Vintage Rolex Submariner 168000 Stainless Steel

Pre-Owned Watch Condition Examination:

This watch is in good, vintage condition. The case is in great condition with some scratches. The bezel ring has remained sharp and the bezel insert is in great condition with wear and some scratches. The pip at 12 has developed patina. The dial is in great overall condition with some patina. The hands and hour markers have developed patina. The lume on the dial has developed patina and has aged to a beige color. Some of the plots show signs of degradation. The lume in the hands has aged and are close to matching the color of the lume on the dial. The lume in the minute hand has a small hole at the tip and shows signs of lume repair in the center. The bracelet is in excellent condition with light wear and light stretch between the links. 

Description: Vintage Rolex Submariner 168000 Stainless Steel

Pre-owned Rolex Submariner ref 168000 (1987) was only produced for a short time in the late 1980s.  Its predecessor, reference 16800 is often referred to as a transitional model and is credited with introducing the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and high beat calibre 3035 self-winding movement to the Submariner collection. These features are maintained in the reference 168000 with the only difference being the addition of a stronger, more resilient 904L stainless steel used throughout the 40mm Oyster case, Oyster bracelet, and Oysterlock clasp.  The reference 168000 is an important piece of the Submariner history and is the direct predecessor to the ref. 16610 and looks nearly identical. The 168000 is the perfect watch for someone looking for a vintage watch that has all the creature comforts of a modern watch and that is still very wearable for everyday use. Collectors are starting to gravitate towards this reference due to the rarity.