Rolex Submariner 16613

Buying Advice

About the Rolex Submariner 16613

The Rolex Submariner 16613 is the neo-vintage two-tone Submariner Date, produced from 1988 to 2009. It is the two-tone member of the long-running 1661x family and the last classic two-tone Sub to carry an aluminum bezel and the compact 40mm case before the modern ceramic era. WatchGuys carries pre-owned 16613 watches, each authenticated in-house and backed by a 2-year warranty. Below we cover what the 16613 is, the dial variants collectors seek, what it costs, and how it fits between the references on either side of it.

What Is the Rolex 16613?

The 16613 is a Rolex Submariner Date produced from 1988 to 2009 in a 40mm case of Yellow Rolesor, Rolex's combination of stainless steel and 18k yellow gold. The bezel, winding crown, and center bracelet links are solid gold, while the case flanks and outer bracelet links are steel. The unidirectional bezel carries an anodized aluminum insert with gold-toned graduations, and the dial came in black or blue with a matching bezel. Inside is the Caliber 3135, the long-serving movement it shares with the steel Rolex 16610 and the solid gold Rolex 16618, offering a quickset date and roughly a 48-hour power reserve, with 300-meter water resistance. Across its long run the 16613 saw the same incremental updates as the rest of the family, including the shift from tritium to Luminova lume and the addition of the Parachrom hairspring after 2000.

The dial is the detail that matters most, and it splits two ways. The black-dial 16613LN reads as the more understated, versatile option and generally trades a little lower. The blue-dial 16613LB, with its sunburst blue dial and gold-toned dial text, is the reference collectors call the Bluesy, and it commands a premium for the colorway and the name. Earlier examples carry tritium lume that ages to a warm cream tone, while later examples use Luminova. Because the reference ran for more than two decades, dial color, lume type, and originality are the main things that separate one 16613 from another, and we verify dial originality on every piece.

Rolex 16613 Price

Pre-owned and unworn Rolex 16613 watches at WatchGuys typically range from $9,000 to $15,000 or more. Where a specific piece lands depends on dial color, lume type, condition, and whether the original box and papers are included, with clean early tritium examples and blue Bluesy dials trading toward the top. The gold content gives the 16613 more price support than the all-steel Submariners of the same era, and it offers one of the most accessible ways into a two-tone Sub with genuine vintage character. It sits below the ceramic Rolex 116613 that replaced it while offering the slim case and aluminum bezel that generation gave up. For pricing on a specific piece in our inventory, contact our team directly.

16613 vs. 16803 vs. 116613

The 16613 sits in the middle of the two-tone Submariner evolution. Before it, the Rolex 16803 was the first two-tone Sub, running the earlier Caliber 3035 from 1984 to 1988 and often found with the collectible matte nipple dial. The 16613 replaced it in 1988, keeping the Rolesor case and aluminum bezel but upgrading to the long-serving Caliber 3135, which is why it is the more plentiful and easier-to-service of the two. After it, the Rolex 116613 arrived in 2009 with the Super Case, the Maxi dial, the Glidelock bracelet, and the first ceramic bezel on a two-tone Sub, splitting into the black 116613LN and blue 116613LB. The 16613 is the last two-tone Submariner with the classic slim case and aluminum bezel, a large part of its appeal for buyers who prefer vintage proportions. For the full blue lineage see the Rolex Bluesy collection, or browse the wider two-tone Rolex range and the complete Rolex Submariner lineup.

Trusted Dealer

Why Buy a Rolex 16613 From WatchGuys

Every pre-owned Rolex 16613 for sale at WatchGuys is authenticated, accurately described, and protected end to end. Vintage references demand closer scrutiny, and here is what comes with every purchase.

Common Questions

Rolex 16613 FAQ

• What Is the Difference Between the 16613LN and 16613LB?

  Color. The 16613LN has a black dial with a black aluminum bezel, while the 16613LB has a sunburst blue dial with a blue bezel and gold-toned dial text, the version collectors call the Bluesy. Both share the same 40mm Yellow Rolesor case, Caliber 3135 movement, and Oyster bracelet. The blue LB typically commands a premium over the black LN because of stronger collector demand for the blue combination.

• What Years Was the Rolex 16613 Produced?

  The 16613 was produced from 1988 to 2009, a run of more than two decades. It replaced the first two-tone Submariner, the 16803, and was itself succeeded by the ceramic-bezel 116613. Over its lifespan it saw incremental updates, most notably the shift from tritium to Luminova lume and the addition of the Parachrom hairspring after 2000.

• How Much Does a Rolex 16613 Cost?

  Pre-owned and unworn 16613 prices at WatchGuys typically range from $9,000 to $15,000 or more. Dial color, lume type, condition, and whether the original box and papers are included all affect where a piece lands, with clean early tritium examples and blue Bluesy dials commanding the strongest premiums. Contact our team for current pricing on a specific 16613 in our inventory.

• Is the 16613 a Bluesy?

  The blue-dial version is. Bluesy is the collector nickname for any two-tone Submariner with a blue dial and blue bezel, so the blue 16613LB is the neo-vintage Bluesy, sitting between the earlier 16803 and the later ceramic 116613LB and 126613LB. The black-dial 16613LN is not a Bluesy. All the ceramic and aluminum generations of the blue two-tone are available in our Bluesy collection.

• Does the 16613 Have an Aluminum or Ceramic Bezel?

  Aluminum. The 16613 uses an anodized aluminum bezel insert with gold-toned graduations, not the ceramic Cerachrom bezel found on modern two-tone Submariners. Aluminum inserts are lighter and can fade or scratch over time, which many collectors view as part of the character of a vintage piece. Ceramic did not arrive on the two-tone Submariner until the 116613 in 2009. An original insert in good condition is a meaningful factor in the value of any 16613.

• Does the Gold on a 16613 Wear Off?

  No. The gold components on the 16613 are solid 18k gold rather than plating, so there is no thin surface layer to wear through. Solid gold picks up scratches and loses polish with wear like any precious metal, but it cannot wear away to reveal a different metal underneath. This is a common concern from buyers who have owned gold-plated watches, and it does not apply to Rolesor construction. It is still worth checking the center links for wear on an older two-tone, and we inspect for it on every piece.

Browse More