Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1970 Reference No: 1680, inside case back ii.70 Movement No: D103’596 Case No: 3’005’894 Model Name: “Single Red” Submariner Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1570, 26 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped "93150", endlinks stamped "580", max length 210mm length Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped "H" Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Further accompanied by Rolex guarantee, Rolex green leather fitted presentation box, numbered tie tag, Swiss Chronometer tag, green plastic wallet with product literature and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
During the first eight years of production, the reference 1680 featured a dial with a “red Submariner” signature, and the earliest examples with a “meters” first depth rating, which was later change to “feet” first rating. With the advent of the internet, collectors and scholars were able to study hundreds of Submariner types and it became apparent that over the years there were dial variations.
The original Mark IV dial is clean with lume that has nicely aged to a warm yellowish hue. The 3.0 million serial number case matches the dial characterized by open 6s in the “660” and the red Submariner font and dates to 1970 as highlighted by the ii.70 on the case back interior. The reference 1680 is a landmark wristwatch for the Rolex brand and the present watch is a fine example accompanied with its original guarantee and presentation box.
Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.