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<div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:bubbleback|Bubbleback and early Oyster]]</div> | <div class="rp-card-title">[[Reference:bubbleback|Bubbleback and early Oyster]]</div> | ||
<div class="rp-card-meta">Manual Oysters and early automatics</div> | <div class="rp-card-meta">Manual Oysters and early automatics</div> | ||
<div class="rp-card-text">The first waterproof Oysters, the domed-caseback automatics, the [[Reference:padellone|Padellone]], manual-wind Oyster Precision models such as the [[Reference:6082|6082]], and later Oysterdate Precision references such as the [[Reference:6094|6094]]. A separate round dress watch, [[Reference:3540|ref. 3540]], is catalogued as a manual-wind Rolex Precision.</div> | <div class="rp-card-text">The first waterproof Oysters, the domed-caseback automatics, the [[Reference:padellone|Padellone]], manual-wind Oyster Precision models such as the [[Reference:6082|6082]], and later Oysterdate Precision references such as the [[Reference:6094|6094]]. The documented [[Reference:5052|5052]] appears in both pink gold and steel. A separate round dress watch, [[Reference:3540|ref. 3540]], is catalogued as a manual-wind Rolex Precision.</div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="rp-index"> | <div class="rp-index"> | ||
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:pre-daytona-chronographs|Pre-Daytona chronographs]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:pre-daytona-chronographs|Full family guide →]]</div></div> | <div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:pre-daytona-chronographs|Pre-Daytona chronographs]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:pre-daytona-chronographs|Full family guide →]]</div></div> | ||
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Early single-button<small>Catalogue dates c.1920–c.1950</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:3068|3068]] [[Reference:2021|2021]] [[Reference:2226|2226]]</div></div> | <div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Early single-button<small>Catalogue dates c.1920–c.1950</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:3068|3068]] [[Reference:2021|2021]] [[Reference:2057|2057]] [[Reference:2226|2226]]</div></div> | ||
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Early Oyster monopusher<small>Catalogue dates c.1937–1942</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:3346|3346]] [[Reference:3462|3462]]</div></div> | <div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Early Oyster monopusher<small>Catalogue dates c.1937–1942</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:3346|3346]] [[Reference:3462|3462]]</div></div> | ||
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Early two-register<small>1930s–1940s</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:2508|2508]]</div></div> | <div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Early two-register<small>1930s–1940s</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:2508|2508]]</div></div> | ||
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<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Five-digit, sapphire crystal<small>Introduced 1988; published end dates differ</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:16234|16234]]</div></div> | <div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Five-digit, sapphire crystal<small>Introduced 1988; published end dates differ</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:16234|16234]]</div></div> | ||
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Six-digit Yellow Rolesor<small>Examples dated 2005–c.2017</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:116233|116233]]</div></div> | <div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Six-digit Yellow Rolesor<small>Examples dated 2005–c.2017</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:116233|116233]]</div></div> | ||
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Six-digit Turn-O-Graph<small>Rolex catalogue listings in 2011–12; production span unconfirmed</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:116261|116261]]</div></div> | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
<div class="rp-index"> | <div class="rp-index"> | ||
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<div class="rp-index"> | <div class="rp-index"> | ||
<div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:prince|Prince]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:prince|Full Prince index →]]</div></div> | <div class="rp-index-head"><div class="rp-index-title">[[Reference:prince|Prince]]</div><div class="rp-index-more">[[Reference:prince|Full Prince index →]]</div></div> | ||
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Brancard era<small>1928–mid-1940s</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1343|1343]] [[Reference:971|971]] [[Reference:971U|971U]] [[Reference:1490|1490]] [[Reference:1491|1491]] [[Reference:1527|1527]] [[Reference:1862|1862]] [[Reference:3361|3361]] [[Reference:3937|3937]]</div></div> | <div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Brancard era<small>1928–mid-1940s</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1343|1343]] [[Reference:971|971]] [[Reference:971U|971U]] [[Reference:1490|1490]] [[Reference:1491|1491]] [[Reference:1527|1527]] [[Reference:1855|1855]] [[Reference:1862|1862]] [[Reference:3361|3361]] [[Reference:3937|3937]]</div></div> | ||
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Other rectangular watches<small>Catalogue labels vary by reference</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1768|1768]] [[Reference:1880|1880]] [[Reference:3059|3059]]</div></div> | <div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Other rectangular watches<small>Catalogue labels vary by reference</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1768|1768]] [[Reference:1880|1880]] [[Reference:3059|3059]]</div></div> | ||
<div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Prince Imperial pocket watch<small>c.1930–1945</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1645|1645]]</div></div> | <div class="rp-era"><div class="rp-era-name">Prince Imperial pocket watch<small>c.1930–1945</small></div><div class="rp-chips">[[Reference:1645|1645]]</div></div> | ||
Latest revision as of 04:26, 21 October 2026
The Rolex reference encyclopedia
Rolexopedia is a reference guide to vintage and discontinued Rolex watches. Browse a family to compare generations, or open a reference number for its production history, movement, dial variants and case details.
