Antiques Roadshow | Appraisal: Rolex Red Submariner Watch, ca. 1970 | Season 27 | Episode 18

GUEST: Well, it belonged to an uncle.

He died in '87.

As far as I know, it has not been worn since '87.

We were told that it was probably fake.

Um and I just brought it today to find out what it's worth.

APPRAISER: Well, it's a great, great Swiss Rolex watch.

This was a watch which is now called the Red Sub.

The word "Submariner" is written in red on the dial.

It was introduced in 1966.

It was the first Submariner that had the cyclops crystal, which is right here...

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...to magnify the date.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: This watch dates to around 1970.

It was the first model that had the triplock crown, which meant that the back gasket was waterproof, the crown was waterproof, and the crystal was waterproof.

It's a very collectible watch in today's market because men like big Submariners and it's the icon of the Rolex brand.

Your uncle probably paid around $325 for it.

And today, the collector value is probably, in this condition, somewhere in the $6,000 to $8,000 range.

GUEST: Oh, really?

APPRAISER: This is the real deal.

GUEST: That's great, that's great.

APPRAISER: This is one of the more collectible Rolexes that are out in the marketplace today.

Mm-hmm.

GUEST: Ah.

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