Reference:bubbleback: Difference between revisions

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Add reference 5002 coverage and cross-page documentation
Add documented ref. 6006 to Bubbleback index
 
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{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex bubbleback — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges | Rolexopedia
|title=Rolex bubbleback — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges | Rolexopedia
|description=Every Rolex Bubbleback reference from the 1933 original through the mid-1950s transitional era. Production histories, movement progression, dial variants, and collector context.
|description=Early Rolex Oyster Perpetual references with domed casebacks, documented examples, and catalogue dates into the late 1950s.
|keywords=Rolex Bubbleback, Ovetto, Ovettone, Padellone, Oyster Perpetual, Monoblocco, Submarine Hermetique, 1858, 3131, 3372, 4467, 3666, 6098, 8171, 3525, 3003, 6105, Datejust, Precision, Cal. 520, Cal. 620, Cal. 630, Cal. 1030, vintage Rolex, collector guide
|keywords=Rolex Bubbleback, Ovetto, Ovettone, Padellone, Oyster Perpetual, Monoblocco, Submarine Hermetique, 1858, 3131, 3372, 4467, 3666, 6098, 8171, 3525, 3003, 6105, Datejust, Precision, Cal. 520, Cal. 620, Cal. 630, Cal. 1030, vintage Rolex, collector guide
|image=Bubbleback_vintage_poster.webp
|image=Bubbleback_vintage_poster.webp
|image_alt=Vintage Rolex Bubbleback — the Oyster Perpetual with the domed caseback, produced 1933 through the mid-1950s
|image_alt=Vintage Rolex Bubbleback advertisement with an Oyster Perpetual watch
|type=Article
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|og_type=article
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</div>


The Bubbleback is Rolex's early Oyster Perpetual family. The automatic rotor was too thick for a flat case, so Rolex domed the caseback over the movement and created the profile collectors now call Bubbleback. Production examples run from 1933 into the mid-1950s; later Cal. 1030 references could use a flatter caseback, so the line gradually moved away from the domed profile. Italian collectors call the standard 32mm case Ovetto and the 36mm cases Ovettone.
The Bubbleback is Rolex's early Oyster Perpetual family. The automatic rotor needed a deeper case than a hand-wound movement, so Rolex domed the back over the mechanism. Later references with thinner movements could use flatter backs. Auction catalogues date some large no-date examples, including ref. 5026, into the late 1950s; those estimates do not set an endpoint for the whole family. Italian collectors call the standard 32mm case Ovetto and the 36mm cases Ovettone.


