Reference:Movements: Difference between revisions

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== Early chronograph movement

The early Oyster chronograph references use Valjoux ébauches, with Rolex caliber designations that should be kept distinct from the maker’s base number. Available auction records support a limited Cal. 13 / Valjoux 23-family entry. That evidence concerns the 3525 and does not identify every early Rolex chronograph movement.

The early Oyster chronograph references use Valjoux ébauches, with Rolex caliber designations that should be kept distinct from the maker’s base number. Available auction records support a limited Cal. 13 / Valjoux 23-family entry. Ebauches S.A.'s 1951 technical guide labels a two-pusher, 13-ligne movement “VZ 23” ([https://myretrowatches.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Valjoux-VZ-23-Technical-Guide.pdf technical guide, 2nd edition March 1953]). That nomenclature does not establish Rolex fitment. The Cal. 13 evidence discussed here concerns the 3525 and does not identify every early Rolex chronograph movement.

Ref. [[Reference:2021|2021]] is a pre-Oyster monopusher. Published descriptions give movement sizes from 13 to 16½ lignes; Uhrenkosmos names a Valjoux VZ in one early monopusher, while auction catalogues describe different executions. The available records do not support a reference-wide caliber assignment. Keep these descriptions separate from the Cal. 13 entry below. [https://www.uhrenkosmos.com/rolex-daytona-seine-technik-und-geschichte/ Uhrenkosmos, early monopusher movement] [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/115419 Phillips, case 12'010] [https://www.cambiaste.com/it/asta-0795/rolex---rarissimo-cronografo-due-contatori-da-polso-monopulsante-in-ac-270066 Cambi, steel case 14xxx]

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The architecture of Cal. 360 is disputed. Christie's describes a 1938 ref. 2835 "Prince Elegant" with a tonneau-shaped 15-jewel movement, and Charles Jarman's ''The Rolex Reference Guide'' (4th edition) calls Cal. 360 a manual, small-seconds, tonneau-shaped movement with a SuperBalance. Watch Doctor’s online chart instead lists a rectangular, 18-jewel movement measuring 18 × 27mm. The page does not identify an underlying Rolex document.

Christie's also describes a rectangular 17-jewel Cal. 360 in 1937 Precision ref. 3140 case 41,362. Monaco Legend gives Cal. 360 for another 1937 ref. 3140, case 41,465, but no jewel count. These are catalogue attributions to individual watches; they do not settle the conflicting movement descriptions. [https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-rolex-a-9k-gold-rectangular-curved-wristwatch-5130486/ Christie’s, 2008 lot 13]; [https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-33/lot-219 Monaco Legend, 2024 lot 219]

Jarman dates Cal. 360 to 1937. The expansion of the HW designation remains unconfirmed; it should be retained as a designation rather than expanded to Hans Wilsdorf. The differing shape and jewel descriptions need comparison with the movement in the individual watch. Ineichen’s 2016 catalogue attributes C.360 to a Prince ref. 1880 and describes a nickel-plated lever movement. That is one lot-level attribution; it does not resolve the conflicting descriptions above. [https://ineichen.com/upload/iblock/83c/fnnltq7byndm2n2lwa14zfgz3qzl1tuc.pdf Ineichen, Auction 164, lot 133]

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This Aegler-supplied 10½-ligne hand-wound family uses the 700/710 architecture. It has a straight-line lever escapement, monometallic Superbalance adjusted to six positions, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, and swan-neck micrometer regulator, with no documented shock protection. Antiquorum names Cal. 700 in its catalogue for ref. [[Reference:3358|3358]], case 51,419, with 18 jewels; its ref. [[Reference:2081|2081]] case 599,744 lot names the same caliber and grade but records 15 jewels. The discrepancy is unresolved, so the jewel count is left unspecified here. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-225 Antiquorum, ref. 3358] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-226 Antiquorum, ref. 2081] The movement powers the original Air-King 4925 and its Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, and Air-Giant siblings, including the sub-seconds 4365, mid-size 4444, and 4647 Hunter Precision. Its architecture links the pre-war Prince and Bubbleback movements with the post-war automatic Cal. 1030. Cal. 700 and 710 are hand-wound movements; Cal. 720 belongs to the automatic branch. White’s *The Vintage Rolex Field Manual* maps [[Reference:5031|ref. 5031]] to Cal. 710 in a reference table, but auction catalogues describe 5031 examples as automatic date watches. Christie’s [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-204100 listing] records movement number 37519 but no caliber; Antiquorum’s [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-120-203 1995], [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-53-191 1999] and [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-222-285 2009] entries do not name a caliber and report differing sizes and jewel counts. Sotheby’s 2020 and 2022 entries say only “automatic.” The available records do not resolve the conflict, so the 5031 is not assigned to Cal. 710, A.295, 740, or 745 here.

