Submariner Date 16610 - Tritium Dial - Box and Papers (1992)

An early E-serial Submariner Date 16610 from the tritium era, originally sold in Germany and now offered with honest signs of a watch that has been worn and enjoyed. The glossy black dial has developed a soft, even patina across the tritium plots and Mercedes hands, giving the watch the warm, lived-in character collectors look for in a transitional Sub.

Details:

• Reference: 16610
• Year: 1992
• Case Size: 40mm, stainless steel
• Bezel: Unidirectional rotating, black aluminum insert, 60-minute dive scale
• Dial: Glossy black with tritium hour markers (Swiss-T<25), aged to a warm cream tone
• Movement: Rolex Caliber 3135, automatic, 48-hour power reserve
• Bracelet: Oyster bracelet in stainless steel with folded center links, period-correct for the reference
• Crystal: Sapphire
• Water Resistance: 300 meters
• Lug Width: 20mm

Set Includes:

• The watch
• Original box
• Original papers (1992)
• Service papers from 2013

Condition:

• Honest, well-preserved overall condition with even, warm tritium patina on dial markers and hands
• Case retains good lines and proportions
• Bezel insert shows light fading consistent with age, presenting evenly
• Bracelet shows light surface marks from wear
• Small scratches present in the sapphire crystal
• Last serviced in 2013 per accompanying service paperwork
• Running and keeping time, all functions operating correctly

The 16610 from the early 1990s sits in a sweet spot for collectors - the modern reliability of the caliber 3135 paired with the soft, glowing patina that only a tritium dial can develop over decades.