936
Rolex
Ref. 2940
Oyster Perpetual “Bubbleback”
A rare and very well-preserved stainless steel wristwatch with small seconds and bracelet
Full-Cataloguing
- Rare stainless steel Bubbleback with silvered dial
- Offered in very well-preserved condition
- “Super Balance” cal. 9¾”' NA self-winding movement
The present Bubbleback ref. 2940 from 1940s is a rare stainless steel specimen. It is fitted with a very well-preserved silvered dial in small Roman numbers, in a style that matches with the period of the case.
In the previous days, when most people would prefer a watch made of gold, stainless steel watches were perceived as a cheaper option. For a timepiece that was dated 80 years ago, a well-preserved stainless steel example is exceptionally rare. The edges and lugs are still sharp and defined, and the knurled teeth on the caseback are still deep. The watch is matched with a later stainless steel Rolex riveted bracelet, also in well-preserved condition, complimenting the vintage Oyster Perpetual look.
The ref. 2940 operates on the Rolex cal. 9¾”' NA, also known as the cal. 620. It was initially released in 1936, based on the manual winding cal. 600 movement. The self-winding rotor is engraved with the “Super Balance” wording, and the movement features a small seconds instead of a sweeping seconds found in the closely related cal. 630.
This well-preserved and exquisite watch with a strong character for sure is a favourable timepiece for esteemed collectors.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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.