This Aegler-supplied 10½-ligne hand-wound family uses the 700/710 architecture. It has a straight-line lever escapement, monometallic Superbalance adjusted to six positions, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, and swan-neck micrometer regulator, with no documented shock protection. Antiquorum names Cal. 700 in its catalogue for ref. [[Reference:3358|3358]], case 51,419, with 18 jewels; its ref. [[Reference:2081|2081]] case 599,744 lot names the same caliber and grade but records 15 jewels. The discrepancy is unresolved, so the jewel count is left unspecified here. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-225 Antiquorum, ref. 3358] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-226 Antiquorum, ref. 2081] The movement powers the original Air-King 4925 and its Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, and Air-Giant siblings, including the sub-seconds 4365, mid-size 4444, and 4647 Hunter Precision. Its architecture links the pre-war Prince and Bubbleback movements with the post-war automatic Cal. 1030. Cal. 700 and 710 are hand-wound movements; Cal. 720 belongs to the automatic branch. TimeAnagram lists Cal. 710 for a manual [[Reference:3121|ref. 3121]] and shows an open-movement photograph marked Rolex 15 Rubies and Superbalance, but no readable caliber number. Keep Cal. 710 as the seller’s attribution to that watch. White’s *The Vintage Rolex Field Manual* maps [[Reference:5031|ref. 5031]] to Cal. 710 in a reference table, but auction catalogues describe 5031 examples as automatic date watches. Christie’s [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-204100 listing] records movement number 37519 but no caliber; Antiquorum’s [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-120-203 1995], [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-53-191 1999] and [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-222-285 2009] entries do not name a caliber and report differing sizes and jewel counts. Sotheby’s 2020 and 2022 entries say only “automatic.” The available records do not resolve the conflict, so the 5031 is not assigned to Cal. 710, A.295, 740, or 745 here.

Auction catalogues identify manual Cal. 710 in three ref. 6082 watches: Antiquorum cases 784516 and 721396, and Monaco Legend case 810693. Colin White’s reference table also pairs 6082 with Cal. 710. Antiquorum’s Hong Kong 2021 narrative calls case 721396 self-winding, while its movement field names Cal. 710. Kibble Watches and Watch.de assign Cal. 1210 to separate examples; Watch.de reports case 721965, a 1961 date and movement no. 1162170. Neither dealer listing provides a readable movement photograph, so these remain seller attributions. [[Reference:6082|The 6082 article]] keeps the conflicting records tied to individual watches.

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The pallet fork runs in jewels, while the escape wheel has shock-mounted settings and cap jewels on both pivots, matching the treatment of the balance. Indirect centre seconds, driven from the fourth wheel through a friction-sprung pinion, can produce seconds-hand flutter even in a healthy movement. The earliest examples may lack shock protection; Antiquorum's 1946 ref. 4560 description names none.

Documented fitments include refs. 3745, 4560, 6420, 6422, 6426/6427, 6466, 6480, 6482, 6494, 9083 and 9659. Bonhams also records a ref. 6694 with a III.60 caseback date on Cal. 1210.

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Christie’s lists Cal. 1080 in 6543 case 145'111. Revolution also ~~assigns~~ the caliber to the 6543 ~~and~~ describes a Cal. 1030 relationship. Sotheby’s called movement N726507 in 6541 case 412'479 Cal. 1080 in 2018; Phillips listed the same case and movement number as Cal. 1055 in 2026. The surviving ~~catalogues document these watch-level labels,~~ not a ~~settled specification or changeover~~ sequence.

