Rolex Smurf: Rolex Submariner 116619 Review

If you are thinking about buying a pre-owned white gold Rolex Submariner 116619 “Smurf”, this Rolex Smurf Review will tell you everything you need to know. PS. We have a pre-owned Rolex Smurf for sale at Diamonds By Raymond Lee in Boca Raton.

Created to cause a sensation, Rolex turned the luxury up to eleven when developing the Submariner reference 116619, also known as, the Rolex Smurf. It was the first-ever White Gold Submariner. 

Rolex debuted the Submariner reference 116619 at Baselworld in 2008, and a sensation is exactly what occurred. 

But it wasn’t just the precious metal of the case and bracelet that got people talking. The Rolex Submariner 116619 gave the watch community a wonderful surprise with its completely blue bezel and blue dial. It was a new, never before used blue, which ultimately lead to the Submariner 116619’s iconic nickname, the “Smurf”.

To this day, the Rolex Smurf is the only Rolex that has a fully blue dial and bezel and that pertains to the entire Rolex catalog. 

To make the Rolex Smurf even more special, it was also the watch that introduced Rolex’s new “Super Case”, which is essentially a chunkier, more robust, 21st-century-style 40mm Oyster case. 

What’s more, it was one of the first Submariners to use Rolex’s patented Cerachrom ceramic bezel, throwing the inferior aluminum inserts of the past behind. 

While the Smurf was built for the task of all Submariners, it instantly became the most durable and most luxurious Submariner ever made. One can not talk about luxury sports watches without mentioning the Rolex Submariner 116619 Smurf. It epitomizes both luxury and the ultimate utilitarian divers watch. 

PRE-OWNED ROLEX SUBMARINER 116619 “SMURF” IN BOCA RATON

Below, we will discuss all of the above characteristics of the Rolex Smurf in-depth, along with other features that make this timepiece one of the most desirable and collectible watches around the world. 

18K WHITE GOLD

The Rolex Submariner 116619 Smurf is crafted entirely from 18k white gold. But this isn’t any white gold, it is Rolex’s white gold. Like all of Rolex’s metal, it was forged in their very own foundry. It uses the purest base metals that pass Rolex’s tremendously rigorous quality standards.

Rolex white gold is a “grey gold”, as it has a darker appearance than typical white gold. Because of this, there is an easy distinction when you put a white gold Rolex, like this Smurf, up to a stainless steel Rolex. 

But the color is surely not the most special thing about Rolex’s white gold. Unlike typical white gold, Rolex white gold is extremely hard-wearing. Therefore, it will never need to be re-plated. Moreover, the incredible feel of the quality and weight when it’s in your hands or on your wrist is undeniable. It’s highly substantial, immensely beautiful, and the finishing is super impressive. From the core to the surface, this is one of the finest white gold watches in existence.

But why is white gold for a Submariner such a big deal? Doesn’t Rolex have a lot of white gold watches?

Rolex went out on a limb with the Submariner reference 116619, and it paid off. Submariners have always been one of Rolex’s cost-effective watches. It’s like the introductory watch for collectors. It’s one of the first Rolex’s you will ever want to buy.

However, being that the Submariner Smurf is white gold, the price tag increased significantly, putting it out of reach for many first time buyers.

It took a Submariner and brought it to the most elite class of luxury watches. Something that the Submariner had never done before.

12 years later and it is still the only white gold Submariner ever made. The Smurf is and probably always will be the golden child of the Submariner collection. And it will forever have its prominent place in the history of the Submariner collection.

THE OYSTER “SUPER” CASE

Rolex Submariner 116619 introduced the “Super Case”. While it’s not called that by Rolex themselves, it is purely just an upgrade to the Submariner dial, it was coined the name by collectors because of its increase in size and robustness.

Comparing to its predecessors, the lugs are fatter and wider, the crown guards are bigger and more prominent, and the overall appearance is slightly chunkier.

While it is still a 40mm Oyster case in spirit, a more accurate understanding of its size is the lug-to-lug measurement, which is 48mm. Throw it on after wearing an older Submariner and you will noticeably see how it sits on the wrist with a lot more presence.

