Things to Know about the First Yellow Gold Rolex Submariner

November 21st, 2019

Rolex launched the Submariner initially in 1953 as a rugged stainless steel divers’ watch. This famous diver model is today recognised as one of the most celebrated and coveted luxury watches.

However, the Rolex Submariner’s odyssey from merely functional to deluxe undoubtedly started when the brand released the ever first yellow gold Submariner.

Let’s today explore some exciting things about the first Rolex Submariner Gold reference.

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The Submariner Date: Introduction

Early diver watches from the 1950s did not have a date window on their dial. While aquanauts are more concerned regarding the passing time underwater, watchmakers initially did not think about putting a date window on the dive models. But:

Rolex indeed wanted to make its Submariner out of the common crowd. Interestingly, the case of the Submariner increased from the original 37mm to today’s standard 40mm diameter by the late 1960s.

Eventually, this offered some added room for a date window on the dial. Rolex fitted a date window to the Submariner, introducing the Reference 1680 as the ever first Rolex Submariner Date.

Facts about the First Rolex Submariner Yellow Gold

Rolex manufactured the Submariner Reference 1680 in stainless steel as well as in solid yellow gold.

• Rolex introduced its first gold Submariner in 1969.
• The watch featured an 18ct yellow gold Oyster case with 40mm diameter.
• However, the Oyster case comes with a matching Oyster bracelet in 18ct yellow gold.

Early iterations of the Rolex Submariner Reference 1680/8 flaunted a rotating black aluminium bezel insert and a black dial. Moreover, the gold Submariner dials didn’t feature the standard black dials like its stainless steel examples.

• The yellow gold Rolex Submariner dials had raised hour markers in gold and tritium luminescent centres.
• The dial was eventually nicknamed as the ‘nipple dial’.
• While the watch featured a date indication, Rolex fitted the acrylic crystal and the traditional ‘Cyclops Lens’ for date magnification.

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Other Features

The yellow gold Rolex Submariner was introduced in another colourway, flaunting a vibrant blue bezel and dial.

• The yellow gold Sub with blue bezel also featured a similar ‘nipple dial’ design.
• However, Rolex modified the dial colour of the gold Submariner in blue over the time like reddish-brown, b justify purples and also, light blues.
• The Rolex Submariner Gold 1680 was water-resistant up to 200m. Moreover, the watch was powered by the Calibre 1575 movement.

Rolex continued the production of the first yellow gold Submariner nearly for a decade until 1979. The model was replaced by the successive Rolex Submariner Reference 16808.

Indeed, the solid yellow gold Rolex Submariner has turned to be a predominant model in the brand’s catalogue since 1969. However, other Submariner references in bi-tone steel and gold, 18ct white gold and also, a luxurious gemstone-setting model later joined the directory.

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