We appreciate you contacting us. One of our colleagues will get back in touch with you soon!
Have a great day!
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680/8 - 'Lava Tropical'
The Rolex Submariner is a true icon — and the word "icon" does get thrown around an awful lot. If you were to ask ten people at random to draw you their idea of what a watch looks like, there is a significant chance that they would draw or describe something that looks like a Rolex Submariner. It’s the dive watch of reference, and good/bad/indifferent there is no escaping it. Throughout its 70-year production, there have been countless small changes made to the model, particularly in the first decade or so, with the 1680/8 representing a true landmark in the history of the model.
In the case of the piece that we have here (no pun intended), its the metal that it is constructed out of.
At the tail end of the 1960's Rolex had already become aware that their watches were not only being bought and worn by those who needed them to do a job, but also by individuals wanting a premium product. Enter the Submariner Date finished in solid 18k yellow gold: the Reference 1680/8.
The example that we have here dating to circa 1979 — roughly a decade after its introduction — was born with a sunburst blue dial and blue bezel insert. Over time however, that sunburst blue dial has changed to an absolutely gorgeous 'tropical' purple color, with almost no indication that it was ever blue. Other than a small area of discoloration around the top of the 6 o'clock marker, patina is even and consistent throughout and the Tritium within the applied 'nipple' indices shows an attractive and even patina with a beautifully matching handset. The Oyster case remains has been professionally refurbished and is in fantastic overall condition, showing normal signs of wear with defined chamfers and symmetrical proportions. The bezel has been lightly previously polished and has a later blue insert. To top it all off, this piece is still fitted to its solid gold Oyster bracelet, which isn't as common as you might think.It could be argued that a yellow gold GMT-Master makes sense, but a solid gold dive watch? There is no point. And that is exactly what makes it great.Condition Report & Details
Condition:
Movement:
Bracelet/Strap:
Shipping, Returns, & Warranty
At Oliver & Clarke, we offer free global shipping on all orders over $150.
Returns (accepted within 3 days of initial delivery of your purchase) must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. For payments via Credit Card, a 5% restocking fee will be in place for any returns or cancellations in order to cover our processing fee. Of course, watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.
If you happen to trade a watch with us, which we welcome, trades are final, except of course if the watch is grossly misdescribed or misrepresented.
We back each Oliver & Clarke timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty starting at the date of first delivery. We service or perform necessary maintenance to the extent necessary to all of our watches, unless otherwise noted. All watches are listed and sold running and functioning as intended.
*Please note that due to the vintage or antique nature of many of our watches, these machines may not run as accurately as they did when new, nor will any mechanical timepiece keep time as accurately as a quartz or electronic device.
We do not guarantee water resistance, thus do not warranty against moisture incursion or water damage.
*We also do not recommend deliberate exposure to water or worse - steam!
Our warranty is voided under the following circumstances:
- Internal or external damage caused by an accident, mishandling, abuse, modification, or handling/service performed by a third party individual other than one of our own.
Our warranty is non-transferable.
The Oliver & Clarke Guarantee
Through rigorous vetting of each watch offered, we’re able to guarantee authenticity of our pieces. Ultimately, your satisfaction is our mission, as is helping you get YOUR perfect watch. If you have any questions at all, we will get back to you ASAP.
Each of our timepieces are vetted, evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our experienced team prior to sale. We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise disclosed. We guarantee the authenticity of each watch in perpetuity.
Choose options
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680/8 - 'Lava Tropical'Sale price$55,950.00 USD Regular price
recommended products
Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1803 - Silver 'Linen' Dial W/ 'Onyx' InsertsSale price$10,850.00 USD
Patek Philippe Calatrava 'Amagnetic' Ref. 2570 w/ ExtractSale price$66,450.00 USD
Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601 - White Gold Black 'Gilt' DialSale price$19,650.00 USD
Rolex Submariner Ref. 5513 - 'Meters First Pumpkin'Sale price$18,750.00 USD
Benrus Type I - 'Sterile' Dial Military IssuedSale price$8,250.00 USD
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Ref. 1500 - Blue 'Mosaic' DialSale price$3,950.00 USD
Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1803 - Satin Blue Dial UnpolishedSale price$24,950.00 USD
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Ref. 1530 - Patina DialSale price$18,950.00 USD
Rolex Milgauss Ref. 1019 - Brushed Silver DialSale price$21,350.00 USD
Rolex Explorer I Ref. 1016 - 'MK2'Sale price$13,450.00 USD
"As collectors themselves, Oliver and Clarke are on a mission to make buying vintage watches as painless as possible."
"The company focuses on good prices for its pieces, elite customer service and full transparency."
"The appointment-only space is inviting, with comfortable seating areas and exposed brick walls."
From Rolex & Patek Philippe, to Cartier & Audemars Piguet. As collectors first, we love the small details that separate the Submariner from Daytona and Calatrava from Royal Oak. This is why you'll find our curated assortment spans decades of generations of models and brands. We believe that watches don't just tell time, they tell history - and life is too short to wear a boring watch.
Oliver & Clarke