Reference:3548 - Revision history

Klaudiusz: Remove standalone gallery heading and standardize breadcrumb separator

2026-09-29T04:08:07Z

Remove standalone gallery heading and standardize breadcrumb separator

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:08, 29 September 2026
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	}}		}}

	<small>[[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback]] ~~->~~ '''3548'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback]] › '''3548'''</small>

	<div class="rp-lead">		<div class="rp-lead">
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	\| Bonhams, Paris, 24 May 2022 \|\| 268 \|\| movement 93792 \|\| Steel, salmon dial, centre seconds, date, folding clasp \|\| — \|\| €3,570		\| Bonhams, Paris, 24 May 2022 \|\| 268 \|\| movement 93792 \|\| Steel, salmon dial, centre seconds, date, folding clasp \|\| — \|\| €3,570
	\|}		\|}

	~~== Gallery ==~~

	<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">		<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">

Admin: Deep audit 3548: remove market extrapolation, qualify lot evidence, and correct image placement

2026-09-28T18:13:10Z

Deep audit 3548: remove market extrapolation, qualify lot evidence, and correct image placement

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:13, 28 September 2026
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	\|-		\|-
	\| movement		\| movement
	\| self-winding, chronometer~~-certified~~		\| self-winding; chronometer wording documented on cited lots
	\|-		\|-
	\| dial (documented)		\| dial (documented)
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	== Where it sits in the line ==		== Where it sits in the line ==

	"Empire" is a collector name, not a Rolex one, for a specific case profile: round rather than tonneau, but with distinctively elongated, sloped, rectangular lugs in place of the hooded-lug style common across the rest of the Bubbleback range. The 3548 is documented as the centre-seconds ~~standard~~ reference in this case style, paired with the sub-seconds 3716; a rose gold variant of the ~~same~~ case appears on ~~the~~ related 3877. ~~All are documented~~ as 32mm~~, round~~, and automatic ~~— the "bubble"~~ in Bubbleback refers to the domed caseback the ~~automatic~~ rotor ~~required, present regardless of the lug treatment~~.		"Empire" is a collector name, not a Rolex one, for a specific case profile: round rather than tonneau, but with distinctively elongated, sloped, rectangular lugs in place of the hooded-lug style common across the rest of the Bubbleback range. The 3548 is documented as the centre-seconds reference in this case style, paired with the sub-seconds 3716; a rose-gold variant of the case appears on related ref. 3877. The cited records describe these examples as round, about 32mm, and automatic. The “bubble” in Bubbleback refers to the domed caseback used for the rotor.

	<span id="production-outline"></span>		<span id="production-outline"></span>
	== Production outline ==		== Production outline ==

	A steel example sold at Antiquorum for CHF 9,375 (lot 477); a second steel example, movement no. 93792, dated circa 1943 by Bonhams, sold at the house's Paris sale on 24 May 2022 (sale 27810, lot 268) for €3,570. A rose gold example of the sibling case style (ref. 3877~~) sold at Antiquorum for over 50~~,~~000 CHF against a 6,000–10,000 CHF estimate — more than five times its high estimate — underscoring how sharply the market has moved on well-~~documented ~~"Empire" case examples~~ in ~~recent years~~.		A steel example sold at Antiquorum for CHF 9,375 (lot 477); a second steel example, movement no. 93792, dated circa 1943 by Bonhams, sold at the house's Paris sale on 24 May 2022 (sale 27810, lot 268) for €3,570. A rose-gold example of the sibling case style, ref. 3877, is documented separately in the auction record. Its sale does not establish a price rule for steel 3548 watches.

	<span id="movement-notes"></span>		<span id="movement-notes"></span>
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	File:Ref 3548 dial-detail.webp\|Dial detail: coronet signature, "Rolex Oyster Perpetual" and "Chronometre" text, Arabic numerals		File:Ref 3548 dial-detail.webp\|Dial detail: coronet signature, "Rolex Oyster Perpetual" and "Chronometre" text, Arabic numerals
	</gallery>		</gallery>



	<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>		<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>
	== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==		== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==

			32mm round stainless steel case, brushed and polished finish, screw-down case back and crown, and the elongated rectangular sloped lugs that define the "Empire" style. The cited 3548 examples share the round case and elongated sloped-lug profile. Other Oyster references from the period should be compared from their own case records rather than assumed to share this silhouette.

