Watch Paparazzi

Television presenter Jon Almaas spotted wearing Rolex

Norwegian TV host Jon Almaas, widely known among domestic audiences for his on-screen presence and openly acknowledged passion for fine watches, was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Submariner Date reference 16610 — a piece that needs little introduction in collector circles but rewards closer inspection nonetheless.

The ref. 16610 is a 40 mm stainless steel sports watch that Rolex produced continuously from 1988 until it was retired in 2010 in favour of the ref. 116610. It houses the calibre 3135, a self-winding movement with a Parachrom hairspring introduced during the production run and widely regarded as one of the most reliable and service-friendly movements Rolex has ever built. The watch offers 300 metres of water resistance via its Triplock crown system, a unidirectional rotating bezel with a black aluminium insert, and the brand's Oyster bracelet with a Fliplock extension clasp — spec-for-spec a professional dive watch that also became a global standard for what a luxury sports watch should feel like on the wrist.

From a collector's perspective, the 16610 occupies a particularly interesting position. It is late enough in the Submariner lineage to be mechanically mature and practically wearable daily, yet old enough to sit outside current production, generating steady secondary-market demand. Enthusiasts track specific dial variants — including the coveted 'Mark V' and 'Mark VI' dials, as well as the tritium versus luminova transition — with the same rigour applied to far rarer references. A clean, unpolished example with original bracelet and matching serial remains genuinely desirable.

Almaas is no casual wearer. The Norwegian presenter has spoken publicly about his interest in horology, and the Submariner Date 16610 reads here as a working part of a broader collection rather than a statement piece. It is exactly the kind of watch a knowledgeable collector keeps in rotation — versatile, historically significant, and quietly authoritative.

On the current grey market, honest examples of the Rolex Submariner Date ref. 16610 trade in the $10,000–$14,000 range depending on condition, papers, and box. Almaas's piece carries an estimated value of approximately $12,500 — consistent with a well-preserved, mid-production example and a reasonable reflection of where this reference holds steady.