Rolex Submariner Ref. 168000 in Steel

CIRCA: 1987
REF.: 168000
CASE NUMBER: 9869533
CASE MATERIAL: Stainless steel
CASE DIMENSIONS: 40 mm diameter
DIAL: Black with tritium luminous markers, date at 3 o'clock
BRACELET MATERIAL: Rolex stainless steel Oyster bracelet with fold-over safety clasp, ref. 93150
BRACELET SIZE: 7-1/4 inches
MOVEMENT: Automatic
FUNCTIONS: Time and date CALIBER: 3035

The reference 168000 is the successor to reference 16800, and was produced for only a short span between 1987 and 1988, making it extremely rare. What sets this reference apart from the 16800 was Rolex's use of stronger 904L stainless steel for the first time in the Submariner range rather than the more conventional 316L steel used previously, and still used today by most other watch brands.

This current example features a dial that has tritium luminous material applied to the glossy dial with white gold “surrounds”, or circles, surrounding the luminous plots, a feature evident on current Submariner models. With a more desirable sapphire crystal and a dial that still has the warm charm of vintage tritium luminous material, such examples of the Submariner reference 168000 have been growing in popularity.

Accompanied by a Rolex presentation box, outer box, Rolex hang tag, Rolex 1987-1988 pocket calendar, suede travel pouch, Rolex Submariner booklet, and Rolex polishing cloth.