1940s 18ct rose gold vintage Rolex ‘Bubbleback’ perpetual watch

Date:           1948

Case:            18ct rose gold, 32mm

Movement: Rolex 630 calibre

Dial:             Champagne with gilt batons

Lugs:            17mm

A superb example of a 1940s Rolex Oyster Bubbleback wristwatch, in wonderful condition!

A 1948, 18ct rose gold vintage Rolex Oyster ‘Bubbleback’ Perpetual watch. The case measures 32mm, excluding Rolex Oyster winding crown, with 17mm lugs and ‘Thunderbird’ bezel. The case is signed Rolex Patented, Geneve-Suisse, with reference 5011 and numbered between the lugs, dating 1948. The automatic calibre 630 movement is signed Rolex Perpetual Chronometer, Swiss Made, with 18 jewels. The champagne dial has raised gilt batons, with coronet at 12, with fine gilt hands. The dial is signed Rolex Oyster Perpetual above the centre with Officially Certified Chronometer below.

Bubbleback

The ‘Bubble Back’ was the first completely watertight automatic wristwatch developed by Rolex. It was named the ‘Oyster Perpetual’. The rounded case back was made to house the self-winding movement rather than the original Oyster case. This gave the name the’Bubble Back’. Rolex only produced the Bubbleback from 1933 – 1955.