8059
Rolex
Ref. 1680, repeated inside caseback
Submariner, “MK 1”
A fine and attractive stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with center seconds, date, “MK 1” dial, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
- Estimate
- HK$60,000 - 120,000€7,500 - 14,900$7,700 - 15,400
HK$95,250
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1978
- Reference No
- 1680, repeated inside caseback
- Movement No
- D512’559
- Case No
- 5’406’152
- Model Name
- Submariner, “MK 1”
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1570, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “93150”, endlinks stamped “580”, max length 190mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “VE”
- Dimensions
- 40mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Henry Birks and Sons, Nova Scotia dated 21st August 1979, service guarantee stamped Alteen Brothers dated 10th March 2014, green card holder, anchor, blank hang tag and fitted presentation box.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
- Not only an archetype for modern dive watches, the Rolex Submariner is an icon that has garnered a dedicated following of enthusiasts who appreciate every variant and subtle modification, from its first appearance in the Rolex catalogue in 1953 to the present day.
- The Submariner ref. 1680 launched in 1967 marked a significant milestone as the first model equipped with a date function. The introduction of the date window sparked heated debates among watch aficionados, a controversy that continues to resonate today.
- The present example is a well-preserved specimen from circa 1978. It belongs to the MK I dial variation, showcasing distinctive features such as the closed 6s in “660ft=200m” and the “L” in Rolex, which is perfectly centered beneath the coronet. This example has aged gracefully, with patinated creamy luminescent material creating a stunning contrast against the matte black dial.
- Preserved in excellent overall condition and accompanied by its original guarantee and presentation box, this timepiece stands as a timeless classic in the illustrious history of Rolex.
- The Submariner ref. 1680 launched in 1967 marked a significant milestone as the first model equipped with a date function. The introduction of the date window sparked heated debates among watch aficionados, a controversy that continues to resonate today.
- The present example is a well-preserved specimen from circa 1978. It belongs to the MK I dial variation, showcasing distinctive features such as the closed 6s in “660ft=200m” and the “L” in Rolex, which is perfectly centered beneath the coronet. This example has aged gracefully, with patinated creamy luminescent material creating a stunning contrast against the matte black dial.
- Preserved in excellent overall condition and accompanied by its original guarantee and presentation box, this timepiece stands as a timeless classic in the illustrious history of Rolex.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
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