Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 1939 Reference No: 3536 Case No: 128'508 Model Name: Oyster Perpetual "Bubbleback" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 9 3/4''', 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex rice grain Clasp/Buckle: Folding deployant clasp Dimensions: 32mm. Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Catalogue Essay
The Rolex reference 3536 is an exceedingly rare example of an early Oyster Perpetual "Bubbleback", and is rarely seen on the auction market.
It was introduced in the 1930s and available in stainless steel and pink gold or stainless steel and yellow gold and with different dial layouts. The stainless steel versions of reference 3536 are the rarest and doubtlessly one of the most stylistic "Bubbleback" models ever made. It features a round case with a concave enlarged bezel and slim straight lugs.
The present watch furthermore impresses by its extremely attractive two-tone pink dial with Roman quarters, perfectly matching the stainless steel case with "grain of rice" link period bracelet, furthermore preserved in excellent, original overall condition, making it a trophy for the discerning Rolex collector.
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.