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TempoKing · 21 February 2008, 12:37 AM

Last weekend I went "hunting" for watches in various garage sales.
I found a 1976 Rolex Ref: 1680 which I bought for a Low price and
in good condition.
As you see I have not said yet .."good ORIGINAL condition"..the reason
is that the watch is TWO TONE..? Rolex at the time did not
produce "two tones" and only the GMT was available in steel and gold.
When I asked the seller how come this watch is steel and gold, his
responce was that the local Rolex authorised dealer ordered the watch
this way for his father..?? or "made it" for his father. You know, I am not
a believer in founding prototypes and my idea is that the local Rolex dealer
back then in order to satisfy the father's demand for a two tone similar
to the GMT, used an 18k gold bezel from the 1680 gold Submariner complete
with insert, a very rare "nipple" hour markers black dial from the gold
Submariner with gold hour, minute and seconds hands, a gold crown,
a yellow color date disc and an aftermarket two tone oyster bracelet.

How many of you agree with the above assumption..???

DoxaDavid · 21 February 2008, 12:42 AM

PICS, Please?

Welshwatchman · 21 February 2008, 01:16 AM

Anything's possible.

I, however, am a skeptic.

SPACE-DWELLER · 21 February 2008, 01:26 AM

Sounds very interesting, Anastasios!

I look forward to seeing the pics!

TempoKing · 21 February 2008, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoxaDavid

PICS, Please?

My scanner is ready to be thrown-away

SPACE-DWELLER · 21 February 2008, 02:23 AM

It appears to have a sapphire crystal, too.

Frankenwatch??

Sorry, but I cannot spot much "1680" on it.

SSD · 21 February 2008, 02:38 AM

Do you intend to contact Rolex? I also remain skeptical, but yes, anything is possible. I have heard, repeatedly, that Rolex would make custom watches for a customer back then. Interesting!

f16570 · 21 February 2008, 04:48 AM

Will be iterseting to follow this one.

GoldenBear · 21 February 2008, 04:50 AM

I heard a rumor many years ago that Rolex came in two styles, gold and SS. Someone had the idea of mixing and matching. It caught on and Rolex started making TT versions. Anyone know if that is true or not? It seems plausible...take it to "Mythbusters"?

neilgader · 21 February 2008, 04:59 AM

Looks like the dial was replaced at some point-I don't think 1680s had 1000ft/300M dials in 1976, did they?

koronet-kid · 21 February 2008, 05:20 AM

looks to me like a 16800 what is engraved between the lugs? if it is one of these not many of them got issued with the nipple dial so it is quite rare. also has the thinner style font on the the bezel, and i agree with bo looks like shappire crystal. this is what is pointing me towards the 16800 theory

regards sean

mike · 21 February 2008, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilgader

Looks like the dial was replaced at some point-I don't think 1680s had 1000ft/300M dials in 1976, did they?

No. The increase in depth made it's debut with the reference 16800 (sapphire crystal). I'm not a watchmaker, but to be honest I doubt the dial would properly fit on a 15xx movement. I believe the position of the dial feet are different.

More likely a 16800 that some one has fitted a nipple dial from a 16808 (gold).

Jocke · 21 February 2008, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike

No. The increase in depth made it's debut with the reference 16800 (sapphire crystal). I'm not a watchmaker, but to be honest I doubt the dial would properly fit on a 15xx movement. I believe the position of the dial feet are different.

More likely a 16800 that some one has fitted a nipple dial from a 16808 (gold).

Mike, what about a 16803?

Jocke

mike · 21 February 2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jocke

Mike, what about a 16803?

Jocke

You're right Jocke could be.

16803-circa 1985,

mikey · 22 February 2008, 08:10 AM

you bet anything is possible especially with genuine Rolex parts readily available on ebay. Wait until you guys see pics of my franken 1680.

rolexoldguy · 22 February 2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike

You're right Jocke could be.

16803-circa 1985,

Please give me a credit if you using my 16803 pic.!

mike · 22 February 2008, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolexoldguy

Please give me a credit if you using my 16803 pic.!

Doh! I thought I had.

I was posting on another forum while waiting for your supurb photo to load. I totally forgot to proof read before posting--NOT an excuse--.

Please accept my sincere apologies and congrats on such a fantastic example.

Mike

grumpy · 22 February 2008, 11:15 PM

Should it not be stainless if the case is stainless like the one in Rolexoldguy's photo?

