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{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Oyster Chronometer 2765 — Dials, Movements & Auction Record | Rolexopedia
|title=Rolex Oyster Chronometer 2765 — Dials, Movements & Auction Record | Rolexopedia
|description=Rolex reference 2765: manual-wind movement grades, catalogue designations, case evidence, and auction records from the 1930s and 1940s.
|description=Rolex reference 2765: manual-wind movements, varied dial names, case evidence, and auction records dating examples from circa 1930 to circa 1942.
|image=Ref 2765 hero.webp
|image=Ref 2765 hero.webp
|type=article
|type=article
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</div>
</div>


The 2765 is a manual-wind steel Oyster made around the late 1930s and early 1940s. It appears
Auction catalogues identify ref. 2765 as a steel Oyster and date individual examples from circa 1930 to circa 1942. Records that specify winding describe manual movements; Sotheby’s 2004 and Christie’s 1935 and 2006 entries leave winding unstated. The catalogues use several names: Oyster Chronometer or Chronomètre, Oyster Royal, Oyster Scientific, Oyster Gammeter and Observatory. Photographs confirm some names on dials; others appear only in catalogue descriptions.
on some collector Bubbleback lists, but the auction record does not support that classification:
the documented movements are manually wound, with no Perpetual rotor.
 
Auction catalogues apply several names to the reference, including Oyster Chronometer,
Chronomètre, Oyster Royal, Oyster Scientific, Oyster Gammeter and Observatory. Some are visible
on photographed dials; others are catalogue model labels and should not be read as confirmed
dial signatures.


==Core facts==
==Core facts==
Line 37: Line 30:
|-
|-
| production
| production
| no documented range; auction catalogues date individual examples from circa 1939 to circa 1942
| catalogue dates for individual examples: circa 1930–1942
|-
|-
| case diameter
| case diameter
| 32mm
| 30–32mm where a diameter is specified; Christie's records 39 × 32mm without naming the axes
|-
|-
| case construction
| case construction
Line 46: Line 39:
|-
|-
| caseback
| caseback
| screw-down; flat profile reported in secondary listings, not established across the auction record
| screw-down; secondary sources call the manual Oyster branch “flatback”; profile varies by example
|-
|-
| bezel
| bezel
Line 52: Line 45:
|-
|-
| crystal
| crystal
| material not established by the cited auction catalogues
| Dawsons describes its case 76,781 example with an acrylic crystal; other cited catalogues omit the material
|-
|-
| crown
| crown
Line 61: Line 54:
|-
|-
| movement
| movement
| 10 to 10½ lignes, rhodium-plated, 17 or 18 jewels, straight-line lever
| 16–18 jewels in later catalogue records; Antiquorum gives 10 to 10½ lignes and 17–18 jewels across three examples; it records different escapement and regulation details
|-
|-
| movement grades documented
| movement grades documented
Line 70: Line 63:
|-
|-
| case materials
| case materials
| stainless steel on eight documented watches
| stainless steel in all identified auction examples
|-
|-
| catalogue designations
| catalogue designations
Line 86: Line 79:
manual winding.
manual winding.


Antiquorum dated two examples to the 1930s and one to the 1940s. Bonhams dates individual
The catalogues date examples to circa 1930 (Sotheby’s), circa 1935 and circa 1936 (Christie’s), the 1930s and 1940s (Antiquorum), circa 1939 (Bonhams, Dawsons and David Lay), circa 1940 (Bonhams) and circa 1942 (Bonhams). Each date belongs to an individual watch; the production limits need separate evidence.
watches to circa 1939, circa 1940 and circa 1942. These estimates place the known watches near
the turn of the decade but do not establish start and end years for the reference.


The numerically adjacent ref. 2764 is automatic. Ref. 2765 is not. Their proximity and similar
Auction descriptions call ref. 2764 automatic and ref. 2765 manual. Their adjacent numbers and similar tonneau outlines leave any shared movement or case construction to be established from other evidence.
32mm tonneau outlines do not show that they share movements or caseback construction.


==Production outline==
==Production outline==


Three Antiquorum lots span sales from 1995 to 2009. Bonhams accounts for five more watches
Twenty-five auction-lot entries identify at least eighteen watches. Recorded sale dates range from 1995 to 2026; Christie’s circa-1935 lot has no verified sale date. The records cover three Antiquorum lots, twelve Bonhams lots, two David Lay lots, three Christie’s lots, one Sotheby’s lot from 2004, one Finarte lot, one Auctionet lot, one Dawsons lot and one Sotheby’s lot from 2026. Christie’s has a further 2765 scheduled for its Geneva online sale on 15 October 2026; that live listing is outside the past-lot count. Reoffers account for some of the total: Bonhams reoffered the Oyster Royal with a case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld) and Oyster Scientific cases 90,751 and 90,698; David Lay’s 2024 and 2025 lots and Sotheby’s 2026 lot show case 85,883. Other record identifiers include Dawsons serial 76,781; Auctionet case 90,995; Finarte case 14,277; Christie’s cases 83,259 and 83,447; and Bonhams serials 857 (remaining digits withheld), 90,509 and 140,782. Christie’s 1935 lot and Sotheby’s 2004 entry give no case number. Christie’s gives the scheduled lot a partly obscured case number, 14XX77. Finarte records case 14,277. Both listings name Randles Durban, but the visible numbers do not match; keep the watches separate unless a case-number match is established.
across seven appearances between 2019 and 2023. Two Bonhams watches were reoffered, so the ten
auction appearances represent eight watches rather than ten.


Neither the start nor the end of the run is documented. The Antiquorum catalogues publish no
The records identify individual examples rather than a production sequence. Their circa 1930–1942 dates apply to those watches; reference production limits need separate evidence.
case numbers; several Bonhams records do.
Three sit close together, 90501 on the 1939-dated Oyster, 90751 on the Oyster Scientific and
90939 on the Oyster Gammeter, and a fourth sits far above them on the Oyster Royal, published
only as 133***. Four numbers are a scatter rather than a range, and they cannot date the
reference on their own. They should not be turned into a production range.


==Movement notes==
==Movement notes==


Every documented 2765 is hand-wound. The Antiquorum lots describe movements of 10 to
Antiquorum, Bonhams, David Lay, Finarte and Christie’s online catalogue describe manual-wind 2765 movements. Sotheby’s 2004 and Christie’s circa-1935 and 2006 entries omit winding type. Antiquorum gives 10- and 10½-ligne movements across its three examples. The Milan lot specifies an anchor escapement; the New York lot names a straight-line lever. The records describe 17- and 18-jewel movements with differing balance and regulation details.
10½ lignes, rhodium-plated, with a straight-line lever escapement, in three configurations.


The Milan 1995 example carried a 10-ligne Ultra Prima, 17 jewels, anchor escapement,
The Milan 1995 example carried a 10-ligne Ultra Prima, 17 jewels, anchor escapement,
Line 118: Line 100:
straight-line lever and a Superbalance adjusted to six positions.
straight-line lever and a Superbalance adjusted to six positions.


