Reference:116613
Submariner → 116613
The 116613 is the ceramic-bezel Rolesor Submariner Date. It replaced the aluminum-insert 16613 around 2009 and ran until the 41mm 126613 with caliber 3235 took over in 2020. Within the ceramic-era Submariner generation, it occupies the middle position: more accessible than the full gold 116618, more distinctive than the steel 116610LN, carrying the visual language of the Rolesor bracelet — polished yellow gold center links against brushed steel outer links — into the Cerachrom age.
The step up from the 16613 is not incremental. Cerachrom replaced aluminum. Glidelock replaced Fliplock. Maxi-format markers with Chromalight lume are larger and brighter. Wider Super Case lugs changed the proportions. The two-tone identity carries forward, but the watch is a different object.
The blue dial variant, 116613LB, is universally called the “Bluesy” — a nickname inherited from the 16613LB. Sunburst blue dial, blue Cerachrom bezel, and polished gold center links create a visual coherence that makes this the defining two-tone Submariner configuration and the reason most buyers come to the reference.
Core facts
| detail | value |
|---|---|
| reference | 116613 (LN = black, LB = blue) |
| family | Submariner Date |
| production | approximately 2009 to 2020 |
| movement | caliber 3135 (date, quick-set, 28800 bph, ~48hr power reserve) |
| case | 40mm Super Case, Rolesor (904L steel + 18k yellow gold) |
| crystal | sapphire with Cyclops |
| water resistance | 300m |
| bezel | Cerachrom ceramic (blue or black), platinum-filled numerals |
| lume | Chromalight (blue glow) |
| bracelet | Oyster ref.93253 with Glidelock, solid gold center links |
| rehaut | engraved ROLEX ROLEX |
| predecessor | 16613 |
| successor | 126613 |
Where it sits in the line
The 116613 is the two-tone member of the ceramic-era Submariner generation:
- 116610: steel
- 116613: Rolesor (two-tone steel/gold)
- 116618: full 18k yellow gold
- 116619LB: full 18k white gold
All four shared caliber 3135 and the Super Case architecture. Two-tone construction places the 116613 above the steel 116610LN in price and prestige, below the full-gold 116618.
Two-tone Submariner lineage
| reference | years | case material | bezel material | successor retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16613 | 1988–2009 | Rolesor (steel/gold) | aluminum (fades) | — |
| 116613 | 2009–2020 | Rolesor (steel/gold) | Cerachrom ceramic | — |
| 126613LB | 2020–present | Rolesor (Oystersteel/gold) | Cerachrom ceramic | $18,900 USD |
The 116613 succeeded the 16613 after a 21-year run. The 2020 refresh moved to Oystersteel branding, a 41mm case, new bracelet width, and caliber 3235. The 116613 retained the 40mm case and 3135 throughout.
What changed from the 16613
The execution is substantially different from the 16613:
| feature | 16613 | 116613 |
|---|---|---|
| bezel insert | aluminum, fades and scratches | Cerachrom ceramic, fade-proof |
| bracelet clasp | Fliplock with divers extension | Glidelock (20mm micro-adjust) |
| lug width | slimmer | wider (Super Case) |
| lug holes | present | absent |
| lume | SuperLuminova or Luminova (green glow) | Chromalight (blue glow) |
| markers | standard | Maxi (larger) |
| gold center links | hollow on some, solid on late | solid throughout |
| rehaut | plain (early) / engraved (late) | engraved throughout |
On the 16613LB, the aluminum bezel faded from vivid blue to a softer shade collectors call a “ghost” bezel — bezel condition was a primary evaluation factor. Cerachrom eliminates both the patina appeal and the fading problem entirely.
Production outline
The 116613 ran for roughly eleven years. Both the LB (blue) and LN (black) variants were available throughout. No major mid-run mechanical changes are documented. Caliber 3135 stays for the full production run.
The blue dial evolution: flat to sunburst
Around 2013 Rolex changed the 116613LB dial from a flat, uniform blue to a pronounced sunburst finish that shifts from midnight blue in shadow to a brighter, sky-inflected blue in direct sun. No sharp serial-number cutoff exists; collectors identify the type by visual inspection.
Both are correct factory configurations. The sunburst is more visually dynamic; some collectors prefer the earlier flat dial for its quieter character alongside the gold accents.
Movement notes
Caliber 3135 throughout — Parachrom hairspring, Microstella regulation. The last ceramic-era two-tone Submariner on the 3135 before the 126613 moved to caliber 3235 (70-hour reserve).
Dial map
Diamond and serti dials
Early 116613 production included factory diamond-set (serti) dials as an option. According to Rolex Forum discussions, the diamond/serti dials were discontinued around 2013 when the sunburst dial finish appeared. Serti-dial examples are the rarer factory configuration and a distinct collector target within the reference.
Blue dial (LB)
Blue dial with gold applied markers and hands. See “The blue dial evolution” above for the flat-to-sunburst transition around 2013.
Black dial (LN)
Black dial with gold applied markers and hands. The quieter configuration — black reads more conservatively against the gold accents and typically trades below the LB on the secondary market.
Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes
Rolesor construction: 904L Oystersteel case with 18k yellow gold bezel, crown guards, and Triplock crown. Cerachrom insert numerals are platinum-filled. Sapphire crystal with Cyclops. Inner rehaut engraved with repeating ROLEX ROLEX and serial number at 6 o’clock. Solid case back.
Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes
Bracelet ref. 93253 — two-tone Oyster with solid gold center links throughout the run (earlier 16613 bracelets used hollow center links on some examples). Glidelock clasp provides ~20mm tool-free micro-adjustment. Unchanged across the full production run.
Production volume estimates
Industry estimates from the ~2010 era suggest Rolex produced approximately 12,000 two-tone Submariners per year. If those figures held roughly steady across the 116613’s run, total production across both LB and LN variants could be in the range of 130,000 units — though Rolex does not publish production numbers and these figures are approximations circulated among dealers and collectors.
Market and collector context
Recently discontinued with good secondary market liquidity. The LB trades above the LN. The successor 126613LB retails at $18,900 USD; the 116613 trades below that on the secondary market.
The 126613’s move to 41mm, thinner lugs, and caliber 3235 makes the 116613’s blockier Super Case profile a distinct collector target for those who prefer the older geometry.
Sources
- History of the Rolex Submariner - Part 2, The 55XX References and 1680 Date — Tom Mulraney, Monochrome
- Bob's Watches two-tone Submariner history — unknown, Bob's Watches
- The Rolex Submariner: A Complete Collector's Guide — Stephen Pulvirent, Sotheby's
- Gray & Sons Submariner Date history — unknown, Gray & Sons
- Rolex Submariner Reference Guide — unknown, Professional Watches