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The five-digit Submariner generation began around 1979 with the reference 16800: a Date model that brought a sapphire crystal, a 300-metre depth rating and the quick-set-date calibre 3035. It grew to include steel, two-tone and gold Date models as well as no-date references. The label “five-digit era” is useful shorthand, not a perfect count: the six-digit 168000 is usually discussed as part of the 16800 transition.
What changed with the five-digit Submariner?
The reference 16800 marks the shift from the earlier Submariner generation. Rolex says the Submariner Date reached a stated depth rating of 300 metres in 1979; the model-specific reference guide also associates the 16800 with a sapphire crystal and calibre 3035, whose quick-set date made it possible to advance the date independently. The 16800 is commonly identified as the first five-digit Submariner reference.
That rating followed earlier milestones in Rolex’s account of the range: 100 metres at the Submariner’s 1953 launch, 200 metres in 1954 and, for the non-Date Submariner, 300 metres in 1989. These are historical specifications, not a guarantee of water resistance for an individual vintage watch.
The 16800 was not the end of the transition. The short-lived 168000 sits between it and the 16610 in many reference histories. Its six-digit number is why “five-digit era” should be understood as a collector’s period label, not a strict description of every reference included.
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Five-digit-era Submariner reference guide
The dates below are approximate production chronologies reported by reference guides, not proof of when a particular watch was made or sold. Production and retail overlap can blur the change from one reference to the next.
| Reference | Approximate chronology | Configuration and calibre | Distinguishing details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16800 | 1979–late 1980s | Steel Date; calibre 3035 | Sapphire crystal, 300m rating and quick-set date. Reference guides describe earlier examples with matte dials and later examples with glossy dials. |
| 168000 | Short-lived, during the 1980s | Steel Date; calibre 3035 | Known as the “Triple Zero.” A six-digit transitional reference conventionally grouped with the 16800 family; associated with the move to 904L steel. |
| 16803 | Approximately 1984–1987/88 | Steel and yellow-gold Date; calibre 3035 | Two-tone version listed with blue or black dial options. |
| 16808 | 1979–around 1987 | Yellow-gold Date; calibre 3035 | Precious-metal branch of the 16800 generation. |
| 16610 | 1988–2010 | Steel Date; calibre 3135 | Long-running black-dial model with an aluminium bezel insert. |
| 14060 | Around 1990–1999/2000 | Steel, no date; calibre 3000 | Sapphire crystal and a two-line dial layout. |
| 14060M | Around 1999/2000–2012 | Steel, no date; calibre 3130 | Made with two-line and later four-line dials; chronometer wording was added in 2007, according to Fratello. |
| 16610LV | 2003–2010 | Steel Date; calibre 3135 | Black dial and green aluminium bezel insert; “Kermit” is collector shorthand. Secondary coverage notes a “flat four” bezel detail on early examples. |
| 16613 | From 1988; successor introduced in 2009 | Steel and yellow-gold Date; calibre 3135 | Two-tone successor in the reference guide. |
| 16618 | From 1988; successor introduced in 2008 | Yellow-gold Date; calibre 3135 | Yellow-gold successor to the 16808 in the reference guide. |
Sources for the reference-level chronology and details include the reference guide and Fratello’s Submariner reference guide. Their dates are best used to orient comparisons, not to date an individual watch without model-specific evidence.
How the movements distinguish the generations
The calibre sequence is a practical way to tell the principal branches apart. The 16800 family—including the 168000 and its two-tone and gold relatives—uses calibre 3035. The Date 16610 family uses calibre 3135. The no-date line changed from calibre 3000 in the 14060 to calibre 3130 in the 14060M.
The 14060M also changed its dial text over time. Fratello reports that chronometer certification and the additional wording appeared in 2007, changing the familiar two-line layout to four lines. That dial distinction is useful when comparing examples, but it should not replace checking the specific watch’s reference and documentation.
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Rolex dates the Submariner Date’s adoption of 904L steel to 1981, describing it as the first watch brand to choose the alloy for case and bracelet components. Fratello connects the short-lived 168000 specifically with the transition to 904L. Those claims differ in scope: Rolex gives a broad historical milestone, while the secondary account relates the change to a particular reference. The 168000’s exact production endpoints and status as the first use should not be inferred from that association alone.
The 16610 family and the green-bezel anniversary model
The steel Date 16610, introduced in 1988 in the reference chronology, paired calibre 3135 with a black dial and aluminium bezel insert. Fratello describes its run as 1988–2010 without significant changes, while noting incremental updates shared across the period. The two-tone 16613 and yellow-gold 16618 are related Date branches, also associated with calibre 3135.
Rolex dates the 16610LV to 2003 and describes its green anodized aluminium bezel insert as a first for the range. The black-dial anniversary model is commonly called the “Kermit” by collectors. Secondary coverage highlights a “flat four” bezel detail on early examples; that collector shorthand should not be treated as a complete authentication test.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where the five-digit period ends
The broad period is often placed at roughly 1979–2012, but the individual references did not all begin or end together. The 16610 is commonly dated through 2010, while the no-date 14060M continued to around 2012. A successor’s introduction also does not establish the exact final production or retail date of the outgoing model.
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Then and now: current Submariner specifications are different
Rolex’s current model page describes 41mm cases rated to 300 metres, Cerachrom ceramic bezels and a 20mm Glidelock adjustment range. It lists calibre 3230 for the no-date Submariner and calibre 3235 for the Submariner Date. These are current-model specifications and should not be applied to the five-digit references discussed above.
Rolex describes the Submariner as “the first Rolex divers’ wristwatch.” Its official Submariner history provides the brand’s historical timeline, while its current Submariner page covers present specifications.
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