Lot 406

Rolex "Oyster Perpetual Chronometer", Case No. 54873, Ref. 3065, 32 mm, circa 1946
A gentleman's automatic Rolesor vintage wristwatch with centre seconds and extremely rare 24 hour indicator, so called "Rigid Hooded Bubble Back" - CHRONOMETER with original Rolex green velvet box
Case: pink gold/steel, fluted pattern, screw back, screwed "Rolex Oyster Plus" winding crown, riveted flexible strechted steel/pink gold bracelet (all springs in good order, very rare!). Dial: silvered, luminous indexes/luminous Arabic numerals, luminous Mercedes hands. Movm.: rotorwind movement, "patented super balance".
The Rolex Bubble Back is one of the more unusual Rolex models; it takes its name from the large case back that protects the tall rotorwind movement. The first Bubble Back was launched in 1933 and production continued for about 20 years; the model was largely responsible for making Rolex a brand that was known for reliable watches – the relatively high number of Bubble Backs in perfect working order that are still around today attest to it.
The most popular versions of the Bubble Back are Steelium (in stainless steel), Rolesor (gold and steel) and Gold (9K, 14K, 18K red or yellow gold). The names Steelium and Rolesor were created and patented by Rolex.
Changes in the case were for example smooth bezels or those with an engine-turned pattern or bezels with concealed lugs. The dials also offered some variations: silvered, black, pink or white, two-coloured 24 hour dials in a military design or the "California Dials" with Roman and Arabic numerals.
Only about 1,000 of the Rolex Bubble Back reference 3065 were produced between 1939 and 1950; it is among those models that have reached cult status and has become a highly sought after collector's piece.

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