The Rolex Submariner Date 16800 is a stainless steel dive watch that bridges vintage charm with modern functionality. Produced in the 1980s, the model introduced sapphire crystal for improved durability, a unidirectional rotating bezel for safer dive timing, and water resistance up to 300 meters. It houses the automatic Caliber 3035 movement, notable for its quickset date function, and features a black dial with luminous hour markers and Mercedes hands. Collectors value the 16800 for its transitional design: vintage aesthetics such as tritium lume and matte dials combined with technical upgrades that made it more robust and versatile for everyday wear.
HKD$105,000
Introduced around 1979, the Submariner 16800 replaced the earlier reference 1680 and marked the beginning of Rolex’s five‑digit Submariner references. It was the first Submariner to feature a sapphire crystal, significantly improving scratch resistance, and it upgraded water resistance from 200m to 300m. The 16800 also debuted the Caliber 3035, which offered higher beat rate and quickset date functionality. Early models retained matte dials and painted indices, while later versions transitioned to glossy dials with applied white‑gold surrounds, making the 16800 a true “transitional” reference. By the late 1980s, it was succeeded by the 16610, but the 16800 remains highly collectible for its blend of vintage and modern traits.
Rolex was founded in 1905 in London by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis, later relocating to Geneva in 1919. The brand quickly established itself as a pioneer in wristwatch innovation, introducing the Oyster case in 1926 — the world’s first waterproof wristwatch — and the Perpetual rotor in 1931, which became the basis of modern automatic movements. Over the decades, Rolex became synonymous with precision, durability, and prestige, producing icons such as the Datejust, Daytona, and Submariner. Today, Rolex is one of the most recognized luxury brands worldwide, producing over a million watches annually and remaining privately owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, which reinvests profits into the company and charitable causes.
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