Making history since 1953, the Rolex Submariner is no doubt one of the greatest of all time diver’s wristwatch that not only cemented Rolex’s reputation in the market, it is everything about power, performance and endurance, a true no-frills sports watch. Amongst the vast variations of the Submariner lineage, Rolex began to experiment on inventive ways to elevate the model to new heights and style. Enter the present ref. 16618 full gold Submariner Date launched in the 1980s, powered by the calibre 3135 the reference 16618 definitely has a luxurious twist to the famed model. Striking in its yellow gold armour with matching bracelet, the present ref. 16618 is undeniably one of the rarest, trophy Submariner of all. Subtle in details for those who knows what he or she is looking at, this is the rarefied Onyx dial Submariner from 1992. Trimmed from hard stone, the Onyx dial is refined into a 0.2mm piece to be masterfully mounted onto the copper dial plate by the manufacture. This meticulous process takes the utmost skilful specialist, often the rejection ratio from Rolex’s rigorous inspection process are extremely high such as only 2 out of 10 dials can made it into production. Seemingly similar to a normal black lacquered ref. 16618 in aesthetic, the Onyx version is defined by the tiny detail on the date aperture with the addition of a small golden frame.

An example of absolute rarity, the present example bearing a N serial from 1992 is preserved in exceptional condition. Boasting a strong case with defined bevels, the hallmarks behind the volumed lugs remains crisp and deep. Remarkably, the green factory caseback sticker remains intact indicating its matching reference number. Offered with its original guarantee from Hong Kong and accessories, this is a once in a blue moon opportunity for collectors of the Submariner to snatch this stunning and glamourous diver’s watch once and for all.