Rolex Submariner Date 40mm Black Dial Black Aluminum Bezel “Double-Serial” Oyster Bracelet 16610 | 2008 M-Serial Full Set — Final Generation Before Ceramic

The Last of Its Kind — The Final Pre-Ceramic Submariner Date

The Rolex Submariner Date ref. 16610 is one of those sport watches that just hits different. With its 40mm steel case, classic black dial, and aluminum bezel insert, this 2008 model brings all the vintage charm while still feeling modern on the wrist. The 16610 holds a position of absolute collector significance: it represents the final incarnation of Rolex’s stainless steel Submariner Date with an aluminum bezel insert, produced from 1988 until its discontinuation in 2010. Rolex produced the Submariner Date ref. 16610LN between 1988 and 2010. It is the final Submariner Date to have a five-digit reference number and the beloved aluminum bezel inlay. After shelving the ref. 16610, Rolex introduced the Submariner Date 116610, which was the first model to be given a ceramic bezel and Maxi case. A 2008 M-serial example sits in the final two years of the reference’s 22-year production run — carrying every late-production refinement Rolex applied during that period, and produced just two years before the 16610 was replaced forever.

The “Double Serial” — A Late-Production Collector Detail

What makes the 2008 M-serial especially notable to collectors is the “Double Serial” engraving — a late-production feature where the serial number is found both between the lugs and on the rehaut, a true conversation starter among collectors. From approximately 2006 onward, Rolex began laser-engraving the serial number onto the rehaut (the inner bezel ring) in addition to the traditional between-the-lugs engraving. A 2008 M-serial 16610 carries both engravings — on the rehaut and between the lugs — making it immediately identifiable as a late-production example and providing an additional layer of authentication detail that earlier examples of the same reference do not possess.

904L Oystersteel Case with the Classic Pre-Supercase Profile

The 16610 features a 40mm case crafted from 904L stainless steel with a slimmer case profile and thinner lugs than the “Super Case” design used in later references. This slimmer lug and case architecture — the profile that defined the Submariner from the 5512 of the late 1950s through the final 16610 of 2010 — gives the pre-Supercase Submariner Date a wrist presence that is more refined, more proportionally elegant, and notably lighter than the broader Maxi-case 116610LN that replaced it. The 16610 offers a slimmer, more traditional case profile that many collectors prefer, along with a lighter overall weight. The case is sealed with the screw-down Triplock crown delivering 300 meters of water resistance, and a flat scratch-resistant sapphire crystal sits over the dial.

The Black Aluminum Bezel — 120 Clicks, Living Character

The reference 16610’s bezel consists of a stainless steel bezel ring with a serrated edge, fitted with an anodized aluminum insert. It features a unidirectional 120-click ratcheting motion and a luminous dot at the zero-marker for measuring elapsed time in low-light conditions. The 120-click unidirectional mechanism is twice as fine as the 60-click Cerachrom bezels of the modern Submariner generation — a tactile quality that many experienced Submariner wearers cite as distinctly preferable. Aluminum bezels are lighter and more prone to scratching than modern Cerachrom ceramic, but many collectors prefer the way they develop a patina over time. The bezel of a 2008 example will show natural character consistent with its age — an organic, individual quality that the UV-stable, unchanging Cerachrom of modern Submariners can never develop.

The Black Gloss Dial with SuperLumiNova

The original black gloss dial is perfectly preserved with no fading or blemishes. As a 2008 M-serial production piece, this example carries SuperLumiNova luminescent material in the hour markers and hands — the bright, blue-glowing compound that replaced tritium in the late 1990s. Applied dot and baton hour markers in white gold provide clean high-contrast legibility on the black gloss surface, and the Mercedes-style hands carry matching SuperLumiNova fills. The date is displayed at 3 o’clock beneath the Cyclops magnifying lens, with quickset date function accessible at the crown’s first position.

The Oyster Bracelet

The Oyster 93250 stainless steel bracelet is fitted with tight links, no slack, fits up to 7.5 inches. The bracelet closes with the flip-lock Oyster clasp — the period-correct closure of the 16610 generation, preceding the Glidelock system of the 116610 that followed. The bracelet’s lighter feel and more flexible character compared to modern solid-link Submariner bracelets is a trait that experienced daily wearers frequently cite as one of the most comfortable aspects of wearing a five-digit Sub across a full day.

Powered by Caliber 3135 — Proven Across Two Decades

The Caliber 3135 automatic movement provides a 48-hour power reserve and COSC certification. The Caliber 3135, a Quickset movement with chronometer certification and self-winding technology, added more jewels, a longer power reserve, and a transverse balance bridge for superior stability. It remained in use for the Submariner Date until it was replaced with the Caliber 3235 in 2020. The blue Parachrom hairspring provides resilience against magnetic fields and temperature fluctuations, and the movement is COSC Superlative Chronometer certified to -2/+2 seconds per day.

Condition & What’s Included

This example includes the original box and papers. The watch is in good condition and works perfectly. Authenticity is fully guaranteed on every watch sold through The Crown Collection Watch, and this listing comes with a 14-day refund policy.

Shipping & Payment

This watch ships at $8,900 fully insured worldwide via FedEx. Leave a message for further details or additional photos.

Why This Reference Stands Out

The 2008 model represents one of the final years before Rolex introduced major aesthetic changes to the Submariner line, making this piece especially appealing for purists and those seeking long-term value growth. Pre-owned Rolex 16610 examples typically range from $8,000 to $12,000 on the secondary market. At $8,900 for a 2008 M-serial double-serial full-set example in good working condition, this listing is positioned at the entry end of the current market range for a reference that has been growing in collector appreciation as the ceramic-bezel era solidifies as the new standard and the pre-ceramic 16610 becomes increasingly recognized as the last chapter of the classic aluminum-bezel Submariner Date story.