After the Smurf was released, every subsequent Submariner began using the so-called Super Case. These days, not many people are referring to it as the “Super Case”, as it is simply the new style Oyster case. But when it was first released, it definitely stirred the pot. 

All in all, the upgrade to the case and the fact it was 18k white gold really made the Smurf Submariner’s wrist game feel and look a lot more is significant that its predecessors.

UNIDIRECTIONAL CERACHROM SMURF BLUE BEZEL

In the past, Rolex Submariners had an aluminum insert bezel. Those were prone to scratching and fading. The Rolex Smurf was one of the first models to utilize Rolex’s then-newly patented Cerachom ceramic bezel. 

The Cerachrom bezel is crafted from Rolex’s very own ceramic alloy. The name ‘Ceracrhom’ takes the first part of “ceramic’ and combines it with the Greek word “chrom” (which means color). 

Cerachrom bezels are scratch-proof, water-resistant, and virtually indestructible. This is a major upgrade from aluminum bezels, and it is the ultimate bezel for a sports watch and divers watch. 

As for the function of the bezel, it is a unidirectional rotatable bezel with 60-minute graduations. This is a key feature of the diver watch. The platinum-coated (yes, even more precious metal) graduations allow a diver to accurately and safely observe diving time and decompression stops. 

SMURF BLUE MAXI DIAL

With the Smurf, you are looking at the newest style dial called the Maxi Dial. The Maxi Dial was first seen on the Rolex Kermit. Basically it is the same design but it is characterized with larger indexes and wider hands. Because of this, the Maxi Dial is better in dark settings, as the indexes and hands are what contain the lume. As you can imagine, this is ideal for diving. It gets very dark down there. 

Then you have the color of the Rolex Smurf dial, which is how it got its name. It’s the major feature of the watch. This blue is a special blue for Rolex, as it is only used on the Rolex Smurf. Other blue dials have a metallic sunburst finish, but the Smurf dial is a bright, flat blue with a glossy, lacquered sheen. 

Beyond that, the dial is quite simple. It’s a no-nonsense kind of deal. It’s highly functional for the purpose of diving and legibility, and it looks contemporarily great. 

SOLID-LINK OYSTER BRACELET

The Rolex 116619 has the iconic Oyster bracelet. Being this is a post-2000 reference, it has solid end links. The Oyster bracelet is, as it has always been, characterized by three-piece links. The outer links are brushed finished and the center links are high polished. It creates a gorgeous contrast on the solid 18K white gold bracelet. 

When it comes to sports watches, there may be no more recognizable, more durable, more strong-looking bracelet than the Oyster bracelet. The bracelet is as iconic as Rolex itself. It is the ultimate representation of a luxury sports watch bracelet. 

All that said, the truly special feature of the bracelet, in terms of the functionality for diving, comes from the white gold clasp…

Glidelock Extension System 

To accommodate thick diving suits, the Rolex Submariner 116619 Smurf comes with a highly functional Glidelock extension system on the clasp. The Glidelock extension system allows the bracelet to change in size, shorter or longer, up to 20mm in 2mm increments.

It is super easy to use and absolutely no tools are needed. You just take off the watch, slide the Glidelock mechanism left or right until it is the perfect fit, then you fold it down and put the watch back on your wrist. It literally takes seconds to change the size of the bracelet. 

1,000 FEET OF WATERPROOFNESS

As it is written on the dial, the Rolex Submariner reference 116619 is water-resistant to 1,000 ft (or 300 meters). 

For reference, the average recreational diver goes 130 feet and commercial divers typically go 200 feet.

Needless to say, most people who own Rolex Submariners don’t even dive at all. They might plunge a few feet in the ocean every now and then. But, it’s still nice to know your watch can handle extreme depths and conditions. 

The best part about it all is no matter how much you expose this watch to water, it’s not going to corrode. Worry-free luxury at its finest. 

CALIBRE 3135 MOVEMENT

The Rolex Submariner Smurf has the classic Calibre 3135 automatic movement. The Calibre 3135 is a certified superlative chronometer and it has a 48-hour power reserve along with a quick-change date. It is one of Rolex’s most reliable and unwavering workhorses. It is widely considered to be one of the best mechanical movements for everyday use, and that applies to all of watchmaking. 

