The development of the Rolex Submariner Date 116613LB
As early as 1933,
Rolex patented the combination of metals "Rolesor" (a portmanteau of "Rolex" and the French word for gold, "
or") to describe watches made of
stainless steel and yellow gold. This was intended to break down the strict separation of materials according to their respective functionality, so that dress watches no longer had to be made exclusively of gold and tool watches no longer had to be made exclusively of stainless steel. In 1948, the Rolesor design was introduced for the first time with the Datejust (Ref. 6075). This was followed in 1984 by the
Submariner Date (Ref. 16803), the first
Submariner in Rolesor. This model also established scratch-resistant sapphire crystal within the collection and introduced new colour accents in the form of its blue dial. In 1988, the model was replaced by
Ref. 16613, which was the predecessor of the
Rolex Submariner 116613LB that was released in 2009. Nicknamed the
"Rolex Bluesy" on account of its deep blue dial, the 116613LB also debuted the new ceramic bezel and Super Case to the collection.
Reasons to buy a Rolex Bluesy
- Thanks to its two-tone combination of stainless steel and yellow gold along with the bright blue dial, the 116613LB is a true eye-catcher and makes the model jump out.
- The iconic design makes it extremely recognizable.
- Used 116613LB models are even available for under €15,000.
- The Rolex Bluesy promises potential for value appreciation since the reference was discontinued in 2020.
The Submariner Date in steel, gold and blue
The visual & technical features
Rolex exclusively uses 18-karat yellow gold for the fine details on the bezel, the centre links of the bracelet, and the outlines of the hands and indices. The
40 mm wide stainless steel case comes in the proprietary 904L stainless steel alloy, which is higher-quality and more durable than standard 316L alloy. However, in order to be able to work with 904L stainless steel at all, Rolex had to develop completely new tools. That required an extremely high level of effort, which is reflected in the perfection of the finished product.
And the
two-tone Submariner in blue is also impressive for its inner workings: The
manufacture Calibre 3135 comes with a 48-hour power reserve, 31 jewels, and a frequency of 28,000 A/h. Dubbed
"Bluesy" by fans and collectors, the model – like almost all Rolex watches – comes without a see-through case back, but delivers a bold,
aquamarine dial that is hard to take your eyes off of. Thanks to its sunray finish, which intensifies in the shape of a star from the centre towards the edge, the blue of the dial shines with varying nuances depending on lighting conditions. To achieve this optical effect to the fullest, the sapphire crystal has been treated with an anti-reflective coating. In the dark, the indices and hands illuminate in a soft blue hue for several hours thanks to Rolex's proprietary luminescent material, Chromalight.
The
Bluesy is a genuine Submariner despite all extroversion with the classic features of a
Rolex diving watch. The Cerachrom bezel, another portmanteau created by Rolex using the words "ceramic" and "
chrom" (Greek, for colour), ensures that the blue will never fade or scratch. The clasp on the
Oyster bracelet is equipped with the
Glidelock system, which allows the bracelet's length to be adjusted by up to 20 mm in just a few, simple steps. Moreover, the 116613LB is
water-resistant up to 300 metres thanks to the screw-down Triplock crown and features a unidirectional rotating diving bezel and a date window at 3 o'clock with the signature cyclops lens.
The feel of the watch
The Submariner 116613LB is extremely comfortable to wear, but its eye-catching appearance requires a degree of self-confidence on the part of its wearer. Just like the
116613LN, the 116613LB is anything but discreet on the wrist. In this case, the visibility lent by the Super Case is further accentuated by the use of Rolesor – and then the dial's bold blue takes care of the rest. If you're looking for a less ostentatious watch for everyday wear, then you might be better off with an
116610LN or an
114060. However, if you value precisely the extravagance that the Bluesy offers its owner, then the 116613LB is a sporty, yet remarkably versatile everyday companion.
A price comparison of Rolex bicolour watches
| Model |
Material & colour combination |
Year |
Product contents |
Condition |
Pre-owned price |
| Submariner 116613LB |
Steel, gold, blue |
2016 |
Full set (including box and papers) |
Good |
From €14.550 |
| GMT-Master II 116713LN |
Steel, gold, black |
2009 |
Full set (including box and papers) |
Very good |
From €12,900 |
| Submariner 16613 |
Steel, gold, blue |
1995 |
Watch without box and papers |
Very good |
From €9,700 |
| Sea-Dweller 126603 |
Steel, gold, black |
2019 |
Full set (including box and papers) |
Very good |
From €16,100 |
| Datejust II 116333 |
Steel, gold, white |
2016 |
Full set (including box and papers) |
Good |
From €10,840 |
| Daytona 116523 |
Steel, gold, white |
2004 |
Watch including box |
Good |
From €14,550 |
A comparison of old and new Submariner Date 116613LB models
If one decides to purchase a two-tone Rolex and more specifically the
bicolour Submariner with blue dial and
blue bezel, one is immediately faced with an agonizing choice: should one opt for the
Ref. 16613, which is now considered almost vintage, the 116613LB, which was recently discontinued in 2020, or the current reference
126613LB from 2020? In the case of the first watch, the difference is obvious: the
16613's case has a 40 mm diameter, which is not the Super Case. and instead of modern ceramic, aluminium is utilized for the bezel insert. The same automatic movement is at work inside the 16613 as in the 116613LB, that is the
Calibre 3135 that has a frequency of 28,000 A/h and a power reserve of up to 48 hours. The current
126613LB, on the other hand, features minor improvements such as a 41 mm case, revised Oyster bracelet, and a new movement inside, which is the
Calibre 3235 with a power reserve of up to 70 hours. Thanks to its slimmer lugs and the broader bracelet, the new Submariner sits a bit more comfortably on the wrist than its predecessors, but – as is typical for Rolex – these are demands at the most discerning level.
The Bluesy vs. GMT-Master II 116713LN
When comparing the 116613LB with another iconic tool watch with the Rolesor design from the noble forge based in Geneva, one of the options is the
Ref. 116713LN that features a black dial, black ceramic bezel, date window, and second time zone. Thanks to the minimum specifications demanded by Rolex, the
GMT-Master II designed for use in the field of aviation is also water-resistant up to 100 metres and hardly distinguishable from the Submariner visually upon first glance. The 116713LN boasts the extravagant
Rolesor design as well and, thanks to its sporty Super Case, sits on the wrist with more presence and aplomb than its predecessors, such as the
reference 16713. In principle, both watches are only marginally different in terms of design and, when different, most notably in terms of functionality. While the 116713LN should not be used for your next diving adventure, its water resistance is sufficient for everyday use and swimming in the pool.
In comparison with a more affordable alternative: The Longines HydroConquest (Ref. L3.742.3.96.7)
If you like the design of the 116613LB, but the price is not as appealing, then Longines provides a great alternative. The
Longines HydroConquest with the reference number L3.742.3.96.7 is also
water-resistant up to 300 metres, offers a blue dial with a date window and a blue ceramic bezel, as well as a case and bracelet made of
steel and gold. In this case, however, Longines does not used solid yellow gold, but rather a PVD coating. Nevertheless, the price-performance ratio of the Longines is an unbeatable plus point: this automatic watch is available for under €1,500 new and used can be found for even less. Those who have fallen in love with the Bluesy's design, but want to save a little are well advised to consider the Longines. Due to its very reasonable price, the L3.742.3.96.7 is definitely an interesting alternative.