Christie’s lists Cal. 1080 in 6543 case 145'111. Revolution and Watch-Wiki also assign the caliber to the 6543; Revolution describes a Cal. 1030 relationship. Watch-Wiki is a secondary reference index, and it does not resolve Christie’s Cal. 1065 label for case 145'159. Sotheby’s called movement N726507 in 6541 case 412'479 Cal. 1080 in 2018; Phillips listed the same case and movement number as Cal. 1055 in 2026. The surviving records do not establish a caliber sequence.

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* [https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-5612347 Christie’s, ref. 6543 case 145'159, Cal. 1065]

* [https://revolutionwatch.com/rolex-milgauss-one-in-a-thousand/ Revolution, Milgauss movement and 6543 history]

* [https://www.watch-wiki.net/doku.php?id=Rolex_calibres Stephen Foskett, Watch-Wiki Cal. 1080 reference index for 6543]

* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/important-watches-n09952/lot.256.html Sotheby’s, 6541 case 412'479, Cal. 1080]

* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/206388 Phillips, same case and movement number, Cal. 1055]

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* [https://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/28412-rolex-3135-510-drive-wheel-for-ratchet-appears-to-be-worn-not-winding-watch-enough/ Watch Repair Talk — Rolex 3135-510 ratchet drive wheel wear]

* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-3121-oyster-grenfell-lot-376-219 Antiquorum Geneva, 3 April 2025, lot 219]: ref. 3121 Oyster Grenfell, case 43,475, circa 1938, Cal. 59, 17 jewels.

* [https://timeanagram.com/products/7507 TimeAnagram, item 7507]: ref. 3121 listed as manual Cal. 710; the movement image shows no readable caliber stamp.

* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra

* [https://watchguy.co.uk/tmp/Rolex%201560.pdf Rolex Cal. 1560 spare-parts sheet no. 31; scan hosted by WatchGuy]

