Rolex Submariner 1680 Black Dial on Oyster

The Rolex Submariner Ref. 1680 holds a particular place in the series: introduced in 1966, it was the first Submariner to carry a date complication, and the reference ran through 1979 — long enough to accumulate meaningful variation across its production. Early examples wore matte dials, a surface treatment that predates the glossy lacquer Rolex adopted in the 1980s. That matte finish is the one collectors pursue. It reads differently than its successor — flatter, more purposeful, with a texture that absorbs light rather than reflecting it — and it anchors the watch firmly in the era when Rolex was still building tool watches for working divers. The movement is the Cal. 1575, a date-equipped evolution of the 1570 family, reliable and well-understood. Plexiglass crystal, screw-down crown, and a unidirectional black bezel complete a specification that has aged without compromise.

This example presents the matte black dial in its correct, original configuration — dot indices, no frills — on a steel Oyster bracelet. The matte surface is the reason to choose a 1680 over a later Submariner; the gloss dials that followed are handsome, but they belong to a different chapter. In hand, the dial has a quiet authority that photographs consistently understate. All parts are represented as original, which matters on a reference where replacement components are common and easy to spot.

Offered in very good condition, watch only. A service is scheduled for July 2026.