Bonhams splits its five watches between two jewel counts and gives no ligne sizes. The Oyster
Bonhams does not give ligne sizes. Its records describe 16- to 18-jewel movements across the examples. The Oyster Royal case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld) has 17 jewels and a patented Super Balance; Oyster Royal case 140,782 has 17 jewels; the Oyster Gammeter has 17 jewels; case 90,509 has 16 jewels adjusted to eight positions; Oyster Scientific case 90,698 has 18 jewels adjusted to six positions; cases 90,751 and serial beginning 857 (remaining digits withheld) each have 18 jewels and six-position timing; case 90,501 has 18 jewels and six-position timing; and the Observatory has an 18-jewel chronometer movement. The Gammeter lot title says “automatic”; its technical description specifies a 17-jewel manual-wind movement.
Royal runs a 17-jewel manual wind with Rolex's patented Super Balance, the Oyster Gammeter a
17-jewel manual wind, the Oyster Scientific and the 1939 Oyster an 18-jewel manual wind timed
to six positions each, and the Observatory an 18-jewel manual-wind chronometer. One
cataloguing slip is worth knowing about before searching that archive: Bonhams titled the
Gammeter lot a stainless steel automatic wristwatch, while its own description of the same lot
reads "17-jewel manual wind". The title is the error. Nothing in the record supports a
self-winding 2765.


“Ultra Prima” is a movement grade, not a caliber. David Boettcher's history of Rolex and Aegler
“Ultra Prima” identifies a movement grade. David Boettcher’s history of Rolex and Aegler movement grades dates Wilsdorf’s registration of the name to 9 December 1930 and notes that the distinction between Extra Prima and Ultra Prima is unclear. Antiquorum describes the Milan 2765 as a 17-jewel Ultra Prima.
movement grades dates Wilsdorf's registration of the name to 9 December 1930. Boettcher notes
that the distinction between Extra Prima and Ultra Prima is unclear. The Milan 2765 is described
as Ultra Prima with 17 jewels.


Neither Antiquorum nor Bonhams names a caliber. Secondary listings identify Cal. 700, but no
Cal. 700 appears in secondary listings. The examined auction catalogues and available movement photographs provide no confirming caliber marking. Sotheby’s 2026 catalogue calls case 85,883 an Oyster Perpetual in its promotional text, while its technical field says only “mechanical, jewelled.” David Lay’s two listings for the same case number specify an 18-jewel manual-wind Ultra Prima movement.
movement photograph with a visible caliber marking or Rolex technical document has been found.
The attribution remains unverified.


==Dial map==
==Dial map==


The eight catalogued watches show several dial layouts. That variety documents watches as sold;
Auction catalogues record these layouts. Reoffered watches appear once in the comparison; the table separates catalogue observations from factory claims. Sotheby’s 2004 catalogue supplies no case number, so that watch may overlap with a numbered example. The table records each identifiable dial once; repeat offerings appear in the auction record.
it does not by itself prove factory delivery or a production sequence.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Example
! Dial and hands
! Seconds / record
|-
| Antiquorum, Milan 1995, lot 160
| Silver and rose, printed Arabic numerals and indices; burnished steel leaf hands
| Centre seconds; 10-ligne Ultra Prima
|-
| Antiquorum, Hong Kong 2001, lot 257
| Bronze, mixed radium Arabic and Roman numerals, triangular and baton indices; radium skeleton hands
| Centre seconds
|-
| Antiquorum, New York 2009, lot 217
| Copper, luminous Arabic numerals, outer 1/5-second track and five-minute Arabic markers; luminous blued-steel baton hands
| Centre seconds; retailer-signed Murdock's example
|-
| Bonhams Oyster Royal, case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld)
| Silvered, luminous-filled Arabic numerals, outer 1/5-second track and five-minute Arabic markers; blued-steel Mercedes hands
| Centre seconds; two Bonhams offerings
|-
| Bonhams Oyster Gammeter, case 90,939
| Two-tone salmon, luminous baton markers, gilt inner Arabic quarters; pointed blued-steel baton hands
| Centre seconds
|-
| Bonhams Oyster Scientific, case 90,751
| Two-tone silvered, black baton and Arabic markers; black leaf hands
| Centre seconds; two Bonhams offerings
|-
| Bonhams Oyster, case 90,501
| Silver, applied gilt Arabic numerals; blued-steel sword hands and red seconds hand
| Centre seconds
|-
| Bonhams Observatory, circa 1942
| Two-tone silvered, luminous 1–12 Arabic numerals and red 12–24 ring
| Subsidiary seconds
|-
| David Lay, case 85,883
| Silvered, arrow at 12, Arabic markers at 3 and 9
| Subsidiary seconds; same case in three catalogues
|-
| Bonhams Oyster Scientific, case 90,698
| Two-tone silvered with outer gilt chapter ring, black Arabic and baton numerals, minute and 1/5-second tracks; blued sword hands
| Centre seconds; sold in 2014 after a 2013 offering
|-
| Bonhams Oyster Royal, case 140,782
| Silvered, luminous-filled Arabic numerals, black outer minute track, luminous-filled Mercedes hands
| Subsidiary seconds; 32mm
|-
| Bonhams Oyster, case 90,509
| Two-tone silvered, black Arabic numerals and outer minute track; blued feuille hands
| Subsidiary seconds; 16-jewel movement adjusted to eight positions; 32mm
|-
| Finarte Oyster Royal, case 14,277
| Cream dial with luminous Arabic numerals
| Seconds layout not stated
|-
| Christie's, case 83,259, 2003
| Matte silvered, gilt Arabic numerals, outer minute ring
| Subsidiary seconds; catalogue lists 39 × 32mm
|-
| Sotheby's, Hong Kong 2004, lot 1197
| Silvered, luminous baton and Arabic numerals
| Subsidiary seconds; case number absent from available text
|-
| Christie's Oyster Royal Observatory, case 83,447
| Silvered, Arabic and baton numerals, luminous hands
| Engine-turned subsidiary seconds; 30mm diameter
|-
| Bonhams Oyster Scientific, serial beginning 857 (remaining digits withheld), 2016
| Two-tone silvered, black batons alternating with Arabic numerals; outer minute and 1/5-second tracks
| Blued-steel dagger hands; centre seconds; 31mm
|-
| Christie’s Oyster Chronometer, circa 1935
| Silvered dial; catalogue reads “gilt Arabic movements”
| Subsidiary seconds; 30mm
|-
| Dawsons Oyster Royal, serial 76,781
| Off-white dial, described by Dawsons as tropical
| Subsidiary seconds; acrylic crystal; 30mm
|-
| Auctionet Oyster Chronometre Scientific, case 90,995
| Arabic numerals; auctioneer calls the dial unusual
| 32mm; seconds layout not stated
|}
 
The catalogue names include Oyster Chronometer or Chronomètre, Oyster Royal, Oyster Scientific, Oyster Gammeter and Observatory. Treat a name as dial text only where the photograph shows the lettering. Finarte’s title identifies case 14,277 as retailed by Randles Durban; its description does not transcribe the retailer signature. Christie’s scheduled October lot is a Randles Durban 2765 with a partly obscured number (14XX77), a silvered dial and a 33mm case; its condition report says two serial numbers are faded or missing. Finarte describes a cream dial and 32mm case for 14,277 and also attributes it to Randles Durban in the title. Both lots name Randles Durban, but the Christie’s partial number (14XX77), 33mm size and silvered dial differ from Finarte’s 14,277, 32mm case and cream dial. The retailer attribution is a lead for comparison, not a case-number match. Auctionet describes case 90,995 with an “unusual” Arabic-numeral dial. Dawsons calls case 76,781’s dial tropical; that description records the auctioneer’s wording, not a documented factory variant. An EveryWatch listing also uses “sector” for a 2765 dial. Identifying factory variants requires clear dial photographs and supporting records for each example. Secondary listings also use “Oyster Precision” and “Ultra Prima” as dial names. A 2765 photograph showing that wording would be needed to confirm either attribution.


