The Rolex Submariner is one of the most recognizable and popular watches in the world, and like most Rolexes, needs no introduction. While there are certainly more expensive references out there, one of the most endearing and popular vintage variants of the Submariner would have to be the 1680 ‘Red’ Submariner. Named as such because this transitional reference had the ‘Submariner’ text in red rather than the conventional white, collectors have placed a premium on this as they were produced for a short time only. Even non-vintage guys know what a ‘Red’ Sub is!
The beauty about vintage Rolex is that they all age differently, some better than others. This particular example is one of the most sought-after Submariners as the dial has aged to a beautiful chocolate brown. Only seen in a certain serial range and for Mk 2 or Mk 3 dials, this one is a Mk 2 dial that has developed evenly over time. Tropical dials occurred due to defects in Rolex’s manufacturing process and are highly prized by collectors. Couple this with a stunning yellow patina on the luminous plots and you get a perfect vintage piece.
There is a reason why the Submariner is so popular. With its black aluminum bezel, its chunky beveled oyster case, and its matte black dial with large luminous plots, it has been the ultimate tool watch since its inception in the 50s.