A reference number can cover decades of changes. The articles distinguish documented variants and later replacements, with sources for further reading. The serial-number, movement and bracelet guides help compare the parts of an individual watch. About the project →
374wiki articles
12families
2,162image files
1920s onwardhistorical coverage
Browse by family
Big Crown models, the 5512 and 5513 dial changes, the Red Sub and the five-digit sapphire references.
Manual-wind Valjoux chronographs, the Paul Newman exotic dials, the Zenith automatics and the in-house 4130 generation.
From the Bakelite-bezel 6542 through the long 1675 run to the ceramic GMT-Master II.
The 6150 and 6350, the long-running 1016, and the later sapphire-crystal models.
The orange-hand 1655 Freccione, the transitional 16550 and the long-run 16570.
Single Red, Double Red and Great White 1665s, the Triple Six, later references and documented COMEX examples.
The President from the 1956 originals through the 1803 era, five-digit sapphire, Day-Date II and Oysterquartz.
The lightning-bolt seconds hand of the 6541, the 1019 and the green-crystal 116400GV.
Early hand-wound models, the long-running 5500 and the sapphire-crystal 14000 line.
The plain-dial Oyster: classic four-digit 1002 to 1018, five-digit and the last pre-refresh 116000 generation.
The first waterproof Oysters, the domed-caseback automatics, the Padellone, manual-wind Oyster Precision models such as the 6082, and later Oysterdate Precision references such as the 6094. The documented 5052 appears in both pink gold and steel. A separate round dress watch, ref. 3540, is catalogued as a manual-wind Rolex Precision.
Rectangular Art-Deco chronometers: Classic 1343, Brancard 971, Railway and Tigre variants.
From the archive
Oyster Perpetual Lady
6719 is a no-date Oyster Perpetual Lady. Auction catalogues document steel-and-gold and full-gold cases. They show silvered and champagne dials; one gray dial and its hands were later replacements. Three catalogues identify Cal. 2030, and dated lots span circa 1972 to 1982.
Reference guides
Numeric and letter-prefix year ranges, hallmark dating for early watches, and the limits of randomized serials.
Rivet, folded and solid Oyster, Jubilee and President bracelets, end-link numbers and the clasp date-code key.
From the early manual-wind Oyster calibers through the 1500 and 3000 series to the Zenith and in-house chronographs.
Every reference, by era
Early two-register1930s–1940s
Round Oyster chronographsfrom c.1950
Gem-set six-digitfrom c.2006
Ceramic 116xxx2005–19
Ceramic 126xxx2018–present
Current2021–present
Vintage Freccione1971–1984
Transitional1985–1989
Modern 40mm1989–2010
Single Red to Great White1967–1983
Ceramic bezel2014–2017
Yacht-Master
Yacht-Master 42Introduced 2019
First automatic1953–57
Mid-centuryMostly 1950s catalogue dates; case 994893 has conflicting 1964 and 1954 estimates
Classic four-digit1950s–1988 catalogue examples; limits vary by reference
Four-digit Date Oyster PerpetualCatalogue estimates circa 1960–1980; production limits unknown
Five-digit Date Oyster PerpetualCatalogue examples circa 1983–1986
Datejust 36
Four-digitFrom 1959; Monochrome dates discontinuation to 1981
Five-digit, acrylic crystalGeneration introduced 1977; reference end dates vary
Five-digit, sapphire crystalIntroduced 1988; published end dates differ
Six-digit Yellow RolesorExamples dated 2005–c.2017
Six-digit Turn-O-GraphRolex catalogue listings in 2011–12; production span unconfirmed
Datejust 41
White RolesorIntroduced 2017; listed by Rolex in 2026
Late Bubblebacksselected catalogue estimates circa 1940–1955; dates do not set production spans
Square Perpetual1940s–1952 catalogue examples
Later Bubbleback examplesCatalogue estimates span circa 1945–60; 4919 has a disputed 1930s outlier
Large no-date Oyster Perpetualcatalogue estimates c.1946–58; production span unsettled
Oysterdate Precision
Prince Imperial pocket watchc.1930–1945
Other vintage references
Manual-wind, small secondscatalogued 1929–1940s
Manual-wind Oystercatalogued 1930s–c.1955
Oyster Speedkingcatalogued c.1952–1953
Chronometre Scientific1937 case marks; catalogued examples circa 1937
Chronometer / Precision dress watchcatalogued c.1943–50; model classification unresolved
Round gold Precisioncatalogued examples c.1945–1968; early date disputed
Cellini
Vintage dress watchCatalogued examples dated 1967–69
Rolexopedia is an independent community reference and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Rolex SA. "Rolex" and the model names on this site are trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify the watches described. See the disclaimer.