<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 2765 dial-variant-silver-rose.webp|alt=Rolex 2765 silvered and rose two-tone dial|Silvered and rose two-tone dial with printed Arabic numerals and burnished steel leaf hands, on the 10-ligne Ultra Prima example sold at Antiquorum Milan in May 1995.
File:Ref 2765 dial-variant-silver-rose.webp|alt=Rolex 2765 silvered and rose two-tone dial|Silver and rose dial, Antiquorum Milan, 1995.
File:Ref 2765 dial-variant-bronze.webp|alt=Rolex 2765 bronze dial with mixed Arabic and Roman numerals|Bronze-coloured dial with mixed radium Arabic and Roman numerals, bâton indexes and radium skeleton hands. Antiquorum Hong Kong, June 2001.
File:Ref 2765 dial-variant-bronze.webp|alt=Rolex 2765 bronze dial with mixed Arabic and Roman numerals|Bronze dial with mixed Arabic and Roman numerals, Antiquorum Hong Kong, 2001.
</gallery>
</gallery>
The Milan 1995 dial is silver and rose-coloured, with printed Arabic numerals and indices and
burnished steel leaf hands. The Hong Kong 2001 dial is bronze-coloured with mixed radium-coated Arabic and Roman
numerals, triangular and bâton indexes, and radium-coated "skeleton" hands; Antiquorum graded
the dial 4-7-01 and the watch overall A (Good). The New York 2009 dial is copper-coloured
with luminous Arabic numerals and an outer one-fifth-seconds track carrying five-minute
Arabic markers, paired with luminous blued steel baton hands.
The Bonhams watches widen the range again. Its Oyster Royal is silvered, with luminous-filled
Arabic numerals, an outer one-fifth-seconds track carrying Arabic five-minute markers, and
blued steel Mercedes hands with luminous inserts. The Oyster Gammeter is two-tone salmon pink,
with luminous baton hour markers, gilt inner Arabic quarters and blued steel pointed baton
hands. The Oyster Scientific is two-tone silvered with black baton and Arabic markers and
black leaf hands. The 1939 Oyster carries applied gilt Arabic numerals on silver, blued steel
sword hands and a red centre seconds hand. The Observatory is the odd one out: two-tone
silvered, luminous 1–12 Arabic numerals with a red 12–24 ring inside them, and subsidiary
rather than centre seconds.
Secondary listings add other layouts, including a sector dial and a watch described as tropical,
but those records are leads rather than evidence of factory variants.
Antiquorum uses Oyster Chronometer and Oyster Chronomètre. Bonhams catalogues watches as Oyster
Royal, Oyster Scientific, Oyster Gammeter and Observatory. Catalogue model fields are not always
literal dial transcriptions, so only wording visible in photographs should be treated as dial text.
Oyster Precision and Ultra Prima appear in secondary listings and remain lower-confidence additions.


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


The catalogued watches have steel tonneau cases around 31–32mm. Antiquorum describes its Hong
Auction catalogues describe steel tonneau cases. Most specified diameters fall between 30 and 32mm; Christie’s lists 39 × 32mm without identifying the axes. Antiquorum describes its Hong Kong example as a polished and brushed two-body case with a screw-down back and crown. Dawsons specifies acrylic for one crystal; the other catalogues omit its material.
Kong example as a two-body case, polished and brushed, with a screw-down back and crown. That
construction should not be generalized to every example. The crystal material is not stated.


Secondary listings call ref. 2765 a flat-back Oyster, and no auction description calls it a
Hodinkee uses “flatback” for manual Oysters made alongside Bubblebacks; Sotheby’s applies the term to case 85,883. The auction movement descriptions identify the 2765 as manual-wind. The term describes this manual branch, while the precise caseback profile remains example-specific.
Bubbleback or documents a self-winding movement. The manual movements are enough to reject the
Bubbleback classification. The precise caseback profile still needs a clearly identified side
or rear photograph before it can be stated for every watch.


All eight catalogued watches are steel. That does not prove the reference was made only in steel.
Every identified watch in this auction set is catalogued in steel; this record covers steel examples only.


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


No original-delivery Rolex bracelet is documented for the reference. Two Bonhams watches, the
Bonhams describes two watches with steel link bracelets and folding clasps: Oyster Royal case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld) and the 1939 Oyster, case 90,509. It calls the latter bracelet “later” and both bracelets “associated”; neither description establishes original delivery. Antiquorum’s Hong Kong 2001 watch came with a steel Rolex buckle and fitted box. The catalogues give no bracelet reference or end-link number.
Oyster Royal and the 1939 Oyster, came on
steel link bracelets with folding clasps, but Bonhams calls both associated, which records
what the watch wore into the saleroom rather than what left the factory with it. The Hong Kong
2001 example came with a steel Rolex buckle and fitted box. No bracelet reference or end-link
number is documented.


==Retailer variants==
==Retailer variants==


[[File:Ref 2765 retailer-signature.webp|thumb|right|300px|alt=Murdock's Cape Town retailer signature on a Rolex 2765 dial|The Murdock's, Cape Town retailer signature sits below centre, under the Rolex Oyster Chronometre dial text.]]
The New York 2009 example carries the Murdock’s of Cape Town retailer signature. It confirms one retailer-signed 2765; auction records give no total for Murdock’s sales of the reference.


One is documented: the New York 2009 example was retailed by Murdock's of Cape Town and carries
[[File:Ref 2765 retailer-signature.webp|thumb|right|300px|alt=Murdock's Cape Town retailer signature on a Rolex 2765 dial|The Murdock's, Cape Town signature sits below the Oyster Chronometre text.]]
the retailer's signature. A single watch does not establish how widely Murdock's sold the reference.


