Admin: Publish researched Rolex Oyster reference 3116 article

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Publish researched Rolex Oyster reference 3116 article

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Oyster 3116}}
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|title=Rolex Oyster 3116: Dial Names, Case Variants and Movement Evidence | Rolexopedia
|description=Auction records for Rolex Oyster ref. 3116 document several dial names, tonneau cases, manual movements, and dated examples from the 1930s and 1940s.
|keywords=Rolex 3116, Oyster Viceroy, Oyster Royal, Imperial Chronometre, Speedking Precision
|image=Ref_3116_hero.webp
|image_alt=Stainless-steel Rolex Oyster ref. 3116 with a black two-time-scale dial, center seconds and a steel bracelet, Christie's case 123226.
|type=Article
|og_type=article
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<small>Oyster [[:Category:Oyster|references]] → '''3116'''</small>
<div class="rp-lead">[[File:Ref_3116_hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Stainless-steel Rolex Oyster ref. 3116 with a black two-time-scale dial, center seconds and a steel bracelet|Christie's, New York, 2008, sale no. 1992, lot 223, case 123226]]</div>

Ref. 3116 is a manual-wind Oyster case sold under several dial names, including Royal, Viceroy, Imperial, Elégante, and Speedking Precision. Auction records show tonneau cases in steel, gold, gilt, and two-tone finishes, with both centre and subsidiary seconds. Christie's dates a pink-gold Chronometre with a copper Roman-and-Arabic dial to circa 1934; other catalogues place examples in the 1940s. The records date individual examples from circa 1934 into the 1940s; the reference's production limits remain open.<ref name="christies-1934">[https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5091712 Christie's, ref. 3116, case 56735.]</ref><ref name="antiquorum-2006">[https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-7 Antiquorum, The Mondani Collection, Geneva, 14 May 2006, lot 7.]</ref><ref name="christies-1930s">[https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-203952 Christie's, ref. 3116, case 42169.]</ref>

==Core facts==

{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
|-
! Detail
! Evidence
|-
| Reference
| 3116, identified in auction descriptions and on catalogued cases.<ref name="antiquorum-2006"/><ref name="christies-2008"/>
|-
| Case
| Tonneau or barrel-shaped, with screw-down back and crown in several descriptions.<ref name="antiquorum-2006"/><ref name="christies-1930s"/>
|-
| Materials
| Stainless steel, 9ct and 14K gold, pink gold, gilt steel, and gold with steel appear in individual lots.<ref name="christies-1930s"/><ref name="christies-1934"/><ref name="christies-viceroy">[https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1022791 Christie's, Oyster Viceroy ref. 3116, case 156620.]</ref>
|-
| Movement
| Manual winding appears in multiple auction records; caliber assignments remain unresolved.<ref name="christies-1934"/><ref name="antiquorum-2022"/>
|-
| Dials
| Royal, Viceroy, Imperial, Imperial Chronometre, Speedking Precision, and other names appear on individual examples.<ref name="antiquorum-2006"/><ref name="christies-imperial"/>
|-
| Seconds
| Both centre and subsidiary seconds are documented.<ref name="antiquorum-2006"/><ref name="christies-2008"/>
|-
| Production
| Auction catalogues date individual examples from circa 1934 into the 1940s. The records leave the production endpoints open.<ref name="christies-1934"/><ref name="antiquorum-2022"/>
|}

==Where it sits in the line==

Auction catalogues use several names for ref. 3116. Antiquorum's 2006 catalogue says 3116 watches were marketed as Royal, Viceroy, Imperial, Imperial Chronometer, and Observatory Chronometer; its 2022 sale also records an Elégante.<ref name="antiquorum-2006"/><ref name="antiquorum-2022"/> Christie's records add Oyster Imperial Chronometre, Oyster Perpetual Chronometre, Oyster Speedking Precision, and Viceroy Chronometer examples.<ref name="christies-speedking">[https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1817373 Christie's, Oyster Speedking Precision ref. 3116.]</ref><ref name="christies-imperial">[https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1640970 Christie's, Oyster Imperial Chronometre ref. 3116.]</ref><ref name="christies-pink-viceroy">[https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-203953 Christie's, Oyster Viceroy Chronometer ref. 3116, case 46799.]</ref><ref name="christies-1934"/>

