Reference:116618
Submariner → 116618
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.
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 that performs in light.
Core facts
| detail | value |
|---|---|
| reference | 116618 (LN = black, LB = blue) |
| family | Submariner Date |
| production | approximately 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.93258 with Glidelock, polished center links |
| rehaut | engraved ROLEX ROLEX |
| predecessor | 16618 |
| successor | 126618LB / 126618LN |
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.
| 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:
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 fading from UV exposure. Cerachrom solved that — details in the bezel section below.
Production outline
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.
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.
Movement notes
Caliber 3135 throughout — the same movement used in the 116610, 116613, and 116619LB. Quick-set date, 28800 bph, Microstella regulation, Parachrom hairspring.
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.
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.
Dial map
Blue dial (LB)
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.
The sunburst blue dial is the 116618’s signature configuration. In shadow it reads deep midnight blue; in full direct sunlight it reaches pale sky blue. The gold applied maxi markers and hands amplify this optical range — more reflective surface area than on steel-cased models means more interaction with changing light.
Paired with the blue Cerachrom bezel and the yellow gold case, the dial creates a warm-gold-framing-cool-blue palette that no other Submariner replicates. The Rolesor 116613LB comes close but steel outer links and case back dilute the gold presence. On the 116618, there is no steel anywhere.
Black dial (LN)
Black dial with gold maxi markers. Black on a full gold case creates a more formal, tuxedo-like appearance compared to the blue’s sporty warmth.
Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes
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.
A 40mm case with a 20mm bracelet. The successor 126618 moved to 41mm with thinner, more tapered lugs and a wider 21mm bracelet — the Fratello review noted the new lugs are pointier, 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.
Bezel
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.
Crystal
Sapphire with Cyclops over the date window. The inner rehaut is engraved with repeating ROLEX ROLEX text and serial number at 6 o’clock.
Hallmarks
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.
Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes
Bracelet
The 93258 is a full 18k yellow gold Oyster with Glidelock extension clasp allowing approximately 20mm of micro-adjustment. Polished center links catch and reflect light against the brushed outer links, creating a play of finishes along the wrist — the Field Manual cites this “visual pop” as distinct to the gold Submariner bracelets, since the steel 116610LN’s Oyster is entirely brushed.
Full gold construction makes this one of the heaviest bracelets in the Submariner catalog. The bracelet does not change during the run; all 116618 examples carry the same Glidelock-equipped 93258.
Production volume estimates
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.
Market and collector context
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.
The successor 126618LB 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. The blue LB is more commonly traded; the black LN is less frequently encountered and sometimes trades at a modest discount.
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.
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
- The Vintage Rolex Field Manual, Chevalier Edition — Morning Tundra, unknown