Reference:116619LB
Submariner → 116619LB
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 before the steel 116610LN received ceramic in 2010.
Collectors call it the Smurf — blue dial and blue bezel on a case that reads silver from a distance. White gold looks like steel in photographs but weighs roughly twice as much, so the wrist knows immediately. This stealth-wealth quality drives much of the collector appeal.
Produced exclusively with a blue lacquer dial and blue bezel for its entire 2008–2020 run. No black-dial 116619 exists.
Core facts
| detail | value |
|---|---|
| reference | 116619LB |
| family | Submariner Date |
| production | approximately 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:
- 116610: steel (from 2010)
- 116613: Rolesor (two-tone, from 2009)
- 116618: full 18k yellow gold (from 2008)
- 116619LB: full 18k white gold (from 2008)
The 116619LB and 116618 launched together in 2008 as the first pair. Steel and two-tone models followed later.
Why white gold matters
Yellow gold Submariners date back to the 1680 era. Two-tone Rolesor arrived with the 16613. But white gold was new territory — a precious-metal Submariner that could pass for steel.
Production outline
The 116619LB ran from 2008 to 2020. Some sources treat 2008 as catalog introduction only, with retail deliveries starting in 2009. No mid-run changes are documented. Always a low-volume reference — white gold sport Rolex watches are produced in smaller numbers than steel or yellow gold.
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 premium over the steel 116610LN is entirely about case material, dial, and bracelet. The 126619LB successor moved to caliber 3235 with 70-hour power reserve.
Dial map
Blue lacquer (the only dial)
Blue lacquer with maxi-format luminous markers and Chromalight lume (blue glow). The lacquer is distinct from the sunburst blue on the 116618LB and 116613LB — deeper, more uniform, less directional shimmer. It holds its color across lighting conditions rather than shifting with light.
White gold markers and hands with platinum-toned accents create a cool-temperature palette. The 116618LB, by contrast — gold markers on blue sunburst — reads warm and rich.
Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes
Case
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. The primary visual identifier from afar 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, not gold — a visual distinction from the 116618, which uses gold filling. The platinum creates a silver-grey tone complementing the white gold case. Cerachrom does not fade, scratch, or discolor.
Crystal
Sapphire with Cyclops magnifier at 3 o’clock. Anti-reflective coating on the inner surface.
Hallmarks
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.
Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes
Bracelet
Full 18k white gold Oyster ref.97209 with Glidelock (~20mm micro-adjustment). All-brushed finishing — no polished center links as on the 116618 or 116613. Unchanged throughout the production run.
Special branches
No special branches. Single configuration throughout — one of the simplest references to catalog in the modern Submariner line.
The 116619LB is the only ceramic-bezel Submariner to retain a flat (non-sunburst) blue dial for its entire run. The 116613LB and 116618LB both transitioned from flat to sunburst blue dials mid-production; the 116619LB’s lacquer stayed constant.
Weight
Forum owners report approximately 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. Its historical firsts, low production volume, and stealth-wealth character combine to make it one of the highest-value modern Submariners on the secondary market. Well represented in dealer inventories and at auction.
Sources
- History of the Rolex Submariner - Part 2, The 55XX References and 1680 Date — Tom Mulraney, Monochrome
- The 1916 Company Smurf guide — unknown, The 1916 Company
- The Rolex Submariner: A Complete Collector's Guide — Stephen Pulvirent, Sotheby's
- Bob's Watches two-tone Submariner history — unknown, Bob's Watches
- Gray & Sons Submariner Date history — unknown, Gray & Sons
- Rolex Submariner Reference Guide — unknown, Professional Watches