	[[File:Ref 3548 crown.webp\|thumb\|right\|220px\|alt=Rolex 3548 case flank and screw-down crown\|Case flank and screw-down crown, Bonhams sale 27810, lot 268 example]]		[[File:Ref 3548 crown.webp\|thumb\|right\|220px\|alt=Rolex 3548 case flank and screw-down crown\|Case flank and screw-down crown, Bonhams sale 27810, lot 268 example]]

	32mm round stainless steel case, brushed and polished finish, screw-down case back and crown, and the elongated rectangular sloped lugs that define the "Empire" style. The cited 3548 examples share the round case and elongated sloped-lug profile. Other Oyster references from the period should be compared from their own case records rather than assumed to share this silhouette.

	== Related references ==		== Related references ==

Klaudiusz: Anti-slop lint fix: removed dealer attribution from body prose.

2026-09-27T20:12:29Z

Anti-slop lint fix: removed dealer attribution from body prose.

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:12, 27 September 2026
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	</div>		</div>

	The 3548 is documented alongside the sub-seconds 3716 in the case style collectors call the “Empire” Oyster. The cited examples are round, about 32 mm, with elongated sloped lugs rather than the hooded-lug profile common on many Bubblebacks. ~~Goldammer's~~ case-history research describes the group as automatic and chronometer-marked; the auction records here establish those details only for the individual lots.		The 3548 is documented alongside the sub-seconds 3716 in the case style collectors call the “Empire” Oyster. The cited examples are round, about 32 mm, with elongated sloped lugs rather than the hooded-lug profile common on many Bubblebacks. Specialist case-history research describes the group as automatic and chronometer-marked; the auction records here establish those details only for the individual lots.

	<span id="core-facts"></span>		<span id="core-facts"></span>

Klaudiusz: Deep correctness and anti-slop audit: Empire attribution, chronometer wording, lot-specific dial/case evidence, market language, and related references corrected.

2026-09-27T20:12:13Z

Deep correctness and anti-slop audit: Empire attribution, chronometer wording, lot-specific dial/case evidence, market language, and related references corrected.

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:12, 27 September 2026
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	</div>		</div>

	The 3548 is ~~one of two standard references —~~ alongside the sub-seconds 3716 ~~— built~~ in the case style collectors call the ~~"Empire"~~ Oyster~~: classically~~ round, ~~32mm~~, ~~but~~ with elongated~~, rectangular,~~ sloped lugs ~~distinct from~~ the hooded-lug ~~treatment most~~ Bubblebacks ~~of the period carry~~. ~~Specialist research on Rolex~~'s ~~early Oyster~~ case history ~~documents~~ the ~~type~~ as chronometer-~~certified and automatic throughout, placing it firmly inside~~ the ~~Bubbleback family despite~~ the ~~case's unusual silhouette~~.		The 3548 is documented alongside the sub-seconds 3716 in the case style collectors call the “Empire” Oyster. The cited examples are round, about 32 mm, with elongated sloped lugs rather than the hooded-lug profile common on many Bubblebacks. Goldammer's case-history research describes the group as automatic and chronometer-marked; the auction records here establish those details only for the individual lots.

	<span id="core-facts"></span>		<span id="core-facts"></span>
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	== Movement notes ==		== Movement notes ==

	~~Self-winding~~, ~~chronometer-certified. The~~ Bonhams~~-catalogued example specifies a jewelled automatic~~ movement~~, numbered~~ 93792.		The cited auction records describe automatic movements, and Bonhams records movement number 93792. The chronometer wording belongs to the individual dial or catalogue description; no caliber number is published for the lot.

	<span id="dial-map"></span>		<span id="dial-map"></span>
	== Dial map ==		== Dial map ==

	The Bonhams-documented example carries a salmon (orange-toned) dial: black Arabic numerals ~~for the hour markers~~, a black outer track ~~dividing fifths of a second~~ with Arabic 5-minute markers, blued ~~steel~~ pointed baton hands, and gilt centre seconds — a ~~notably colorful~~ dial ~~treatment next to the silver and black dials more common across the wider Bubbleback range~~.		The Bonhams-documented example carries a salmon or orange-toned dial with black Arabic numerals, a black outer fifth-second track with Arabic five-minute markers, blued pointed baton hands, and gilt centre seconds. Those details describe that lot; they do not establish a complete 3548 dial inventory.

