Vintage Rolex Sports Watches

The Collection

GMT-Master

GMT-Master 1675

Ref. 1675, stainless steel Built for Pan Am pilots, with protective crown guards from 1960. Read the story GMT-Master

GMT-Master 1675 Steel and Gold

Ref. 1675, steel and gold The two-tone 1675, with a brown dial and a brown and gold bezel. Read the story Daytona

Daytona Cosmograph 6265

Ref. 6265, 1970s Screw-down, waterproof pushers and three subdials. Read the story Submariner

Submariner 1680

Ref. 1680, date The first Submariner with a date, launched in 1966. Read the story Submariner

Red Submariner 1680

Ref. 1680, classic 1973 The word Submariner printed in red on the dial. Read the story Submariner

Submariner 5513

Ref. 5513, 1974 The classic no-date Submariner with crown guards. Read the story

Milestones

How these sports models evolved, from the first diving wristwatch to the details collectors look for today.

1. 1953
   Submariner introducedThe first wristwatch designed for scuba diving.
2. 1954
   GMT-Master launchedDesigned for Pan Am pilots, the first watch to show two time zones at once.
3. 1959
   Crown guards on the SubmarinerIntroduced on the no-date Submariner model 5512.
4. 1960
   GMT-Master 1675 and the CosmographModel 1675 added crown guards, and Rolex introduced the Cosmograph.
5. 1966
   Submariner 1680The first Submariner with a date.
6. 1970s
   Daytona 6265The Cosmograph gained screw-down, waterproof pushers.
7. 1974
   White dial textThe Submariner 1680 became available with all white dial text.
8. 1980
   Last red Submariner dialsRed "Submariner" dials were offered in certain markets until 1980.