Rolex Submariner 116613LB: Yellow Rolesor Blue Dial Guide

The Rolex Submariner 116613LB is the Yellow Rolesor Submariner Date made from 2009 to 2020: a 40 mm case in Oystersteel and 18 ct yellow gold with a blue sunray dial, a blue Cerachrom ceramic bezel with gold-coated numerals, the calibre 3135 and an Oyster bracelet with yellow gold centre links and the Glidelock clasp. It replaced the aluminium-bezel 16613 and was itself replaced by the 41 mm 126613LB in 2020, which makes it the middle of the three blue two-tone Submariners that collectors call the Bluesy. This guide covers the specifications, what changed from the 16613, how the 116613LB compares with the current 126613LB and with its black-dial sibling the 116613LN, how it wears, dealer prices in 2026 and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the 116613LB to order; the Submariner collection lists the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on October 4, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

Rolex Submariner 116613LB specifications

Sources: the Rolex Submariner collection page for the current successor and its specification, and Rolex watch care and service for service intervals and the warranty terms that apply to a 2009 to 2020 watch.

What changed from the 16613 in 2009?

• Cerachrom bezel. The anodised aluminium insert of the 16613, which faded and scratched, gave way to a blue ceramic insert with gold-coated numerals that does not fade and resists scratching. This is the biggest practical difference between the two generations.
• Super case. The lugs and crown guards were broadened, so the watch looks larger than the 16613 at the same 40 mm diameter. Drilled lug holes disappeared.
• Maxi dial and Chromalight. Larger hour markers and wider hands, with Rolex's blue-glow Chromalight in place of green Super-LumiNova.
• Glidelock clasp. The folding clasp with a flip-out diver's extension became the Oysterlock with the Glidelock system, adjustable in 2 mm steps without tools.
• Bracelet. Solid links and solid end links throughout; the 16613's hollow centre links and bracelet stretch became a thing of the past.
• Engraved rehaut. The serial number moved to the rehaut at 6, where it stays visible without removing the bracelet.

The movement did not change: both references use the calibre 3135, so the 116613LB runs exactly like a late 16613 but wears and ages differently.

Is the 116613LB the Bluesy?

Yes, in the sense collectors use the word. Bluesy describes the blue-dial, blue-bezel Yellow Rolesor Submariner Date regardless of generation: the 16613 from 1988, the 116613LB from 2009 and the 126613LB from 2020 are all called Bluesy. When a dealer says Bluesy without a reference, they usually mean the current 126613LB, so always confirm the reference number on the card. The 116613LB is the second-generation Bluesy and the first with a ceramic bezel. Our watch nicknames guide lists the other Rolex nicknames that span several references.

116613LB vs 126613LB: which Bluesy?

The two look almost identical from across a room. The 126613LB has the longer power reserve and the slimmer case that most people prefer; the 116613LB has the super case, which some buyers like because it reads bolder, and it costs less. The 126613LB guide covers the current watch in detail.

116613LB vs 116613LN: blue or black?

Same watch, different colour. The same generation also offered the 116613 with a champagne "serti" dial set with diamonds and sapphires, which has its own following. If you want the two-tone Submariner rather than the nickname, the black dial is the value route; the 116613LN guide covers it, and the 126613LN guide covers the current black-dial version.

116613LB vs 16613: ceramic or aluminium?

The 16613 is the original Bluesy and the cheaper way into a blue two-tone Submariner. It is lighter on the wrist, has slimmer lugs and, on tritium-era examples, a dial and insert that have aged to cream and lighter blue, which collectors pay for. Against that, the aluminium insert scratches and fades, early bracelets stretch, and no 16613 has a Rolex warranty. The 116613LB fixes all three with the ceramic bezel, the solid bracelet and, on later examples, a card that may still be in date; it is heavier and bolder. Buy the 16613 for character and price, the 116613LB for durability. The 16613 guide goes through the older watch year by year.

How does the Submariner 116613LB wear?

At 40 mm the 116613LB wears larger than the number suggests because the super case fills the space between the lugs and the crown guards are wide. It sits like the steel 116610LN of the same era, with the extra weight of gold centre links and bezel; on the wrist it is noticeably heavier than a 16613 and a little heavier than the 126613LB. The Glidelock clasp gives about 20 mm of adjustment without tools, so the bracelet can be loosened in summer. Wrists from about 16.5 cm (6.5 inches) upward carry it well. The blue dial reads lighter or darker depending on light because of the sunray finish, and the gold markers and hands give it strong contrast in daylight; at night the Chromalight glows blue for hours. It is a watch that looks like gold and blue from across a room, which is the point of a Bluesy; if that is too much, the 116613LN is the same watch in a quieter colour.

