Reference:3131 - Revision history

Admin: site-wide: layout classes (core-facts card, breadcrumb, entry-point cards)

2026-09-05T01:21:14Z

site-wide: layout classes (core-facts card, breadcrumb, entry-point cards)

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	<small>[[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback]] -> '''3131'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback]] › '''3131'''</small>

	The 3131 is the reference where the Bubbleback grows up. Three years after ref 1858 introduced the Perpetual rotor in an Oyster case, Rolex simplified the case architecture. In 1936 the 3131 and its sweep-seconds twin 3132 arrive with a two-piece Oyster: the caseback screws directly into the case middle, and the separate bezel ring disappears. From that point forward every Rolex Oyster of consequence uses the same two-piece logic. The 3131 is the hinge on which that transition turns. It is also, deliberately and exclusively, a precious-metal watch.		The 3131 is the reference where the Bubbleback grows up. Three years after ref 1858 introduced the Perpetual rotor in an Oyster case, Rolex simplified the case architecture. In 1936 the 3131 and its sweep-seconds twin 3132 arrive with a two-piece Oyster: the caseback screws directly into the case middle, and the separate bezel ring disappears. From that point forward every Rolex Oyster of consequence uses the same two-piece logic. The 3131 is the hinge on which that transition turns. It is also, deliberately and exclusively, a precious-metal watch.
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	== Core facts ==		== Core facts ==

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable rp-facts"
	\|-		\|-
	! detail		! detail

Admin: site-wide: domain move BezelBase → Rolexopedia (rolexopedia.net)

2026-09-05T00:37:20Z

site-wide: domain move BezelBase → Rolexopedia (rolexopedia.net)

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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 3131 Bubbleback}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 3131 Bubbleback}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Bubbleback 3131 (1936–1948) — Production & Dial Guide \| ~~BezelBase~~		\|title=Rolex Bubbleback 3131 (1936–1948) — Production & Dial Guide \| Rolexopedia
	\|description=The 3131 is the reference where the Bubbleback grows up. Three years after ref 1858 introduced the Perpetual rotor in an Oyster case, Rolex simplified the…		\|description=The 3131 is the reference where the Bubbleback grows up. Three years after ref 1858 introduced the Perpetual rotor in an Oyster case, Rolex simplified the…
	\|keywords=Rolex, 3131, Bubbleback, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 3131, Bubbleback, specifications, reference guide

Admin: Cleanup: remove Chevalier mis-citation, fold/remove research-meta sections per CLAUDE.md rules 7 and 9

2026-08-23T20:13:52Z

Cleanup: remove Chevalier mis-citation, fold/remove research-meta sections per CLAUDE.md rules 7 and 9

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	Earlier Bubblebacks used a more complex case construction. The 3131 simplifies it to the two-piece form that becomes the main Bubbleback case standard, and that is one of the reference's real structural contributions.		Earlier Bubblebacks used a more complex case construction. The 3131 simplifies it to the two-piece form that becomes the main Bubbleback case standard, and that is one of the reference's real structural contributions.

	Within its own production run, the 3131 does not evolve in the way the 1016 Explorer or the 5513 Submariner do. It is a shorter-lived reference. Surviving examples span roughly 1936 through the late 1940s, and the variation happens in dials, hands, and case materials rather than in generations of movements or case revisions. The 3131 and 3132 were sold side by side. A buyer in 1938 could choose subsidiary seconds or sweep seconds in the same case, at roughly the same price, in the same metals. Most surviving examples across both references are in comparable states of scarcity, with the sub-seconds 3131 slightly more commonly encountered at auction.		Within its own production run, the 3131 does not evolve in the way the 1016 Explorer or the 5513 Submariner do. It is a shorter-lived reference. Surviving examples span roughly 1936 through the late 1940s, and the variation happens in dials, hands, and case materials rather than in generations of movements or case revisions. The 3131 and 3132 were sold side by side. A buyer in 1938 could choose subsidiary seconds or sweep seconds in the same case, at roughly the same price, in the same metals. Most surviving examples across both references are in comparable states of scarcity, with the sub-seconds 3131 slightly more commonly encountered at auction. Whether that gap reflects original production ratios or differential survival is not documented; the sweep-seconds 3132 carries an indirect centre-seconds drive that may simply have drawn more service intervention over eighty years.