==Production outline==

Catalogue estimates date individual watches from circa 1934 into the 1940s. Christie's dates case 56735 to circa 1934 and case 123226 to circa 1935; Antiquorum dates case 148000 to 1940 and case 169836 to circa 1942. Christie's dates case 46799 to the 1940s.<ref name="christies-1934"/><ref name="christies-2008">[https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5057895 Christie's, New York, 2008, sale no. 1992, lot 223.]</ref><ref name="antiquorum-2006"/><ref name="antiquorum-2022">[https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-3116-oyster-elegante-lot-346-325 Antiquorum, Geneva, 3 January 2022, lot 325.]</ref><ref name="christies-pink-viceroy"/>

Christie's records a Glasgow import mark dated 1937 on 9ct-gold case 42169. The mark dates the import record for that case.<ref name="christies-1930s"/>

==Movement notes==

Several auction descriptions identify manual-wind movements; caliber assignments remain unresolved. Christie's describes a 10½-line, 15-jewel movement with Superbalance in case 56735; Antiquorum gives a 10-line, 17-jewel Superbalance for case 169836. Other records describe an Ultra Prima chronometer movement on case 42169, a 17-jewel movement on gilt case 156620, and 18-jewel chronometer movements in its Speedking Precision and Imperial Chronometre examples.<ref name="christies-1934"/><ref name="antiquorum-2022"/><ref name="antiquorum-2006"/><ref name="christies-1930s"/><ref name="christies-viceroy"/><ref name="christies-speedking"/><ref name="christies-imperial"/> Sotheby's lists a 17-jewel mechanical movement stamped ROW on its 2026 pink-gold example.<ref name="sothebys-2026"/> Adjustment descriptions also vary: Antiquorum gives two positions for cases 148000 and 169836, Christie's gives six for its Speedking and Imperial examples and seven for case 46799.<ref name="christies-pink-viceroy"/>

Antiquorum dates case 148000 to 1940 and separately dates calibre 700 to 1944–1951. Its entry leaves the movement in case 148000 unidentified, so the calibre date remains separate from the watch's date.<ref name="antiquorum-2006"/>

[[File:Ref_3116_movement.webp|thumb|right|230px|alt=Open Rolex ref. 3116 case 169836 showing its manual movement|Antiquorum, 2022, case 169836: the bridge is marked 17 jewels and Superbalance.]]

==Dial map==

The entries below record dial names and layouts on individual catalogued watches.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Dial name or description
! Documented example
|-
| Royal
| Case 148000: two-tone champagne dial, dot and Roman markers, outer minute track, and subsidiary seconds.<ref name="antiquorum-2006"/>
|-
| Viceroy
| Case 123226: black two-time-scale dial with luminous Arabic numerals and center seconds.<ref name="christies-2008"/>
|-
| Viceroy Chronometer
| Pink-gold case 46799: black dial with pink-gold Roman quarter markers, dot minute indexes, and subsidiary seconds.<ref name="christies-pink-viceroy"/>
|-
| Viceroy
| Gilt case 156620: pink-gilt dial with alternating batons and Arabic numerals, center seconds.<ref name="christies-viceroy"/>
|-
| Oyster Perpetual Chronometre
| Pink-gold case 56735: copper-colored dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, outer minute track, and sweep seconds.<ref name="christies-1934"/>
|-
| Pink-gold Oyster
| Sotheby's 2026 ref. 3116: pink dial, large quarter numerals, and a 17-jewel mechanical movement stamped ROW.<ref name="sothebys-2026">[https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2026/fine-watches/reference-3116-a-pink-gold-gold-cushion-shaped?locale=zh-Hant Sotheby's, Fine Watches, 17 June 2026, lot 407.]</ref>
|-
| Oyster Elégante
| Case 169836: silver-colored dial with suspended luminous Arabic numerals, radial indexes, and center seconds.<ref name="antiquorum-2022"/>
|-
| Viceroy
| Gold-and-steel case: black dial with luminous triangular, Roman, baton, and Arabic numerals, plus subsidiary seconds.<ref name="christies-two-tone">[https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-3892848 Christie's, gold-and-steel Oyster Viceroy ref. 3116.]</ref>
|-
| Imperial Chronometre
| Christie's Johannesburg retailer-signed dial: silvered, with Arabic numerals and subsidiary seconds.<ref name="christies-imperial"/>
|-
| Speedking Precision
| Christie's describes a silvered luminous-Arabic dial with center seconds.<ref name="christies-speedking"/>
|}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref_3116_dial-variant-royal.webp|Antiquorum, 2006, case 148000: Royal dial with subsidiary seconds
File:Ref_3116_dial-variant-sothebys-2026.webp|Sotheby's, 2026, ref. 3116: pink dial in a 14K pink-gold case
</gallery>

