Event image
Event image
Event image
Event image
Event image

Rolex Submariner Date 16800 - Rare and Early ‘Pallettoni’ Black Dial

Rating: vB
Reserve: No
Lot: 2026G0538
Sold For
XX,xxx € loader
hourglass Ended
on Tue 07/28/2026 at 1:38 PM (UTC)
visibility Sign in to view the final sale price.
Log in

Description

Rolex Submariner Date 16800 - Rare and Early ‘Pallettoni’ Black Dial

The Rolex Submariner is widely regarded as one of the most influential professional watches ever created. Originally developed during the 1950s for underwater exploration, it established a lasting design language defined by exceptional legibility, robust construction and a rotating graduated bezel, becoming the benchmark against which generations of diving watches would be measured.

Introduced at the end of the 1970s as the successor to reference 1680, the Submariner Date reference 16800 represents a pivotal transitional chapter in the history of the collection. While retaining the classic 40 mm Oyster case and the unmistakable appearance of its predecessor, it introduced several important technical developments that brought the model significantly closer to the modern Submariner.

Among these innovations were a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an increased water-resistance rating of 300 metres and a unidirectional rotating bezel. The reference was powered by the automatic Rolex calibre 3035, which introduced a practical quick-set date function while maintaining the reliability and durability traditionally associated with the brand’s professional watches.

The earliest examples of reference 16800 retained the matte black dial and large painted luminous hour markers associated with vintage Submariners. Known among Italian collectors as “Pallettoni” dials, these configurations are particularly appreciated for their bold luminous plots, strong visual clarity and unmistakable tool-watch character. They were later replaced by glossy dials with applied white-gold surrounds, making the early matte execution an important link between the vintage and neo-vintage generations of the model. Produced in 1981, the present watch has been preserved in excellent overall condition and the bracelet displays the normal stretch, entirely consistent with normal use and characteristic of this type of bracelet. 

Combining the aesthetic warmth of a traditional matte-dial Submariner with the technical improvements of a more contemporary diving watch, the Rolex Submariner Date 16800 “Pallettoni” occupies a distinctive position within the collection. Its transitional nature, historic importance and balanced design have made it one of the most compelling references for collectors seeking the character of vintage Rolex alongside improved everyday functionality.


Buyer protections

  • Payments and personal data will be handled confidentially.
  • All watches undergo rigorous quality checks by experts.

Details

BRAND Rolex
MODEL Submariner
REFERENCE 16800
YEAR 1981
CASE SIZE 40mm
CASE MATERIAL 16800
STRAP/BRACELET MATERIAL S.Steel Oyster, max lenght up to 18.5cm circa (12 Links total)
GLASS Crystal Sapphire
MOVEMENT Mechanical Automatic Caliber 3035
DIAL Black with Pallettoni Indexes
BEZEL Black Aluminum Insert
CLASP/BUCKLE Stainless Steel Deployment, Code 'G'
SET nd
Chronocomparator

Chronocomparator

This watch is used and has not been serviced or cleaned by us. If you wish to request this service, please make an express request. The measurement of the functioning of the watch on the chronocomparator is provided as a courtesy and with the aim of giving users as much information as possible.