Rolex Submariner 1680

Vintage Rolex Submariner Ref 1680 Yellow Gold

22,118.36 Circa 1978 137822 Vintage Mens No Box or Papers Yellow Gold Acrylic 40mm Aluminum Timing 4092XXX Black w/ Tritium hour markers, Tritium hands & Tritium lume 1575 Automatic Bidirectional Date Fabric/Canvas NATO Tang This gold Submariner is in great vintage condition with wear consistent with age. The case is in good condition with normal signs of wear. The hallmarks on the back of the one, seven and 11 o'clock lugs are visible. The inside caseback is stamped "1680". Serial and reference numbers are clearly visible. The bezel insert is in great condition with light wear; it is a later 1980s replacement. The matte black nipple dial is in excellent condition with light patina. The lume on the dial has developed patina and aged to an attractive pale yellow color. The hour markers and hands have developed patina. The lume in the hands has been color corrected/relumed; they are whiter in color than the lume on the dial.  The Rolex Submariner reference 1680 was the first submariner to feature a date wheel and cyclopes crystal and the first to be released in all gold. It was made approximately between 1966 and 1979 and is known as an excellent collector's watch. The all gold model is especially collectable as there were significantly fewer manufactured compared to their steel counterparts. Initially, the watch dial featured the metric system with meters first (200m=660ft), however around 1971 Rolex changed the dial to read feet first (660ft=200m) in order to accommodate the United States, which was becoming the manufacturer's largest market for the brand.