Admin: Add documented ref. 7835 bracelet image and update gallery

2026-10-08T15:45:59Z

Add documented ref. 7835 bracelet image and update gallery

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:45, 8 October 2026
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	Ineichen photographed its example on a black alligator strap with an Omega buckle and listed the watch as “watch only.” Its strap and buckle are Omega-branded. Gardiner Houlgate's pouch is an accompaniment to that lot; the sources do not establish standard packaging for the reference.		Ineichen photographed its example on a black alligator strap with an Omega buckle and listed the watch as “watch only.” Its strap and buckle are Omega-branded. Gardiner Houlgate's pouch is an accompaniment to that lot; the sources do not establish standard packaging for the reference.

			[[File:Ref 1038 bracelet-detail.webp\|thumb\|right\|240px\|alt=Steel-and-gold Rolex Oyster bracelet catalogued as ref. 7835 on an Oyster Perpetual 1038\|Antiquorum's 2018 ref. 1038 with bracelet 7835.]]

	==Auction record==		==Auction record==
Line 138:		Line 140:
	<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">		<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
	File:Ref 1038 hero.webp\|Steel-and-gold example catalogued by Ineichen, lot 14		File:Ref 1038 hero.webp\|Steel-and-gold example catalogued by Ineichen, lot 14
	File:Ref 1038 dial-detail.webp\|Sector dial on ~~the same example~~		File:Ref 1038 dial-detail.webp\|Sector dial on Ineichen's 2026 lot 14
	File:Ref 1038 caseback.webp\|Caseback view of ~~the same example~~		File:Ref 1038 caseback.webp\|Caseback view of Ineichen's 2026 lot 14
			File:Ref 1038 bracelet-detail.webp\|Antiquorum Hong Kong, 27 October 2018, lot 295; bracelet ref. 7835
	</gallery>		</gallery>

Admin: Add researched Oyster Perpetual Zephyr reference 1038

2026-10-08T15:36:29Z

Add researched Oyster Perpetual Zephyr reference 1038

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Oyster Perpetual Zephyr 1038}}
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Oyster Perpetual Zephyr 1038 — Reference Guide | Rolexopedia
|description=Auction-grounded guide to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1038: documented dials, case materials, movement and the unresolved production dates.
|keywords=Rolex 1038, Oyster Perpetual Zephyr, Rolex Zephyr, Cal. 1570, vintage Rolex
|image=Ref 1038 hero.webp
|image_alt=Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1038 in steel and gold with an engraved bezel and silver sector dial
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}

<small>[[Reference:oyster-perpetual|Oyster Perpetual]] → '''1038'''</small>

<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref 1038 hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1038 in steel and gold with a silver sector dial and engraved bezel|Ineichen's circa-1969 1038, lot 14.]]
</div>

Auction records document the 1038 as a no-date Oyster Perpetual Zephyr. Examples include steel cases with gold bezels and 14K-gold cases; the bezels carry engraved marks. Auction dates cluster around 1965–1970, while one later shop listing gives circa 1986 but reports a caseback stamped 1002.

==Core facts==

{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
|-
! detail
! value
|-
| reference
| 1038
|-
| family
| Oyster Perpetual, no date
|-
| model name
| Zephyr, the name used in auction catalogues
|-
| observed dates
| auction estimates circa 1965–1970; a circa-1986 shop listing reports an inside caseback stamped 1002
|-
| movement
| Cal. 1570 is identified in several catalogue examples; not all listings name a caliber
|-
| case
| screw-back Oyster case; Christie's describes a screw-down crown
|-
| diameter
| catalogued from 33.7 to 35 mm
|-
| case materials
| stainless steel with yellow-gold bezel; separate 14K-gold examples
|-
| bezel
| gold bezel with engraved marks; catalogues variously describe its finish
|-
| dial
| silver sector/crosshair, black applied-baton, and printed-index layouts are documented
|-
| crystal
| acrylic, as described for a listed 1038 example
|-
| date
| none
|}

==Where it sits in the line==

Antiquorum titles its examples “Oyster Perpetual Zephyr.” Other auction and shop records also use Zephyr for ref. 1038. The cited records describe a no-date watch with center seconds.

==Production outline==

Christie's dates a 14K-gold watch with a black baton dial to circa 1965. Antiquorum dates a steel-and-gold example to circa 1969 and a solid-gold example to circa 1970; Ineichen dates another steel-and-gold example to circa 1969. Gardiner Houlgate catalogued a 14K-gold watch as circa 1970 with partial case number 2430xxx and a bracelet stamped “4 70.” Antiquorum's circa-1970 example has case 2,430,165. The dial and bezel photos look similar, but Gardiner Houlgate does not give enough of the case number to confirm that the lots show the same watch.

Dr. Crott's 2019 catalogue instead says the reference was introduced in the early 1970s. Hodinkee Shop later listed a watch as a circa-1986 ref. 1038, but its description reports an inside caseback stamped 1002. The case identity in that listing is unresolved. These records do not establish the reference's production limits.

==Movement notes==

Antiquorum identifies Cal. 1570 in its circa-1969 and circa-1970 examples. Ineichen also lists Cal. 1570 and movement number 825627. Christie's describes a 26-jewel movement but does not name its caliber.

