Reference:16808 - Revision history

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	<small>[[Reference:submariner\|Submariner]] → '''16808'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:submariner\|Submariner]] -> '''16808'''</small>

	The 16808 is the full 18k yellow gold Submariner Date, with case, bezel, bracelet, crown, and crown tube all in gold, caliber 3035 inside, and a sapphire crystal over the top. It is the gold apex of a three-reference generation that also ran the steel 16800 and the two-tone 16803, and the scarcest of the three by some margin. Colin A. White's ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' (Morning Tundra) singles out its gilt nipple dial as the most desirable configuration the reference produced.		The 16808 is the full 18k yellow gold Submariner Date, with case, bezel, bracelet, crown, and crown tube all in gold, caliber 3035 inside, and a sapphire crystal over the top. It is the gold apex of a three-reference generation that also ran the steel 16800 and the two-tone 16803, and the scarcest of the three by some margin. Colin A. White's ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' (Morning Tundra) singles out its gilt nipple dial as the most desirable configuration the reference produced.

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	== Launch date discrepancy ==		== Launch date discrepancy ==

	Sources differ on when the 16808 entered production. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual text gives 1977, though the same book's reference table gives 1979 to 1987. Monochrome ~~and Gray & Sons place~~ the run at roughly 1984 to 1988. The 1977 figure is more consistent with internal planning or a small prototype run; 1979 reads as the Field Manual's own retail-availability estimate; the 1984 figure ~~from the secondary sources~~ probably tracks when production reached meaningful market volume. Absent primary documentation from Rolex archives or confirmed serial-band data, the launch date is uncertain and 1979 is the working assumption for retail availability.		Sources differ on when the 16808 entered production. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual text gives 1977, though the same book's reference table gives 1979 to 1987. Monochrome places the run at roughly 1984 to 1988. The 1977 figure is more consistent with internal planning or a small prototype run; 1979 reads as the Field Manual's own retail-availability estimate; the 1984 figure probably tracks when production reached meaningful market volume. Absent primary documentation from Rolex archives or confirmed serial-band data, the launch date is uncertain and 1979 is the working assumption for retail availability.

	End of production is generally placed at 1987 to 1988, when the 16618 replaced the reference with caliber 3135.		End of production is generally placed at 1987 to 1988, when the 16618 replaced the reference with caliber 3135.

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	The gold Submariner is one of the most continuous threads in the entire Submariner family. It has existed in every generation since 1969:		The gold Submariner is one of the most continuous threads in the entire Submariner family. It has existed in every generation since 1969:

	* 1680/8 (1969): first gold Submariner, acrylic crystal, caliber 1570/1575		The lineage runs from the 1680/8 (1969), the first gold Submariner, with an acrylic crystal and caliber 1570/1575, to the 16808 itself, which brought a sapphire crystal, the 300m rating, caliber 3035, and the nipple dial. The [[Reference:16618\|16618]] (~1988–2009) followed with caliber 3135, Microstella regulation, and the SEL bracelet transition, and the 126618 (2020–present) carries the line forward at 41mm with caliber 3235 and a ceramic bezel.
	* '''[[Reference:16808~~\|16808]]''':~~ sapphire crystal, 300m rating, caliber 3035, nipple dial ~~← this reference~~
	* [[Reference:16618\|16618]] (~1988–2009): caliber 3135, Microstella regulation, SEL bracelet transition
	* 126618 (2020–present): 41mm ~~case,~~ caliber 3235, ceramic bezel

	Each generation brought the gold Submariner forward technically while keeping its fundamental character (a functional diving watch in precious metal) intact. When the 16618 replaced the 16808, the platform modernized with the 3135. When the 126618 replaced that, the case grew to 41mm and the ceramic bezel arrived.		Each generation brought the gold Submariner forward technically while keeping its fundamental character (a functional diving watch in precious metal) intact. When the 16618 replaced the 16808, the platform modernized with the 3135. When the 126618 replaced that, the case grew to 41mm and the ceramic bezel arrived.
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	Within its generation:		Within its generation:

	* [[Reference:16800\|16800]]: steel — widest market, most production		Within its generation, the [[Reference:16800\|16800]] in steel had the widest market and the most production, the [[Reference:16803\|16803]] split the difference in two-tone Rolesor with gold in the visible positions over a steel case, and the 16808 went full 18k yellow gold — the maximum commitment of the three.
	* [[Reference:16803\|16803]]~~: Rolesor (~~two-tone~~) —~~ gold in visible positions, steel case
	* [[Reference:16808~~\|16808]]:~~ full 18k yellow gold — maximum commitment ~~← this reference~~

	<span id="production-outline"></span>		<span id="production-outline"></span>

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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 16808 Submariner}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 16808 Submariner}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Submariner 16808 — Production, Dials & Serial Ranges \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex Submariner 16808 — Production, Dials & Serial Ranges \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 16808 is the full 18k yellow gold Submariner Date — case, bezel, bracelet, crown, and crown tube all in gold — with caliber 3035 and sapphire crystal.…		\|description=The 16808 is the full 18k yellow gold Submariner Date — case, bezel, bracelet, crown, and crown tube all in gold — with caliber 3035 and sapphire crystal.…
	\|keywords=Rolex, 16808, Submariner, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 16808, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
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	No specific hammer prices have been captured. Full gold Submariners from this era attract steady collector interest, and the 16808 sits in a historically specific gap: too modern for the vintage gold 1680/8 premium, too old for the 16618's sustained production story. The gilt nipple dial, when genuine and in strong condition, commands the most from the reference.		No specific hammer prices have been captured. Full gold Submariners from this era attract steady collector interest, and the 16808 sits in a historically specific gap: too modern for the vintage gold 1680/8 premium, too old for the 16618's sustained production story. The gilt nipple dial, when genuine and in strong condition, commands the most from the reference.


			== Related references ==

			* [[Reference:1680\|Submariner 1680]] — First Date Sub, 'Red Sub' (1969–1979)
			* [[Reference:3666\|Submariner 3666]]
			* [[Reference:5508\|Submariner 5508]] — 1957–1961
			* [[Reference:5510\|Submariner 5510]] — Big Crown, Cal 1530 (1957–1958)
			* [[Reference:5512\|Submariner 5512]] — First Crown-Guard (1959–1978)
			* [[Reference:5513\|Submariner 5513]] — Non-Date Classic (1962–1989)

			See also the [[Reference:submariner\|Submariner family index]], [[Reference:Movements\|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|serial numbers by year]].

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 16808 Submariner}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 16808 Submariner}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex 16808 ~~Submariner~~ — Production, ~~Dial Variants,~~ Serial Ranges \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex Submariner 16808 — Production, Dials & Serial Ranges \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 16808 is the full 18k yellow gold Submariner Date — case, bezel, bracelet, crown, and crown tube all in gold — with caliber 3035 and sapphire crystal.…		\|description=The 16808 is the full 18k yellow gold Submariner Date — case, bezel, bracelet, crown, and crown tube all in gold — with caliber 3035 and sapphire crystal.…
	\|keywords=Rolex, 16808, Submariner, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 16808, Submariner, specifications, reference guide
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	\|image=Ref 16808 hero.jpg		\|image=Ref 16808 hero.jpg
	\|image_alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 16808		\|image_alt=Rolex Submariner Ref. 16808
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