Between 2009 and 2020, if someone said "two-tone Submariner with the black dial," they meant this watch. The 116613LN carried the steel-and-gold Sub through the entire ceramic era: black dial, black Cerachrom bezel, 18k yellow gold on the bezel, crown and center links, all wrapped in the broad-shouldered "Super Case" that defined that generation. Eleven years in production means there are a lot of these on wrists right now — and most of them have been wearing the same two-tone bracelet the whole time.
Which is exactly the opportunity. A watch this established doesn't need replacing to feel new. It needs a strap.
Before anything: your Sub takes the 40mm option
One selection decides whether your strap fits like it was made for the watch or fights it forever.
The Submariner 116613LN is a 40mm case with a 20mm lug width. On Helvetus product pages, the option to select is Submariner 40mm — and only that. The 41mm option exists for the newer generation (the current 126613LN, introduced in 2020), which moved to 21mm lugs. Side by side the two references are nearly indistinguishable, but the case and lug geometry changed, and a 41mm strap on your watch will announce the mistake right at the lugs.
So the checklist is short: 116613LN, 40mm, 20mm, and the dropdown says Submariner 40mm. Done. Everything recommended below now fits flush against your case.
The two-tone that carried the ceramic era
The 116613LN debuted in 2009, and it modernized the black two-tone Sub in one move: the aluminum bezel insert of the old 16613 gave way to scratch-proof black Cerachrom ceramic, the case grew into the muscular Super Case with its wider lugs and heavier crown guards, and the dial picked up the oversized maxi lume plots. Inside, the caliber 3135 — arguably the most battle-proven movement Rolex ever made — with around 48 hours of reserve, a Glidelock clasp, and the full 300 meters of dive-watch credibility.
What makes the 116613LN special among two-tones is its restraint. The dial and bezel stay black; the gold works purely as trim. Collectors call it the grown-up two-tone for that reason — it never looks like it's trying. And after a decade or more of wear, the ones out in the wild have earned some character: bracelets a little looser, gold links a little more brushed than they started. A rubber strap resets all of that, takes the weight off, and puts the original bracelet into preservation mode. Here's what to put on instead.
Black: how this watch was meant to disappear
The first-order pick: Black Rolex Submariner Rubber Strap
Black rubber is one of the most popular choices among owners of this reference, and on the 116613LN it does something almost architectural: it removes everything except the dial, the bezel, and the gold. The watch becomes a black Submariner wearing gold jewelry — leaner, quieter, and noticeably more modern than the full two-tone bracelet look. On the wide Super Case lugs, a properly fitted black strap sits broad and confident, the way this generation was designed to wear.
The deployant version pairs with your original Rolex clasp, so the gold-accented Oysterlock stays exactly where it's always been. Rubber strap, gold clasp — the combination owners rarely go back from.
Brown: bringing the gold forward
The warm one: Brown Rolex Submariner Rubber Strap
If black hides the metal, brown showcases it. Against a brown strap, the yellow gold bezel and crown stop being accents and become the story — and because the dial stays black, nothing competes. The result reads richer and more deliberate, closer to a vintage gentleman-diver look than a modern sports watch, and it suits the 116613LN's slightly older-school proportions beautifully. This is the strap for dinners, autumn wardrobes, and anyone who bought the two-tone specifically because of the gold.
Black with White LuxLine®: the sharpened daily
The modern edge: Black and White Rolex Submariner Rubber Strap – LuxLine®
A crisp white centerline through a black strap gives the 116613LN something it never had on the bracelet: graphic tension. The white picks up the maxi dial's big luminous markers, the black keeps everything grounded, and the gold reads as a warm counterpoint to a strictly monochrome strap. It's sporty without a drop of extra color — the pick for owners who want the watch to look current and athletic while staying dead serious. Available for the deployant clasp, so the gold Oysterlock stays in play here too.
Blue: the jewelry move
And the unexpected one: Blue Rolex Submariner Rubber Strap
Blue and gold have been paired on precious objects for centuries, and the 116613LN's black canvas makes the combination land cleanly rather than loudly. A rich blue strap under the black dial adds depth from a distance and a genuine surprise up close — the gold suddenly glows warmer against it. It's the strap that makes people who know the reference look twice, because they've simply never seen the black two-tone wear color this well. Great in summer, great with navy tailoring, great as the second strap that gets more wrist time than expected.
See the whole range in one place
All four picks and every other color live in the Submariner collection, each offered as a deployant version for your original Rolex clasp or with a classic pin buckle: All Rolex Submariner Rubber Straps
Carry the single rule with you — select Submariner 40mm — and every strap there fits your 116613LN the way it should.
Final thoughts
Eleven years of production means the 116613LN long ago proved it can go the distance. A strap swap is how you reward it: less weight in the heat, zero anxiety around salt water and sunscreen, and a two-tone bracelet that stops accumulating scratches and stretch the moment it goes in the box. The watch gets worn harder; the gold stays fresher. Both sides win.
Helvetus keeps it simple on the buying end: straps engineered for a precise fit on this exact Submariner generation, a lifetime warranty on every rubber strap, free worldwide shipping, and no import costs at checkout — trusted by more than 50,000 customers worldwide. Black for the stealth this reference does best, brown when you want the gold to lead, and blue for the version of your watch you didn't know existed.