== Common entry points ==
== Common entry points ==
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| [[Reference:4467|4467]] || 1945–1949 || Cal. A.295 (= 740/745), 18j || 36mm 18K YG/PG tonneau, 2-piece || Early Datejust; early Jubilee and solid end-link configuration; ''Ovettone''; date wheel evolves all-black → all-red → roulette
| [[Reference:4467|4467]] || 1945–1949 || Cal. A.295 (= 740/745), 18j || 36mm 18K YG/PG tonneau, 2-piece || Early Datejust; early Jubilee and solid end-link configuration; ''Ovettone''; date wheel evolves all-black → all-red → roulette
|-
| [[Reference:4984|4984]] || Christie's/HENRY's c.1940s–c.1945 (likely same watch); About Time estimates c.1947; span unknown || Automatic; caliber not identified; movement nos. N15927 (likely repeat sale) and N880639 || ~32mm; pink- and yellow-gold examples || Two photographed watches; individual two-tone and silver dial descriptions; no factory variant range established
| [[Reference:4984|4984]] || Christie's/HENRY's c.1940s–c.1945 (likely same watch); About Time estimates c.1947; span unknown || Automatic; caliber not identified; movement nos. N15927 (likely repeat sale) and N880639 || ~32mm; pink- and yellow-gold examples || Two photographed watches; individual two-tone and silver dial descriptions; no factory variant range established
|-
|-
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| [[Reference:6074|6074]] || Platinum commission dated 1950; gold attributions circa 1950s unresolved || Cal. 630 NA on one gold watch with reworked caseback; 9¾-ligne/17j on platinum lot; no reference-wide assignment || 34–36mm in separate catalogues || Platinum example has smooth bezel; gold examples need attribution checks
| [[Reference:6074|6074]] || Platinum commission dated 1950; gold attributions circa 1950s unresolved || Cal. 630 NA on one gold watch with reworked caseback; 9¾-ligne/17j on platinum lot; no reference-wide assignment || 34–36mm in separate catalogues || Platinum example has smooth bezel; gold examples need attribution checks
|-
| [[Reference:6075|6075]] || Auction dates include 1950–51; one c.1961 estimate conflicts || A.295 and A.296 attributed in separate catalogues || 35–36mm; 18K YG/PG and steel + YG; one 10K YG catalogue description || Gold, pink-gold and two-tone cases; one photographed Datejust dial is graded restored
| [[Reference:6075|6075]] || Auction dates include 1950–51; one c.1961 estimate conflicts || A.295 and A.296 attributed in separate catalogues || 35–36mm; 18K YG/PG and steel + YG; one 10K YG catalogue description || Gold, pink-gold and two-tone cases; one photographed Datejust dial is graded restored
|-
|-
| [[Reference:6105|6105]] || Early 1950s; catalogue dates vary || A.296 and 745-attributed examples || 36mm; gold and two-tone examples || Early dial-signed Datejust; often credited as first, but factory first use is not settled by the 6075 restored dial
| [[Reference:6105|6105]] || Early 1950s; catalogue dates vary || A.296 and 745-attributed examples || 36mm; gold and two-tone examples || Early dial-signed Datejust; often credited as first, but factory first use is not settled by the 6075 restored dial
|}
|}
== Large no-date Oyster Perpetual: ref. 5026 ==
Ref. 5026 is documented in 36 mm steel automatic examples with subsidiary seconds. Auction catalogues date individual watches from circa 1946 to circa 1958, but those estimates do not define the reference's production span. Aste Bolaffi assigns automatic Cal. 720/18 jewels to case 443371; other catalogues do not name a caliber. [[Reference:5026|The reference article]] records the case, dial, movement, and bracelet evidence. [https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/christies-watches-online-time-travel/rolex-steel-bubble-back-enamel-dial-ref-5026-123/71687 Christie's, lot 123] [https://www.astebolaffi.it/en/lot/257/4/detail Aste Bolaffi, lot 4] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-5026-lot-297-239 Antiquorum, lot 239]
== Large no-date Oyster Perpetual: ref. 5028 ==
Ref. 5028 is a large, no-date automatic Oyster Perpetual catalogued in steel and 18K gold, usually grouped with the Ovettone Bubblebacks. Case measurements in sale records are 35–36 mm. Monaco Legend dates case 412191 to 1945; Christie's gives circa 1946 for that same case and dates case 493076 to 1946. Other dated examples include Monaco Legend case 411813 (1958) and an unnumbered Antiquorum watch dated to the 1960s. These catalogue dates do not establish a production span. Records show centre-seconds and dual-seconds dials; movement descriptions vary between 10½ and 11 lignes and do not settle a single caliber. See [[Reference:5028|the case and dial record for ref. 5028]]. [https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-32/lot-47 Monaco Legend, 2023, lot 47] [https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6590236 Christie's, New York 2026, lot 98] [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4795731 Christie's, Geneva 2006, lot 32] [https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-22/lot-126 Monaco Legend, 2020, lot 126] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-26-360 Antiquorum, 2002, lot 360]
== Large no-date Oyster Perpetual: ref. 5029 ==
Auction catalogues document separate 5029 examples dated circa 1947 and 1949, in two-tone steel and gold, yellow gold, and pink gold. The 35–36 mm cases carry different dial and bezel layouts. Catalogued movement descriptions vary between A.295, “Super Balance 730,” and 9¾-line, 18-jewel movements; each remains tied to its own example. [[Reference:5029|The reference article]] records the case-numbered evidence and disputed listings. [https://shop.hodinkee.com/products/1947-rolex-ref-5029-two-tone-oyster-perpetual-big-bubble Hodinkee, case 610727] [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/87265 Phillips, lot 144] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-262-295 Antiquorum, lot 295]