IS THE ROLEX SMURF POPULAR?

Thanks to all of the special qualities of the Rolex Submariner reference 116619 Smurf, especially the solid 18k white gold case and bracelet and the unique blue color of the bezel and dial, it is among the most popular Submariner watches. From celebrities to Rolex collectors, the Rolex Smurf is regarded as one of the finest timepieces that exists. A simple search through Rolex forums will tell you all you need to know about how people view the Rolex Smurf. The ultra-premium Submariner has been a hit since day one. However, only a select few will ever own one as the price tag is quite hefty. 

Now, an important question for a lot of our clients here at Diamonds By Raymond Lee in Boca Raton is what Rolex watches are the most collectible. After all, when spending a lot of money, you want to know if you are making a good investment. People know many Rolex watches end up increasing in value. But will the Rolex Smurf?

IS THE ROLEX SMURF COLLECTIBLE?

The Rolex Smurf is most definitely a collectible among avid Rolex enthusiasts and professional divers. However, as of now, it is not an investment that we can predict with certainty will give you a financial return. This is because it is not a rare model, having been in continuous production for over 11 years. Moreover, it is a white gold Submariner and the most collectible sports watches are typically Stainless Steel.

While the Rolex Smurf has seen some price appreciation, the increase is not exactly mind-blowing.

All that being said, we are confident that when and if Rolex discontinues the production of the Rolex Smurf, the price will shoot up immediately. That is because the Rolex Smurf has a special place in the heart of Rolex enthusiasts. Unfortunately, we can’t be sure that Rolex will cease production. It really depends on the response from further upgrades to the model. 

Here’s our advice for those who are thinking about purchasing the Rolex Smurf…

If you simply love the watch for what it is, now is the best time to buy it. You can get a close-to-new Rolex Submariner reference 116619 Smurf for a good discount right now. There’s really never been a better time to get a precious metal Rolex watch. 

And if you are thinking about its future resale value, you can be sure the Rolex Smurf will hold its value when buying pre-owned. The Rolex Smurf we have here at Diamonds By Raymond Lee in Boca Raton is pre-owned.

If the Smurf ends up being discontinued, we expect the price to increase. How much, we can’t be certain, but it’s almost certain that it will increase due to its collectible appeal. 

ROLEX SUBMARINER REF 116619 SMURF PRICE

The Rolex Smurf retails for around $40,000 new. You can expect an immediate 15% drop in value after purchasing it new. However, if you want a pre-owned Rolex Submariner Smurf, you can get it for…you guessed it, 15% less than MSRP. The good thing about buying it pre-owned is you won’t lose any value after purchasing it. The price of the Rolex Smurf has been steady since its launch, with slight increases over time. So, when purchasing a used Rolex Submariner Smurf, you can expect a decent to good resale value over time. 

At Diamonds By Raymond Lee in Boca Raton, we are selling the pre-owned Rolex Smurf seen here for 20% lower than MSRP. Why? Because it is a buyer’s market right now and that’s just how it is. While it is “used”, it is in perfect condition, as it should remain considering this watch is extremely durable and corrosion-resistant on all fronts.

What’s more, this pre-owned Rolex Smurf comes with all of its original paperwork and box.

If you are looking for a luxurious Rolex watch with a completely distinct look, the Rolex Smurf is a great choice. 

See the full sales listing for this pre-owned Rolex Smurf

ARE THERE MANY ROLEX SUBMARINER SMURF WATCHES IN BOCA RATON?

While the Rolex Smurf is not exactly a rare watch, having thousands of watches available around the world. It is not a watch you will often see. In Boca Raton, there may only be one other owner of a Rolex Smurf, and that’s our friend Larry Coe.

As for South Florida, the Rolex Smurf is certainly a sight to see. It would be like seeing a McLaren 720S or a Ferrari 488 Pista. They are out there, but they are not common.

Rock the Rolex Smurf around Boca Raton and South Florida and feel good that it would be a rare occasion to run into someone else with the Smurf on. And if you do, it would be like running into someone with the same badass McLaren. It creates a bond, a sort of comradery. 

If you have any questions about the Rolex Submariner 116619 Smurf or any other watches, please feel free to contact us.