Tap the image to enlarge
Rolex Submariner Date
Ref. 11618LB
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
Solid yellow gold Submariners have existed since the 1960s, but this reference marks the generation in which Rolex replaced the old aluminium bezel insert with Cerachrom ceramic — a material that holds its colour and resists scratching in ways no anodised aluminium could. The blue ceramic here is matched to the sunburst dial behind it, and the numerals on the insert are coated in yellow gold to keep the whole face reading as a considered whole rather than an assembly of parts. At 218.4 grams on the wrist, this is a watch you are aware of wearing. The broader lugs and pronounced crown guards of the Super Case generation give it a more architectural presence than the slimmer references it succeeded, and the Glidelock system built into the clasp lets the bracelet be lengthened or shortened in small increments without tools — genuinely useful on a gold bracelet worn against a changing wrist through the day. The 3135 movement inside has a longer history than the case around it: Rolex has used it as the backbone of the Submariner Date for decades, and its reputation for holding COSC-grade accuracy without regular intervention is well established. A 48-hour power reserve means a Friday evening off the wrist does not mean a Monday morning reset.
- Reference
- 11618LB
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Submariner
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 12.3mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3135
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 300m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Gold
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 48mm
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (2,749), Automatic Watches (1,742), Blue Dial Watches (922), Sports Watches (830), Dive Watches (590) and Solid Gold Watches (162).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 300m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- 40mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Rolex's range as we list it
Rolex Submariner Date alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 11618LB | 8162-182B/10 | 1-36-13-03-90-33 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £31,950 | £24,300 | £25,400 |
| Case size | 40mm | 39mm | 43.2mm |
| Water resistance | 300m | 300m | 300m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap | Rubber strap |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 42 hours | — |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 300m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 48 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 48mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference new, at £31,950. There is nothing to compare it against today.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
More Rolex watches like the Submariner Date
In stock, and close on style and price
