Short on time? The 116610LN was the black Submariner Date from 2010 to 2020. It brought the ceramic Cerachrom bezel, the broader "Maxi" case and the Glidelock clasp to the steel Sub Date, and it runs the calibre 3135 with about 48 hours of power reserve. It's the last 40mm Submariner Date, and plenty of people still prefer it to the 41mm model that followed.
Backstory
The 116610LN replaced the 16610 in 2010, and it was a bigger change than the reference number suggests. The aluminium bezel insert went, replaced by black Cerachrom ceramic that doesn't fade or scratch easily. The case kept its 40mm diameter but got much broader lugs and a thicker crown guard, which is where the "Maxi case" nickname comes from. The hour markers and hands got bigger too.
It ran for a decade. In 2020 Rolex moved the Submariner to 41mm, with the 126610LN taking over and slimmer lugs bringing the proportions back towards the older, more elegant look.
Key Details
The case is 40mm Oystersteel with a Triplock crown and 300 metres of water resistance. The lugs are the talking point: wide and flat from above, they give the watch real presence on the wrist. The bezel is unidirectional with a black Cerachrom insert, its numerals filled with platinum. The dial is gloss black with Chromalight lume, which glows blue, and a date at three under the Cyclops.
The bracelet is the Oyster with solid links and an Oysterlock clasp, plus Glidelock: a ratchet inside the clasp that adjusts the length in small steps without tools. It's one of the most useful things Rolex has ever put on a bracelet.
The Movement
Calibre 3135 is one of the longest-running Rolex movements, in production from the late 1980s. It has a Parachrom hairspring in this generation, a quickset date and about 48 hours of power reserve. It's a proven, serviceable workhorse. It hasn't got the 70-hour reserve of the newer 3235, and that's the honest trade-off against the current model.
On the Wrist
The Maxi case divides people. Some find the broad lugs a bit slab-sided; others like that it looks properly tool-like. We fall into the second camp. On the wrist it wears bigger than 40mm suggests, especially on smaller wrists, but it's comfortable thanks to the bracelet and the Glidelock. If you've tried the 41mm 126610LN and found it a touch dressy, this is worth a look.
Final Thoughts
The 116610LN is the Submariner from the decade that made the Sub a household name. Ceramic bezel, chunky case, a movement you can get serviced anywhere. It's a modern watch, but it's starting to feel like a slice of history too.
Ours is a 2019 example, one of the last years of production, with box and papers. See it here.
