Reference:bubbleback: Difference between revisions

(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)

Line 2:

{{#seo:

|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

|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

|og_type=article

Line 19:

</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 ==

Line 180:

| [[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 ==

Line 191:

Line 195:

== 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. 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. [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]

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. [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%;"

Line 206:

Line 210:

|-

| [[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]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{#seo:
 |title=Rolex bubbleback — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges &#124; 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
 |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
 |og_type=article
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 </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 ==
@@ Line 180: / Line 180: @@
 | [[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 ==
@@ Line 191: / Line 195: @@
 == 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. 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. [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]
+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. [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%;"
@@ Line 206: / Line 210: @@
 |-
 | [[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]