== Late small Bubbleback examples ==
== Late small Bubbleback examples ==


Auction catalogues date individual ref. 5002 watches from circa 1945 to circa 1952, and ref. 5006 examples from 1948 into the 1950s. The 5002 records describe 23–26 mm steel, two-tone, and gold cases; 5006 records give 29–30 mm steel and gold examples. The 5002 caliber attribution is uncertain: James Dowling assigns Cal. 420, a centre-seconds movement, while 5002 catalogues describe subsidiary seconds. Numeric caliber attribution for 5006 remains unresolved. These are dates and configurations of individual watches, not production endpoints. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-5006-lot-272-142 Antiquorum, case 671819] [https://www.ebth.com/items/14105766-1948-rolex-oyster-perpetual-bubble-back-watch EBTH, item 14105766] [https://timeanagram.com/products/7593 TimeAnagram, product 7593] [https://www.arsvalue.com/en/lots/1423503/rolex-ovetto-5006-anni-50?nav=True Finarte, lot 33] [https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/0b5fdf83/files/uploaded/1.0%20RolexBook-23Mar.pdf ''Vintage Rolex Field Manual'', p. 107]
Auction catalogues date individual ref. 5002 watches from circa 1945 to circa 1952, and ref. 5006 examples from 1948 into the 1950s. Dealer and auction listings also identify ref. 5045 examples around 1949–50; the Loupe This lot includes a photograph of the inner caseback stamp. The 5002 records describe 23–26 mm steel, two-tone, and gold cases; 5006 records give 29–30 mm steel and gold examples. For 5013, Doyle and Linckersdorff list solid-gold watches; Curious Curio, Cool Auction, and GMTBroker describe steel cases with gold bezels. The examined listings show several dial layouts, but do not establish their order or factory originality. Cool Auction assigns Cal. 630 / 630NA to its individual watch. A Rolex Forums chart gives 9.75 lignes, a size notation rather than a caliber. One marketplace listing describes a centre-seconds chapter-ring 5013, but its photograph shows no reference stamp or caseback, so that attribution is unverified. These dates and configurations belong to individual records, not production endpoints. Christie’s describes its circa-1940 ref. 6006 as a Bubble Back. Later Christie’s and Antiquorum catalogues document gold examples dated 1952–55, with both central and subsidiary seconds. The 1952 Antiquorum watch is case 927300, with Cal. 520 and a restored subsidiary-seconds dial. These lot dates do not establish production boundaries. See [[Reference:6006|the 6006 record]]. [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1588049 Christie’s, circa-1940 ref. 6006] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-253 Antiquorum, case 927300] [https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-4700386 Christie’s, 1953 ref. 6006] [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4006241 Christie’s, circa-1955 ref. 6006] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-5006-lot-272-142 Antiquorum, case 671819] [https://www.ebth.com/items/14105766-1948-rolex-oyster-perpetual-bubble-back-watch EBTH, item 14105766] [https://timeanagram.com/products/7593 TimeAnagram, product 7593] [https://www.arsvalue.com/en/lots/1423503/rolex-ovetto-5006-anni-50?nav=True Finarte, lot 33] [https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/0b5fdf83/files/uploaded/1.0%20RolexBook-23Mar.pdf Vintage Rolex Field Manual, p. 107] [https://www.doyle.com/auction/lot/lot-1088---rolex-gold-oyster-perpetual-bubbleback-wristwatch-ref-5013/?lot=1446668&sd=1 Doyle, lot 1088] [https://www.ebay.de/itm/355515195857 Linckersdorff Berlin, item 355515195857] [https://curious-curio.jp/watch/52035 Curious Curio, stock CW-G346] [https://www.cool-auction.net/gallery/20125/ Cool Auction, stock 20125] [https://www.gmtbroker.com/gallery/Anonimo/ROLEX---BubbleBack-5013-ovetto-silver-dial-1948-photo852821.html GMTBroker, 5013 listing] [https://www.rolexforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=82672&d=1250802852 Rolex Forums model-to-caliber chart, 5013 row]


