**A vintage 1989 Rolex Submariner with a handsomely-aged tritium dial and hands, plus the original 11-link bracelet**
Calling the Rolex Submariner “the most-popular diving watch in the world”—although true—kind of misses the point. It’s much more than popular. It’s archetypal. It’s the benchmark all other dive watches are measured against. First released in 1953 with a unidirectional bezel that enabled divers to monitor their compression stops and time underwater, it quickly attained icon status as the embodiment of refined luxury.
This Rolex Submariner 16610 was made in 1989, and the folks at Fog City Vintage have done an incredible job sourcing, authenticating, and representing its condition. The stainless-steel case and contrasting black dial maintain the style that has largely gone unaltered since the earliest versions. The original tritium dial and hands have developed a handsome patina over the years, aging to a creamy vanilla color, and the bracelet’s O6 clasp code is a strong indicator this is the original 11-link stainless steel bracelet. Whether you’re dipping your toe in the world of Rolexes or are a fully-immersed collector, you can’t go wrong with this iconic timepiece.
