Rolex Submariner 16800

Buying Advice

About the Rolex Submariner 16800

The Rolex Submariner 16800 is the transitional steel Submariner Date that bridged the vintage and modern eras, produced from 1979 to 1988. It was the first Submariner fitted with a sapphire crystal and rated to 300 meters, the depth rating every Submariner carries today. WatchGuys carries pre-owned 16800 watches, each authenticated in-house and backed by a 2-year warranty. Below we cover what the 16800 is, the dial details collectors check before buying, what it costs, and how it fits between the references on either side of it.

What Is the Rolex 16800?

The 16800 is a Rolex Submariner Date produced from 1979 to 1988 in a 40mm Oyster case of stainless steel with a black dial and black aluminum bezel insert. It is the reference that modernized the Submariner: it introduced the sapphire crystal in place of the acrylic used before it, raised water resistance from 200 to 300 meters, and brought in the Caliber 3035, the first high-beat Submariner movement at 28,800 vibrations per hour and the first with a quickset date. Those changes are why collectors call it a transitional reference, carrying the slim case and drilled lugs of the vintage era while introducing the durability of the modern one. It shares its generation and movement with the two-tone Rolex 16803 and the solid gold 16808, the steel version being the most accessible of the three.

Two dial details matter most when buying a 16800, and both track its long production run. The earliest examples carry matte dials with painted markers, the last of the tool-watch dials before Rolex moved to a more refined finish. Later examples use gloss dials with white gold surrounds around the hour markers, the style that carried into the modern era. Both are tritium-lumed, which ages to a warm cream or amber tone, and certain early matte dials develop a brown "tropical" fade that collectors pay a premium for. Because the reference ran for nearly a decade, dial type and patina are the main things that separate one 16800 from another, and we verify dial originality on every piece.

Rolex 16800 Price

Pre-owned Rolex 16800 watches at WatchGuys typically range from $9,000 to $16,000 or more. Where a specific piece lands depends on dial type, the tone and evenness of the tritium patina, overall condition, and whether the original box and papers are present, with early matte-dial examples and clean tropical dials trading toward the top. As the reference that introduced the sapphire crystal and 300-meter rating, the 16800 is one of the more wearable ways into vintage Rolex, tough enough for daily use in a way the acrylic-crystal references before it are not. It sits above the older Rolex 1680 for everyday wearability while trading below it for the rarest configurations. For pricing on a specific piece in our inventory, contact our team directly.

16800 vs. 1680 vs. 168000

The 16800 sits in the middle of a three-reference evolution. Before it, the Rolex 1680 (1967 to 1979) was the first Submariner with a date, running the Caliber 1575 under an acrylic crystal with a 200-meter rating, and it is home to the coveted Red Submariner. The 16800 replaced it with sapphire, 300 meters, and the quickset Caliber 3035. After it, the Rolex 168000, nicknamed the Triple Zero, ran for only about nine months in 1987 and 1988 and looks almost identical, its one change being the switch to 904L stainless steel for better corrosion resistance. The 16800 is the most plentiful and wearable of the three, the 1680 the most historically collectible, and the 168000 the rarest. All three were succeeded by the Rolex 16610 in 1988. For the wider picture, browse our Rolex Submariner lineup or the full vintage Rolex collection.

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Why Buy a Rolex 16800 From WatchGuys

Every pre-owned Rolex 16800 for sale at WatchGuys is authenticated, accurately described, and protected end to end. Vintage references demand closer scrutiny, and here is what comes with every purchase.

Common Questions

Rolex 16800 FAQ

• What Makes the 16800 a "Transitional" Submariner?

  The 16800 introduced the features that define the modern Submariner while retaining vintage-era construction. It was the first Submariner with a sapphire crystal and a 300-meter depth rating, and the first with the quickset Caliber 3035, yet it kept the slim case, drilled lugs, and matte dials of the vintage references. That mix of old and new is why collectors describe it as the bridge between the two eras.

• What Years Was the Rolex 16800 Produced?

  The 16800 was produced from 1979 to 1988. Over that run it saw several updates, most notably the shift from early matte dials with painted markers to later gloss dials with white gold surrounds. It was replaced by the 168000 and then the 16610, both of which moved the reference numbering forward while keeping the same core case design.

• How Much Does a Rolex 16800 Cost?

  Pre-owned 16800 prices at WatchGuys typically range from $9,000 to $16,000 or more. Dial type, the quality and evenness of the tritium patina, overall condition, and whether the original box and papers are included all affect where a piece lands, with early matte and tropical dials commanding the strongest premiums. Contact our team for current pricing on a specific 16800 in our inventory.

• What Is the Difference Between a Matte and Gloss Dial 16800?

  The difference is finish and era. Early 16800 examples use matte dials with flat painted hour markers, the last of the tool-watch dials. Later examples use gloss dials with white gold surrounds ringing the markers, the more refined style that carried into modern Submariners. Matte dials are generally the more collectible of the two, and early matte dials that have faded to a warm brown tropical tone command the highest premiums.

• What Movement Does the 16800 Use?

  The 16800 runs the Caliber 3035, the first high-beat movement in the Submariner at 28,800 vibrations per hour and the first to bring the quickset date to the range, allowing the date to be set independently of the hands. It offers roughly a 42-hour power reserve. The Caliber 3035 was later superseded by the long-serving Caliber 3135 when the 16610 arrived in 1988.

• Is the 16800 a Good Vintage Submariner to Wear Daily?

  It is one of the most wearable vintage Submariners. Because it was the first with a sapphire crystal and a 300-meter rating, it stands up to daily use far better than the acrylic-crystal 1680 and earlier references, which need more careful handling. Many collectors choose the 16800 specifically because it delivers genuine vintage character in a watch robust enough to wear without worry.

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