Review of ROLEX Submariner ref. 16613

I have bit of a history with Blue Sub. I owned it for a year over 10 years ago. It was my absolute dream watch and the first Rolex I ever purchased. I remember the excitement when I got mine. I purchased it pre-loved from a fellow Rolex collector in the UK (that I’m still in contact with). The watch certainly didn’t disappoint but being a gold watch the hollow link bracelet felt surprisingly lightweight.

I was still in my early 30’s and for some reason I never quite felt comfortable with the gold. It felt ostentatious and I was always afraid to scratch it. Eventually I traded mine for a Explorer II (ref.16570) and then bought a steel Submariner 16610 and never looked back.

So what is this review all about then? Nobody wants to hear a word about my boring steel Submariner fetish anymore, that’s for sure. And I’ve made another writeup for that one already.

My review of Rolex Submariner 16610

One of my old friends Mika Mustonen, owns the “Bluesy” (the nickname was originally coined by the legendary JJ Irani at The Rolex Forums, may he rest in peace). We decided to trade our watches for a week. He got my steel version and I got his “Bluesy”. I’ve been wearing his 2004 two-tone everywhere and enjoying every moment of it. It has been like visiting an old friend. It also provided a good opportunity to take a few photographs and write a little review of the watch to my blog.

The steel and gold Submariner didn’t make its debut until 1988.

There are, however, two-tone custom versions of the early Sub date version (ref. 1680) but the model was not officially available in the 1970’s. Two-tone submariners did not enter the Rolex product line until the sapphire quick-set Submariners of the 1980s.

Michael from TRF explains it: “What most likely occurred with these early models is that the selling dealer “customized” the standard steel 1680 model per customer’s request. This is not hard to do, after all, even using all authentic Rolex components”.

Here’s another TRF member’s (Glenn’s) old and customized 1680 two-tone.

Here’s my Swedish friend Jocke’s amazing self-made transformation of his 1680

When the 16613 made its official debut in 1988 the first versions had a tritium dial, lug holes and non-solid bracelet end links (just like its steel counterparts). My watch was a X-serial from the early 1990’s. Here you can see the picture of it. Besides the T<25 marking at ‘6 (which refers to tritium lume) and hollow end links it looks almost indistinguishable from my friend’s 2004 model.

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One special feature about these old Tritium blue dials is that sunlight makes them more purple over time. When the new super luminova dials were introduced that “problem” went away. That’s why you see a lot of variation between different dial color shades on the old Tritium versions. Some of them have just been exposed to sunlight more than others. (thanks Ville from the local Rolex community for this information).

Another improvement (that was added in the early 2000’s) was the full gold clasp. On the old model clasp was just pure stainless steel. Rolex used method “gold filling” for this area. The gold clasp looks much better and more appropriate for this watch but the downside is that it collects small hairline scratches very easily.

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The crown is the familiar triplock screw-in triplock crown as on the standard Submariner. Just made of solid 18 carat gold.

The movement of 16610 is the COSC-certified Rolex caliber 3135. It was first introduced in 1988 and became Rolex’s main movement and it was used in many models. Experts agree that it is one of the most reliable automatic movements ever made. It’s a high beat movement that oscillates at 28.800 bph.

The balance features two pairs of adjusting system, known as the “Microstella”. It has four screws at symmetrically spaced positions along the balance wheel.

It doesn’t have any decoration as it’s designed to be hidden inside the Oyster case to withstand the most extreme conditions. Movement picture courtesy of Rolex USA.

16613 was also available with black dial and with two “unofficial” Serti versions (silver and gold dial). All very nice variations but for me the blue dial is the biggest attraction of the TT Sub.

The black dial version is an interesting alternative though. While it doesn’t have the sparkling, attractive dial of the “Bluesy” it’s still preferred by many. Some people probably think Submariner has to have a black dial. Can’t fault them. The black 16613 is also very good looking watch.

When Rolex introduced the 6-digit modern version of the “Bluesy” back in 2010, the initial release had “bland” and rather one-dimensional blue dial without this old model’s color depth and chameleon-like ability to show deep blue and purplish sunburst color tones. This was a major issue with the new model for the hardcore Rolex enthusiasts. And eventually Rolex was “forced” to upgrade the dial to mimic this old version.

This watch for me is all about the dial. It must be one of the best looking blue dials ever produced. It changes the blue tone, depending how the light hits it. My old friend from the watch communities and a fellow watch photographer John Holbrook once took a great shot from the dial straight from the front. I tried to duplicate that in my photo studio and capture the blue “shifting sunburst pattern” to the picture.

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After wearing this watch for a week again was like visiting an old friend. It didn’t really change my opinion about the 16613 though. It’s one of the best looking watches ever made and the blue dial is probably THE best looking dial ever produced. And compared to its steel counterpart it’s not even much more expensive in the pre-owned market. That makes 16613 actually quite a “bargain” (if you could ever use that word with Rolex).

Would I trade it for the steel version? No way. Not because the gold version isn’t more attractive. It certainly is – and it’s much more an attention catcher too. It’s not the fault of the watch, it’s just me.

If I wanted a gold watch (and had the money), I would definitely go for full gold Day-Date 40mm.

My review of Rolex Day-Date 40mm

I just don’t feel comfortable with the “Bluesy”. I feel the hardcore sports watch should be all-stainless so I can wear it rough and hard (which is the case with my scratched 16610). Small scratches make that type of watches just more handsome. That is not the case with the “Bluesy”, it’s just “too sweet”. Of course most people won’t wear these watches hard like I do. But to me, gold sports watch is bit of an oxymoron.

However, I much prefer this old version over the new models (116613 and 126613). The old case is much more elegant and proportional. There’s just something special and unique about the old Rolex case that was lost with the transition.

Maybe this is why I have stopped buying new watches. After the initial honeymoon with any new watch is over I always go back to my old Steel Sub. That’s probably just stagnation and middle age for you.

Thanks to my friend Mika for the “16613 try-out”. It was a great week with this beautiful watch. And despite everything I wrote above, it will be pretty difficult to give this beauty back.

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