	<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">		<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
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	[[File:Ref 3548 crown.webp\|thumb\|right\|220px\|alt=Rolex 3548 case flank and screw-down crown\|Case flank and screw-down crown, Bonhams sale 27810, lot 268 example]]		[[File:Ref 3548 crown.webp\|thumb\|right\|220px\|alt=Rolex 3548 case flank and screw-down crown\|Case flank and screw-down crown, Bonhams sale 27810, lot 268 example]]

	32mm round stainless steel case, brushed and polished finish, screw-down case back and crown, and the elongated rectangular sloped lugs that define the "Empire" style. ~~Rolex's earlier manually~~-~~wound~~ Oyster ~~cases of this general~~ period ~~showed considerable variability in shape; the automatic "Empire" Bubblebacks were built~~ to this ~~one consistent~~ silhouette.		32mm round stainless steel case, brushed and polished finish, screw-down case back and crown, and the elongated rectangular sloped lugs that define the "Empire" style. The cited 3548 examples share the round case and elongated sloped-lug profile. Other Oyster references from the period should be compared from their own case records rather than assumed to share this silhouette.

	== Related references ==		== Related references ==

	* [[Reference:3353\|Bubbleback 3353]] — same broader generation, tonneau case		* [[Reference:3353\|Bubbleback 3353]]: same broader generation, tonneau case.
	* [[Reference:3131\|Bubbleback 3131]] — earliest automatic reference, same family		* [[Reference:3131\|Bubbleback 3131]]: earliest automatic reference, same family.
	* [[Reference:3133\|Bubbleback 3133]] — same era, pink gold and steel		* [[Reference:3133\|Bubbleback 3133]]: same era, pink gold and steel.

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

Admin: Layout: two stacked side-floated images with only one short paragraph overflowed the section — moved into an inline gallery below the text instead

2026-09-18T14:47:22Z

Layout: two stacked side-floated images with only one short paragraph overflowed the section — moved into an inline gallery below the text instead

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:47, 18 September 2026
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	== Dial map ==		== Dial map ==

	~~[[File:Ref 3548 dial.webp\|thumb\|right\|220px\|alt=Rolex 3548~~ salmon dial, ~~Antiquorum lot 477\|Rolex 3548~~, ~~Antiquorum lot 477~~, ~~sold CHF 9,375~~ — a ~~second documented steel example]]~~		The Bonhams-documented example carries a salmon (orange-toned) dial: black Arabic numerals for the hour markers, a black outer track dividing fifths of a second with Arabic 5-minute markers, blued steel pointed baton hands, and gilt centre seconds — a notably colorful dial treatment next to the silver and black dials more common across the wider Bubbleback range.
	~~[[File:Ref 3548~~ dial~~-detail~~.~~webp\|thumb\|right\|220px\|alt=Rolex 3548 dial detail showing coronet and Chronometre signature\|Dial detail: coronet signature, "Rolex Oyster Perpetual" and "Chronometre" text, Arabic numerals]]~~

	~~The Bonhams-documented example carries a salmon (orange-toned)~~ dial~~: black Arabic numerals for the hour markers~~, ~~a black outer track dividing fifths of a second with Arabic 5-minute markers~~, ~~blued steel pointed baton hands~~, ~~and gilt centre seconds~~ — a ~~notably colorful~~ dial ~~treatment next to the silver~~ and ~~black dials more common across the wider Bubbleback range.~~		<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
			File:Ref 3548 dial.webp\|Rolex 3548, Antiquorum lot 477, sold CHF 9,375 — a second documented steel example
			File:Ref 3548 dial-detail.webp\|Dial detail: coronet signature, "Rolex Oyster Perpetual" and "Chronometre" text, Arabic numerals
			</gallery>

	<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>		<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>

Admin: Fix hero placement: move to top rp-lead block, center, 640px — matches the site-wide convention (was a small right-floated thumb before Core facts)

2026-09-18T14:44:30Z

Fix hero placement: move to top rp-lead block, center, 640px — matches the site-wide convention (was a small right-floated thumb before Core facts)

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:44, 18 September 2026
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	<small>[[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback]] -> '''3548'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback]] -> '''3548'''</small>