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 == Early chronograph movement
-The early Oyster chronograph references use Valjoux ébauches, with Rolex caliber designations that should be kept distinct from the maker’s base number. Available auction records support a limited Cal. 13 / Valjoux 23-family entry. That evidence concerns the 3525 and does not identify every early Rolex chronograph movement.
+The early Oyster chronograph references use Valjoux ébauches, with Rolex caliber designations that should be kept distinct from the maker’s base number. Available auction records support a limited Cal. 13 / Valjoux 23-family entry. Ebauches S.A.'s 1951 technical guide labels a two-pusher, 13-ligne movement “VZ 23” ([https://myretrowatches.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Valjoux-VZ-23-Technical-Guide.pdf technical guide, 2nd edition March 1953]). That nomenclature does not establish Rolex fitment. The Cal. 13 evidence discussed here concerns the 3525 and does not identify every early Rolex chronograph movement.
 Ref. [[Reference:2021|2021]] is a pre-Oyster monopusher. Published descriptions give movement sizes from 13 to 16½ lignes; Uhrenkosmos names a Valjoux VZ in one early monopusher, while auction catalogues describe different executions. The available records do not support a reference-wide caliber assignment. Keep these descriptions separate from the Cal. 13 entry below. [https://www.uhrenkosmos.com/rolex-daytona-seine-technik-und-geschichte/ Uhrenkosmos, early monopusher movement] [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/115419 Phillips, case 12'010] [https://www.cambiaste.com/it/asta-0795/rolex---rarissimo-cronografo-due-contatori-da-polso-monopulsante-in-ac-270066 Cambi, steel case 14xxx]
@@ Line 192: / Line 192: @@
 The architecture of Cal. 360 is disputed. Christie's describes a 1938 ref. 2835 "Prince Elegant" with a tonneau-shaped 15-jewel movement, and Charles Jarman's ''The Rolex Reference Guide'' (4th edition) calls Cal. 360 a manual, small-seconds, tonneau-shaped movement with a SuperBalance. Watch Doctor’s online chart instead lists a rectangular, 18-jewel movement measuring 18 × 27mm. The page does not identify an underlying Rolex document.
+Christie's also describes a rectangular 17-jewel Cal. 360 in 1937 Precision ref. 3140 case 41,362. Monaco Legend gives Cal. 360 for another 1937 ref. 3140, case 41,465, but no jewel count. These are catalogue attributions to individual watches; they do not settle the conflicting movement descriptions. [https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-rolex-a-9k-gold-rectangular-curved-wristwatch-5130486/ Christie’s, 2008 lot 13]; [https://www.monacolegendauctions.com/auction/exclusive-timepieces-33/lot-219 Monaco Legend, 2024 lot 219]
 Jarman dates Cal. 360 to 1937. The expansion of the HW designation remains unconfirmed; it should be retained as a designation rather than expanded to Hans Wilsdorf. The differing shape and jewel descriptions need comparison with the movement in the individual watch. Ineichen’s 2016 catalogue attributes C.360 to a Prince ref. 1880 and describes a nickel-plated lever movement. That is one lot-level attribution; it does not resolve the conflicting descriptions above. [https://ineichen.com/upload/iblock/83c/fnnltq7byndm2n2lwa14zfgz3qzl1tuc.pdf Ineichen, Auction 164, lot 133]
@@ Line 517: / Line 519: @@
 |}
-This Aegler-supplied 10½-ligne hand-wound family uses the 700/710 architecture. It has a straight-line lever escapement, monometallic Superbalance adjusted to six positions, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, and swan-neck micrometer regulator, with no documented shock protection. Antiquorum names Cal. 700 in its catalogue for ref. [[Reference:3358|3358]], case 51,419, with 18 jewels; its ref. [[Reference:2081|2081]] case 599,744 lot names the same caliber and grade but records 15 jewels. The discrepancy is unresolved, so the jewel count is left unspecified here. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-225 Antiquorum, ref. 3358] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-226 Antiquorum, ref. 2081] The movement powers the original Air-King 4925 and its Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, and Air-Giant siblings, including the sub-seconds 4365, mid-size 4444, and 4647 Hunter Precision. Its architecture links the pre-war Prince and Bubbleback movements with the post-war automatic Cal. 1030. Cal. 700 and 710 are hand-wound movements; Cal. 720 belongs to the automatic branch. White’s *The Vintage Rolex Field Manual* maps [[Reference:5031|ref. 5031]] to Cal. 710 in a reference table, but auction catalogues describe 5031 examples as automatic date watches. Christie’s [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-204100 listing] records movement number 37519 but no caliber; Antiquorum’s [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-120-203 1995], [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-53-191 1999] and [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-222-285 2009] entries do not name a caliber and report differing sizes and jewel counts. Sotheby’s 2020 and 2022 entries say only “automatic.” The available records do not resolve the conflict, so the 5031 is not assigned to Cal. 710, A.295, 740, or 745 here.
