Actor Patrick Schwarzenegger spotted wearing a Rolex

Patrick Schwarzenegger was caught on camera in what appears to be a low-key parking-lot errand run in Los Angeles, iced drink in hand — but the horological detail on his left wrist is anything but low-key. The young actor is wearing what close inspection identifies as a Rolex Submariner Date reference 116610LN, the stainless steel iteration featuring Rolex's proprietary black Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert.

Introduced at Baselworld 2010, the 116610LN represented a landmark evolution for the Submariner line. The reference upgraded the bezel material from anodized aluminum — used since the 1950s — to a zirconium-oxide ceramic that is virtually impervious to scratching and immune to UV fading. The 40mm Oyster case houses the calibre 3135 movement, a self-winding manufacture ebauche with a 48-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and chronometer certification. Waterproof to 300 metres, the watch remains one of the most technically coherent dive watches in production at its price point.

Among collectors, the 116610LN occupies a fascinating middle ground: common enough to be considered an entry-level statement piece, yet respected enough that seasoned collectors rarely dismiss it. It was superseded in 2020 by the 126610LN — which upgraded to the calibre 3235 with a 70-hour reserve and a 41mm case — making surviving 116610LN examples increasingly sought after on the secondary market as the last of the 40mm Submariner generation.

For Patrick Schwarzenegger, the choice reads as deliberately understated. At an age when many celebrity peers gravitate toward flashier complications or precious-metal sports references, the clean stainless steel Submariner signals a classical sensibility. His father Arnold is famously enthusiastic about watches, so the apple may not have fallen far from the tree — though the son's selection leans considerably more restrained than a Predator-era G-Shock.

On the grey market, the 116610LN has held firm well above retail since its discontinuation, typically trading between $13,500 and $15,500 depending on condition and box-and-papers completeness. For a reference officially retired less than five years ago, that premium speaks volumes about the enduring demand for the 40mm Submariner format.