	<span id="the-transition-it-completes"></span>		<span id="the-transition-it-completes"></span>

Admin: Text audit: strip bold used for narrative emphasis (CLAUDE.md rule #8)

2026-08-08T21:45:08Z

Text audit: strip bold used for narrative emphasis (CLAUDE.md rule #8)

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	The Vintage Rolex Field Manual's Bubbleback suffix system applies to the 3131. Within the precious-metal-only corpus, the relevant variants are:		The Vintage Rolex Field Manual's Bubbleback suffix system applies to the 3131. Within the precious-metal-only corpus, the relevant variants are:

	* ~~'''~~3131/7~~'''~~ — solid gold (yellow or rose; color not encoded in the suffix)		* 3131/7 — solid gold (yellow or rose; color not encoded in the suffix)
	* ~~'''~~3131/8~~'''~~ — alternate solid gold (typically used to distinguish karat, e.g. 14K vs 18K)		* 3131/8 — alternate solid gold (typically used to distinguish karat, e.g. 14K vs 18K)

	The suffix codes were period-authentic (Rolex used them internally on parts lists and service paperwork c.1933–1953) but were rarely engraved on casebacks. Most surviving 3131 casebacks carry only the four-digit "3131" without the slash variant. The suffix must be inferred from the hallmarks and dial rather than read off the case directly. A seller claiming a specific /7 or /8 variant without hallmark documentation should be treated cautiously.		The suffix codes were period-authentic (Rolex used them internally on parts lists and service paperwork c.1933–1953) but were rarely engraved on casebacks. Most surviving 3131 casebacks carry only the four-digit "3131" without the slash variant. The suffix must be inferred from the hallmarks and dial rather than read off the case directly. A seller claiming a specific /7 or /8 variant without hallmark documentation should be treated cautiously.

Admin: Fix: remove banned dealer name from body prose per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5

2026-08-08T18:15:53Z

Fix: remove banned dealer name from body prose per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5

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	The Phillips NY 2022 result is the headline data point. A 14K YG 3131 sold for USD 18,900 against an estimate of USD 8,000–16,000, on a watch that retained its original Rolex hangtag (the small paper card affixed at the factory and typically removed by the first owner on receipt). Hangtag survival on a mid-1940s Rolex is extraordinary; it effectively pushes the watch into a provenance tier above its configuration peers.		The Phillips NY 2022 result is the headline data point. A 14K YG 3131 sold for USD 18,900 against an estimate of USD 8,000–16,000, on a watch that retained its original Rolex hangtag (the small paper card affixed at the factory and typically removed by the first owner on receipt). Hangtag survival on a mid-1940s Rolex is extraordinary; it effectively pushes the watch into a provenance tier above its configuration peers.

	The two Sotheby's 2020 lots sit at more typical market levels. Both were estimated in the low-to-mid four-figure CHF range, which maps reasonably onto broader dealer pricing for the reference. ~~Collectors Square~~ data covering the same period shows 3131 examples trading in the EUR 2,516–5,100 range, suggesting that the reference's baseline market for unrestored original-dial examples in good condition sits in roughly the EUR 3,000–5,000 / CHF 3,000–6,000 band. Premium-tier examples (hangtag survival, exceptional dial condition, early production 18K PG on original bracelet) can reach the USD 15,000–20,000 range observed at Phillips.		The two Sotheby's 2020 lots sit at more typical market levels. Both were estimated in the low-to-mid four-figure CHF range, which maps reasonably onto broader dealer pricing for the reference. Dealer-market data covering the same period shows 3131 examples trading in the EUR 2,516–5,100 range, suggesting that the reference's baseline market for unrestored original-dial examples in good condition sits in roughly the EUR 3,000–5,000 / CHF 3,000–6,000 band. Premium-tier examples (hangtag survival, exceptional dial condition, early production 18K PG on original bracelet) can reach the USD 15,000–20,000 range observed at Phillips.

