Rolex Submariner 1680

Buying Advice

About the Rolex Submariner 1680

The Rolex Submariner 1680 is the first Submariner ever fitted with a date window, produced from 1967 to 1979, and the reference that launched the entire Submariner Date lineage. It is home to the legendary Red Submariner, the early configuration with red dial text that is one of the most sought-after vintage Rolex sport watches. WatchGuys carries pre-owned and vintage 1680 watches, each authenticated in-house and backed by a 2-year warranty. Below we cover what the 1680 is, the dial variations collectors navigate before buying, what it costs, and how it compares to the reference that replaced it.

What Is the Rolex 1680?

The 1680 is the first Submariner Date, produced from 1967 to 1979 in a 40mm stainless steel Oyster case with a black dial, a black aluminum bezel, and 200-meter water resistance. Adding a date meant two firsts for the Submariner: a date window at 3 o'clock and the Cyclops lens on the crystal to magnify it. It carries an acrylic crystal, which makes it unique in the Submariner Date family, since every later date reference switched to sapphire. Inside is the Caliber 1575, essentially the no-date Caliber 1570 with a date module added, with hacking seconds introduced from 1971. The 1680 sits directly between the no-date Rolex 5513 that ran alongside it and the transitional Rolex 16800 that replaced it, making it the origin point of the date-equipped Submariner that continues today.

The dial is where the value lives, and the headline is the Red Submariner. Early 1680 examples carry the word "Submariner" printed in red, and these Red Subs are the most collectible version of the reference. Across the Red Sub run Rolex used several recognized dial variations, starting with meters-first depth text ("200m = 660ft") and later reversing to feet-first ("660ft = 200m"), with small typographic differences between the marks that collectors study closely. Rolex phased the red text out to all-white printing by the later 1970s, the version collectors call the Great White. Some early examples have also aged to a warm brown "tropical" tone that commands a premium. Because dial configuration and originality drive the value of a 1680 more than anything else, and red dials are frequently faked, we verify dial originality and correct-period configuration on every piece.

Rolex 1680 Price

Pre-owned and vintage Rolex 1680 watches at WatchGuys typically range from $10,000 to $30,000 or more. Dial configuration is the largest single factor: white-text examples sit toward the accessible end of the range, while Red Submariner dials command significant premiums and the earliest marks and tropical dials can trade well above it. Condition, dial and case originality, an unpolished case, and the presence of box and papers all move the number considerably. As the first Submariner Date and the origin of a lineage that continues in production today, the 1680 is one of the cornerstone references of vintage vintage Rolex collecting. For pricing on a specific piece in our inventory, contact our team directly.

Rolex 1680 vs. 16800

The Rolex 16800 replaced the 1680 in the late 1970s and modernized the Submariner Date. Three changes define the jump. The 16800 switched from the acrylic crystal to a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, raised water resistance from 200 to 300 meters, and introduced the higher-beat Caliber 3035 with a quickset date. The 1680 keeps the qualities that make it a vintage watch: the warm acrylic crystal, the earlier movement, and, in its Red Sub form, dial text found on no later reference. The 16800 is the more wearable everyday vintage Sub, while the 1680 is the historically significant one, the reference that started the Date line. For the no-date Submariner of the same era see the Rolex 5513, and for the wider picture browse our Rolex Submariner lineup or the full vintage Rolex collection.

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Why Buy a Rolex 1680 From WatchGuys

Every pre-owned Rolex 1680 for sale at WatchGuys is authenticated, accurately described, and protected end to end. A reference this old and this collectible demands real scrutiny, and here is what comes with every purchase.

Common Questions

Rolex 1680 FAQ

• Was the 1680 the First Submariner With a Date?

  Yes. Introduced in 1967, the 1680 was the first Submariner fitted with a date window, along with the Cyclops lens on the crystal to magnify it. This launched the Submariner Date line that continues in production today. The no-date Submariner continued in parallel as the 5513, and the two ran alongside each other for years.

• What Is a Red Submariner?

  The Red Submariner, or Red Sub, is the early 1680 configuration with the word "Submariner" printed in red on the dial rather than white. Produced on the earliest examples before Rolex switched to all-white text in the later 1970s, the Red Sub is the most collectible version of the 1680 and commands a significant premium. Because the red dial is the value driver, confirming it is original and correct for the period is the most important part of authenticating a Red Sub.

• What Years Was the Rolex 1680 Produced?

  The 1680 was produced from 1967 to 1979. Early examples carry the red "Submariner" text, which Rolex phased out to all-white printing over the 1970s. It was replaced at the end of the decade by the transitional 16800, which brought a sapphire crystal, 300-meter water resistance, and the quickset Caliber 3035.

• How Much Does a Rolex 1680 Cost?

  Pre-owned and vintage 1680 prices at WatchGuys typically range from $10,000 to $30,000 or more. White-text examples sit toward the accessible end, while Red Submariner dials command significant premiums, with the earliest marks and tropical dials trading well above the range. Condition, dial and case originality, and completeness with box and papers all affect the price. Contact our team for current pricing on a specific 1680 in our inventory.

• Does the 1680 Have an Acrylic or Sapphire Crystal?

  Acrylic. The 1680 is the only Submariner Date reference fitted with an acrylic crystal. Every date Submariner that followed, beginning with the 16800, used a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The acrylic gives the 1680 its warm vintage look and can be polished to remove light scratches, which is one reason these watches still present so well decades later. The Cyclops date lens sits on top of the acrylic crystal.

• What Movement Does the 1680 Use?

  The 1680 runs the Caliber 1575, which is essentially the no-date Caliber 1570 with a date module added. From 1971 it gained hacking seconds, which stops the seconds hand when the crown is pulled for more precise time setting. Interestingly, the movement is stamped "1570" even on date examples. It is a robust, long-serving caliber that later evolved into the movements powering the transitional 16800.

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