Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 1945 Reference No: 3372 Movement No: 93'882 Case No: 301'684 Model Name: Oyster Perpetual "Bubble Back" Material: Stainless steel and pink gold Calibre: Automatic, Super Balance, 9 3/4''' Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel and pink gold Clasp/Buckle: Folding deployant clasp Dimensions: 33mm. 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
Each Bubbleback is different; some stand out in case design, others with an unusual dial. Then there are those standing out by the condition. And then there are those who impress by all these criteria. The present example, a reference 3372, is such a Bubbleback.The stainless steel and rose gold case is characterised by its reeded bezel, highlighted by chased hour markers and finely engraved concentric circles. This bezel decoration suffers quickly when polished and the present examples displays the original finish to the best extent. The dial is highly unusual as it has not only all black Arabic numerals (such dials are also called “Telephone dials”) but displays a lovely two-tone rose colour scheme. Most multi-tone dials have concentric circles of different shades, but the present one has one of the rarest two-tones colour schemes with the dial being divided into 4 segments. Some scholars refer to them as “bow-tie dials”, others as “Papillon” (french for butterfly).The correct “Bamboo-style” bracelet is also made with stainless steel and pink gold, signed Rolex and completes this excellent watch beautifully. In terms of rarity and originality this Bubbleback can hardly be matched, but the greatest virtue to collectors is its great level or pleasure it can provide on one’s wrist.
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.