[Rolex] A thorough comparison of three generations of the "Blue Submariner"!

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Since its birth in 1953, the Rolex Submariner has been loved by many as the epitome of diver's watches. Throughout its long history, there have been numerous models, including the so-called "Blue Sub" featuring a refreshing "blue" color, and the so-called "Green Sub" using Rolex's corporate color "green." There are many highly practical models that are not only functional as diver's watches, but also have excellent design.

This time, we will go back three generations of the Rolex Submariner and thoroughly compare the "blue Subs" (Ref. 16613, Ref. 116613LB, Ref. 126613LB)! If you want a blue Submariner but are unsure which model to buy, or if you want to know the history of the blue Submariner, this is a must-read, so be sure to read until the end.

Introducing the three generations of the "Blue Submariner"

First, we will introduce the three models we will be comparing: Ref.16613, Ref.116613LB, and Ref.126613LB.

Two generations ago, Ref.16613
Specifications
Case diameter 40mm Bezel aluminum
Dial blue Luminous Tritium or Luminova
material SS × YG bracelet SS × YG
Waterproof 300m Drive system Automatic
Cal 3135 Power reserve Approximately 48 hours

The "Ref. 16613" was manufactured from around 1989 to around 2009. It has been updated to the new movement " Cal. 3135" while retaining the design of the previous model. Due to the long production period, it has undergone several minor changes, such as brushing up the bracelet and case and changing the luminous paint.

Rare specimen: Violet dial
Some of the "Ref. 16613" models manufactured up until the early 1990s have a "violet dial." As the name suggests, the dial is usually "blue," but this refers to a dial that has changed to "purple" over time, and is said to be a feature only found in certain factories. It is very popular among Rolex enthusiasts and is always traded at a high price.

Previous generation Ref.116613LB
Specifications
Case diameter 40mm Bezel ceramic
Dial blue Luminous Chromalight
material SS × YG bracelet SS × YG
Waterproof 300m Drive system Automatic
Cal 3135 Power reserve Approximately 48 hours

The "Ref. 116613LB" was manufactured from around 2009 to around 2020. There have been no major changes to the design or basic specifications, but minor changes have been made, such as enlarging the parts and adopting the now-mainstream "ceramic bezel." Like the "Ref. 16613," minor changes have been made depending on the year of manufacture, and the color of the dial also differs.

Latest generation model Ref.126613LB
Specifications
Case diameter 41mm Bezel ceramic
Dial blue Luminous Chromalight
material SS × YG bracelet SS × YG
Waterproof 300m Drive system Automatic
Cal 3235 Power reserve Approximately 70 hours

The current model "Ref. 126613LB" was released in 2020. The case size has been increased by 1 mm , and the specifications have been improved by installing Rolex's in-house new movement " Cal. 3235" .

Spec comparison between "Ref.16613" and "Ref.116613LB"

First, let's compare "Ref.16613" and "Ref.116613LB".
The main specifications are as follows:

Reference 16613
Reference 116613LB
40mm Case diameter 40mm
aluminum Bezel ceramic
blue Dial blue
Tritium or Luminova Luminous Chromalight
SS × YG material SS × YG
SS × YG bracelet SS × YG
300m Waterproof 300m
Automatic Drive system Automatic
Cal.3135 Cal Cal.3135
Approximately 48 hours Power reserve Approximately 48 hours

❶【Case】

Lug Thickness

Reference 16613 2.7mm
Reference 116613LB 4.0mm
The lugs of the "Ref.116613LB" are 1.3mm thicker, which improves durability. The crown guard is also larger, which makes the case appear larger.

❷【Bezel】

Bezel

Reference 16613 aluminum
Reference 116613LB ceramic
While the "Ref.16613" uses an aluminum bezel, the "Ref.116613LB" uses a ceramic bezel, which is highly resistant to corrosion and scratches. This change gives the watch a more glossy finish and a more luxurious look. The 60-minute scale is also coated with a special yellow gold coating.

❸ [Dial]

Index and needle size

Reference 16613 small
Reference 116613LB big
The "Ref.116613LB" has larger indexes and hands, improving visibility. The color of the dial itself has also become a little more subdued.

Luminous paint

Reference 16613 Tritium or Luminova
Reference 116613LB Chromalight
The "Ref. 16613" used tritium or Luminova as luminous paint, but the "Ref. 116613LB" adopted Chromalight.

❹ [Bracelet/Buckle]

bracelet

Reference 16613 The central link part is hollow
Reference 116613LB The central link part is solid
The central link parts of the "Ref. 16613" were hollow, but the "Ref. 116613LB" are made of solid material, which has increased its robustness.

buckle

Reference 16613 Double Lock System
Reference 116613LB Glidelock Extension System
The "Ref. 16613" uses a "double lock system" buckle that is difficult to come off even when subjected to impact, but the "Ref. 116613LB" uses a buckle equipped with a "Glidelock extension system" that can extend the bracelet size by up to 2 cm without the need for tools.

Spec comparison between "Ref.116613LB" and "Ref.126613LB"

Next, let's compare "Ref.116613LB" and "Ref.126613LB".
The main specifications are as follows:

Reference 116613LB
Reference 126613LB
40mm Case diameter 41mm
ceramic Bezel ceramic
blue Dial blue
Chromalight Luminous Chromalight
SS × YG material SS × YG
SS × YG bracelet SS × YG
300m Waterproof 300m
Automatic Drive system Automatic
Cal.3135 Cal Cal.3235
Approximately 48 hours Power reserve Approximately 70 hours

❶【Case】

Case diameter

Reference 116613LB 40mm
Reference 126613LB 41mm
For a long time, the standard case diameter for the Submariner was 40mm, but with the Ref. 126613LB, the case diameter has been increased to 41mm.

Lug Thickness

Reference 116613LB 4mm
Reference 126613LB 3mm
The lugs of the "Ref.116613LB" are thicker than those of the previous model, but the lug width of the "Ref.126613LB" is 1mm thinner. The case diameter of the "Ref.126613LB" is larger, but the difference in size is not felt so much due to the narrower lug width.

❷【Movement】

Movement

Reference 116613LB Cal.3135
Reference 126613LB Cal.3235
While the "Ref. 116613LB" was equipped with the "Cal. 3135," the "Ref. 126613LB" is equipped with the in-house developed movement "Cal. 3235," and its power reserve has been upgraded from approximately 48 hours to approximately 70 hours.

summary

What did you think?

This time, we compared three generations of the Rolex Blue Submariner, and we hope you can see how it has evolved over the years.

Each of the "Blue Submariners" has its own unique charm: the "Ref. 16613" has undergone multiple minor changes resulting in the existence of rare pieces; the "Ref. 116613LB" has a larger case and various parts and a ceramic bezel giving it a more manly image; and the "Ref. 126613LB" is equipped with a new movement which makes it much more practical.

Please come and find your favorite model.

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