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

The case is tonneau-shaped, with screw-down backs and crowns in the auction descriptions. Christie's gives gilt case 156620 as 30 mm in diameter and other watches in length-by-width measurements such as 39 x 29 mm.<ref name="christies-viceroy"/><ref name="christies-pink-viceroy"/><ref name="christies-speedking"/> The documented case-metal combinations vary:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Case material or combination
! Example
|-
| Stainless steel
| Royal case 148000 and Viceroy case 123226.<ref name="antiquorum-2006"/><ref name="christies-2008"/>
|-
| 9ct gold
| Case 42169.<ref name="christies-1930s"/>
|-
| 14K pink gold
| Oyster Perpetual Chronometre case 56735 and Sotheby's 2026 lot 407.<ref name="christies-1934"/><ref name="sothebys-2026"/>
|-
| Gilt case with steel screwback
| Viceroy case 156620.<ref name="christies-viceroy"/>
|-
| Gold case with steel screwback and gilt crown
| Viceroy, circa 1940; Christie's gives a 38 mm case length.<ref name="christies-two-tone"/>
|}

Christie's describes cases 42169 and 46799 as three-piece cases; Antiquorum calls case 148000 three-body. Christie's notes a chamfered bezel on 42169 and a raised polished bezel on its gold-and-steel Viceroy. The lot describes a domed crystal and leaves its material unspecified.<ref name="christies-1930s"/><ref name="christies-pink-viceroy"/><ref name="antiquorum-2006"/><ref name="christies-two-tone"/><ref name="christies-1934"/>

[[File:Ref_3116_caseback.webp|thumb|right|230px|alt=Stainless-steel screwback of Rolex ref. 3116 case 169836, with case number visible|Antiquorum, 2022, case 169836: numbered steel screwback.]]

==Bracelets, end links, and clasps==

Christie's photographed case 123226 at two sales. The 2008 lot shows it on a steel bracelet with a Rolex box; the 2011 sale-room notice identifies its steel-and-pink-gold rice-grain Gay Frères bracelet as retailed by Serpico y Laino.<ref name="christies-2008"/><ref name="christies-2011">[https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5454569 Christie's, Important Watches, sale 2453, lot 116.]</ref> Both records use the same case number, so they document one watch with two photographed bracelet configurations. The bracelet's fitting date is unknown.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref_3116_hero.webp|Christie's, 2008, case 123226: steel bracelet and Rolex box
File:Ref_3116_bracelet-variant-two-tone.webp|Christie's, 2011, same case 123226: steel-and-pink-gold Gay Frères bracelet
</gallery>

==Special branches==

Christie's records “Chas. Greig & Son, Johannesburg” on an Imperial Chronometre dial, identifying that example's retailer.<ref name="christies-imperial"/>

