Please Critique My 1680 Red Submariner......

[johnk]

Greetings, My first love of watches was Vintage Rolexes and I believe I purchased (3) Red Subs until I found this 1680 Red Sub in ~1995. It wore what I believe was it's original 9315/380 bracelet (shown) and I later purchased a new 93150/501B bracelet for it. When I purchased it I was told the watch was original. The SN is 3084xxx putting it I believe around a ~1971 manufacture. I believe the dial is original (??) and is a feet first, open 6 Mark IV (?).

I sent the watch to the RSC in NY in February, 2005 for a complete service and asked that the dial and hands not be changed as to retain the matching patina. When I received it back, I wore the watch a few days a week for a few months before putting it in my bank's safe deposit box later in 2005 where it sat until today. About once a year when at the bank, I removed the watch from the vault, wound it and put it back... today is the first it's seen the light of day in 19 years....

I am not an expert be any means and would appreciate comments. Sorry for the poor cell phone pics. I wiped it down with an old Rolex cloth that was stored elsewhere, and looking at the pics, it left a considerable amount of lint and threads on the watch, I suspect it was somewhat dry rotted. Some of the imperfections shown are smudges from my fingers.

I'm trying to decide how to move forward, I may part with it or keep..... and would appreciate honest feedback in order to know exactly what I have.

thank you





































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[swaini3]

Hi,
Your dial is a Mark 4, which falls in the right range for your serial. Service insert. Seconds hand possibly replaced. Stamps on bracelet/ endlink look good. Newer braclelet also looks good. Some lume loss on the markers.
Question: Did Rolex provide the shown crystal and crown during their service? or did you swap them later?
Keep it unless you need the money. Bad time to sell anyways ;)

[Dan S]

Insert is not original. (Edit: sorry, I see that Mo already mentioned that.)

[MrBlobby]

I like it. The right insert would be good but very nice.

[johnk]

Originally Posted by swaini3

Hi,
Your dial is a Mark 4, which falls in the right range for your serial. Service insert. Seconds hand possibly replaced. Stamps on bracelet/ endlink look good. Newer braclelet also looks good. Some lume loss on the markers.
Question: Did Rolex provide the shown crystal and crown during their service? or did you swap them later?
Keep it unless you need the money. Bad time to sell anyways ;)

Yes the RSC replaced both. The crystal is the first item on the invoice above and the crown is the last. I’ll post a better picture of that portion of the invoice later.

Thanks all

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[swaini3]

Originally Posted by johnk

Yes the RSC replaced both. The crystal is the first item on the invoice above and the crown is the last. I’ll post a better picture of that portion of the invoice later.

Thanks all

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Nice, not your typical service crystal.

[johnk]

Here's a close-up of the work performed by the RSC shown on the invoice above, see "notes" regarding the crystal. I'm trying to remember back ~20 years ago, I recall I located a NOS correct 'high/flat' crystal and shipped it with the watch, however they returned it and installed one like it as part of the service.





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[swaini3]

[btinl]

Looks like there are some significant dial chips at 6 o'clock. Otherwise, looks like a nice red sub.

[Dan S]

Personally, I would have the sweep hand relumed and get a period-correct insert. Not that it's necessary, but I would probably enjoy the watch more.

[alwayshere]

wow crown and tube for $75.... that year is this!!!

agree with others especially the relume of the seconds hand. That would bother me. The insert i'm less fussed about.

The insert that came on my 1680 red (same year) was a thicker kissing 4, FYI.

[Wario406]

Wear it… dont let it die before you do.

[Rebel]

Sweet.

[996marty]

Nice looking watch if it was me I’d be wearing it instead of locking it up

[johnk]

Originally Posted by 996marty

Nice looking watch if it was me I’d be wearing it instead of locking it up

I have several modern Rolexes (picked up 3 additional since November) plus 2 more Vintage (GMT and SD). I put the Vintage watches in storage ~20 years ago. I may sell this one here and wanted to confirm my thoughts on the watch in order to sell fairly.

Thanks....


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[ColoradoTime]

I dont possess 1% of the knowledge that many of the people on this forum have in regards to these - but I think it's a beautiful example. I have a fondness for these 1680 red subs. Hoping to add one to my collection one day.

[jedione65]

If it's just been sitting around in a safe deposit box for so long, he should just sell it for someone else to enjoy. It's not perfect, but it will wear nicely for many years.