Year Reference Details
1955 6538 Successor of reference 6204 with caliber 1030 movement.
6536 Successor of reference 6205 with caliber 1030 movement;featuring a larger winding crown.
6536/1 Chronometer version of reference 6536 with caliber 1030.
6538 Brithish Royal Navy chose the Submariner.
1956 A new design for the hands. The luminous circle moves a bit towards the center of the dial. The bezel gets a minute index for the first quarter.
1956 6538A The 6538 receives the same case as reference 6200.
6536 A red (zero position) triangle on the bezel.
6538 The Royal Canadian Navy choses the Rolex Submariner. The military version has an identification number and service number engraved in the case back. Otherwise it is the same watch as a normal production Rolex Submariner.
1958 5510 Based on reference 6200 with caliber 1530 (1957);
5508 6536/1 with caliber 1530; change of font on the bezel. The 0 (zeroes) are a bit more square-ish.
1959 5512 Crown guards, increased case diameter to 40mm (was 36mm), “Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified” wording in the dial;
6538 “Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified” wording in the dial;
1962 5513 Updated design of the crown guards, caliber 1530;
1963 5513 Updated with the caliber 1520 movement (introduced in the same year);
1966 1680 Date window, plexi crystal with cyclops, red writing on the dial (till 1973); Caliber 1575;
1969 16618 Rolex Submariner becomes available in gold;
1979 16800 Rolex Submariner receives a sapphire crystal; Water resistance increased to 300 meters;
1981 16800
16618 The Rolex Submariner receives a uni-directional bezel, the remaining diving time can only become shorter; caliber 3085 is being used;
1983 16613 The Rolex Submariner becomes available in “Rolesor”, a Rolex definition gold/steel;
1988 16610 Rolex Submariner is fitted with caliber 3135;
2003 16610 LV A green bezel is fitted to an Anniversary model (50 years) of the Submariner. Normal production, no limited edition or numbered edition.
2010 116619 First Rolex Submariner to be fitted with a ceramic bezel. White gold Submariner with blue dial and bezel. In the following years, the stainless steel models are also updated.
