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Import reference 3078 article

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Reference 3078}}
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|title=Rolex Reference 3078 — Chronometre and Precision Records | Rolexopedia
|description=Auction records for Rolex ref. 3078: steel and gold cases, manual movements marked Superbalance or Ultra Prima, dial descriptions, and unresolved production dates.
|keywords=Rolex 3078, Rolex Chronometre 3078, Rolex Precision 3078, vintage Rolex, Superbalance, Ultra Prima
|image=Ref 3078 hero.webp
|image_alt=Rolex ref. 3078, 9ct gold round case with silvered Arabic dial and subsidiary seconds
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}}

<small>[[Reference:precision|Precision]] → '''3078'''</small>

<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref 3078 hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex ref. 3078 9ct gold watch with Arabic dial and subsidiary seconds|Rolex ref. 3078 catalogued by David Duggleby as a 9ct-gold Precision. Photo: David Duggleby.]]
</div>

Auction catalogues describe ref. 3078 as a manually wound round watch with subsidiary seconds. They call examples either Chronometre or Precision and list stainless-steel, 9ct-gold, and 18ct-gold cases. Catalogued dates range from circa 1935 to the 1950s, but these individual estimates do not define the production run.

==Core facts==

{| class="wikitable"
! Detail !! Documented record
|-
| Reference
| 3078
|-
| Type
| Manually wound round wristwatch with subsidiary seconds
|-
| Case materials
| Stainless steel, 9ct gold, and 18ct gold in auction catalogues
|-
| Reported dimensions
| 29 mm or 30 mm, depending on the listed example
|-
| Movement descriptions
| 17-jewel movements marked Patented Superbalance; 18-jewel Ultra Prima chronometers timed to six positions. No numbered caliber is established.
|-
| Dial descriptions
| Silvered Arabic dials; one two-tone silvered dial with batons and Arabic quarters; one refinished silvered dial with gilt Arabic numerals
|-
| Date evidence
| Christie's dates individual examples circa 1935 and to the 1950s. Other catalogues report 1937 import marks or estimate circa 1938. These are not production endpoints.
|}

==Where it sits in the line==

Christie's calls its examples Chronometre; David Duggleby calls a 9ct-gold watch Precision. The [[Reference:precision|Precision overview]] distinguishes Precision wording from official chronometer certification. These listings leave the factory's family designation and each watch's certification status unresolved. [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1817451 Christie's, Live Auction 8802, lot 646] [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-892250 Christie's, ref. 3078, 1937] [https://www.davidduggleby.com/auctions/2300/Jewellery-Watches/104955/ David Duggleby, lot 2177]

==Production outline==

Christie's dates a stainless-steel example to circa 1935. Two 9ct-gold records carry import marks dated 1937: Christie's reports Dublin marks, and David Duggleby reports Glasgow marks. Osenat's 2024 catalogue estimates a gold example at circa 1938. Christie's dates an 18ct-gold example to the 1950s. These dates refer to separate catalogue statements and case marks; they do not show continuous production across that span. [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1817451 Christie's, circa-1935 steel example] [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-892250 Christie's, Dublin marks] [https://www.davidduggleby.com/auctions/2300/Jewellery-Watches/104955/ David Duggleby, Glasgow marks] [https://www.gazette-drouot.com/ventes-aux-encheres/160199--montres-de-collection Osenat sale catalogue] [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1572832 Christie's, 1950s example]

==Movement notes==

The reported movements are manual-wind. Christie's describes two 18-jewel Ultra Prima chronometers timed to six positions. Its circa-1935 steel lot specifies a nickel-finished movement; the 1950s gold lot uses the same Ultra Prima name. Christie's and David Duggleby also record 17-jewel movements marked Patented Superbalance. The Duggleby movement photograph shows that wording, but none of the reviewed records establishes a numbered caliber or a movement change during production. [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1817451 Christie's, lot 646] [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-892250 Christie's, 1937] [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1572832 Christie's, lot 344] [https://www.davidduggleby.com/auctions/2300/Jewellery-Watches/104955/ David Duggleby, lot 2177]

[[File:Ref 3078 movement-detail.webp|thumb|right|220px|The photographed movement is marked 17 jewels and Patented Superbalance. Photo: David Duggleby.]]

==Dial map==

Arabic numerals and subsidiary seconds recur in the catalogue descriptions. Christie's circa-1935 steel example has a two-tone silvered dial with baton markers, Arabic quarters, and luminous hands. Its 1937 9ct-gold example has a silvered Arabic dial. The 1950s 18ct-gold lot has gilt Arabic numerals on a silvered dial that Christie's identifies as refinished. Duggleby's photograph shows visible aging; the image alone does not establish whether that dial is original. [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1817451 Christie's, lot 646] [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-892250 Christie's, 1937] [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1572832 Christie's, lot 344]

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

The listed cases are round and measure 29 or 30 mm. Christie's describes snap-on backs on its examples. Its catalogue records one stainless-steel case and gold cases in both 9ct and 18ct; the available listings do not establish whether every material was offered throughout the reference's life. The records give little detail about bezel profiles, crystals, or crowns.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 3078 caseback.webp|Outer caseback; the catalogue caption reports markings 3789/3078. Photo: David Duggleby.
File:Ref 3078 inner-caseback.webp|Inside of the caseback with hallmarks. Photo: David Duggleby.
</gallery>

==Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging==

Osenat's circa-1938 listing describes a 30 mm 18ct-gold watch on a Milanese bracelet it calls original; Green Auctioneers' 2025 listing describes a similar ref. 3078 with an 18ct-gold bracelet. Osenat calls its dial two-tone, while Green calls its three-tone. Neither listing gives a case number, so the records may be repeat appearances of one watch or two similar examples. They do not establish a standard ref. 3078 bracelet fitment. Other reviewed listings provide no end-link or clasp specification. [https://www.gazette-drouot.com/ventes-aux-encheres/160199--montres-de-collection Osenat, 15 December 2024, lot 42] [https://bid.green-auctioneers.com/lots/view/5-1R7V9E/rolex-chronometre-bracelet-watch-3-tone-dial-circa-1938 Green Auctioneers, lot 30]

==Historical market and auction record==

{| class="wikitable"
! Sale record !! Catalogue description !! Result
|-
| Christie's, Live Auction 8802, lot 646
| Circa-1935 stainless-steel Chronometre, 30 mm
| Sale date and result not shown on the accessible page
|-
| Christie's, ref. 3078, 1937
| 9ct gold, 30 mm; Dublin import marks dated 1937
| Sale details not shown on the accessible page
|-
| Christie's, 22 September 1999, lot 344
| 18ct gold, 29 mm; dated to the 1950s; refinished dial
| Result not shown on the accessible page
|-
| David Duggleby, 4 July 2024, lot 2177
| 9ct gold, 29 mm; Glasgow import marks dated 1937; catalogue caption gives 3789/3078
| Sold for £700
|-
| Osenat, 15 December 2024, lot 42
| Circa-1938, 18ct gold, 30 mm; two-tone dial; Milanese bracelet described as original (19 cm); gross weight 54.7 g; family watch, first hand
| Result not confirmed here
|-
| Green Auctioneers, 25 April 2025, lot 30
| Circa-1938, 18ct gold, 30 mm; three-tone dial and gold bracelet. May repeat the Osenat listing.
| Result not confirmed here
|-
| Cheffins, 20 November 2025, lot 188
| Early steel model 3078, serial 035975; white Arabic dial and subsidiary seconds
| Sold for £400
|}

Christie's page for the 1937 9ct-gold watch does not expose its sale date in the current record. Cheffins' archived sale catalogue lists lot 188 as model 3078, serial 035975, sold for £400; its separate lot-detail page is unavailable. The available material does not show whether Cheffins' watch is the same steel example Christie's dated circa 1935. [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-892250 Christie's, 1937] [https://fineart.cheffins.co.uk/auction/search/?au=2050&g=-1&pn=19 Cheffins, 20 November 2025 sale catalogue]

== Gallery ==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 3078 hero.webp|9ct-gold ref. 3078, catalogued by David Duggleby. Photo: David Duggleby.
File:Ref 3078 movement-detail.webp|17-jewel movement marked Patented Superbalance. Photo: David Duggleby.
File:Ref 3078 caseback.webp|Outer caseback. Photo: David Duggleby.
File:Ref 3078 inner-caseback.webp|Inner caseback and hallmarks. Photo: David Duggleby.
</gallery>

== Sources ==

* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1817451 Christie's, "Christie's — stainless-steel Rolex Chronometre ref. 3078, Live Auction 8802, lot 646", Christie's]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-892250 Christie's, "Christie's — Rolex ref. 3078, 9ct gold, 1937", Christie's]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1572832 Christie's, "Christie's — Rolex ref. 3078, 18ct gold chronometer", Christie's, 1999-09-22]
* [https://www.davidduggleby.com/auctions/2300/Jewellery-Watches/104955/ David Duggleby, "David Duggleby — Rolex Precision ref. 3078, 9ct gold, lot 2177", David Duggleby, 2024-07-04]
* [https://www.gazette-drouot.com/ventes-aux-encheres/160199--montres-de-collection Osenat, "Gazette Drouot / Osenat, Collector's Watches, 15 December 2024, lot 42 — Rolex Chronometre ref. 3078", Gazette Drouot / Osenat, 2024-12-15]
* [https://bid.green-auctioneers.com/lots/view/5-1R7V9E/rolex-chronometre-bracelet-watch-3-tone-dial-circa-1938 Green Auctioneers, "Green Auctioneers — Rolex Chronometre ref. 3078, lot 30", Green Auctioneers, 2025-04-25]
* [https://fineart.cheffins.co.uk/auction/search/?au=2050&g=-1&pn=19 Cheffins, "Cheffins — early steel Rolex wristwatch, model 3078, serial 035975, lot 188", Cheffins, 2025-11-20]
* [https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/0b5fdf83/files/uploaded/1.0%20RolexBook-23Mar.pdf ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra]

[[Category:Precision]]

Reference:3078 - Revision history

Admin: Import reference 3078 article