Rolex Submariner Ref. 16610 Stickered Circa 1997 Box & Papers

Few watches carry the weight of the Rolex Submariner, the reference against which every dive watch since has been measured. Introduced in 1988, this 16610 refined the proportions and finishing of the model, carrying it into a new generation while staying true to the tool-watch DNA that had defined it since 1953.

This example, complete with its original box and papers dating to November 1997, carries a dial signed “Swiss T<25”, the tritium-lumed configuration that preceded Rolex’s move to Luminova, itself later replaced by Super-LumiNova on today’s references. It represents one of the last Submariners to leave the factory with this specific dial signature, a detail that gives these final tritium references their collectability today.

The caseback retains its original protective sticker, a rare survivor that speaks to how carefully this piece has been kept over the years.

At its core is the automatic Rolex calibre 3135, renowned for its robustness and precision, the very foundation of the Submariner’s reputation as the benchmark dive watch.

Complete, original, and marking the final chapter of tritium history, this Submariner offers a compelling entry point into one of Rolex’s most enduring references.