{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
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|-
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| [[Reference:5002|5002]] || Catalogue dates circa 1945–1952; run unverified || Automatic; Cal. 420 assignment uncertain because its catalogue describes centre-seconds, while 5002 lots describe subsidiary seconds || 23–26 mm in cited lots; steel, steel/pink gold, yellow gold, pink gold, and rose gold || Ladies’ Oyster Perpetual with subsidiary seconds; Field Manual lists /7 and /8 suffix descriptions, not tied to observed lots
| [[Reference:5002|5002]] || Catalogue dates circa 1945–1952; run unverified || Automatic; Cal. 420 assignment uncertain because its catalogue describes centre-seconds, while 5002 lots describe subsidiary seconds || 23–26 mm in cited lots; steel, steel/pink gold, yellow gold, pink gold, and rose gold || Ladies’ Oyster Perpetual with subsidiary seconds; Field Manual lists /7 and /8 suffix descriptions, not tied to observed lots
|-
| [[Reference:5003|5003]] || Individual catalogue estimates circa 1949–1953; later 1960s estimates and a weak circa-1972 transcription conflict; run unverified || Automatic, subsidiary seconds; numeric caliber unidentified || 23–27 mm; steel, steel/gold, 10K and 18K gold examples || Ladies’ Oyster Perpetual; Field Manual lists /3, /7, /8 variants, not matched to auction examples
|-
|-
| [[Reference:5006|5006]] || Individual records dated 1948 through the 1950s; run unverified || Automatic; Field Manual lists Chronometer Perpetual variants; numeric caliber unresolved || 29–30 mm; steel, steel with yellow- or rose-gold bezel, and gold listed || Mid-size suffix variants 5006/3 and 5006/7 in the Field Manual; auction dial descriptions differ
| [[Reference:5006|5006]] || Individual records dated 1948 through the 1950s; run unverified || Automatic; Field Manual lists Chronometer Perpetual variants; numeric caliber unresolved || 29–30 mm; steel, steel with yellow- or rose-gold bezel, and gold listed || Mid-size suffix variants 5006/3 and 5006/7 in the Field Manual; auction dial descriptions differ
|-
| [[Reference:5010|5010]] || Catalogue examples circa 1945–1955; production span unverified || Automatic, centre seconds; 9¾-ligne size in catalogues, numbered caliber unresolved || Steel and two-tone; 31–33 mm in cited records || Oyster Perpetual grouped with Bubblebacks by collectors; Phillips records a 1950 Anno Sancto bezel. [https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-856369 Christie's] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-5010-bubbleback-lot-313-136 Antiquorum] [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080515/282 Phillips] [https://electronicsandbooks.com/edt/manual/Art/Auction/Bonhams/2022/20220524%20S-27810-0-1%20Montres%20de%20Prestige.pdf Bonhams, lot 276]
|-
| [[Reference:5013|5013]] || Individual listings date examples to the 1940s; production span unknown || Automatic, subsidiary seconds; one seller assigns Cal. 630 / 630NA; reference-wide caliber unresolved || Approx. 32 mm; solid-gold and steel/gold examples listed || Cream Arabic-and-baton, Roman, wedge-marker, and silver Arabic dials appear in separate records; sequence and originality are not established
|-
| [[Reference:5045|5045]] || Individual examples dated circa 1949–50; production span unverified || Automatic; chart and dealer give different 9¾-line NA and 10½-line NA movement-size/family designations; no caliber established || 31–32 mm; steel and rose-gold or bi-color listings || Inner caseback stamp photographed on one example; silver 12-3-6-9 and wedge-marker dials appear in listings; one listing describes luminous markers around a circular minute track. [https://loupethis.com/auctions/rolex-bubbleback-5045-two-tone-pink-gold-and-steel Loupe This] [https://cticorp.jp/?p=44936 Watch CTI] [https://timeanagram.com/products/12221 TIMEANAGRAM]
|-
| [[Reference:5018|5018]] || Auction catalogues date examples from 1948 into the 1950s; one case receives conflicting 1949 and circa-1959 dates || Automatic, centre seconds; catalogues report 9¾-line and 17/19 jewels; numbered caliber unresolved || 32–34 mm in cited lots; steel, 18K gold, and steel/yellow-gold || Auction titles use Bombé and Bombay; catalogues show varied dial layouts. Production span remains unknown. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-23 Antiquorum, case 608519] [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5367913 Christie’s, case 678865] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-5018-oyster-perpetual-lot-344-297 Antiquorum, case 608632] [https://www.finarte.it/auction/fine-watches-milan-2025-06-09/rolex-oyster-perpetual-5018-137264?lang=en Finarte, case 670691]
|}
|}