==Dial map==

The records show three dial layouts. Ineichen's circa-1969 steel-and-gold example has a silver sector dial, tritium hour markers and gold-colored luminous hands. Christie's circa-1965 solid-gold watch has a black dial with applied baton numerals. Dr. Crott describes printed hour indexes and square baton hands. Its catalogue gives an early-1970s introduction date, later than the examples dated by Christie's and Antiquorum.

[[File:Ref 1038 dial-detail.webp|thumb|right|240px|alt=Silver sector dial with crosshair lines, tritium markers and gold-colored hands on a Rolex 1038|Silver sector dial on Ineichen's 2026 lot 14.]]

==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown==

Auction catalogues describe steel cases with yellow-gold bezels and separate 14K-gold cases. Catalogue diameters range from 33.7 mm at Antiquorum to 35 mm at Christie's, Antiquorum and Ineichen.

The bezel carries engraved marks. Christie's describes hour and minute markers on a textured bezel; Dr. Crott describes square markers.

Christie's describes a screw back and screw-down crown. Sanderson & Son's 2013 listing of a watch dated 1968 describes an acrylic crystal.

[[File:Ref 1038 caseback.webp|thumb|right|240px|alt=Closed screw-back case and leather strap on a Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1038|Caseback photographed for Ineichen's 2026 lot 14.]]

==Bracelets, clasps, and packaging==

The 2018 Antiquorum example has a steel-and-14K-gold Rolex bracelet, reference 7835, with a deployant clasp. Christie's catalogues a solid-gold Rolex Oyster bracelet and clasp. Gardiner Houlgate records a 14K-gold riveted Oyster bracelet stamped “4 70”; its partial case number may match Antiquorum's circa-1970 case 2,430,165, but Gardiner Houlgate does not print the full number. A bracelet stamp dates the bracelet, not the watch head.

Ineichen photographed its example on a black alligator strap with an Omega buckle and listed the watch as “watch only.” Its strap and buckle are Omega-branded. Gardiner Houlgate's pouch is an accompaniment to that lot; the sources do not establish standard packaging for the reference.

==Auction record==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! sale date
! auction
! example
! result
|-
| 2000
| Christie's, lot 238
| circa-1965, 14K gold, black baton dial, 26-jewel movement, 35 mm
| Not stated in the catalogue page
|-
| 27 October 2018
| Antiquorum Hong Kong, lot 295
| circa-1969, steel and 14K gold, bracelet ref. 7835, Cal. 1570, 33.7 mm
| HKD 21,250
|-
| 20 September 2023
| Gardiner Houlgate, lot 36
| circa-1970, 14K gold, silvered dial, partial case number 2430xxx, riveted bracelet stamped 4 70
| Result not shown on lot page
|-
| 8–9 November 2025
| Antiquorum Geneva, lot 224
| circa-1970, 14K gold, case 2,430,165, Cal. 1570, 26 jewels, 35 mm; possibly the Gardiner Houlgate watch
| CHF 13,750
|-
| 25 June 2026
| Ineichen, lot 14
| circa-1969, steel and 18K-gold bezel, silver sector dial, Cal. 1570, 35 mm
| CHF 3,400 hammer
|}

==Gallery==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 1038 hero.webp|Steel-and-gold example catalogued by Ineichen, lot 14
File:Ref 1038 dial-detail.webp|Sector dial on the same example
File:Ref 1038 caseback.webp|Caseback view of the same example
</gallery>

== Sources ==

* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-1038-oyster-perpetual-zephyr-lot-316-295 "Antiquorum Hong Kong, 27 October 2018, lot 295 — Rolex ref. 1038", Antiquorum, 2018-10-27]
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-1038-oyster-perpetual-zephyr-lot-381-224 "Antiquorum Geneva, 8–9 November 2025, lot 224 — Rolex ref. 1038", Antiquorum, 2025-11-08]
* [https://ineichen.com/auctions/timed-123/14/ "Ineichen, 25 June 2026, lot 14 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1038", Ineichen Auctioneers, 2026-06-25]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1752923 "Christie's New York, 2000, lot 238 — Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 1038", Christie's, 2000]
* [https://auctions.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/catalogue/lot/03dc801ee229c37db51430f814d19b2e/63b778f7668dabe928d3800924a99077/watches-jewellery-lot-36/ "Gardiner Houlgate, 20 September 2023, lot 36 — Rolex ref. 1038", Gardiner Houlgate, 2023-09-20]
* [https://uhren-muser.de/catalogues/en/Crott_101_US.pdf "Dr. Crott, 101st Auction, 16 November 2019 — Rolex Zephyr catalogue note", Dr. Crott Auctioneers, 2019-11-16]
* [https://shop.hodinkee.com/products/1986-rolex-zephyr-in-steel-and-gold "Hodinkee Shop, circa-1986 Rolex Zephyr ref. 1038 listing", Hodinkee Shop]
* [https://www.sandersonandson.com/51828.shtml "Sanderson & Son, 2013 listing for a watch dated 1968, ref. 1038, archive no. 51828", Sanderson & Son, 2013]

[[Category:Oyster-Perpetual]]

Reference:1038 - Revision history

Admin: Add documented ref. 7835 bracelet image and update gallery

Admin: Add researched Oyster Perpetual Zephyr reference 1038