Rolex
submariner sultan nipple - gold & steel dubai dial

Diving watch vintage Rolex Submariner gold & steel reference 16613, a collector's timepiece produced by Rolex between 1988 and 2010 with three dial evolutions during that time: Tritium dial (marked Swiss-T>25 or T-Swiss-T), Luminova dial (marked Swiss at 6 o'clock), and Superluminova (marked Swiss Made). Nicknamed "Sultan" in the collector’s world, this rare early generation 16613 model features an exceptional Tritium dial with raised pointed hour markers — known as a "nipple dial".

Within the Rolex community, "nipple dials" refer to a rare series of dials fitted to vintage editions of the Rolex GMT-Master and Submariner models in gold, and more rarely in two-tone gold and steel. These collector dials (featuring a gold Rolex crown insert under the upper triangular hour marker) were made in three background colors: black, brown, and blue. Rolex no longer produces this Tritium-type dial, which first appeared on the brown GMT-Master 6542 and was phased out in the mid-1980s with the gold and steel GMT-Master 16753. For the Submariner, nipple dials were made only in black or blue and appeared on a few examples of reference 1680 in yellow gold, then on 16808, and a handful of two-tone 16613s. The arrival of Luminova marked the end of this production, making these dials a sought-after rarity among serious vintage Rolex collectors.

Note: the inscription "T Swiss Made T" indicates the watch is Swiss-made and, at the time of manufacture, contained a small amount of Tritium on the dial with an emission below 277 MBq. The "Swiss T<25" marking denotes an emission below 925 MBq. These markings are located at the bottom of the dial at 6 o'clock and can sometimes appear close to the edge under the minute track.

This watch is powered by the Rolex caliber 3135, a 31-jewel automatic date movement with quickset function, chronometer-certified by the COSC in Geneva. Its technical characteristics include a bimetallic balance wheel with two pairs of Microstella regulating screws and a Breguet overcoil hairspring for optimal movement stability. It also features a shock absorber, a jewel-set escape wheel, and a height-adjustable balance bridge equipped with KIF shock protection. This movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and provides a power reserve of 48 hours when fully wound.

You can find details and anecdotes about Rolex and its iconic models on our "Watch History" page.

This 300-meter (1000 ft) water-resistant watch is in outstanding collector condition. The Oyster-type gold & steel bracelet is adjustable and includes all original links. It ends in a steel folding clasp with an extension system, allowing for tool-free length adjustment to fit over a thick diving suit. The clasp also includes a safety mechanism to prevent accidental opening during dives.

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