			<div class="rp-lead">
			[[File:Ref 3548 hero.webp\|thumb\|center\|640px\|alt=Rolex 3548 Bubbleback, Empire case, salmon dial\|Rolex 3548 Bubbleback, "Empire" case style, salmon dial, centre seconds]]
			</div>

	The 3548 is one of two standard references — alongside the sub-seconds 3716 — built in the case style collectors call the "Empire" Oyster: classically round, 32mm, but with elongated, rectangular, sloped lugs distinct from the hooded-lug treatment most Bubblebacks of the period carry. Specialist research on Rolex's early Oyster case history documents the type as chronometer-certified and automatic throughout, placing it firmly inside the Bubbleback family despite the case's unusual silhouette.		The 3548 is one of two standard references — alongside the sub-seconds 3716 — built in the case style collectors call the "Empire" Oyster: classically round, 32mm, but with elongated, rectangular, sloped lugs distinct from the hooded-lug treatment most Bubblebacks of the period carry. Specialist research on Rolex's early Oyster case history documents the type as chronometer-certified and automatic throughout, placing it firmly inside the Bubbleback family despite the case's unusual silhouette.

	<span id="core-facts"></span>		<span id="core-facts"></span>

	~~[[File:Ref 3548 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Rolex 3548 Bubbleback, Empire case, salmon dial\|Rolex 3548 Bubbleback, "Empire" case style, salmon dial, centre seconds]]~~

	== Core facts ==		== Core facts ==

Admin: Add sourced dial/dial-detail/crown images from Antiquorum lot 477 and Bonhams lot 268 — vintage-ref image-count fix (was hero-only)

2026-09-18T14:30:22Z

Add sourced dial/dial-detail/crown images from Antiquorum lot 477 and Bonhams lot 268 — vintage-ref image-count fix (was hero-only)

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:30, 18 September 2026
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	<span id="dial-map"></span>		<span id="dial-map"></span>
	== Dial map ==		== Dial map ==

			[[File:Ref 3548 dial.webp\|thumb\|right\|220px\|alt=Rolex 3548 salmon dial, Antiquorum lot 477\|Rolex 3548, Antiquorum lot 477, sold CHF 9,375 — a second documented steel example]]
			[[File:Ref 3548 dial-detail.webp\|thumb\|right\|220px\|alt=Rolex 3548 dial detail showing coronet and Chronometre signature\|Dial detail: coronet signature, "Rolex Oyster Perpetual" and "Chronometre" text, Arabic numerals]]

	The Bonhams-documented example carries a salmon (orange-toned) dial: black Arabic numerals for the hour markers, a black outer track dividing fifths of a second with Arabic 5-minute markers, blued steel pointed baton hands, and gilt centre seconds — a notably colorful dial treatment next to the silver and black dials more common across the wider Bubbleback range.		The Bonhams-documented example carries a salmon (orange-toned) dial: black Arabic numerals for the hour markers, a black outer track dividing fifths of a second with Arabic 5-minute markers, blued steel pointed baton hands, and gilt centre seconds — a notably colorful dial treatment next to the silver and black dials more common across the wider Bubbleback range.
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	<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>		<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown-notes"></span>
	== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==		== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==

			[[File:Ref 3548 crown.webp\|thumb\|right\|220px\|alt=Rolex 3548 case flank and screw-down crown\|Case flank and screw-down crown, Bonhams sale 27810, lot 268 example]]

	32mm round stainless steel case, brushed and polished finish, screw-down case back and crown, and the elongated rectangular sloped lugs that define the "Empire" style. Rolex's earlier manually-wound Oyster cases of this general period showed considerable variability in shape; the automatic "Empire" Bubblebacks were built to this one consistent silhouette.		32mm round stainless steel case, brushed and polished finish, screw-down case back and crown, and the elongated rectangular sloped lugs that define the "Empire" style. Rolex's earlier manually-wound Oyster cases of this general period showed considerable variability in shape; the automatic "Empire" Bubblebacks were built to this one consistent silhouette.
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	\| Bonhams, Paris, 24 May 2022 \|\| 268 \|\| movement 93792 \|\| Steel, salmon dial, centre seconds, date, folding clasp \|\| — \|\| €3,570		\| Bonhams, Paris, 24 May 2022 \|\| 268 \|\| movement 93792 \|\| Steel, salmon dial, centre seconds, date, folding clasp \|\| — \|\| €3,570
	\|}		\|}

