Rolex, Submariner, "Red Mark V", ca 1971.
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Case size: 40 mm
Material: steel
Movement: automatic, caliber 1570
Year: circa 1971
Crystal: plastic crystal
Bracelet: Oyster bracelet, folding clasp, ref. 93160-J2/580
Reference number: 1680
Serial number: 3'084'531
Movement number: D'221'085
Case number: 1680 / III.71
Service receipt from 2016 is included. Newer bracelet.
A simple function check indicated the movement runs; accuracy, power reserve and long-term performance have not been tested and servicing may be required at the buyer’s expense. Water resistance cannot be guaranteed and should be checked by a qualified watchmaker before any exposure to water. No right of withdrawal applies to live auction purchases.
Provenance
Purchased by the current owner in 1997 at auction on Sveavägen in Stockholm. Total 6980 SEK. Purchase receipt included.
More information
Born in the early 1950s the Rolex Submariner set the template for the modern dive watch with its rotating bezel, luminous dial, and robust Oyster case. Through continuous refinement it became both a professional tool and a cultural icon.
In 1967 Rolex introduced the Submariner Date, reference 1680, the first Submariner to feature a date display. Early production is distinguished by the single line of “SUBMARINER” printed in red.
Collectors classify the red-text dials into six main “Marks.” Marks I–III carry the metric depth first (“200m=660ft”), while Marks IV–VI are the later imperial-first layout (“660ft=200m”). Each Mark has specific typographic traits, variations in the shape of the numerals “6,” the alignment of the “f” and “t” in “ft,” and whether the red text is full-red or printed over white.
The watch offered here is a Mark V, a configuration typically seen around 1971–1973. It features the feet-first depth rating, open 6s in the numerals, and co-linear crossbars on the “f” and “t” of “ft.” Importantly, the “SUBMARINER” line is full-red (no white base), giving the text a rich, saturated tone.