Watch Paparazzi

Politician Knut Erik Sæther spotted wearing Rolex

Norwegian Supreme Court Justice Knut Erik Sæther was recently photographed in what appears to be a formal investiture or ceremonial court sitting, dressed in the distinctive red and black robes of the Norwegian judiciary. On his wrist, clearly visible as he adjusts his tie, sits a stainless steel Rolex Submariner Date — one of the most enduring icons in watch collecting.

The watch on Sæther's wrist presents all the hallmarks of the reference 16610: a 40mm stainless steel Oyster case, black dial with applied luminous hour markers, and the classic unidirectional rotating bezel fitted with a black aluminum insert. The date aperture at 3 o'clock with Cyclops magnifying lens is clearly visible in the inset product image, consistent with the Submariner Date configuration. The Oyster bracelet with folding Oysterlock clasp rounds out a specification sheet that remained largely unchanged across the 16610's remarkably long production run from 1988 to 2010.

Powering the 16610 is the calibre 3135, Rolex's self-winding movement featuring a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring (in later examples), bidirectional rotor winding, and a power reserve of approximately 48 hours. Officially certified as a Superlative Chronometer, it operates at 28,800 vph and holds a COSC-exceeding accuracy standard. Water resistance is rated to 300 metres — serious dive watch credentials that remain genuinely functional rather than decorative.

The 16610 occupies a special position in collector culture. It bridges the transitional eras of Rolex Submariner production — phasing out the earlier 16800 and 168000 references while itself being superseded by the ceramic-bezelled 116610LN in 2010. Late-series 16610 examples with "T Swiss Made T" tritium dials or later "Swiss Made" lume plots carry distinct premium value among purists who favor the aluminum bezel aesthetic over the modern Cerachrom.

For a sitting Supreme Court justice to choose a Rolex Submariner Date over dress-watch convention speaks to the model's remarkable versatility and cross-generational credibility. On the grey market, clean 16610 examples with box and papers command consistent prices in the $9,500–$13,000 range, making Sæther's estimated $11,500 valuation entirely accurate for a well-preserved example. A watch that functions as well in the courtroom as it would underwater — that is precisely the Submariner's enduring proposition.