Rolex Submariner 16803

Buying Advice

About the Rolex Submariner 16803

The Rolex Submariner 16803 is the first two-tone Submariner Rolex ever produced, a 40mm steel and yellow gold dive watch made from 1984 to 1988. It is a transitional reference from the 168xx generation, the era that brought the Submariner its sapphire crystal, quickset date, and high-beat movement. WatchGuys carries pre-owned 16803 watches, each authenticated in-house and backed by a 2-year warranty. Below we cover what the 16803 is, the details collectors check before buying, what it costs, and how it compares to the reference that replaced it.

What Is the Rolex 16803?

The 16803 is a Rolex Submariner Date produced from 1984 to 1988 in a 40mm Oyster case of stainless steel with a yellow gold unidirectional bezel and winding crown, the combination Rolex now calls Rolesor. It was the first Submariner offered in this steel-and-gold format, arriving alongside the steel 16800 and the solid gold 16808. The bezel carries an anodized aluminum insert, decades before the ceramic Cerachrom era, and the dial came in black or blue with matching bezel, finished with gold-ringed hour markers and gold Mercedes hands. Inside is the Caliber 3035, the first high-beat Submariner movement at 28,800 vibrations per hour, with a quickset date and roughly a 42-hour power reserve. The sapphire crystal and 300-meter water resistance were both new to the Submariner in this generation, replacing the acrylic crystal and lower depth rating of the references before it.

Two details matter most when buying a 16803, and both come down to the dial. Early examples carry so-called nipple dials, with small raised gold dots for the hour markers, while later examples use the flatter gold-ringed markers that became the modern standard. The dial and hands are also tritium-lumed, which ages to a warm cream or amber tone that many collectors actively seek, though it no longer glows. Because the reference ran for only four years, clean original dials in either configuration are the main thing that separates one 16803 from another, and we verify dial originality on every piece.

Rolex 16803 Price

Pre-owned Rolex 16803 watches at WatchGuys typically range from $8,000 to $14,000 or more. Where a specific piece lands depends on dial configuration, the tone and evenness of the tritium patina, overall condition, and whether the original box and papers are present. As the first two-tone Submariner and a reference that ran for only four years, the 16803 carries genuine historical significance in the lineage, and clean original examples are increasingly difficult to find. It sits below the neo-vintage Rolex 16613 that replaced it and offers one of the more accessible entry points into vintage Rolex ownership. For pricing on a specific piece in our inventory, contact our team directly.

16803 vs. 16613

Rolex replaced the 16803 with the Rolex 16613 in 1988. The two look nearly identical, both 40mm two-tone Submariners with an aluminum bezel and a black or blue dial, but the movement changed. The 16803 runs the Caliber 3035, while the 16613 introduced the Caliber 3135, the longer-serving movement that powered the two-tone Submariner all the way to 2009 and is generally considered easier to service. The 16803 is the shorter-lived origin point, and its four-year run makes it the scarcer of the two, while the 16613 is the more plentiful neo-vintage option. Buyers chasing the first-ever two-tone Sub choose the 16803; those who want the same look with a later movement and more examples to choose from lean toward the 16613. As the earliest blue-dial version, the 16803 is also the origin of the Rolex Bluesy lineage. For the steel Submariner of the same neo-vintage era, see the Rolex 16610, and for the wider category, browse our two-tone Rolex collection or the full Rolex Submariner lineup.

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Why Buy a Rolex 16803 From WatchGuys

Every pre-owned Rolex 16803 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 16803 FAQ

• Was the 16803 the First Two-Tone Submariner?

  Yes. Released in 1984, the 16803 was the first Submariner Rolex produced in a two-tone steel and gold configuration, the combination Rolex calls Rolesor. A solid gold Submariner had existed since 1969, but the 16803 was the first to pair stainless steel with yellow gold on the bezel, crown, and bracelet, establishing a format that has run continuously through to the current 126613.

• What Years Was the Rolex 16803 Produced?

  The 16803 was produced from 1984 to 1988, a short four-year run before the 16613 replaced it. That brief production window, combined with its status as the first two-tone Submariner, makes clean original examples relatively scarce on the pre-owned market today.

• How Much Does a Rolex 16803 Cost?

  Pre-owned 16803 prices at WatchGuys typically range from $8,000 to $14,000 or more. Dial configuration, 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. Contact our team for current pricing on a specific 16803 in our inventory.

• What Movement Does the 16803 Use?

  The 16803 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 advanced independently of the hands. It offers roughly a 42-hour power reserve. The Caliber 3035 was superseded by the long-serving Caliber 3135 when the 16613 arrived in 1988.

• What Is a Nipple Dial on the 16803?

  Nipple dial is the collector term for the earliest 16803 dials, which use small raised gold dots as the luminous hour markers rather than the flatter gold-ringed markers seen on later examples and on modern Submariners. Both are factory-correct for the reference, and the difference is one of the first things a knowledgeable buyer checks, since it helps date the watch within its short production run.

• Does the 16803 Have an Aluminum or Ceramic Bezel?

  Aluminum. The 16803 uses an anodized aluminum bezel insert, which predates Rolex's Cerachrom ceramic bezels by more than two decades. Aluminum inserts are lighter and more prone to fading and scratching than ceramic, and many collectors prize a bezel that has aged evenly. An original insert in good condition is a meaningful factor in the value of any 16803.

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