+This Aegler-supplied 10½-ligne hand-wound family uses the 700/710 architecture. It has a straight-line lever escapement, monometallic Superbalance adjusted to six positions, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, and swan-neck micrometer regulator, with no documented shock protection. Antiquorum names Cal. 700 in its catalogue for ref. [[Reference:3358|3358]], case 51,419, with 18 jewels; its ref. [[Reference:2081|2081]] case 599,744 lot names the same caliber and grade but records 15 jewels. The discrepancy is unresolved, so the jewel count is left unspecified here. [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-225 Antiquorum, ref. 3358] [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-108-226 Antiquorum, ref. 2081] The movement powers the original Air-King 4925 and its Air-Lion, Air-Tiger, and Air-Giant siblings, including the sub-seconds 4365, mid-size 4444, and 4647 Hunter Precision. Its architecture links the pre-war Prince and Bubbleback movements with the post-war automatic Cal. 1030. Cal. 700 and 710 are hand-wound movements; Cal. 720 belongs to the automatic branch. TimeAnagram lists Cal. 710 for a manual [[Reference:3121|ref. 3121]] and shows an open-movement photograph marked Rolex 15 Rubies and Superbalance, but no readable caliber number. Keep Cal. 710 as the seller’s attribution to that watch. White’s *The Vintage Rolex Field Manual* maps [[Reference:5031|ref. 5031]] to Cal. 710 in a reference table, but auction catalogues describe 5031 examples as automatic date watches. Christie’s [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-204100 listing] records movement number 37519 but no caliber; Antiquorum’s [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-120-203 1995], [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-53-191 1999] and [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-lot-222-285 2009] entries do not name a caliber and report differing sizes and jewel counts. Sotheby’s 2020 and 2022 entries say only “automatic.” The available records do not resolve the conflict, so the 5031 is not assigned to Cal. 710, A.295, 740, or 745 here.
 Auction catalogues identify manual Cal. 710 in three ref. 6082 watches: Antiquorum cases 784516 and 721396, and Monaco Legend case 810693. Colin White’s reference table also pairs 6082 with Cal. 710. Antiquorum’s Hong Kong 2021 narrative calls case 721396 self-winding, while its movement field names Cal. 710. Kibble Watches and Watch.de assign Cal. 1210 to separate examples; Watch.de reports case 721965, a 1961 date and movement no. 1162170. Neither dealer listing provides a readable movement photograph, so these remain seller attributions. [[Reference:6082|The 6082 article]] keeps the conflicting records tied to individual watches.
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 The pallet fork runs in jewels, while the escape wheel has shock-mounted settings and cap jewels on both pivots, matching the treatment of the balance. Indirect centre seconds, driven from the fourth wheel through a friction-sprung pinion, can produce seconds-hand flutter even in a healthy movement. The earliest examples may lack shock protection; Antiquorum's 1946 ref. 4560 description names none.
 Documented fitments include refs. 3745, 4560, 6420, 6422, 6426/6427, 6466, 6480, 6482, 6494, 9083 and 9659. Bonhams also records a ref. 6694 with a III.60 caseback date on Cal. 1210.
 <span id="cal-1215"></span>
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 |}
-Christie’s lists Cal. 1080 in 6543 case 145'111. Revolution also assigns the caliber to the 6543 and describes a Cal. 1030 relationship. Sotheby’s called movement N726507 in 6541 case 412'479 Cal. 1080 in 2018; Phillips listed the same case and movement number as Cal. 1055 in 2026. The surviving catalogues document these watch-level labels, not a settled specification or changeover sequence.
+Christie’s lists Cal. 1080 in 6543 case 145'111. Revolution and Watch-Wiki also assign the caliber to the 6543; Revolution describes a Cal. 1030 relationship. Watch-Wiki is a secondary reference index, and it does not resolve Christie’s Cal. 1065 label for case 145'159. Sotheby’s called movement N726507 in 6541 case 412'479 Cal. 1080 in 2018; Phillips listed the same case and movement number as Cal. 1055 in 2026. The surviving records do not establish a caliber sequence.
 <span id="cal-1580"></span>
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 * [https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-5612347 Christie’s, ref. 6543 case 145'159, Cal. 1065]
 * [https://revolutionwatch.com/rolex-milgauss-one-in-a-thousand/ Revolution, Milgauss movement and 6543 history]
+* [https://www.watch-wiki.net/doku.php?id=Rolex_calibres Stephen Foskett, Watch-Wiki Cal. 1080 reference index for 6543]
 * [https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/important-watches-n09952/lot.256.html Sotheby’s, 6541 case 412'479, Cal. 1080]
 * [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/206388 Phillips, same case and movement number, Cal. 1055]
@@ Line 3,145: / Line 3,148: @@
 * [https://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/28412-rolex-3135-510-drive-wheel-for-ratchet-appears-to-be-worn-not-winding-watch-enough/ Watch Repair Talk — Rolex 3135-510 ratchet drive wheel wear]
 * [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-3121-oyster-grenfell-lot-376-219 Antiquorum Geneva, 3 April 2025, lot 219]: ref. 3121 Oyster Grenfell, case 43,475, circa 1938, Cal. 59, 17 jewels.
+* [https://timeanagram.com/products/7507 TimeAnagram, item 7507]: ref. 3121 listed as manual Cal. 710; the movement image shows no readable caliber stamp.
 * ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
 * [https://watchguy.co.uk/tmp/Rolex%201560.pdf Rolex Cal. 1560 spare-parts sheet no. 31; scan hosted by WatchGuy]