Rolex Submariner Ref. 16800 ‘Palletoni’

Some watches get better and better with age. Lume turns cream, bezels fade to blue. This 16800 Rolex is a perfect example.

The first Submariner to be equipped with a date complication was the Ref. 1680. In 1979, it would receive a whole host of updates, and an additional “0” in its reference number. The acrylic crystal was replaced with sapphire, the movement was upgraded to a quickset date variant, the depth rating was upped from 200 to 300 meters, the bidirectional friction-based bezel was replaced with a ratcheting uni-directional variant. All in all, the Date Sub went from truly vintage to modern.

The earlier models came with matte dials with painted indices. Later models came with gloss dials with indices with white gold surrounds. Those earlier models are considered the perfect blend of vintage and modern, and are commonly referred to as “Palletoni”. This is such a watch.

If you are into the looks of a vintage Sub but prefer a little more modern tech, this is absolutely perfect!