11 and a half years ago, I made one of my worst watch related decisions in life when I went with the Cartier Santos 100 DLC for my wedding watch. My wife and I both got the exact same watch as matching “wedding watches”. Back then I was considering the 116613LB as well but for some stupid reason I decided to go with the Cartier. To my defense, the popularity of black watches back then was on the rise. In retrospect, I failed immensely at picking a timeless watch that one could wear for decades to come and still be considered a classic timepiece. Shortly after our wedding, I kept thinking that I had screwed up by not getting the 116613LB, which we both liked (we both liked the Cartier too). After overthinking this issue for over 10 years, I can safely say that Rolex is THE wedding watch brand to get to anyone out there looking for suggestions, as unoriginal as that may sound. Most Rolex watches have truly classic designs that will stand the test of time.

In 2013, I got my wife the 116613LB with the flat blue dial (which is the only version I like as I find the shade of blue on the sunburst too different from the blue on the bezel) to partially make up for my mistake. I did not get one for myself at the time because it seemed redundant to have two of the same watch plus I was in the process of getting a 116718. By this point I believe the flat blue dial was already discontinued but I was lucky enough to find one brand new from a grey dealer at a good price.

A few more years passed and I was still not over the fact that I had messed up in 2010. The urge to own one myself was now too strong to ignore. Borrowing the watch from her did not feel right, it felt weird knowing that the watch was not “mine”. Maybe it is something that only a WIS can understand. But by now a brand new flat blue dial that had been discontinued for so many years was impossible to come by. And of course in my mind it had to be a brand new watch since it was supposed to be for our wedding watch! So I kept looking for years and nothing... and then all of a sudden a few days before Christmas in 2020, I saw a post for a brand new one that was allegedly kept in a safe since 2009. I could not believe it, it was a miracle! I got the watch and it was just as described… brand new with all stickers still intact (case, bracelet, etc.). Now we have two beautiful flat blue Submariners 116613LB in the house. So on the year of my 10 year anniversary, I finally corrected one of my biggest watch related mistakes and I could not be any happier!