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Rolex Submariner 1680 - Black Dial

Details

A Submariner with earned character

This Rolex Submariner comes from the late 1970s into the early 1980s, a period many collectors point to as the sweet spot for the reference. Familiar in silhouette but richer in detail, it carries the kind of natural aging that gives these watches their appeal rather than detracts from it.

The black dial remains clean and balanced, with tritium hour markers that have aged evenly into a warm, uniform patina — the kind that looks settled, not forced.

Why this era stands out

The 1665 represents the Submariner at full maturity: robust, legible, and purpose-built, but still restrained compared to later iterations. The tritium lume adds depth and softness to the dial, giving it a visual warmth that modern materials simply don’t replicate.

It’s a reference that wears comfortably today while still carrying unmistakable vintage presence.

Condition, clearly presented

Condition is strong and honest. The lume has aged evenly across the dial, the case presents well for its age, and the bracelet fits comfortably up to a 7-inch wrist. Nothing here feels mismatched or overworked — the watch reads as cohesive and naturally preserved.

Mechanically, it’s ready to wear and functioning as it should.

A Submariner that feels right

This isn’t about chasing a specific variant or extreme rarity. It’s about a well-kept vintage Submariner that shows its age in the best way possible.

For someone who values patina, balance, and a classic Rolex sports watch that still feels authentic on the wrist, this Ref. 1680 delivers exactly that.

Key Specs

Reference: 1680

Model: Submariner

Year: 1970s–1980s

Movement: Automatic

Case Size: 40mm

Bezel: Stainless steel

Bracelet: Stainless steel Oyster bracelet

Dial: Black with tritium hour markers

Wrist Size: Up to approx. 7 inches

History

The Submariner arrived in 1953 as the first wristwatch water-resistant to 100 meters, purpose-built for diving. A rotating bezel calibrated for dive timing, luminous indices and hands, a screw-down crown, and a bracelet that wore comfortably over a wetsuit: every detail solved a specific problem.

What nobody planned was what happened next. James Bond wore one on screen. Explorers wore them on expeditions. Architects wore them to meetings. The Submariner became the reference point for the modern sports watch — the watch every other sports watch has been measured against ever since.

References 14060 (no date, cleaner dial), 16610 (with date and cyclops), and 168000 (an earlier transitional reference) in our inventory span the mid-1980s through early 2000s. At 40mm with a 300-meter water resistance rating, these are not compromised vintage watches — they are fully functional, extraordinarily robust instruments that also happen to be some of the most beautiful watches ever made.