£9,050.00
The 2006 Rolex Submariner Date represents the final years of the model’s classic five-digit reference era, a period that defined much of the Submariner’s modern identity before the introduction of Rolex’s “Super Case” and ceramic bezel in subsequent years. At the time, the watch featured a 40mm stainless steel Oyster case with thinner lugs and a narrower bezel insert compared to later models, giving it a more svelte and traditional profile. The aluminum bezel insert, bi-directional and engraved with minute graduations for the first 15 minutes, retained a utilitarian charm that traces its roots back to the Submariner’s origins as a tool watch developed in the early 1950s.
Technically, the 2006 Submariner Date was powered by the Rolex Calibre 3135, a long-standing and widely respected automatic movement introduced in 1988. Known for its robustness and ease of service, the 3135 featured a Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring by this time, offering enhanced resistance to shocks and magnetic fields. The Triplock screw-down crown and Oyster case construction together ensured a depth rating of 300 meters, underscoring the Submariner’s professional diving credentials, while the cyclops lens over the date at 3 o’clock remained a polarizing but defining feature of the Date variant.
In terms of cultural and collector significance, this watch captures a transitional moment in Rolex’s design philosophy. It was produced before the widespread adoption of maxi dials, ceramic bezels, and broader case proportions that began appearing in 2008–2010, making it the culmination of a design lineage stretching back several decades. Collectors often regard the 2006 Submariner Date as the last iteration of a more understated, tool-oriented aesthetic before Rolex’s shift toward a more modern, luxury-focused presentation. Its place within the continuum of Submariner evolution makes it a reference point for enthusiasts assessing the model’s balance between tradition and innovation.
| Case Size | 40mm |
|---|---|
| Complications | Date |
| Movement | Rolex Cal. 3135 |
| Reference | 16610 |
| Delivery | Full set, box, papers, card and links. |
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