21 February 2008, 12:37 AM	#1
TempoKing Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: Anastasios Location: Athens Greece Watch: Rolex GMT 1675 Posts: 8,497	Rolex 1680 ...a rather Strange Find..! Last weekend I went "hunting" for watches in various garage sales. I found a 1976 Rolex Ref: 1680 which I bought for a Low price and in good condition. As you see I have not said yet .."good ORIGINAL condition"..the reason is that the watch is TWO TONE..? Rolex at the time did not produce "two tones" and only the GMT was available in steel and gold. When I asked the seller how come this watch is steel and gold, his responce was that the local Rolex authorised dealer ordered the watch this way for his father..?? or "made it" for his father. You know, I am not a believer in founding prototypes and my idea is that the local Rolex dealer back then in order to satisfy the father's demand for a two tone similar to the GMT, used an 18k gold bezel from the 1680 gold Submariner complete with insert, a very rare "nipple" hour markers black dial from the gold Submariner with gold hour, minute and seconds hands, a gold crown, a yellow color date disc and an aftermarket two tone oyster bracelet. *How many of you agree with the above assumption..???*

21 February 2008, 12:42 AM	#2
DoxaDavid "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: David Location: Minneapolis, Mn Posts: 3,271	PICS, Please? __________________ DOXA-AFICIONADO "It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues. " Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865

21 February 2008, 01:16 AM	#3
Welshwatchman "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Real Name: Paul Location: Wales, UK Posts: 14,578	Anything's possible. I, however, am a skeptic. __________________ ..33

21 February 2008, 01:26 AM	#4
SPACE-DWELLER "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Real Name: Bo Location: Denmark Watch: Rolex, of course! Posts: 22,436	Sounds very interesting, Anastasios! I look forward to seeing the pics! __________________ With kind regards, Bo LocTite 221: The Taming Of The Screw...

21 February 2008, 02:23 AM	#6
SPACE-DWELLER "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Real Name: Bo Location: Denmark Watch: Rolex, of course! Posts: 22,436	It appears to have a sapphire crystal, too. Frankenwatch?? Sorry, but I cannot spot much "1680" on it. __________________ With kind regards, Bo LocTite 221: The Taming Of The Screw...

21 February 2008, 02:38 AM	#7
SSD "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Jamie Location: Georgia Watch: Stainless Sub Date Posts: 3,023	Do you intend to contact Rolex? I also remain skeptical, but yes, anything is possible. I have heard, repeatedly, that Rolex would make custom watches for a customer back then. Interesting! __________________ SUBMARINER OWNERS' CLUB ESTABLISHED 1953 TRF Member # 5464

21 February 2008, 04:48 AM	#8
f16570 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Real Name: F Location: Scotland Watch: Exp II White Face Posts: 4,272	Will be iterseting to follow this one. __________________ Why have what's new when you have what's best. f

21 February 2008, 04:50 AM	#9
GoldenBear "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco Watch: Submariner Posts: 2,480	I heard a rumor many years ago that Rolex came in two styles, gold and SS. Someone had the idea of mixing and matching. It caught on and Rolex started making TT versions. Anyone know if that is true or not? It seems plausible...take it to "Mythbusters"? __________________ ____________________________________________ Rolex Blue TT Submariner Rolex SS Submariner Breitling Emergency Mission They are just watches, wear 'em. ____________________________________________

21 February 2008, 04:59 AM	#10
neilgader "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: Neil Gader Location: Studio City Watch: Rolex 1680 Red Sub Posts: 153	Looks like the dial was replaced at some point-I don't think 1680s had 1000ft/300M dials in 1976, did they?

21 February 2008, 05:20 AM	#11
koronet-kid "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: John Location: AT HOME Watch: deep-sea Comex Posts: 676	looks to me like a 16800 what is engraved between the lugs? if it is one of these not many of them got issued with the nipple dial so it is quite rare. also has the thinner style font on the the bezel, and i agree with bo looks like shappire crystal. this is what is pointing me towards the 16800 theory regards sean

22 February 2008, 08:10 AM	#15
mikey "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: USA Watch: Oysterdate 6694 Posts: 2,713	you bet anything is possible especially with genuine Rolex parts readily available on ebay. Wait until you guys see pics of my franken 1680.

22 February 2008, 11:15 PM	#18
grumpy Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: coastal SC USA Posts: 28	Look at the rehaut on TempoKing's scan. >>>> Should it not be stainless if the case is stainless like the one in Rolexoldguy's photo?

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