THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 3359
YEAR: 1946
CASE DIAMETER: 32mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL/18K ROSE GOLD
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL/18K ROSE GOLD
MOVEMENT: MANUAL WIND

In the 1930s, Rolex began transitioning from manually wound calibres to automatic movements. The addition of an oscillating weight made these movements thicker, requiring more internal space. Rather than increasing the overall bulk of the watch, Rolex cleverly designed the caseback to curve outward, creating the “bubble” shape that became one of the brand’s most recognisable features. These watches were later dubbed “Bubblebacks.” Seasoned collectors will know that, for a time, Rolex Oysters and Bubblebacks were among the most collectible Rolex models, often fetching many times the price of sports references.

The current example, reference 3359, although dating to 1946, is not a Bubbleback but an “Oyster Chronometre.” The watch is in astonishing condition after 80 years. The star of the show is undoubtedly the rose-gold, double-signed "Beyer" dial. The no-lume dial has barely aged, with razor-sharp printing throughout (slightly fading on "TER" of Oyster), while the blued steel hands perfectly complement the warm gold background.