The Rolex Submariner Date reference 16610, introduced in 1988, has a 40 mm stainless steel Oyster case, a rotating bezel with an aluminium insert, a sapphire crystal with a Cyclops lens and a water resistance of 300 metres. It runs the automatic calibre 3135, which was introduced with this reference, and it was fitted on a steel Oyster bracelet with a folding clasp. The black dial is the most common, with a blue dial and bezel version designated 16613 in steel and gold.

It replaced the 16800 and became the standard Submariner for more than two decades, with a few small changes such as the move from tritium to Luminova and, later, to engraved rehaut details. It was succeeded in 2010 by the ceramic-bezel ref. 116610.

The 16610 is a favourite of collectors who prefer a classic Submariner with an aluminium bezel, regarded as a tough, simple and reliable watch, and it has held its value well. It is no longer in production, as Rolex replaced it with the ceramic version.