as on the 116618 or 116613, a choice that reinforces the reference's steel-appearance strategy. The bracelet is unchanged across the production run.

Special branches

No special branches, and a single configuration throughout — one of the simplest references to catalog in the modern Submariner line. The 116619LB is also the only ceramic-bezel Submariner to keep a flat, non-sunburst blue dial for its entire run; the 116613LB and 116618LB both transitioned from flat to sunburst mid-production, while the 116619LB's lacquer stayed constant.

Weight

Rolex Forum owners report about 226.8g with 12 bracelet links fitted.

Historical market and auction record

The 116619LB often trades above the yellow-gold 116618 despite comparable material cost. Historical firsts, low production volume, and the stealth-wealth character combine to place it among the highest-value modern Submariners on the secondary market. It is well represented both in dealer inventories and at auction.

Sources

Retrieved from "https://bezelbase.org/index.php?title=Reference:116619LB&oldid=4416"