Advice on 1980 SS Sub

[rhart]

New to site today and generally a car guy NOT a watch guy. I hoping to get a few of you watch guys to advise me here.
I have a SS Sub with date purchased at auth dealer in '80 or 81. It has been cleaned every 5-8 years by auth. dealers. Original hands and bezel. The box was stolen in a theft many years ago. I was in a Rolex dealer in Monterey a few years ago and he offered to trade me for a new in box SS and Gold Sub. Until then I didn't realize my little $1,200 Rollie was that valuable. I get a lot of comments on it but really was clueless as to why.
If I want to get a new or at least newer SS Sub what is the best way to go about making my watch turn into a newer Sub without taking it up the *ss. I'm assuming taking it to a dealer is not the best way to approach this.

I see a lot of abbreviations here that I'm not familiar with so please spell things out for me. Enclosing pix I took today. Watch runs fine but loses a min to 2 min/month.

[Ny325]

What makes the Submariner iconic, is it’s simplicity, and elegance. The Sub aesthetically hasn't changed much over the years. OP, your Sub looks great. I see no reason to get rid of it, for a newer model. Your going to pay maybe $8,000 or more. I would KEEP it. It looks great.

[kieselguhr]

Welcome, your best bet is to deal with a preowned watch dealer. In a good market, people avoid buying from an unknown seller to begin with. Considering the current market, it’s highly unlikely you will find any buyers interested. It’s interesting for a non watch guy that you keep track of your minutes lost or even mention it. Good luck

[Wobbly]

Originally Posted by rhart

New to site today

If I want to get a new or at least newer SS Sub what is the best way to go about making my watch turn into a newer Sub without taking it up the *ss. I'm assuming taking it to a dealer is not the best way to approach this.

Sorry, just looks like a for sale post.

[ian.thomas]

There is so much wrong about this post.

[ferrissteve11]

Did I read he was offered a SS and Gold Sub....sounds like fake news to me.

[Pw92676]

Keep what you got.
What’s up with the 2 on the date wheel? Looks kinda wonky.

[Panos Cosmatos]

Originally Posted by ferrissteve11

Did I read he was offered a SS and Gold Sub....sounds like fake news to me.

He means a two-tone

I agree with the people that say keep it my guy! That sub is beautiful and has decades of memories on it. And add the new one if that’s an option!

As to how to obtain the new sub, they’re hard to get at authorized dealers, but that situation is changing very quickly. If you’ve been going to an authorized dealer for cleanings and have something of a relationship you could probably get one now with no purchase history. Then you just have to decide whether you want one with a date window, or one without.

[rhart]

Panos is right. Two tone. Sounds like I meant a SS in addition to a gold sub. Not so.

I was told parts for this watch are hard to find now and becoming more so. Hence the post. It is due for a cleaning and I don't want to hear I need to spend huge repair money.

I figured I would be accused of a for sale post. That's what a Porsche forum would accuse me of. I had no other way to precipitate advice. I posted pix so the site would know which model.

I actually like the patina and again Panos is correct...decades of memories. How about some comments about parts guys. And thanks for the helpful comments.

[1665fan]

Shady gravy

[stevedssd]

The value of a vintage 1680 varies considerably depending on whether it has the original dial, hands, insert, unpolished or not over polished, box, papers etc. Unfortunately the photos attached are not good enough to check any of that, so closer more detailed photos would be helpful. If the dial/hands are original it will be worth more than a 116613...... at least in the UK. As a vintage owner I'd prefer the 1680 over modern but it's all about personal preference.

[Panos Cosmatos]

Originally Posted by rhart

Panos is right. Two tone. Sounds like I meant a SS in addition to a gold sub. Not so.

I was told parts for this watch are hard to find now and becoming more so. Hence the post. It is due for a cleaning and I don't want to hear I need to spend huge repair money.

I figured I would be accused of a for sale post. That's what a Porsche forum would accuse me of. I had no other way to precipitate advice. I posted pix so the site would know which model.

I actually like the patina and again Panos is correct...decades of memories. How about some comments about parts guys. And thanks for the helpful comments.

If you stick with the official Rolex service parts would not be hard to source and I don't think the cost would be much the ordinary ~$750, maybe someone with a sub from this era could weigh in. In any event they would quote you a price before proceeding with service. The problem of parts being hard to source is more common with far older watches, like 50s era.

[rhart]

Thanks to the posters like Panos and Steve I've made my decision. The trolls whom were sure I was trying to sell it were expected. Nuff negative crap in the world. I love this watch and thanks to some comments on this forum and other places I just sent watch to Watch Buyers Group. I can't live without this watch. I love the patina. Like Panos said...decades of memories. I like my vintage Porsches and Subs a little beat up. Adds character.