Television presenter Richard Hammond spotted wearing a Rolex

Richard Hammond, best known to global audiences as a co-host of Amazon Prime's 'The Grand Tour', was recently spotted wearing a Rolex Submariner Date in stainless steel — specifically the reference 16610, one of the most significant production watches Rolex has ever made.

The Rolex Submariner Date ref. 16610 was introduced in 1988 as the successor to the ref. 16800, and remained in continuous production until 2010 when it was replaced by the current-generation ref. 116610. During its 22-year run, the 16610 received several incremental updates — most notably the transition to a rehaut engraved with 'ROLEX ROLEX ROLEX' around 2003 — giving collectors a rich matrix of dial and case variations to pursue. The watch measures 40mm in Oyster case, with a unidirectional rotating bezel fitted with a black aluminium insert, and is water-resistant to 300 metres.

At its heart sits the Rolex calibre 3135, a self-winding movement with a Parachrom hairspring, Paraflex shock absorbers on later examples, and a power reserve of approximately 48 hours. The 3135 is widely considered one of the most robust and accurate Swiss ebauches ever placed in a production sports watch, and its presence here is a significant part of why the 16610 remains so highly regarded.

For collectors, the 16610 occupies a sweet spot: it is modern enough to wear daily without concern, yet old enough to carry genuine horological character. The aluminium bezel insert — replaced by ceramic in the current 116610LV and 116610LN — ages naturally and develops a patina that many purists prefer. Transitional dials, 'Swiss Made' only engravings, and 'T Swiss T' tritium variants all attract premium attention on the secondary market.

Hammond's choice of the 16610 aligns well with his public persona — a man who appreciates engineering substance over ostentation. Among the supercar drives and high-octane stunts of 'The Grand Tour', a classic steel Submariner on the wrist reads as exactly the right instrument. On the current grey market, clean examples of the ref. 16610 consistently trade well above original retail, reflecting sustained collector demand for this generation of Submariner.