THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 1680
YEAR: 1979
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

The experience of finding this white-dial 1680 brought me back to the good old days of collecting vintage Rolex. A fuzzy picture of an old Submariner, very little description, a crystal so scratched that you could barely see what was underneath, and a case covered in dust: all the signs of a potentially fantastic example that had been worn years ago but left untouched for a long time.

I can only describe the excitement of receiving the watch and cleaning it up as similar to unwrapping Christmas presents as a kid. A quick bath and a NOS crystal later, it revealed—by far—the best white 1680 dial we have ever come across. The Mk1 matte black dial is absolutely flawless: all of the tritium lume on the markers and hands has aged to a rich, creamy patina, with the original texture perfectly preserved. Not bad.