Every beautifully faded Submariner has its own personality, but this golden example, with its sun-washed denim blue dial, has a charm that feels particularly special.
There is something wonderfully relaxed about this 1970s Rolex Submariner Date 1680/8. The dial has aged into a beautiful, muted denim blue with subtle smoky, blue-grey undertones. Depending on the light, its colour shifts from deep blue to softer, washed-out shades, giving the watch a completely different character throughout the day.
We particularly love the contrast with the rich blue bezel insert. Combined with the warmth of the yellow gold, the raised nipple hour markers and the softly aged luminous material, the result is full of depth and personality. This is what makes vintage Rolex collecting so fascinating. No two beautifully faded dials tell quite the same story.
The substantial 18K yellow-gold case has been polished in the past but retains strong proportions, matching gold Oyster bracelet remains equally strong, giving the watch a wonderful presence on the wrist. The movement has been fully serviced.
There is an almost Italian sense of effortless style about this Submariner. A little sunshine, a favourite linen shirt, and a watch that feels like summer never really ends. More than just another golden Rolex, this is the kind of watch that becomes an old friend on your wrist, gaining meaning with every passing year.
Specifications:
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Rolex Submariner Date, reference 1680/8
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Circa 1975, serial 409xxxx
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40 mm, 18K yellow-gold case
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Sun-washed denim blue nipple tritium dial
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Blue rotating bezel insert
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Automatic movement with date
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18K yellow-gold Oyster bracelet
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Fully serviced by an experienced professional watchmaker
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One-year mechanical warranty
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Fully insured worldwide shipping included
Historical Context
Introduced in 1969, the reference 1680/8 was Rolex's first yellow-gold Submariner Date. Its distinctive nipple dial and acrylic crystal define this early generation. Particularly fascinating are the blue dials, which sometimes developed individual shades of purple, green or grey-blue over the decades.