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| [[Reference:8171|8171]] || c.1949–1953 || Cal. A.295 CPL automatic triple calendar moonphase, in-house Aegler || 38mm non-Oyster snap caseback, 18K YG/PG, SS rare || Triple calendar + moonphase; ''Padellone''; published examples include stainless steel and gold cases
| [[Reference:8171|8171]] || c.1949–1953 || Cal. A.295 CPL automatic triple calendar moonphase, in-house Aegler || 38mm non-Oyster snap caseback, 18K YG/PG, SS rare || Triple calendar + moonphase; ''Padellone''; published examples include stainless steel and gold cases
|}
== Ref. 4392 ==
Auction catalogues identify ref. 4392 as an Oyster Perpetual and date individual examples from circa 1945 through one circa-1959 estimate. The records describe 31–32 mm steel and gold cases and identify Cal. 630 / 630NA in several watches. Antiquorum's case 607544 pairs a Cal. 630 catalogue attribution with a small-seconds dial it considers probably reprinted; its photos do not show the movement. [[Reference:4392|The reference article]] keeps these details tied to their individual catalogue records. [https://jewelry.ha.com/c/catalog-print.zx?ic5=CatalogHome-AucType-PrintableCatalog-071515&saleNo=5097 Heritage, lot 60319] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-4392-bubble-back-stainless-steel-lot-383-105 Antiquorum, lot 105]
== Ref. 4919 ==
Auction catalogues identify ref. 4919 as an Oyster Perpetual and date individual examples from circa 1947 to the 1950s; Farsettiarte dates a caseback-marked example circa 1960. A secondary copy of an Antiquorum catalogue assigns one example to the 1930s, in conflict with those later dates; see [[Reference:4919|the 4919 article]] for the source and limits. None sets a production span. Auction descriptions and an undated technical table give an automatic 9¾-line movement, but no numeric caliber is confirmed. Collectors group 4919 with Bubblebacks. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-221-365 Antiquorum, case 608098] [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-1720329 Christie's] [https://www.farsettiarte.it/uploads/auctions/187-asta_257_Orologi_5_dicembre_2024.pdf Farsettiarte, lot 50] [https://www.vrfm.io/Scans/OYSTER-CROWNS-GUIDE.pdf Rolex Boîtes Oyster table]
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Reference !! Catalogue dates !! Movement !! Case evidence !! Distinction
|-
| [[Reference:4919|4919]] || One copied catalogue gives a 1930s outlier; others date examples circa 1947–1960; production span unknown || Automatic, 9¾-line in catalogues; numeric caliber unresolved || Steel with yellow- or pink-gold bezels; 31–34 mm in cited examples || Separate dial layouts include a Serpico y Laino-signed example; Tennants reports one caseback marked 4919 5011, unexplained
|}
|}


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* [https://www.darlor-watch.com/rolex_watches_3.html Darlor Vintage Watches, ref. 3351-F, serial 118,489]
* [https://www.darlor-watch.com/rolex_watches_3.html Darlor Vintage Watches, ref. 3351-F, serial 118,489]
* [https://www.vintagewatch.ca/5629-antique-rolex-oyster-cushion-case-with-sweep-seconds-circa-1930/ Trebor's Vintage Watches, ref. 3351f]
* [https://www.vintagewatch.ca/5629-antique-rolex-oyster-cushion-case-with-sweep-seconds-circa-1930/ Trebor's Vintage Watches, ref. 3351f]
* [https://electronicsandbooks.com/edt/manual/Art/Auction/Bonhams/2022/20220524%20S-27810-0-1%20Montres%20de%20Prestige.pdf Bonhams Paris, 24 May 2022, ref. 5010, lot 276]
* [https://www.doyle.com/auction/lot/lot-1088---rolex-gold-oyster-perpetual-bubbleback-wristwatch-ref-5013/?lot=1446668&sd=1 Doyle, ref. 5013, lot 1088]
* [https://www.ebay.de/itm/355515195857 Linckersdorff Berlin, ref. 5013, item 355515195857]
* [https://curious-curio.jp/watch/52035 Curious Curio, ref. 5013, stock CW-G346]
* [https://www.cool-auction.net/gallery/20125/ Cool Auction, ref. 5013, stock 20125]
* [https://www.gmtbroker.com/gallery/Anonimo/ROLEX---BubbleBack-5013-ovetto-silver-dial-1948-photo852821.html GMTBroker, ref. 5013]
* [https://www.rolexforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=82672&d=1250802852 Rolex Forums, model-to-caliber chart, ref. 5013 row]
* [https://www.vetroplastica.it/referenze.html VetroPlastica, reference index, ref. 5013]
* [https://marketplace.watchcharts.com/listing/5477111-fs-rolex-5013-oyster-perpetual-chapter-ring-dial Marketplace listing, centre-seconds chapter-ring description; reference attribution unverified]


[[Category:Reference family]]
[[Category:Reference family]]
[[Category:Bubbleback]]
[[Category:Bubbleback]]