Rolex launched the Submariner reference 1680 in 1967 and kept producing it until around 1980.

The introduction of the 1680 marked a significant evolution for the Submariner series, as it was the first to incorporate a date function, moving beyond the traditional time-only displays of earlier models. This feature wasn't entirely new to Rolex's lineup of dive watches, as the Sea-Dweller, introduced the same year, also featured a date window. However, the Submariner 1680 was unique for adding the Cyclops lens over the date display, a feature that has remained a constant in all subsequent Rolex Submariner Date models.

In terms of water resistance, the Submariner Date 1680 matched its no-date predecessors (models 5512 and 5513) with a rating up to 200 meters, which is less than the 300-meter depth rating of more recent Submariner models. Additionally, it featured protective crown guards and a bidirectional timing bezel with a black aluminum insert.