Heritage Narrative

The Submariner Date ref. 16610 bridges vintage charisma and modern engineering. Produced from 1988 to 2010, it retains the sleek, pre-“Super Case” profile of early Submariners while benefiting from sapphire crystal and the chronometer-certified Calibre 3135. This 1998 example sits at the tail-end of the tritium era—its “T < 25” dial plots have aged to a subtle cream, offering warm contrast to the glossy black dial and aluminum bezel insert. Rarer still, the watch remains complete with its miniature Rolex anchor charm, boxes, papers, and accessories—an increasingly elusive package that underscores careful, long-term stewardship.

Technical Specifications

Reference:

16610 – Submariner Date

Year:

1998 (U-series)

Movement:

Rolex Calibre 3135, automatic, 31 jewels, 28 800 vph, ~48-hour power reserve, quick-set date

Case:

40 mm Oystersteel; unidirectional black aluminum bezel; Triplock screw-down crown

Crystal:
Sapphire with Cyclops date magnifier

Dial / Hands:

Glossy black dial; tritium lume plots (“T < 25”); Mercedes hands with matching tritium

Bracelet / Clasp:

Oyster bracelet ref. 93150 with folding clasp and diver’s extension

Water Resistance:

300 m / 1 000 ft (factory rating)

Condition & Inclusions

Overall Grade:

Excellent—sharp lug chamfers, minimal hairlines, clean bezel insert; bracelet shows very light stretch

Service Status:

Movement inspected and amplitude-tested August 2025; running within chronometer tolerances

Set:

Inner & outer Rolex boxes
Punched warranty paper (1998)
Submariner anchor (300 m / 1 000 ft)
Chronometer and Submariner booklets
Both swing tags and extra bracelet link
Heritage Timepieces certificate of authenticity