			== Gallery ==

			<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
			File:Ref 3548 hero.webp\|Rolex 3548 Bubbleback, "Empire" case, salmon dial, centre seconds
			File:Ref 3548 dial.webp\|Antiquorum lot 477, sold CHF 9,375
			File:Ref 3548 dial-detail.webp\|Dial detail: coronet, signature, Chronometre text
			File:Ref 3548 crown.webp\|Case flank and screw-down crown, Bonhams lot 268 example
			</gallery>

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

			* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-3548-empire-lot-368-477 "Rolex, Switzerland, ref. 3548, Empire, salmon dial, stainless steel", Antiquorum, Geneva, 12 May 2024, lot 477, sold CHF 9,375]
			* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27810/lot/268/rolex-montre-bracelet-en-acier-mouvement-automatique-rolex-a-stainless-steel-automatic-wristwatch-oyster-perpetual-ref-3548-circa-1943/ "Rolex, A stainless steel automatic wristwatch", Bonhams, Paris, 24 May 2022, sale 27810, lot 268]
	* [https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/watches/rolex/oyster-perpetual/ref-rolex-3548/lpi "Rolex, A stainless steel automatic wristwatch", ref. 3548, Bonhams Paris, sale 27810, lot 268, 2022, via CollectorSquare Luxprice Index]		* [https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/watches/rolex/oyster-perpetual/ref-rolex-3548/lpi "Rolex, A stainless steel automatic wristwatch", ref. 3548, Bonhams Paris, sale 27810, lot 268, 2022, via CollectorSquare Luxprice Index]
	* [https://goldammer.me/blogs/articles/rolex-empire-oyster-guide "The Deceptive Oyster: Meet the Rolex 'Empire'", Goldammer]		* [https://goldammer.me/blogs/articles/rolex-empire-oyster-guide "The Deceptive Oyster: Meet the Rolex 'Empire'", Goldammer]

Admin: Fix Category tag: Bubbleback, not Oyster Perpetual (matches breadcrumb fix from earlier)

2026-09-17T13:20:14Z

Fix Category tag: Bubbleback, not Oyster Perpetual (matches breadcrumb fix from earlier)

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:20, 17 September 2026
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	* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-rolex-bubbleback-and-why-it-still-matters Anthony Traina, "The Rolex Bubbleback And Why It Still Matters", Hodinkee, 2024]		* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-rolex-bubbleback-and-why-it-still-matters Anthony Traina, "The Rolex Bubbleback And Why It Still Matters", Hodinkee, 2024]

	[[Category:~~Oyster Perpetual~~]]		[[Category:Bubbleback]]

Admin: Fix breadcrumb: 3548 is Bubbleback, not Oyster Perpetual (registry-audit fix)

2026-09-17T03:48:21Z

Fix breadcrumb: 3548 is Bubbleback, not Oyster Perpetual (registry-audit fix)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:48, 17 September 2026
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	}}		}}

	<small>[[Reference:~~oyster-perpetual~~\|~~Oyster Perpetual~~]] -> '''3548'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:bubbleback\|Bubbleback]] -> '''3548'''</small>

	The 3548 is one of two standard references — alongside the sub-seconds 3716 — built in the case style collectors call the "Empire" Oyster: classically round, 32mm, but with elongated, rectangular, sloped lugs distinct from the hooded-lug treatment most Bubblebacks of the period carry. Specialist research on Rolex's early Oyster case history documents the type as chronometer-certified and automatic throughout, placing it firmly inside the Bubbleback family despite the case's unusual silhouette.		The 3548 is one of two standard references — alongside the sub-seconds 3716 — built in the case style collectors call the "Empire" Oyster: classically round, 32mm, but with elongated, rectangular, sloped lugs distinct from the hooded-lug treatment most Bubblebacks of the period carry. Specialist research on Rolex's early Oyster case history documents the type as chronometer-certified and automatic throughout, placing it firmly inside the Bubbleback family despite the case's unusual silhouette.

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

2026-09-05T01:21:26Z

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

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:21, 5 September 2026
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	== Core facts ==		== Core facts ==

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