Rolex Submariner Date
+682 % above RRP
📱 Track this reference's market value on the go with the watch value app — daily median, price alerts and a watchlist.
ℹ️ 1-month trend
Price change over the past 30 days. Shows the short-term market movement — relevant if you want to buy or sell soon.
ℹ️ 4-month trend
The central metric behind the momentum score. It filters out short-term swings and shows the true, medium-term market trend of this reference.
ℹ️ Volatility
Annualised price fluctuation. Below 10 % = very stable, 10–20 % = normal, above 20 % = volatile. With high volatility the price can change quickly — in both directions. Be cautious about buying without checking the current price.
ℹ️ Momentum score
ChronoCheck's own indicator from 0 to 100, calculated from the 4-month trend, volatility and market direction.
- Above 60 — Upward trend. Good time to sell, prices are rising.
- 40 – 60 — Neutral. Stable price level, no pressure to act.
- Below 40 — Downward trend. Wait or enter at a good price.
ℹ️ Investment Grade A/B/C/D
ChronoCheck's own rating for each reference. A 0–100 point scale, made up of four weighted components:
- Momentum (40 pts) — trend strength from the momentum score.
- Liquidity (25 pts) — number of active live listings.
- Stability (20 pts) — inverse volatility — the calmer, the better.
- Source robustness (15 pts) — number of independent market sources.
- A · 75+ Trend is right, liquidity good, data broad.
- B · 55–74 Solid, but one component weaker.
- C · 35–54 Average, volatility or market breadth weigh on it.
- D · below 35 Downward or too little data — a collector's piece.
Not investment advice. Pure data analysis from aggregated market sources.
The current market value of the Rolex Submariner Date (Ref. 16618) is $42,428. Last sold at auction: $29,981 (Christie's, 05/2025).
What if you had bought back then …
What would a purchase at the median market price back then have become — at today's level of $42,428. A pure return calculation, excluding insurance, servicing and transaction costs.
Data from an aggregated median time series (watch_market_daily). CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate, normalized to 365 days. Not an investment recommendation.
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Technical data
Lift angle 52° — important for timing-machine diagnosis: with this value a watchmaker can correctly measure rate deviation, amplitude and beat error. ChronoCheck verifies such technical details directly from the manufacturers' factory specifications.
Rolex Ref. 16618 — Variants and collector names
Known as: Gold Sub, Yellow Sub, Full Gold Sub, Goldsubmariner, 16618LN, 16618LB
Production phases and changes
- 1988: Market introduction of Ref. 16618 – replacement of Ref. 16808 (Cal. 3035) by Cal. 3135
- 1998: Lume material change: Tritium (T SWISS T<25) → Luminova (SWISS only)
- 1999: Switch to Super-LumiNova / SWISS MADE signature
- 2000: Cal. 3135 update: introduction of Parachrom hairspring (Blue Parachrom)
- 2005: Rehaut serial number engraving introduced (dual location)
- 2008: Serial number exclusively on rehaut – lug engraving discontinued
- 2010: End of production for Ref. 16618 – succeeded by Ref. 116618 (ceramic bezel, Maxi dial)
Movement variants
- 3135 (1988–2010) · 28800 bph
Bezel variants
- Black Alu Insert 16618 "16618LN Bezel"
- Blue Alu Insert 16618 "16618LB Bezel"
Dial variants
- 16618LN SuperLumiNova — SWISS MADE at 6 o'clock
- 16618LN Tritium — SWISS T<25 at 6 o'clock
- 16618LB SuperLumiNova — SWISS MADE at 6 o'clock
- 16618LB Tritium — SWISS T<25 at 6 o'clock
- Swiss-Only Blue Sub — SWISS (without MADE) at 6 o'clock
- Lapis Lazuli Sub — Arabic sapphire indices on natural stone
- Serti Black — 8 diamond indices + 3 sapphire indices (at 6/9/12 o'clock)
- Serti Champagne — 8 diamond indices + 3 sapphire indices (at 6/9/12 o'clock)
Crystal variants
- Saphirglas mit Cyclops
Bracelet variants
- Oyster 18k Gelbgold – HEL Ref. 93158
Serial numbers
- R000001 – R999999 (1987–1988) — First alphanumeric serial prefix. Rolex switched from sequential 8-digit numbers to a letter-prefix system in 1987.