==Auction record==
==Auction record==
The table records identified catalogue appearances. Reoffers are retained because they document separate descriptions or results; known repeat case numbers are marked. A missing date or result means the accessible record did not provide it.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 207: Line 231:
! Date
! Date
! Lot
! Lot
! Dial
! Dial / identification
! Movement
! Movement
! Result
! Result
Line 214: Line 238:
| 1995-05-22
| 1995-05-22
| 160
| 160
| Silver and rose, printed Arabic, leaf hands
| Silver and rose; printed Arabic numerals
| 10′′′ Ultra Prima, 17j, 6 positions and temperatures
| 10-ligne Ultra Prima, 17 jewels, six positions and temperatures
| Not recorded; catalogue scaling is ambiguous
| ITL 2,990 as printed; catalogue scale is unclear
|-
|-
| Antiquorum, Hong Kong
| Antiquorum, Hong Kong
| 2001-06-08
| 2001-06-08
| 257
| 257
| Bronze, mixed radium Arabic and Roman, skeleton hands
| Bronze; mixed Arabic and Roman numerals
| 10½′′′, 17j, Superbalance, 7 positions
| 10½-ligne, 17 jewels, Superbalance, seven positions
| HKD 23,000 (est. HKD 20,000–23,000)
| HKD 23,000 (estimate HKD 20,000–23,000)
|-
| Christie’s, London
| 2003-12-17
| 141
| Case 83,259; matte silvered, subsidiary seconds
| Ultra Prima chronometer, jewelled to third, six positions; winding unstated
| Result not stated in catalogue
|-
| Sotheby’s, Hong Kong
| 2004-04-27
| 1197
| Silvered, luminous batons and Arabic numerals; case number absent
| 18 jewels, Rolex Superbalance, six positions; winding unstated
| Result not displayed on catalogue page
|-
| Christie’s, Important Watches I & II
| 2006-05-31
| 1880 (two-watch lot)
| Case 83,447; silvered, Arabic and baton numerals, subsidiary seconds
| Nickel-finished jewelled lever; further details unstated
| Result not displayed on catalogue page
|-
|-
| Antiquorum, New York
| Antiquorum, New York
| 2009-12-09
| 2009-12-09
| 217
| 217
| Copper, luminous Arabic, 1/5th-seconds track
| Copper; luminous Arabic numerals and 1/5-second track
| 10½′′′, 18j, straight-line lever, Superbalance, 6 positions
| 10½-ligne, 18 jewels, straight-line lever, Superbalance, six positions
| USD 1,560 (est. USD 1,500–2,500)
| USD 1,560 (estimate USD 1,500–2,500)
|-
| Bonhams, Knightsbridge
| 2013-09-03
| 83
| Oyster Scientific, case 90,698; two-tone silvered
| 18 jewels, six positions
| Result not located
|-
| Bonhams, London
| 2013-11-19
| 84
| Oyster Royal, serial 140,782; silvered, subsidiary seconds
| 17 jewels, manual wind
| GBP 562 incl. premium
|-
| Bonhams, Knightsbridge
| 2014-02-18
| 80
| Oyster Scientific, case 90,698; repeat offering
| 18 jewels, six positions
| GBP 1,750 incl. premium
|-
|-
| Bonhams, London Knightsbridge
| Bonhams, London
| 2014-11-11
| 78
| Serial 90,509; two-tone silvered, subsidiary seconds
| 16 jewels, adjusted to eight positions
| GBP 812 incl. premium
|-
| Bonhams, London
| 2016-06-22
| 74
| Oyster Scientific, serial beginning 857 (remaining digits withheld); two-tone silvered
| 18 jewels, manual wind, six positions
| GBP 5,000 incl. premium
|-
| Bonhams, Knightsbridge
| 2019-02-19
| 2019-02-19
| 50
| 50
| Silvered, luminous Arabic, Mercedes hands (Oyster Royal, case 133***)
| Oyster Royal, case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld); silvered, luminous Arabic numerals
| 17j Super Balance, manual
| 17 jewels, Super Balance, manual wind
| Unsold (est. GBP 500–700)
| Unsold (estimate GBP 500–700)
|-
|-
| Bonhams, London Knightsbridge
| Bonhams, Knightsbridge
| 2019-05-21
| 2019-05-21
| 74
| 74
| Two-tone salmon pink, luminous batons (Oyster Gammeter, case 90939)
| Oyster Gammeter, case 90,939; two-tone salmon
| 17j, manual
| 17 jewels, manual wind
| GBP 2,805 incl. premium
| GBP 2,805 incl. premium
|-
|-
| Bonhams, London Knightsbridge
| Bonhams, Knightsbridge
| 2019-05-21
| 2019-05-21
| 75
| 75
| Two-tone silvered, black batons and Arabic (Oyster Scientific, case 90751)
| Oyster Scientific, case 90,751; two-tone silvered
| 18j, manual, 6 positions
| 18 jewels, manual wind, six positions
| Unsold (est. GBP 1,200–1,800)
| Unsold (estimate GBP 1,200–1,800)
|-
|-
| Bonhams, London Knightsbridge
| Bonhams, Knightsbridge
| 2019-05-21
| 2019-05-21
| 88
| 88
| Silvered, luminous Arabic, Mercedes hands (Oyster Royal, case 133***)
| Oyster Royal, case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld); repeat offering
| 17j Super Balance, manual
| 17 jewels, Super Balance, manual wind
| GBP 637.50 incl. premium
| GBP 637.50 incl. premium
|-
|-
| Bonhams, London Knightsbridge
| Bonhams, Knightsbridge
| 2019-11-19
| 2019-11-19
| 37
| 37
| Two-tone silvered (Oyster Scientific, case 90751, re-offered)
| Oyster Scientific, case 90,751; repeat offering
| 18j, manual, 6 positions
| 18 jewels, manual wind, six positions
| GBP 4,062.50 incl. premium
| GBP 4,062.50 incl. premium
|-
|-
| Bonhams, London Knightsbridge
| Bonhams, Knightsbridge
| 2022-09-13
| 2022-09-13
| 27
| 27
| Silvered, applied gilt Arabic, red centre seconds (Oyster, case 90501)
| Oyster, case 90,501; silver dial, red centre seconds
| 18j, manual, 6 positions
| 18 jewels, manual wind, six positions
| GBP 2,550 incl. premium
| GBP 2,550 incl. premium
|-
|-
| Bonhams, Online New York
| Dawsons
| 2023-06-20/30
| 2022-12-15
| 283
| Oyster Royal, serial 76,781; off-white dial described as “tropical”
| Manual wind; jewel count unstated
| GBP 700
|-
| Bonhams, New York online
| 2023-06-20
| 27
| 27
| Two-tone silvered, red 12–24 inner ring, subsidiary seconds (Observatory)
| Observatory; two-tone dial, red 12–24 ring, subsidiary seconds
| 18j, manual, chronometer
| 18 jewels, manual-wind chronometer
| USD 3,840 incl. premium
| USD 3,840 incl. premium
|-
| Auctionet / Lawrences
| 2023-10-19
| 1140
| Case 90,995; Arabic-numeral dial
| Not stated
| Result not shown in accessible catalogue text
|-
| David Lay
| 2024
| 112
| Case 85,883; silvered, subsidiary seconds
| 18-jewel Ultra Prima
| Result not stated in catalogue
|-
| David Lay
| 2025
| 1041
| Case 85,883; repeat offering
| Ultra Prima
| Result not stated in catalogue
|-
| Finarte, Milan
| 2025-06-09
| 176
| Case 14,277; cream, luminous Arabic numerals; Randles attribution in title
| Manual wind; 32mm
| Result not stated in accessible catalogue text
|-
| Sotheby’s, Geneva
| 2026
| 2344
| Case 85,883; silvered, subsidiary seconds
| Mechanical, jewelled; winding and caliber unstated
| Result not stated in catalogue
|-
| Christie’s, Rolex Watches
| Date unverified
| 765
| Circa 1935; silvered dial, subsidiary seconds
| 18-jewel nickel-finished; “Officially Tested in Eight Ways”
| Result not located
|-
| Christie’s Online, Geneva
| 2026-10-15 (scheduled)
| 460
| Randles Durban; silvered dial, 33mm; number partly obscured as 14XX77
| Manual; 2 serial numbers faded or missing
| Sale pending
|}
|}


Seven Bonhams appearances cover five watches: the Oyster Royal went unsold at Knightsbridge in
Christie’s has not published a result for the circa-1935 lot. The Geneva Online lot is scheduled for 15 October 2026. Christie’s masks its number as 14XX77; Finarte records 14,277. Their shared Randles Durban attribution merits comparison, but the visible number strings, dial descriptions and stated sizes differ, so the records remain separate.
February 2019 before selling there in May, and the Oyster Scientific did the same between May
and November of the same year.


