1970 1680 Red Submariner

Hi Rolex hive mind,

My MIL has the below watch. Her partner sadly died recently and she has inherited it.

He bought the watch brand new in 1970, seemingly wore it for a few years until a near miss robbery put him off wearing it, it was packed away only to come out on special occasions.

She is looking to get a value of the watch, I don't think she intends to sell it - I've encouraged her rather to pass it on to her son or grandson - but is keen to know what exactly she has. I had a check online briefly and I think the watch to be a either an MK2 or MK3 'meters first'. Any help would be greatly appreciated my watch knowledge is incredibly limited, I'm but a humble devil diver wearer!

It has also been a number of years since the watched was serviced, so would like to send if off for a service, I'm UK based and know well enough not to send to Rolex and that the patina is important. Would love to hear any recommendations you may have?

Thanks in advance for your time

Beautiful and potentially very valuable watch. There are plenty of forum members more knowledgeable than me but what you have looks honest and correct for a watch from c. 1970.

You have a “Mk1” dial, which should correspond to a serial number on the lugs of between 2.07 and 2.2M roughly. The most rare if the dial variants.

With a watch this early, there should be a date engraved on the inside of the caseback corresponding to the serial number.

The bezel, bracelet, and end links all seem correct for a watch of this age as well I think.

Can you post pictures of the crown and lugs? The watch doesn’t look overly polished but a better look at the lugs can confirm.

Bottom line, you have a beautiful and potentially very valuable watch. The devil is the details but if everything is correct as it looks on first glance, possibly in the mid $20k USD+ as a value? Perhaps more? Again, others will no more than me.

Having the watch sympathetically serviced (movement service only, do not ever polish the case or replace any parts on the exterior of the watch other than potentially the crystal) and the crystal either polished or replaced with a correct top hat crystal will make this watch ready to be worn for decades to come.

Stunning watch, congratulations.

Thank you for all the information, incredibly helpful

Thanks very much. TBH, I haven't checked the serial number, I'm nervous to even take the bracelet off without the right tools. I would bet my house on it matching however, he was the most methodical man I've ever met.