Watch Paparazzi

Athlete P.K. Subban spotted wearing Rolex

P.K. Subban has long been as well known for his off-ice presence as his on-ice performance, and a wrist check reveals the Rolex Submariner Date reference 116613LB — the so-called 'Bluesy' — sitting comfortably beneath his cuff. It is exactly the kind of watch you would expect from a player who has always understood that personal branding matters as much as plus-minus ratings.

The Rolex Submariner Date 116613LB is built on a 40mm Oyster case in Rolex's proprietary Oystersteel, with the crown, bezel, and bracelet center links executed in 18k yellow gold. The deep blue Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert, introduced when the 116613LB superseded the reference 16613 in 2010, offers near-total scratch resistance and UV stability — the color will not fade over decades of wear. The matching blue sunburst dial carries applied gold hour markers and Mercedes hands filled with Chromalight luminescent compound. Water resistance sits at 300 metres, driven by the Rolex Calibre 3135 — a self-winding movement with a bidirectional Perpetual rotor, Parachrom hairspring, and a 48-hour power reserve. The Oyster bracelet closes with Rolex's Glidelock extension system, giving the wearer 20mm of micro-adjustment without tools.

Among collectors, the 116613LB occupies a specific and well-regarded position. The two-tone Submariner format dates to the early 1980s and the reference 16803, and the yellow-gold-and-steel configuration has always attracted buyers who want something richer than full steel but more wearable than a solid gold sports watch. The Cerachrom upgrade in 2010 resolved the one long-standing criticism of earlier references — the aluminum bezel's susceptibility to scratching — and cemented the 116613LB as the definitive modern two-tone Sub. It was discontinued in 2020 when Rolex launched the updated 126613LB with a larger 41mm case and Calibre 3235, which immediately pushed 116613LB prices upward on the secondary market.

Subban, who donated $10 million to Montreal Children's Hospital during his Canadiens tenure and built a public profile far beyond the rink, has always gravitated toward watches with genuine provenance rather than simple flash. The 116613LB is not an ostentatious choice — it is a precise one.

On the grey market, the 116613LB now trades well above its original retail price, reflecting both its discontinuation and sustained global demand for the Rolex Submariner family. Buyers seeking the updated successor, the 126613LB, face similar premiums at authorized dealers.