==Historical market and auction record==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Sale
! Lot or case
! Catalogue description
|-
| Christie's
| Case 56735
| 14K pink-gold Oyster Perpetual Chronometre, copper Roman-and-Arabic dial.<ref name="christies-1934"/>
|-
| Antiquorum, Geneva, 14 May 2006
| Lot 7, case 148000
| Stainless-steel Royal, two-tone champagne dial, subsidiary seconds.<ref name="antiquorum-2006"/>
|-
| Christie's
| Case 42169
| 9ct gold Oyster, silvered subsidiary-seconds dial; Glasgow import mark 1937.<ref name="christies-1930s"/>
|-
| Christie's
| Case 46799
| Pink-gold Viceroy Chronometer, black dial, subsidiary seconds.<ref name="christies-pink-viceroy"/>
|-
| Christie's
| Case 156620
| Gilt Viceroy, pink-gilt dial, center seconds.<ref name="christies-viceroy"/>
|-
| Christie's
| Lot 223, case 123226
| Black-dial Viceroy, center seconds; Rolex box.<ref name="christies-2008"/>
|-
| Christie's
| Lot 116, same case 123226
| Repeat sale; steel-and-pink-gold Gay Frères bracelet noted.<ref name="christies-2011"/>
|-
| Christie's
| Speedking Precision
| Steel case, silvered luminous-Arabic dial, centre seconds.<ref name="christies-speedking"/>
|-
| Christie's
| Imperial Chronometre
| Steel case, signed for Chas. Greig & Son.<ref name="christies-imperial"/>
|-
| Antiquorum, Geneva, 3 January 2022
| Lot 325, case 169836
| Stainless-steel Elégante, silver dial, suspended luminous numerals.<ref name="antiquorum-2022"/>
|-
| Christie's
| Oyster Viceroy
| Gold case, steel screwback, black mixed-numeral dial.<ref name="christies-two-tone"/>
|-
| Sotheby's, Fine Watches, 17 June 2026
| Lot 407
| 14K pink-gold ref. 3116, pink dial, 17-jewel mechanical movement.<ref name="sothebys-2026"/>
|}

Antiquorum records CHF 7,080 for the 2006 Royal and CHF 2,750 for the 2022 Elégante.

Christie's lots 223 and 116 are repeat appearances of case 123226. They count as one watch in the example record.

==Gallery==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref_3116_hero.webp|Christie's, 2008, case 123226: black two-time-scale dial and center seconds
File:Ref_3116_dial-variant-royal.webp|Antiquorum, 2006, case 148000: Royal dial with subsidiary seconds
File:Ref_3116_bracelet-variant-two-tone.webp|Christie's, 2011, same case 123226: Gay Frères bracelet noted as Serpico y Laino retail
File:Ref_3116_movement.webp|Antiquorum, 2022, case 169836: 17-jewel manual movement marked Superbalance
File:Ref_3116_caseback.webp|Antiquorum, 2022, case 169836: numbered screwback
File:Ref_3116_dial-variant-sothebys-2026.webp|Sotheby's, 2026, lot 407: 14K pink-gold ref. 3116 with pink dial
</gallery>

== Sources ==

* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-7 Antiquorum, "Antiquorum Geneva, The Mondani Collection, Lot 7 — Rolex ref. 3116 Royal, case 148000", Antiquorum, 2006-05-14]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5057895 Christie's, "Christie's — ref. 3116, case 123226, New York 2008, sale no. 1992, lot 223", Christie's]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5454569 Christie's, "Christie's — ref. 3116, case 123226, Important Watches sale 2453, lot 116", Christie's, 2011-06-15]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-203952 Christie's, "Christie's — Rolex Oyster ref. 3116, 9ct gold, case 42169", Christie's]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-203953 Christie's, "Christie's — Rolex Oyster Viceroy Chronometer ref. 3116, pink-gold case 46799", Christie's]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1022791 Christie's, "Christie's — Rolex Oyster Viceroy ref. 3116, gilt case 156620", Christie's]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1817373 Christie's, "Christie's — Rolex Oyster Speedking Precision ref. 3116, circa 1940", Christie's]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1640970 Christie's, "Christie's — Rolex Oyster Imperial Chronometre ref. 3116, circa 1940", Christie's]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5091712 Christie's, "Christie's — Rolex Oyster Perpetual Chronometre ref. 3116, case 56735, circa 1934", Christie's]
* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-3116-oyster-elegante-lot-346-325 Antiquorum, "Antiquorum, Geneva, 3 January 2022, lot 325 — Rolex Oyster Elégante ref. 3116, case 169836", Antiquorum, 2022-01-03]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-3892848 Christie's, "Christie's — gold-and-steel Rolex Oyster Viceroy ref. 3116, circa 1940", Christie's]
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2026/fine-watches/reference-3116-a-pink-gold-gold-cushion-shaped?locale=zh-Hant Sotheby's, "Sotheby's, Fine Watches, 17 June 2026, lot 407 — Rolex ref. 3116, pink-gold cushion-shaped watch", Sotheby's, 2026-06-17]

[[Category:Oyster]]

Reference:3116 - Revision history

Admin: Publish researched Rolex Oyster reference 3116 article