Rolex 16610 vs. Rolex 116610 Submariner Comparison Review - Old Pre Ceramic Vs New Ceramic

Rolex Submariner 16610 vs Rolex Submariner 116610. Today we are taking a look at two versions of the iconic stainless steel Submariner Date side-by-side: the Rolex Submariner 16610 vs Rolex Submariner 116610. Although these two Rolex divers may look very similar at a glance, there are indeed some significant differences to note.

Production Years: Rolex 16610 vs 116610

The Rolex Submariner 16610 made its debut in 1988, taking over from its predecessor the Submariner 16800. Rolex manufactured the Submariner 16610 for over two decades until the new-generation Submariner 116610 replaced it.

Rolex unveiled the Submariner 116610 at Baselworld 2010 as the steel edition to sit alongside the new gold and two-tone Submariner models released in 2008 and 2009. At the time of publishing, the 116610 is the latest steel Submariner Date you can get your hands on, still in production at Rolex.

Case, Bezel, and Dial Design: Rolex 16610 vs 116610

While both the 16610 and the 116610 sport 40mm stainless steel Oyster cases water-resistant to 300m, the watches are built slightly differently.

The newer Submariner 116610 features the Rolex “Super Case,” characterized by fatter lugs, stouter crown guards, a thicker profile, and a wider bezel. On the other hand, the Submariner 16610 wears and presents slightly smaller thanks to its slimmer profile, thinner lugs, sharper crown guards, and trimmer bezel.

One of the biggest differences between the Rolex Submariner 116610 vs 16610 is the material of the bezel insert. The older Submariner 16610 includes a black aluminum bezel insert. Conversely, the latest Submariner 116610 is fitted with a Cerachrom bezel insert—Rolex’s proprietary ceramic alloy that is scratch and fade resistant. Along with the extra durability, Cerachrom ceramic is also shinier than aluminum, which gives the 116610 a more luxurious look compared to the tool-watch vibes of the previous 16610.

Yet another notable difference between the Rolex 116610 vs 16610 is the dial execution. The glossy black dials across both models house the same date window at 3 o’clock, Mercedes-style center hands, and white gold surrounds framing the luminous indexes. However, the newer Submariner 116610 features the Rolex “Maxi Dial” with larger hour markers and therefore, more lume too. Plus, if you turn off the lights, you’ll note that the Submariner 116610 glows blue in the dark (Chromalight) while the Submariner 16610 shines green (Luminova/SuperLuminova).

Bracelets: Rolex 16610 vs 116610

Like all Submariner watches, the 16610 and the 116610 come with the famed Oyster bracelet. However, there are important variances across the bracelets when comparing Rolex 116610 vs 16610. For instance, the Submariner 16610 has hollow center links, which makes it noticeably lighter than the Submariner 116610’s bracelet with solid center links.

Moreover, the Submariner 16610 has the foldover clasp with the safety catch and the one-size-fits-all foldout diver’s extension. In contrast, the Submariner 116610 has the updated and more durable Oysterlock safety clasp, complete with the Glidelock diver’s extension system with micro-adjusting capabilities.

Caliber: Rolex Submariner 116610 vs 16610

When Rolex introduced the Submariner 16610 in the late 1980s, it equipped the dive watch with the then-new Caliber 3135 automatic movement. Caliber 3135 beats at a frequency of 28,800 bph, has a 48-hour power reserve, and supplies the watch with both the quickset date functionality and the hacking seconds.

The self-winding Caliber 3135 quickly became Rolex’s core time/date movement and the company continues to use it in today’s Submariner 116610. But Rolex did update the Caliber 3135 inside the 116610 with a Blue Parachrom Hairspring for better resistance to magnetic fields, shocks, and temperature swings.

Whether you're on the hunt for the classic Submariner 16610 or the modern Submariner 116610, check out Bob’s Watches where you’ll find fantastic examples of both Rolex dive watches.

Rolex 116610 vs 16610 Comparison Review: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-submariner-116610-vs-submariner-16610

Rolex 16610 Submariners: https://www.bobswatches.com/models/rolex-16610
Rolex 116610 Submariners: https://www.bobswatches.com/models/rolex-116610

Browse All Rolex Watches For Sale: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-watches

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