- L000001 – L979999 (1988–1989) — L prefix: c. 1988–1989.
- E000001 – E999999 (1990–1990) — E prefix: c. 1990.
- X000001 / N000001 – N999999 (1991–1991) — X and N prefix: both c. 1991.
- C000001 – C999999 (1992–1992) — C prefix: c. 1992.
- S000001 – S860880 (1993–1994) — S prefix: c. 1993–1994.
- W000001 – T999999 (1995–1996) — W prefix c. 1995, T prefix c. 1996.
- U000001 – U932144 (1997–1998) — U prefix: c. 1997–1998. Includes both late Tritium and early Luminova examples. Transitional era, particularly collectible for the Swiss-Only dial variant.
- A000001 – A999999 (1999–1999) — A prefix: c. 1999. Transition to SuperLumiNova and 'SWISS MADE'.
- P000001 – K999999 (2000–2001) — P and K: c. 2000–2001.
- Y000001 – F999999 (2002–2004) — Y c. 2002, F c. 2003–2004.
- D000001 – Random (2005–2010) — D c. 2005–2006, Z c. 2006–2007, M c. 2007–2008, V c. 2008–2009. From 2005, additional rehaut engraving. From 2008, rehaut only. Serial number on lug holes may no longer be present. From c. 2010, random system with no decodable production year.
Brand profile: Rolex
Rolex is the most counterfeited watch brand in the world. Super-clones (VSF, ARF, Clean — the latter inactive since the 07/2025 raid, with only old stock still circulating) reach 95%+ similarity. Authenticity can almost always only be identified through micro-details and caliber behavior.
- Case back: ALWAYS solid and closed — any display window means it's definitely fake (exception: vintage Ref. 6085 only)
- Minute hand length: genuine Rolex minute hands end EXACTLY at the minute chapter ring. 1 mm too long = fake. The strongest VSF tell.
- Seconds hand: smooth sweep without any hesitation — the slightest tick-tock motion means it's fake
- Cyclops lens (on Date models): must magnify exactly 2.5×, with the date filling almost the entire window
Serial number format: Since 2010, a random alphanumeric combination (e.g. 'G3M9K721'). 2000-2010: a letter plus 6-7 digits. Serial number engraved on the rehaut at 6 o'clock (from ~2005). Older models: between the lug shoulders at 6 o'clock on the case.
Further sources
Buying guide: Rolex Submariner Date
What drives the price here
At $42,428 the watch sells well if the condition is right. A market rule of thumb: a complete set with box, papers and warranty card brings 10 to 15 percent more than the bare watch. Buying without papers can pay off, but you take the same discount again later when you resell.
Watch out for swings: This reference has an above-average volatility of 64.8 percent. In concrete terms: the price can move by several hundred euros within a few weeks. Check the current value before buying or selling — old listings or auction results from two months ago are of little help.
What to look out for when buying?
- Authenticity: The serial number and reference on the case must match the papers. A professional authenticity check of the Rolex Submariner Date reliably rules out counterfeits.
- Condition: Check scratches on the case and bezel — professional refurbishment can leave traces.
- Service history: A documented service by the manufacturer or a certified watchmaker increases the value.
- Scope of delivery: Box, papers and warranty card make a noticeable price difference on the Submariner Date.
- Independent certification: The CPS-52 standard covers 52 checkpoints — from the serial number and the timing machine to water resistance. The result is secured on the blockchain and can be verified at any time.
Check the market value live now
Interactive price analysis with momentum indicator and buy/sell signal.
Go to the market value tool →Auction results Rolex Submariner Date 16618
Recent hammer prices for this reference from international auction houses:
| Price | House | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $29,981 | Christie's | 05/2025 |
| $28,041 | Christie's | 05/2025 |
| $127,861 | Phillips | 04/2025 |
| $31,997 | Sotheby's | 03/2025 |
| $23,431 | Sotheby's | 12/2024 |