Rolex submariner 16800

Rolex Submariner history from the net

6204         First Submariner                          9 3/4'" A.260             1953 - 1954
6205         First Submariner                          9 3/4"' A.260             1954 - 1955
6200          Mercedes Hands - Coroncione  10 1/2"' A.296            1954
6538         Big Crown                                    1030                          1954 - 1959
6538A       Military Submariner                     1030                          1954 - 1959
6536         Small Crown                                1030                          1955 - 1959
6536/1      Chronometer                               1030                          1955 - 1959
5508         Small Crown                                1530                          1957 - 1961
5510         Small Crown                                1530                          1958
5512         Chronometer- The Cornini          1530-1560-1570        1959 - 1978
5513         First Crown Guard                       1520-1530                 1962 - 1989
5514         Comex Submariner                     1520                           1969 - 1977
1680/8       First DATE in Yellow Gold          1575                           1969 - 1978
1680         First Submariner Date                 1575                          1969 - 1979
5517         Military Submariner                      1520                           1977
16808        DATE  Sapphire crystal Gold      3035                          1979 - 1987
16800        DATE  Transitional model            3035                         1979 - 1988
16803        DATE  Sapphire crystal SS/YG    3035                         1983 - 1988
16610        DATE  Superluminova Dial           3135                         1986** - 2008
16613        DATE  Superlum. Dial SS/YG      3135                         1986** - 2008
16618        DATE  Superlum. Dial Gold          3135                          1986** 2009
14060        First with Sapphire crystal            3000                          1988*- 2001
14060M     Updated Automatic Movement      3130                        2001 - Today

The Rolex 16800 shall be my final purchase for the year. Given the growing number of watches, using my secondment to Bankok trip as an occasion, I have started to streamline my watch collection again by letting go watches that does not fit into my watch portfolio. Initially, I have wanted to start a IWC range and JLC alarm range of watches. However, owing to the difficulties to manage so many watches while on the move, I have decided to go against it and since then I have let go the hand winding cal 89 and two automatic IWc keeping only one round automatic as well as letting go the JLC alarm.

In addition, I have also let go the interesting one button chronograph and some other stand alone watch.

A bit of history. The reference 16800 was introduced in 1977-78. The 16800 introduced caliber 3135 which introduced the quick-set date and a sapphire crystal and it was now rated from 660 feet to 1000 feet. Sometime around 1985 or 86, white gold surrounds were added to the luminous hour markers. Toward the end of the production run of the 16800s, for only about nine months, Rolex produced a reference 168000 in which the quality of the stainless steel was upgraded from grade 316 to grade 904.

Timothy Dalton wore a Rolex Submariner 16800  in his second, and last, turn as James Bond in Licence to Kill. The watch can be spotted again at the climactic ending, as Dalton climbs about an airborne single-engine plane.

I have never thought of keeping the 16800 before until I found the early Matt dial. The Ref 16800 is what is commonly referred to as a transitional Submariner because it was the first Rolex sport model to have a Sapphire crystal along with the introduction of high beat movement. The watch is interesting as even with all the added new features, it has retained the original matte dial, which looks like the 1680. Later 16800's were less transitional and interesting as the matte dial were replaced with a glossy finish and hour markers surrounded with white gold. 

Since, I am an antique lover, my preference will be the very early 16800's (79-83) with matte dial and tritium hands. Another reason why I have decided to keep the 16800 was because this was the last Submriner wore by James Bond....