The Hong Kong 2001 lot came with a fitted box and a full Antiquorum condition grade of A (Good), case 4-6, movement 4-6* and
The Hong Kong 2001 lot came with a fitted box and Antiquorum’s overall condition grade A (Good): case 4–6, movement 4–6*, dial 4–7–01. Antiquorum cited a similar watch in Osvaldo Patrizzi’s ''Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches'' (Guido Mondani Editore, Genova, 1998), page 278. The catalogue calls it a similar watch and gives no reference number; the cited page has not been checked directly.
dial 4-7-01. It also came with a literature citation. Antiquorum noted that a similar watch is
published in Osvaldo Patrizzi's ''Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches'' (Guido Mondani Editore,
Genova, 1998) at page 278. The citation says “a similar watch,” not ref. 2765 by number, and the
cited page has not been checked directly.


The Milan catalogue's lire figures have unclear scaling, so they are not reproduced as a sale
The Milan 1995 catalogue prints ITL 2,990 against an estimate of ITL 2,500–3,000, with no explanation of the scale. The few other results concern different watches and sale formats; together they are too uneven to form a useful price series.
result. The remaining prices span different dial conditions, accessories and sale formats and
do not form a reliable price series.


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


* [[Reference:2764|Bubbleback 2764]] — the automatic neighbour, Cal. 620N
* [[Reference:2764|Bubbleback 2764]], the automatic neighbour, Cal. 620N
* [[Reference:2574|Oyster Royal 2574]] — pre-war manual Oyster, boy's size
* [[Reference:2574|Oyster Royal 2574]], pre-war manual Oyster, boy's size
* [[Reference:1873|Oyster Royal 1873]] — manual flat-back Oyster, shares the "Scientifical" dial vocabulary
* [[Reference:1873|Oyster Royal 1873]], manual flat-back Oyster, shares the "Scientifical" dial vocabulary
* [[Reference:2240|Oyster Perpetual 2240]] — self-winding contemporary with provisional Bubbleback classification
* [[Reference:2240|Oyster Perpetual 2240]], self-winding contemporary with provisional Bubbleback classification
* [[Reference:1858|Bubbleback 1858]] — the first Oyster Perpetual, 1933
* [[Reference:1858|Bubbleback 1858]], the first Oyster Perpetual, 1933


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]].
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]].
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref 2765 hero.webp|alt=Rolex Oyster Chronometer 2765 retailed by Murdock's of Cape Town|Whole watch, copper dial, Antiquorum New York, 2009.
File:Ref 2765 dial-variant-silver-rose.webp|alt=Rolex 2765 silvered and rose two-tone dial|Silvered and rose dial, Antiquorum Milan, 1995.
File:Ref 2765 dial-variant-bronze.webp|alt=Rolex 2765 bronze dial with mixed Arabic and Roman numerals|Bronze dial, Antiquorum Hong Kong, 2001.
File:Ref 2765 retailer-signature.webp|alt=Murdock's Cape Town retailer signature on a Rolex 2765 dial|Retailer signature, Antiquorum New York, 2009.
</gallery>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
Line 324: Line 459:
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27663/lot/27/rolex-a-stainless-steel-manual-wind-bracelet-watch-oyster-ref-2765-circa-1939/ "Rolex. A stainless steel manual wind bracelet watch, Oyster, Ref: 2765, Circa 1939", Bonhams, 2022-09-13]
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27663/lot/27/rolex-a-stainless-steel-manual-wind-bracelet-watch-oyster-ref-2765-circa-1939/ "Rolex. A stainless steel manual wind bracelet watch, Oyster, Ref: 2765, Circa 1939", Bonhams, 2022-09-13]
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28398/lot/27/rolex-a-stainless-steel-manual-wind-wristwatch-observatory-ref-2765-c1942/ "ROLEX. A stainless steel manual wind wristwatch, Observatory, Ref: 2765, c.1942", Bonhams, 2023-06-30]
* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28398/lot/27/rolex-a-stainless-steel-manual-wind-wristwatch-observatory-ref-2765-c1942/ "ROLEX. A stainless steel manual wind wristwatch, Observatory, Ref: 2765, c.1942", Bonhams, 2023-06-30]
* [https://www.davidlay.co.uk/auction/lot/112-rolex---a-1930s-oyster-chronometer-stainless-steel-gentlemans-manual-wind-wristwatch/?au=351&lot=162472 "Rolex Oyster Chronometer ref. 2765, case 85883", David Lay Auctioneers, 2024-11-22]
* [https://www.davidlay.co.uk/auction/lot/1041-rolex---a-1930s-oyster-chronometer-stainless-steel-gentlemans-manual-wind-wristwatch/?au=458&lot=185353 "Rolex Oyster Chronometer ref. 2765, case 85883", David Lay Auctioneers, 2025-06-06]
* [https://www.finarte.it/auction/fine-watches-milan-2025-06-09/rolex-oyster-royal-2765-retailed-by-randles-durban-137240?lang=en "Oyster Royal 2765 retailed by Randles Durban, 1940s", Finarte, 2025-06-09]
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2026/important-watches-4-2/flatback-reference-2765-a-stainless-steel "Flatback, Reference 2765, case 85'883", Sotheby's, 2026-09-18/23]
* [https://www.christies.com/lot/rolex-a-steel-water-resistant-wristwatchsigned-rolex-4211215/?intObjectID=4211215&lid=1 "Rolex steel water-resistant wristwatch, ref. 2765, case 83259", Christie's, 2003-12-17]
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2004/important-watches-hk0206/lot.1197.html "Rolex Oyster Royal ref. 2765, circa 1930", Sotheby's, 2004-04-27]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4712902 "Rolex Oyster Royal Observatory ref. 2765, case 83447, circa 1936", Christie's]
* [https://electronicsandbooks.com/edt/manual/Art/Auction/Bonhams/2016/20160622%20S-23511-0-1%20Fine%20Watches%20%26%20Wristwatches%20including%20the%20Collection%20of%20a%20European%20Nobleman%20%5B144%5D.pdf "Rolex Oyster Scientific ref. 2765, serial 857**, circa 1939", Bonhams, 2016-06-22]
* [https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/watches-online-geneva-edit/rolex-retailed-randles-durban-stainless-steel-wristwatch-ref-2765-460/281257 "Rolex ref. 2765 retailed by Randles Durban, case number partly obscured", Christie's, 2026-10-15 (scheduled)]
* [https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/watches/rolex/oyster/ref-rolex-2765/lpi "Bonhams Oyster Scientific ref. 2765, case 90,698", Collector Square, 2013-09-03]
* [https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/watches/rolex/oyster/ref-rolex-2765/lpi "Bonhams Oyster Royal ref. 2765, serial 140,782", Collector Square, 2013-11-19]
* [https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/watches/rolex/oyster/ref-rolex-2765/lpi "Bonhams Oyster Scientific ref. 2765, case 90,698, reoffer", Collector Square, 2014-02-18]
* [https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/watches/rolex/oyster/ref-rolex-2765/lpi "Bonhams ref. 2765, serial 90,509", Collector Square, 2014-11-11]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1817570 "Christie’s Oyster Chronometer ref. 2765, circa 1935", Christie’s]
* [https://www.dawsonsauctions.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-283---a-1939-rolex-oyster-royal-with-a-swiss-made/?lot=63502&sd=1 "Dawsons Oyster Royal ref. 2765, serial 76,781", Dawsons, 2022-12-15]
* [https://auctionet.com/en/events/561-autumn-fine-art-sales-october-2023/1140-a-stainless-steel-oyster-chronometre-scientific-wristwatch-by-rolex "Lawrences Oyster Chronometre Scientific ref. 2765, case 90,995", Lawrences Auctioneers via Auctionet, 2023-10-19]


