Rolex Submariner*** 1680 Red Mark IV*** 1972
ROLEX Vintage RED Submariner Date Ref. 1680, nicely aged, 1972
Serial # 326XXXX
Circa: 1972
DESCRIPTION:
Excellent condition vintage 1972 Rolex ‘Red’ Submariner 1680, nicely aged
MOVEMENT:
Caliber 1570, Self-winding mechanical movement with 26 jewels
DIAL:
Original perfect condition black dial with RED ‘SUBMARINER’, luminous triangle, dots and rectangle hour markers. Date aperture at 3 o’clock.
Original ‘Mercedes’ hands with central sweep seconds. 660ft=200m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified and SWISS – T < 25 indicated on the dial.
CASE:
40mm, great condition stainless steel with black rotating bezel
BRACELET:
Rolex ‘folded’ stainless steel bracelet. 'PATETED' Extension Clasp
MANUFACTURER: Rolex
NOTES: The Rolex Submariner came to life in the 1950’s when Rene P. Jeanneret pushed the company to develop an elegant ‘sporty’ watch. The Submariner was developed in 1953 introduced at the 1954 Basel Watch Fair. The company claimed its new timepiece was water resistant and could withstand depths of 200 meters (or 660 feet). This was something no other watch company had been able to accomplish before. Coincidentally, this was the same year Jacques Cousteau released the underwater movie The Silent World. Also, Cousteau was a close friend of the Rolex director Rene P. Jeanneret, who was also an amateur diver. Of course, Rolex made certain the famous oceanographer was prominently wearing a Rolex Submariner in all of the film’s shots.
The Submariner design soon included the signature ‘Mercedes’ hands and the oversized ‘Trip Lock’ crown, which have been in use ever since.
The reference 1680 was introduced in the mid-1960’s (est. 1966) and had the chronometer movement standard as well as the date display. This was also the indtorduction of the ‘Cyclops’ date magnifier on the acrylic to the Submariner line.
The 1680 also marked the transition of the Submariner from a pure tool watch built for serious divers to also being designated for and sold as a luxury sports watch. This was made apparent because the 1680 was the first Submariner to be sold in a two-tone steel and gold version as well as an 18K solid gold version. This layout of the Submariner has remained a classic even into today’s Rolex collection with sapphire crystals and ceramic bezels.
During the initial years of the production of the 1680, the first Submariner with a date, the SUBMARINER printed on the dial was in RED. This period was estimated from 1966 to 1973 and then onwards the SUBMARINER was printed in white. These ‘RED’ Submariners are highly sought after as they mark historical significance of these models beign the first with a date in this collection as well as their short run of production.
SOLD |