The ref. 1680 was introduced at the end of the 1960s and was the first Submariner to feature a date function. Early executions, like this one with red ‘Submariner’ text, were already highly collectible in the 1990’s and are still one of the most sought-after vintage tool watches for dedicated collectors.

Recreational diving as well as beach vacationing gained popularity in the 1960s. As a result, the market for watches that could be worn daily and could just as easily be taken in the pool or ocean rapidly increased.

The 1680s produced in the period 1969-1973 feature dials with red printed ‘Submariner’ text on the lower half of the dial. These uncommon and colourful details make these ‘Red Subs’ beloved among collectors.

This 1680 was produced in 1971 and sports a MK IV dial that is in absolutely stunning condition. The grainy matte black dial features painted tritium hour markers that have discolored slightly yellowish, perfectly matching the color of the tritium handset. Meanwhile, the original aluminum bezel inlay still has a deep black color what gives it a sharp and slightly more contemporary look than the ones you see with faded bezel inserts.

The watch is in great condition with a thick 40 mm stainless steel case which still shows the watch’s beautiful and sharp chamfered lugs.