[[Category:Oyster]]
[[Category:Oyster]]

Latest revision as of 00:41, 29 September 2026


Oyster → 2765

Rolex Oyster Chronometer 2765 retailed by Murdock's of Cape Town, Antiquorum New York, December 2009
Rolex Oyster Chronometer 2765 retailed by Murdock's of Cape Town, Antiquorum New York, December 2009

Auction catalogues identify ref. 2765 as a steel Oyster and date individual examples from circa 1930 to circa 1942. Records that specify winding describe manual movements; Sotheby’s 2004 and Christie’s 1935 and 2006 entries leave winding unstated. The catalogues use several names: Oyster Chronometer or Chronomètre, Oyster Royal, Oyster Scientific, Oyster Gammeter and Observatory. Photographs confirm some names on dials; others appear only in catalogue descriptions.

Core facts

detail value
reference 2765
family Oyster (manual-wind)
production catalogue dates for individual examples: circa 1930–1942
case diameter 30–32mm where a diameter is specified; Christie's records 39 × 32mm without naming the axes
case construction steel tonneau; one Antiquorum example described as two-body; screw-down back and crown
caseback screw-down; secondary sources call the manual Oyster branch “flatback”; profile varies by example
bezel smooth, polished
crystal Dawsons describes its case 76,781 example with an acrylic crystal; other cited catalogues omit the material
crown screw-down
winding manual
movement 16–18 jewels in later catalogue records; Antiquorum gives 10 to 10½ lignes and 17–18 jewels across three examples; it records different escapement and regulation details
movement grades documented Ultra Prima (6 positions); 17-jewel adjusted to 7 positions; 18-jewel
seconds centre seconds on some variants
case materials stainless steel in all identified auction examples
catalogue designations Oyster Chronometer / Chronomètre, Oyster Royal, Oyster Scientific, Oyster Gammeter, Observatory; additional secondary-listing names remain unverified
retailer variants Murdock's, Cape Town

Where it sits in the line

Rolex continued making hand-wound Oysters after the Perpetual arrived. Hodinkee's Bubbleback collecting guide describes these parallel manual-wind watches as “flatbacks.” Ref. 2765 belongs to the manual branch: all three Antiquorum descriptions and the Bonhams catalogue texts specify manual winding.

The catalogues date examples to circa 1930 (Sotheby’s), circa 1935 and circa 1936 (Christie’s), the 1930s and 1940s (Antiquorum), circa 1939 (Bonhams, Dawsons and David Lay), circa 1940 (Bonhams) and circa 1942 (Bonhams). Each date belongs to an individual watch; the production limits need separate evidence.

Auction descriptions call ref. 2764 automatic and ref. 2765 manual. Their adjacent numbers and similar tonneau outlines leave any shared movement or case construction to be established from other evidence.

Production outline

Twenty-five auction-lot entries identify at least eighteen watches. Recorded sale dates range from 1995 to 2026; Christie’s circa-1935 lot has no verified sale date. The records cover three Antiquorum lots, twelve Bonhams lots, two David Lay lots, three Christie’s lots, one Sotheby’s lot from 2004, one Finarte lot, one Auctionet lot, one Dawsons lot and one Sotheby’s lot from 2026. Christie’s has a further 2765 scheduled for its Geneva online sale on 15 October 2026; that live listing is outside the past-lot count. Reoffers account for some of the total: Bonhams reoffered the Oyster Royal with a case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld) and Oyster Scientific cases 90,751 and 90,698; David Lay’s 2024 and 2025 lots and Sotheby’s 2026 lot show case 85,883. Other record identifiers include Dawsons serial 76,781; Auctionet case 90,995; Finarte case 14,277; Christie’s cases 83,259 and 83,447; and Bonhams serials 857 (remaining digits withheld), 90,509 and 140,782. Christie’s 1935 lot and Sotheby’s 2004 entry give no case number. Christie’s gives the scheduled lot a partly obscured case number, 14XX77. Finarte records case 14,277. Both listings name Randles Durban, but the visible numbers do not match; keep the watches separate unless a case-number match is established.

The records identify individual examples rather than a production sequence. Their circa 1930–1942 dates apply to those watches; reference production limits need separate evidence.

Movement notes

Antiquorum, Bonhams, David Lay, Finarte and Christie’s online catalogue describe manual-wind 2765 movements. Sotheby’s 2004 and Christie’s circa-1935 and 2006 entries omit winding type. Antiquorum gives 10- and 10½-ligne movements across its three examples. The Milan lot specifies an anchor escapement; the New York lot names a straight-line lever. The records describe 17- and 18-jewel movements with differing balance and regulation details.

The Milan 1995 example carried a 10-ligne Ultra Prima, 17 jewels, anchor escapement, monometallic balance with Breguet hairspring, regulated across six positions and temperatures. The Hong Kong 2001 example carried a 10½-ligne with 17 jewels, Rolex Superbalance and a self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, adjusted to seven positions. The New York 2009 example carried a 10½-ligne with 18 jewels, a straight-line lever and a Superbalance adjusted to six positions.

Bonhams does not give ligne sizes. Its records describe 16- to 18-jewel movements across the examples. The Oyster Royal case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld) has 17 jewels and a patented Super Balance; Oyster Royal case 140,782 has 17 jewels; the Oyster Gammeter has 17 jewels; case 90,509 has 16 jewels adjusted to eight positions; Oyster Scientific case 90,698 has 18 jewels adjusted to six positions; cases 90,751 and serial beginning 857 (remaining digits withheld) each have 18 jewels and six-position timing; case 90,501 has 18 jewels and six-position timing; and the Observatory has an 18-jewel chronometer movement. The Gammeter lot title says “automatic”; its technical description specifies a 17-jewel manual-wind movement.

