Rolex - The Watch Auction: One Geneva Saturday, May 9, 2015 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1940
    Reference No: 3595
    Movement No: N 16'929
    Case No: 46'079
    Model Name: Oyster Perpetual "Bubble Back"
    Material: Stainless steel and pink gold
    Calibre: Automatic, 9 3/4'''
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel and pink gold
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel folding deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 32mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Fitted presentation box signed Rolex, The World's Most Accurate Wristwatch, The Highest Honours Ever Awarded by London Paris and Geneva Observatories

  • Catalogue Essay

    Reference 3595 belongs to the family of hooded Bubblebacks, the hood being decorated with horizontal stripes. Thanks to the ribbed hood, it has a more substantial appearance.
    This model was only offered in stainless steel and gold, the hood could however be either in yellow or pink gold. On the present example, both the bezel and hoods are in pink gold, superbly harmonising with the rose coloured “California-dial”. The latter features the typical Roman numerals on the upper half of the dial and Arabic numerals on the lower. The original Mercedes-style hands are also luminous as the numerals.
    The result of this combination is very appealing and gives an excellent idea of the how Bubblebacks from the late 1930’s and early 1940’s were anything but classic and monotone but quite the opposite. Examples using pink gold and rose coloured dials were often reserved for the South American market.



    The lovely “Bamboo-style” Rolex bracelet is further enhancing the overall looks of this classy and lavish hooded Bubblebacks. Despite its smaller diameter (compared to many post-war Rolex wristwatches), it has the presence and attractiveness at a level usually reserved for larger and more costly collector’s watches. A savvy collector will certainly appreciate this fine example.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.

    One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.

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Ref. 3595
A very rare and attractive stainless steel and pink gold wristwatch with pink California dial, bracelet, rivited hooded lugs and original box

1940
32mm. Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF20,000 - 40,000 

Sold for CHF25,000

Contact Specialist
Nathalie Monbaron
+41 22 317 81 83

The Watch Auction: One

Geneva Auction 10 May 2015 6:30pm