Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 - 'Red Sub' w/ Caseback Sticker

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 representing a true landmark in the history of the model.

The Ref. 1680 was the first Submariner to feature a date and enjoyed a long production run spanning close to 15 years. Why would a dive watch need a date? Well, this was the first step in marketing a tool watch beyond the diving community and crowd - because you definitely do not need to know the date underwater! The 1680 started a shift to civilian friendly models, and to this day, the Submariner Date outsells and outnumbers its 'no-date' sibling something like 10-1. Purity aside, this does make sense for most buyers. It utilizes the iconic Rolex cyclops married with the date function, yet remains clean and functional as ever. 

The piece that we have here, however, is no run of the mill Ref. 1680...

This piece features a line of text on the dial that reads: “Submariner” in red, rather than the usual white. It has since become known to collectors as the "Red Sub."

The example that we have here dates to circa 1973 and comes to us in fantastic overall condition. It features an excellent professionally refurbished case with correct finishing throughout and shows normal signs of wear. The caseback, thankfully, has seemingly been spared any refinishing and retains its factory caseback sticker. Inside, the correct 'MK4' dial is beautifully preserved and in outstanding condition. The surface is clean and seemingly devoid of any wear or discoloration and the Tritium plots exhibit a light and even patina throughout. The handset matches the dial beautifully, as well as the Tritium pip in the bezel insert. The insert itself is period-correct and has developed a nice light fade, resulting in something between a charcoal and navy blue color. It comes fitted to a correct Oyster bracelet with a fliplock clasp.

'Red Subs' were amongst the first collectible Rolexes. Their popularity over the last three decades or so needs no explanation and shows no signs of softening, and fantastic examples like the one we have here do not surface all that often.