“Ultra Prima” identifies a movement grade. David Boettcher’s history of Rolex and Aegler movement grades dates Wilsdorf’s registration of the name to 9 December 1930 and notes that the distinction between Extra Prima and Ultra Prima is unclear. Antiquorum describes the Milan 2765 as a 17-jewel Ultra Prima.

Cal. 700 appears in secondary listings. The examined auction catalogues and available movement photographs provide no confirming caliber marking. Sotheby’s 2026 catalogue calls case 85,883 an Oyster Perpetual in its promotional text, while its technical field says only “mechanical, jewelled.” David Lay’s two listings for the same case number specify an 18-jewel manual-wind Ultra Prima movement.

Dial map

Auction catalogues record these layouts. Reoffered watches appear once in the comparison; the table separates catalogue observations from factory claims. Sotheby’s 2004 catalogue supplies no case number, so that watch may overlap with a numbered example. The table records each identifiable dial once; repeat offerings appear in the auction record.

Example Dial and hands Seconds / record
Antiquorum, Milan 1995, lot 160 Silver and rose, printed Arabic numerals and indices; burnished steel leaf hands Centre seconds; 10-ligne Ultra Prima
Antiquorum, Hong Kong 2001, lot 257 Bronze, mixed radium Arabic and Roman numerals, triangular and baton indices; radium skeleton hands Centre seconds
Antiquorum, New York 2009, lot 217 Copper, luminous Arabic numerals, outer 1/5-second track and five-minute Arabic markers; luminous blued-steel baton hands Centre seconds; retailer-signed Murdock's example
Bonhams Oyster Royal, case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld) Silvered, luminous-filled Arabic numerals, outer 1/5-second track and five-minute Arabic markers; blued-steel Mercedes hands Centre seconds; two Bonhams offerings
Bonhams Oyster Gammeter, case 90,939 Two-tone salmon, luminous baton markers, gilt inner Arabic quarters; pointed blued-steel baton hands Centre seconds
Bonhams Oyster Scientific, case 90,751 Two-tone silvered, black baton and Arabic markers; black leaf hands Centre seconds; two Bonhams offerings
Bonhams Oyster, case 90,501 Silver, applied gilt Arabic numerals; blued-steel sword hands and red seconds hand Centre seconds
Bonhams Observatory, circa 1942 Two-tone silvered, luminous 1–12 Arabic numerals and red 12–24 ring Subsidiary seconds
David Lay, case 85,883 Silvered, arrow at 12, Arabic markers at 3 and 9 Subsidiary seconds; same case in three catalogues
Bonhams Oyster Scientific, case 90,698 Two-tone silvered with outer gilt chapter ring, black Arabic and baton numerals, minute and 1/5-second tracks; blued sword hands Centre seconds; sold in 2014 after a 2013 offering
Bonhams Oyster Royal, case 140,782 Silvered, luminous-filled Arabic numerals, black outer minute track, luminous-filled Mercedes hands Subsidiary seconds; 32mm
Bonhams Oyster, case 90,509 Two-tone silvered, black Arabic numerals and outer minute track; blued feuille hands Subsidiary seconds; 16-jewel movement adjusted to eight positions; 32mm
Finarte Oyster Royal, case 14,277 Cream dial with luminous Arabic numerals Seconds layout not stated
Christie's, case 83,259, 2003 Matte silvered, gilt Arabic numerals, outer minute ring Subsidiary seconds; catalogue lists 39 × 32mm
Sotheby's, Hong Kong 2004, lot 1197 Silvered, luminous baton and Arabic numerals Subsidiary seconds; case number absent from available text
Christie's Oyster Royal Observatory, case 83,447 Silvered, Arabic and baton numerals, luminous hands Engine-turned subsidiary seconds; 30mm diameter
Bonhams Oyster Scientific, serial beginning 857 (remaining digits withheld), 2016 Two-tone silvered, black batons alternating with Arabic numerals; outer minute and 1/5-second tracks Blued-steel dagger hands; centre seconds; 31mm
Christie’s Oyster Chronometer, circa 1935 Silvered dial; catalogue reads “gilt Arabic movements” Subsidiary seconds; 30mm
Dawsons Oyster Royal, serial 76,781 Off-white dial, described by Dawsons as tropical Subsidiary seconds; acrylic crystal; 30mm
Auctionet Oyster Chronometre Scientific, case 90,995 Arabic numerals; auctioneer calls the dial unusual 32mm; seconds layout not stated

The catalogue names include Oyster Chronometer or Chronomètre, Oyster Royal, Oyster Scientific, Oyster Gammeter and Observatory. Treat a name as dial text only where the photograph shows the lettering. Finarte’s title identifies case 14,277 as retailed by Randles Durban; its description does not transcribe the retailer signature. Christie’s scheduled October lot is a Randles Durban 2765 with a partly obscured number (14XX77), a silvered dial and a 33mm case; its condition report says two serial numbers are faded or missing. Finarte describes a cream dial and 32mm case for 14,277 and also attributes it to Randles Durban in the title. Both lots name Randles Durban, but the Christie’s partial number (14XX77), 33mm size and silvered dial differ from Finarte’s 14,277, 32mm case and cream dial. The retailer attribution is a lead for comparison, not a case-number match. Auctionet describes case 90,995 with an “unusual” Arabic-numeral dial. Dawsons calls case 76,781’s dial tropical; that description records the auctioneer’s wording, not a documented factory variant. An EveryWatch listing also uses “sector” for a 2765 dial. Identifying factory variants requires clear dial photographs and supporting records for each example. Secondary listings also use “Oyster Precision” and “Ultra Prima” as dial names. A 2765 photograph showing that wording would be needed to confirm either attribution.

  • Rolex 2765 silvered and rose two-tone dial
    Silver and rose dial, Antiquorum Milan, 1995.
  • Rolex 2765 bronze dial with mixed Arabic and Roman numerals
    Bronze dial with mixed Arabic and Roman numerals, Antiquorum Hong Kong, 2001.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

Auction catalogues describe steel tonneau cases. Most specified diameters fall between 30 and 32mm; Christie’s lists 39 × 32mm without identifying the axes. Antiquorum describes its Hong Kong example as a polished and brushed two-body case with a screw-down back and crown. Dawsons specifies acrylic for one crystal; the other catalogues omit its material.

Hodinkee uses “flatback” for manual Oysters made alongside Bubblebacks; Sotheby’s applies the term to case 85,883. The auction movement descriptions identify the 2765 as manual-wind. The term describes this manual branch, while the precise caseback profile remains example-specific.

Every identified watch in this auction set is catalogued in steel; this record covers steel examples only.

Bracelets, end links, and clasps

Bonhams describes two watches with steel link bracelets and folding clasps: Oyster Royal case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld) and the 1939 Oyster, case 90,509. It calls the latter bracelet “later” and both bracelets “associated”; neither description establishes original delivery. Antiquorum’s Hong Kong 2001 watch came with a steel Rolex buckle and fitted box. The catalogues give no bracelet reference or end-link number.

