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Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979

Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979

$17,950.00 NZD

The Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 occupies a special place in the Submariner's history — produced from 1966 through to 1979, it was the first Submariner to feature a date complication, and it remains one of the most studied and collected references in the entire Rolex catalogue.

This 1979 example, among the final production serials of the reference, carries one of the most visually striking characteristics a 1680 can develop: a 'Ghost' bezel, where the original black aluminium insert has faded over decades to a barely-there greyscale tone, with the numerals and markings remaining legible.

The matte MK2 dial has developed a warm patina across its tritium hour markers — clean and well-preserved throughout. A vintage Submariner Date of genuine character, offered with full transparency about its components and history.

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Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979
Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 'Ghost' Bezel 1979

The Rolex Submariner Date Ref. 1680 occupies a special place in the Submariner's history — produced from 1966 through to 1979, it was the first Submariner to feature a date complication, and it remains one of the most studied and collected references in the entire Rolex catalogue.

This 1979 example, among the final production serials of the reference, carries one of the most visually striking characteristics a 1680 can develop: a 'Ghost' bezel, where the original black aluminium insert has faded over decades to a barely-there greyscale tone, with the numerals and markings remaining legible.

The matte MK2 dial has developed a warm patina across its tritium hour markers — clean and well-preserved throughout. A vintage Submariner Date of genuine character, offered with full transparency about its components and history.

  • Details

    • Maker

      Rolex

    • Model

      Submariner Date

    • Reference

      1680

    • Year

      1979

    • Serial

      575XXXX

    • Box & Papers

      No

    • Movement

      Caliber. 1575, automatic w/ 48-hour power reserve & hacking seconds

    • Dial & Hands

      Black matte MK2 dial w/ tritium lume plots; Mercedes service hands w/ luminova lume

    • Bezel

      Unidirectional, 'Ghost' Aluminium

    • Crystal

      Plexiglass

    • Bracelet/Strap

      Oyster 93150 bracelet w/ 12 links & diver's extension, stainless steel

    • Performance

      Watch is fully functioning and running at +/- 0 seconds per day

    • Service History

      Serviced June 2026

  • Dimensions
    • Diameter: 40mm
    • Lug-to-lug: 47.5mm
    • Thickness: 13mm
    • Lug width: 20mm

  • Materials

    Stainless steel

  • The 'Ghost' bezel is among the most visually arresting characteristics a Ref. 1680 can develop — a decades-long fade of the aluminium insert to a near-translucent tone that is the product of time and UV exposure, and which cannot be artificially replicated. On this example the fade is even and advanced, giving the bezel a distinctly ethereal quality that sets it apart from the majority of 1680 examples on the secondary market
  • The matte MK2 dial is clean and intact, with the tritium lume plots carrying an even patina consistent with the period. On a 1979 example this level of dial preservation — no cracks, no moisture damage, no significant marks — is a meaningful detail, and one that anchors the watch's originality in a way that no service or replacement can replicate
  • Serviced by our watchmaker in 2026 and running at +/- 0 seconds per day, this Ref. 1680 is ready to wear immediately. The Caliber 1575's reputation for longevity is well-earned, and this example demonstrates exactly why — a movement now approaching fifty years of age, performing at the centre of specification following a fresh service
  • Minor scratches throughout the case, bezel, and bracelet
  • Minor scratches on crystal

All watches are shipped free of charge by New Zealand Post (overnight), Urgent Couriers (same day) within New Zealand, or DHL Express (2-7 business days) for the rest of the world.

Packages strictly require a signature for delivery and are insured for their full value unless otherwise stated. Visit Shipping & Postage for more information.

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Please contact us for our bank details if you would like to pay via bank transfer for international or domestic transfers. You can also complete your purchase via our online checkout and select 'Bank/Wire Transfer'.

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After Sale Service

If you need the watch to be serviced, want to add on a strap or have any questions, we are always here to help.

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Condition
Report

Overall, the watch is in very good condition given its age, presenting with the honest character of a 1979 Submariner that has been worn and serviced across four and a half decades. The black matte MK2 dial is clean and well-preserved — the tritium lume plots carry a beautiful patina consistent with the period, and the dial surface is free from significant blemishes. The Mercedes hands have been replaced by Rolex, fitted with Luminova lume rather than the original tritium — a detail that reflects a period Rolex service practice. The plexiglass crystal carries some scratches consistent with age.

The 40mm stainless steel case carries scratches across its surfaces consistent with decades of wear. The 'Ghost' bezel is the defining visual feature of this example — the aluminium insert has faded over time to a near-translucent tone, with the numerals and markings remaining legible against the faded background. Further scratches are present on the bezel surround, consistent with age and use. The crown winds smoothly and the quickset date function operates correctly.

The Oyster 93150 bracelet carries an MA clasp code dating to approximately 2005, indicating a service replacement bracelet fitted during a prior Rolex authorised service — consistent with the watch's history. The bracelet itself is in excellent, unpolished condition with some minor scratches present from wear. Minor sag is present across the full link count. The clasp closes securely and functions correctly throughout.

Mechanically, the Caliber. 1575 automatic movement has been recently serviced by our watchmaker in 2026 and is running at +/- 0 seconds per day — an exceptional result for a movement of this age.

Rolex Submariner
History

Few watches carry the cultural weight of the Rolex Submariner. Introduced in 1953 at a time when scuba diving was capturing the world's imagination, the Submariner was built with a clear purpose — to be a reliable, legible, and robust companion for those venturing beneath the surface. It delivered on every count, and then some. What nobody quite anticipated was how a tool watch designed for depth and pressure would go on to become one of the most recognised and coveted watches on the planet.

The transition from tool to icon happened quickly, and for good reason. The Submariner's design is a study in functional elegance — the unidirectional rotating bezel, the bold indices, the Mercedes hands, the domed crystal — each element justified by purpose, yet together forming something undeniably beautiful. It wears as comfortably at a black-tie dinner as it does on a dive boat, and that crossover appeal is precisely what elevated it beyond the world of professional instruments. Its most famous early appearance — on the wrist of Sean Connery's James Bond — cemented its status as the definitive watch for a certain kind of effortless, understated cool.

To call the Submariner one of the most iconic sports watches ever made is not hyperbole. It defined the category that countless other manufacturers have spent decades trying to replicate, and it remains the reference by which all dive watches are judged. Owning one feels less like buying a watch and more like stepping into a lineage.

Our personal opinion? The neo-vintage Submariner references — particularly the Ref. 14060, Ref. 16610, Ref. 16800, and the Ref. 16610LV "Kermit" — represent exceptional value in today's market. These are watches from an era when Rolex's quality was already world-class, carrying decades of proven reliability and a depth of character that only comes with age. Compared to current retail prices, they offer a way into one of watchmaking's great icons without the premiums attached to modern references.

And if you are drawn to a new Submariner, the case for it is equally strong. This is a tool watch built to last generations — Rolex's current movements are among the most accurate and durable in the industry, the case and bracelet finishing is exceptional. Whether you wear it daily or reach for it on weekends, it asks nothing of you and delivers everything. For anyone considering a single sports watch to own for life, the Submariner is the answer the market keeps coming back to.