How much is a Rolex Submariner 116613LB? Dealer prices in 2026

• Retail. Rolex discontinued the 116613LB in 2020 and no longer lists a price. The current 126613LB's list price on the Rolex Submariner page is the reference point for what a new two-tone Submariner costs.
• Secondary market. In 2025 and 2026 the 116613LB has generally been offered below the current 126613LB and above the 16613, with the gap to the 126613LB narrowing for late, full-set examples with a card still in date. Condition of the gold centre links and the clasp is the main driver after the set.
• Bizak catalogue asks. Bizak's sourced catalogue listed one 116613LB at US$16,326 and two pre-owned 116613LB examples at US$15,070 each on October 4, 2026, all sourced to order. The pre-owned entries carry the internal catalogue codes 116613LB1 and 116613LB3, which are condition and batch codes on the same Rolex reference, not different models.

Those figures describe what we saw on that date and will move; they are a small set of asks, not a market median. Ask for a dated quote for the exact year, set and condition; our Submariner price guide explains how to compare quotes across generations.

Is the 116613LB a good investment?

It is a watch to own rather than to trade. Discontinued ceramic Submariners have held their value and crept up slowly once Rolex stopped making them, and the 116613LB sits in that pattern: a fixed supply, a current successor that costs more and looks the same, and a nickname that keeps demand steady. It will not spike like a steel Daytona. A full-set example with an unpolished case, a card and an undamaged clasp is the one to buy; a watch-only example with worn gold links is cheaper for a reason. Buy it to wear; if resale matters, ask for a written cash-buy assessment before you commit.

Buying a used 116613LB: what to check

• Reference and card. The card should read 116613LB, not 126613LB, 116613LN or 16613; the serial on the card should match the rehaut engraving at 6. Cards issued from July 2015 carry a five-year warranty, earlier ones two years, and Rolex does not reissue cards.
• Bezel insert. The blue Cerachrom should be free of chips at the edge and the gold-coated numerals should be bright; a cracked or chipped insert is a costly bezel replacement.
• Gold wear. The yellow gold bezel, crown and centre links wear faster than steel; look for deep scratches, rounded edges on the centre links and a crown with soft knurling.
• Case. Sharp lug chamfers and even brushing on the case sides; rounded, soft edges mean polishing. The super case lugs are wide, which makes polishing marks easy to see.
• Dial and lume. Chromalight on dial and hands should match in colour and glow; mismatched lume means a replaced handset. The dial should read "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" with a crown at 6 between "Swiss" and "Made" on later examples.
• Clasp. The Glidelock should slide and lock in every position and the Oysterlock safety catch should hold; the clasp cover shows scratches first.
• Movement and service. A 3135 should run within a few seconds a day; ask for the last service receipt and pressure-test date, and budget for a service on an early example with no record.
• Price against the band. A full-set 116613LB offered well under the market is the single most reliable warning sign.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch, and our Submariner authentication guide goes deeper on dials, inserts and bracelets.

Quick answers

How much is a Rolex Submariner 116613LB?

Rolex no longer lists the 116613LB. Bizak's sourced catalogue listed one example at US$16,326 and two pre-owned examples at US$15,070 on October 4, 2026, sourced to order; in 2025 and 2026 the reference has generally traded below the current 126613LB and above the 16613.

What years was the Rolex 116613LB made?

From 2009, when it replaced the aluminium-bezel 16613, to 2020, when the 41 mm 126613LB with the calibre 3235 replaced it.

Is the 116613LB a Bluesy?

Yes. Bluesy is the nickname for any blue-dial, blue-bezel Yellow Rolesor Submariner Date, which covers the 16613, the 116613LB and the current 126613LB. Confirm the reference on the card because dealers often use the nickname for the current model.

Does the 116613LB have a ceramic bezel?

Yes. The 116613LB was the first two-tone blue Submariner with a Cerachrom ceramic insert; the earlier 16613 has an anodised aluminium insert that fades and scratches.

What is the difference between the 116613LB and 126613LB?

The 116613LB is 40 mm with the broad super case and the calibre 3135 with 48 hours of reserve; the 126613LB is 41 mm with slimmer lugs and the calibre 3235 with 70 hours. Both have a blue Cerachrom bezel, blue dial and Glidelock clasp.

Request a Submariner 116613LB sourcing quote

Tell us the preferred year range, condition and whether a card is required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, card and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: 116613LB blue dial, pre-owned 116613LB (catalogue code LB1), pre-owned 116613LB (catalogue code LB3); browse the Submariner collection, the used Submariner collection, the two-tone watches collection, or sell or trade your Submariner.

Related reading: Submariner 126613LB Bluesy guide · Submariner 16613 Bluesy guide · Submariner 116613LN guide · Submariner price guide.