Retailer variants

The New York 2009 example carries the Murdock’s of Cape Town retailer signature. It confirms one retailer-signed 2765; auction records give no total for Murdock’s sales of the reference.

Murdock's Cape Town retailer signature on a Rolex 2765 dial
The Murdock's, Cape Town signature sits below the Oyster Chronometre text.

Auction record

The table records identified catalogue appearances. Reoffers are retained because they document separate descriptions or results; known repeat case numbers are marked. A missing date or result means the accessible record did not provide it.

Venue Date Lot Dial / identification Movement Result
Antiquorum, Milan 1995-05-22 160 Silver and rose; printed Arabic numerals 10-ligne Ultra Prima, 17 jewels, six positions and temperatures ITL 2,990 as printed; catalogue scale is unclear
Antiquorum, Hong Kong 2001-06-08 257 Bronze; mixed Arabic and Roman numerals 10½-ligne, 17 jewels, Superbalance, seven positions HKD 23,000 (estimate HKD 20,000–23,000)
Christie’s, London 2003-12-17 141 Case 83,259; matte silvered, subsidiary seconds Ultra Prima chronometer, jewelled to third, six positions; winding unstated Result not stated in catalogue
Sotheby’s, Hong Kong 2004-04-27 1197 Silvered, luminous batons and Arabic numerals; case number absent 18 jewels, Rolex Superbalance, six positions; winding unstated Result not displayed on catalogue page
Christie’s, Important Watches I & II 2006-05-31 1880 (two-watch lot) Case 83,447; silvered, Arabic and baton numerals, subsidiary seconds Nickel-finished jewelled lever; further details unstated Result not displayed on catalogue page
Antiquorum, New York 2009-12-09 217 Copper; luminous Arabic numerals and 1/5-second track 10½-ligne, 18 jewels, straight-line lever, Superbalance, six positions USD 1,560 (estimate USD 1,500–2,500)
Bonhams, Knightsbridge 2013-09-03 83 Oyster Scientific, case 90,698; two-tone silvered 18 jewels, six positions Result not located
Bonhams, London 2013-11-19 84 Oyster Royal, serial 140,782; silvered, subsidiary seconds 17 jewels, manual wind GBP 562 incl. premium
Bonhams, Knightsbridge 2014-02-18 80 Oyster Scientific, case 90,698; repeat offering 18 jewels, six positions GBP 1,750 incl. premium
Bonhams, London 2014-11-11 78 Serial 90,509; two-tone silvered, subsidiary seconds 16 jewels, adjusted to eight positions GBP 812 incl. premium
Bonhams, London 2016-06-22 74 Oyster Scientific, serial beginning 857 (remaining digits withheld); two-tone silvered 18 jewels, manual wind, six positions GBP 5,000 incl. premium
Bonhams, Knightsbridge 2019-02-19 50 Oyster Royal, case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld); silvered, luminous Arabic numerals 17 jewels, Super Balance, manual wind Unsold (estimate GBP 500–700)
Bonhams, Knightsbridge 2019-05-21 74 Oyster Gammeter, case 90,939; two-tone salmon 17 jewels, manual wind GBP 2,805 incl. premium
Bonhams, Knightsbridge 2019-05-21 75 Oyster Scientific, case 90,751; two-tone silvered 18 jewels, manual wind, six positions Unsold (estimate GBP 1,200–1,800)
Bonhams, Knightsbridge 2019-05-21 88 Oyster Royal, case number beginning 133 (remaining digits withheld); repeat offering 17 jewels, Super Balance, manual wind GBP 637.50 incl. premium
Bonhams, Knightsbridge 2019-11-19 37 Oyster Scientific, case 90,751; repeat offering 18 jewels, manual wind, six positions GBP 4,062.50 incl. premium
Bonhams, Knightsbridge 2022-09-13 27 Oyster, case 90,501; silver dial, red centre seconds 18 jewels, manual wind, six positions GBP 2,550 incl. premium
Dawsons 2022-12-15 283 Oyster Royal, serial 76,781; off-white dial described as “tropical” Manual wind; jewel count unstated GBP 700
Bonhams, New York online 2023-06-20 27 Observatory; two-tone dial, red 12–24 ring, subsidiary seconds 18 jewels, manual-wind chronometer USD 3,840 incl. premium
Auctionet / Lawrences 2023-10-19 1140 Case 90,995; Arabic-numeral dial Not stated Result not shown in accessible catalogue text
David Lay 2024 112 Case 85,883; silvered, subsidiary seconds 18-jewel Ultra Prima Result not stated in catalogue
David Lay 2025 1041 Case 85,883; repeat offering Ultra Prima Result not stated in catalogue
Finarte, Milan 2025-06-09 176 Case 14,277; cream, luminous Arabic numerals; Randles attribution in title Manual wind; 32mm Result not stated in accessible catalogue text
Sotheby’s, Geneva 2026 2344 Case 85,883; silvered, subsidiary seconds Mechanical, jewelled; winding and caliber unstated Result not stated in catalogue
Christie’s, Rolex Watches Date unverified 765 Circa 1935; silvered dial, subsidiary seconds 18-jewel nickel-finished; “Officially Tested in Eight Ways” Result not located
Christie’s Online, Geneva 2026-10-15 (scheduled) 460 Randles Durban; silvered dial, 33mm; number partly obscured as 14XX77 Manual; 2 serial numbers faded or missing Sale pending

Christie’s has not published a result for the circa-1935 lot. The Geneva Online lot is scheduled for 15 October 2026. Christie’s masks its number as 14XX77; Finarte records 14,277. Their shared Randles Durban attribution merits comparison, but the visible number strings, dial descriptions and stated sizes differ, so the records remain separate.

The Hong Kong 2001 lot came with a fitted box and Antiquorum’s overall condition grade A (Good): case 4–6, movement 4–6*, dial 4–7–01. Antiquorum cited a similar watch in Osvaldo Patrizzi’s Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches (Guido Mondani Editore, Genova, 1998), page 278. The catalogue calls it a similar watch and gives no reference number; the cited page has not been checked directly.

The Milan 1995 catalogue prints ITL 2,990 against an estimate of ITL 2,500–3,000, with no explanation of the scale. The few other results concern different watches and sale formats; together they are too uneven to form a useful price series.

Related references

See also the Bubbleback family index, movement reference, bracelet & clasp guide, and serial numbers by year.

  • Rolex Oyster Chronometer 2765 retailed by Murdock's of Cape Town
    Whole watch, copper dial, Antiquorum New York, 2009.
  • Rolex 2765 silvered and rose two-tone dial
    Silvered and rose dial, Antiquorum Milan, 1995.
  • Rolex 2765 bronze dial with mixed Arabic and Roman numerals
    Bronze dial, Antiquorum Hong Kong, 2001.
  • Murdock's Cape Town retailer signature on a Rolex 2765 dial
    Retailer signature, Antiquorum New York, 2009.

Sources

Retrieved from "https://rolexopedia.net/index.php?title=Reference:2765&oldid=11060"