Rolex Submariner Date 40mm Black Dial Black Cerachrom Bezel Oyster Bracelet 116610LN | 2019 Pre-Ceramic Maxi-Case Full Set — Discontinued

The Last Generation of the 40mm Submariner Date — A Now-Discontinued Classic

The Rolex Submariner Date 116610LN occupies a specific and increasingly significant position in the Submariner family tree. Introduced in 2010 as the successor to the 16610, it brought the first-ever Cerachrom ceramic bezel to the Submariner Date in stainless steel and the expanded Maxi-case lug profile that defined the modern Submariner’s visual identity for over a decade. It ran for ten years until August 2020, when Rolex discontinued it and replaced it with the current-generation 126610LN — bringing the 41mm case, Caliber 3235, and 70-hour power reserve that define today’s Submariner. The 116610LN is now a permanently discontinued reference, its production run closed, its secondary market supply fixed and only diminishing over time. This 2019 example, produced in the penultimate year of the reference’s production run, is among the last 116610LN examples Rolex ever made — and comes offered as a complete full set in very good 9/10 condition with all removed bracelet links included.

The 40mm Case — What Collectors Who Prefer the Classic Profile Choose

The 116610LN’s 40mm case is the detail that most immediately distinguishes it from the current-generation 126610LN, and it is the reason a meaningful contingent of experienced collectors actively seek out the earlier reference rather than the current one. At 40mm diameter and 13mm thickness, the 116610LN wears with a slightly smaller, slightly slimmer profile than the 41mm / 12.3mm 126610LN — a difference that is more significant on the wrist than the numbers suggest. For buyers with smaller wrists, for buyers who prefer the slightly more refined proportions of the 40mm case, or for buyers who want to own the specific Submariner that defined the visual benchmark of the model for a decade, the 116610LN is the correct choice. The 40mm Oystersteel monobloc middle case is crafted from Rolex’s proprietary 904L stainless steel with satin-brushed flat surfaces and polished sides, sealed with a screw-down Triplock triple-waterproofness crown delivering 300 meters of water resistance. A flat scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with Cyclops magnifying lens sits over the date window at 3 o’clock.

The Black Cerachrom Bezel — The Innovation the 116610LN Introduced

The unidirectional rotating black Cerachrom ceramic bezel is the defining technical contribution of the 116610 generation to Submariner history. Before the 116610, every Submariner bezel insert had been aluminum — the same material that gave the “Kermit” and earlier references their characteristic patina and aging character. The 116610LN replaced that aluminum with Cerachrom: virtually scratchproof, completely corrosion-resistant, and entirely UV-stable. The bezel’s 60-minute graduation marks are filled with platinum PVD, embedded into the ceramic surface itself and as permanent as the surrounding material. The unidirectional rotation — counterclockwise rotation blocked — is the fundamental safety architecture of a professional dive timing bezel. In a 2019 production example, the Cerachrom insert should present in excellent original condition, its depth and color entirely unchanged from new.

The Black Chromalight Maxi Dial — Enlarged Markers, Blue Glow

The Maxi dial introduced with the 116610 generation features enlarged dot and baton hour markers in 18k white gold compared to the earlier reference they replaced, providing greater luminous surface area and stronger legibility both in daylight and under Chromalight emission. Chromalight fills in the markers and Mercedes-style hands emit a long-lasting blue glow in darkness — significantly more sustained than the tritium and Super-LumiNova fills of earlier Submariner generations. The date is displayed at 3 o’clock beneath the Cyclops magnifying lens, and the dial is signed with the full Submariner certification text across its lower portion.

The Oyster Bracelet — Resized with All Removed Links Included

The Oyster bracelet features the Glidelock extension system — tool-free 2mm increment adjustments over approximately 20mm of total range — and the Oysterlock folding safety clasp. This example has been resized with the removed links retained and included in the set, giving the new owner the option to restore the bracelet to full length or retain the current sizing. The presence of the removed links is a meaningful detail: a resized bracelet without its removed links is a permanently shortened one, while a bracelet with its links is a fully recoverable, fully flexible starting point for any wrist size.

Powered by Caliber 3135 — The Proven Classic

The 116610LN is powered by the Caliber 3135 — the movement that powered the Submariner Date for over three decades, from 1988 through 2020, and is universally regarded by watchmakers as one of the most reliable and most extensively proven automatic movements ever produced for a professional sport watch. The 3135 operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour with 31 jewels and a 48-hour power reserve, featuring quickset date, hacking seconds, and the blue Parachrom hairspring for magnetic and thermal resistance. The movement carries COSC Superlative Chronometer certification, with an accuracy of -2/+2 seconds per day. While the Caliber 3235 of the successor 126610LN offers a 70-hour power reserve and the Chronergy escapement, the Caliber 3135’s three-decade track record of proven daily reliability is a consideration that many experienced Rolex buyers weigh carefully — a movement whose long-term behavior is completely known versus a newer one whose decades-long reliability remains to be demonstrated by time.

Condition & What’s Included

This 2019 example is in very good condition graded 9/10, showing minor signs of wear consistent with careful, responsible use. It comes as a complete full set: original Rolex Submariner Date presentation box with inner tray, international guarantee card, warranty booklet, green Rolex seal tag, bracelet links removed during resizing, and all visible accessories shown in the listing images. Authenticity is fully guaranteed on every watch sold through The Crown Collection Watch, and this listing comes with a 21-day refund policy for complete peace of mind.

Shipping & Payment

This watch ships at $11,300 fully insured worldwide. Leave a message for further details or additional photos.

Why This Reference Stands Out

The 116610LN is permanently discontinued — replaced by the 126610LN in August 2020 and never to be produced again. As current-generation 126610LN examples dominate secondary market supply, well-preserved 116610LN examples in full-set condition with removed links are becoming increasingly scarce and increasingly sought after by buyers who specifically want the 40mm case profile, the Caliber 3135’s proven lineage, or simply the satisfaction of owning the reference that defined the modern Submariner for a decade. At $11,300 for a 2019 full-set 9/10 condition example with removed links, 21-day refund policy, and worldwide shipping, this listing is priced at a level that reflects the 116610LN’s secondary market position as a discontinued but not yet premium-priced reference — an entry point into a watch whose appreciation trajectory the 116610LN before it (now trading above the 126610LN in some configurations) suggests may accelerate meaningfully in the years ahead.