	<span id="case-number-observations"></span>		<span id="case-number-observations"></span>

Admin: Fix ligne-mark bold bug: replace ''' with ′′′ prime marks

2026-08-08T17:59:26Z

Fix ligne-mark bold bug: replace ''' with ′′′ prime marks

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:59, 8 August 2026
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	\|-		\|-
	\| movement		\| movement
	\| Cal. 620 (~~9¾'''~~ NA, sub-seconds at 6)		\| Cal. 620 (9¾′′′ NA, sub-seconds at 6)
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	\| companion reference		\| companion reference
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	== The Cal. 620 ==		== The Cal. 620 ==

	Cal. 620 is a ~~9¾'''~~ automatic movement with 17 jewels, 18,000 bph, and a 35–41 hour power reserve depending on rotor winding state. The movement blank measures 26.4mm in diameter by 7.5mm in height, wider and flatter than it looks given how much of the 3131's perceived thickness comes from the caseback dome rather than the movement itself.		Cal. 620 is a 9¾′′′ automatic movement with 17 jewels, 18,000 bph, and a 35–41 hour power reserve depending on rotor winding state. The movement blank measures 26.4mm in diameter by 7.5mm in height, wider and flatter than it looks given how much of the 3131's perceived thickness comes from the caseback dome rather than the movement itself.

	Architecturally, cal. 620 is the next step after cal. 520. The useful point is that it improves balance stability and winding efficiency, which is why the 3131 carries a more pronounced Bubbleback dome than the earliest 1858 generation.		Architecturally, cal. 620 is the next step after cal. 520. The useful point is that it improves balance stability and winding efficiency, which is why the 3131 carries a more pronounced Bubbleback dome than the earliest 1858 generation.

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2026-08-04T00:20:17Z

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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 3131 Bubbleback}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 3131 Bubbleback}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Bubbleback 3131 (1936–1948) — Production & Dial Guide \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex Bubbleback 3131 (1936–1948) — Production & Dial Guide \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 3131 is the reference where the Bubbleback grows up. Three years after ref 1858 introduced the Perpetual rotor in an Oyster case, Rolex simplified the…		\|description=The 3131 is the reference where the Bubbleback grows up. Three years after ref 1858 introduced the Perpetual rotor in an Oyster case, Rolex simplified the…
	\|keywords=Rolex, 3131, Bubbleback, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 3131, Bubbleback, specifications, reference guide
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Klaudiusz: Internal linking: related references + component links

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	The market sits in roughly the EUR 3,000–5,000 / CHF 3,000–6,000 range for standard-dial, good-condition examples, rising to USD 15,000–20,000 for exceptionally preserved examples with hangtag or bracelet survival. Solid 18K PG examples with pink dials on original bracelets represent the top of the type-specific market; 9K and 14K examples with refinished dials represent the bottom. Between those poles, most 3131 activity happens in the mid-four-figure band.		The market sits in roughly the EUR 3,000–5,000 / CHF 3,000–6,000 range for standard-dial, good-condition examples, rising to USD 15,000–20,000 for exceptionally preserved examples with hangtag or bracelet survival. Solid 18K PG examples with pink dials on original bracelets represent the top of the type-specific market; 9K and 14K examples with refinished dials represent the bottom. Between those poles, most 3131 activity happens in the mid-four-figure band.


			== Related references ==

			* [[Reference:2764\|Bubbleback 2764]] — 1937–1948
			* [[Reference:3458\|Bubbleback 3458]] — 1934–1948
			* [[Reference:3065\|Bubbleback 3065]] — 1937–1950
			* [[Reference:2940\|Bubbleback 2940]] — 1940–1949
			* [[Reference:3595\|Bubbleback 3595]] — 1941–1949
			* [[Reference:4467\|Bubbleback 4467]] — 1945–1949

			See also the [[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback family index]], [[Reference:Movements\|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|serial numbers by year]].

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

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