Rolex Oyster 2081

A checked version of this page, approved on 6 October 2026, was based on this revision.

Pre-Perpetual Oyster → 2081

Chrome-plated Rolex Oyster reference 2081 with white Arabic dial and subsidiary seconds — Ref. 2081, catalogued circa 1938. Photo: Toovey’s, lot 1065.

Ref. 2081 is a manual-wind Oyster with a cushion-shaped case. Auction catalogues identify examples from the 1920s through 1948, with 31–32 mm cases, subsidiary or centre seconds, and several movement descriptions. The dates belong to individual watches; they do not establish the reference’s production limits.

Core facts

Detail	Documented record
Reference and model	Auction catalogues identify Rolex ref. 2081 as an Oyster; catalogued names include “Standard Oyster,” “Oyster Imperial” and “Oyster Chronometer.”
Date evidence	Individual examples are dated to the 1920s, circa 1930, the 1930s, 1947 and 1948; production span unproved.
Case	Cushion-shaped, screw-down back and crown; recorded widths 31–32 mm. Materials reported include stainless steel, 9K gold and chrome-plated metal.
Movements	Manual wind. Lot descriptions include 10 lignes and 10½ lignes movements; one 1947 lot explicitly names Cal. 700, 10½ lignes, 15 jewels, Extra-Prima.
Dials and seconds	White or silvered enamel, silvered metal and black dials; Arabic or Roman numerals; subsidiary or centre seconds.
Bracelet and accessories	The cited watches are shown on straps. Antiquorum records a Rolex buckle with one 1947 watch; Christie’s records a fitted Rolex box with its circa-1930 Oyster Imperial.

Where it sits in the line

Rolex introduced its self-winding Perpetual rotor in 1931. Ref. 2081 examples dated before and after that change remain manual-wind. Antiquorum calls its 1920s example a “Standard Oyster” and quotes period advertising with that wording; Christie’s calls a circa-1930 watch “Oyster Imperial.” The catalogue labels belong to the named lots. [Rolex, Perpetual rotor history] [Antiquorum, lot 31] [Christie’s, lot 6079990]

Production outline

Antiquorum dates a 32 mm stainless-steel example to the 1920s. Christie’s dates a steel Oyster Imperial with a 32 mm case to circa 1930 and a separate 9K-gold cushion Oyster to circa 1930. A Christie's catalogue links another 9K example, case 37'271, to a Glasgow import letter for 1937. Toovey’s dates its chrome-plated watch to circa 1938. Antiquorum dates stainless-steel examples with cases 599744 and 63715 to 1947 and 1948. The dated lots place documented examples from the 1920s through 1948; their individual estimates do not supply factory start and end years. [Antiquorum, case 63715] [Antiquorum, 1920s example] [Christie’s, circa-1930 steel example] [Christie’s, 9K gold case 37'271] [Toovey’s, lot 1065] [Antiquorum, case 599744]

Movement notes

The lot descriptions vary. Antiquorum’s 1920s watch has a 15-jewel, 10 lignes lever movement, and its 1948 example a 15-jewel Prima. Christie’s describes a circa-1930 steel example with a manual 10½ lignes movement and 17 jewels; its 9K gold example records a 15-jewel nickel-finished lever movement. Sotheby’s gives a nickel lever movement but no caliber or jewel count for its 1940s watch.

Antiquorum names Cal. 700 on the 1947 ref. 2081, describing a 10½ lignes Extra-Prima movement with 15 jewels. Its separate ref. 3358 Cal. 700 lot records 18 jewels. The catalogues report different jewel counts, 15 and 18, and do not explain the difference. Christie’s separately catalogues a 1930s ref. 2081 as an “Oyster Chronometer”; its 17-jewel movement is numbered 14372 and described as adjusted to seven positions. This catalogue label and movement description belong to that watch. [Antiquorum, ref. 3358] [Antiquorum, 1920s movement] [Christie’s, circa-1930 movement] [Christie’s, 9K example] [Sotheby’s, lot 160] [Antiquorum, 1947 Cal. 700 example] [Christie’s, Oyster Chronometer ref. 2081]

Manual Rolex movement marked 15 rubies and Breguet hairspring in a ref. 2081 — The movement in Toovey’s 1938 example is marked “15 Rubies” and “Breguet spring.” Photo: Toovey’s, lot 1065.

Dial map

The auction records show distinct layouts. Antiquorum’s 1920s watch has a matte silver dial with applied steel Arabic numerals, an outer minute scale and subsidiary seconds. Christie’s circa-1930 steel example has a black dial with luminous Arabic and dot numerals and centre seconds; its other circa-1930 example has a black dial, Arabic and baton numerals. The 9K-gold watch with the 1937 Glasgow import letter has an enamel Arabic dial and subsidiary seconds. Sotheby’s records a white enamel Arabic dial with subsidiary seconds, while Antiquorum’s 1947 watch has white gloss and matte enamel, painted radial Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds. Its 1948 example has a two-tone silver dial with luminous Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds. Toovey’s 1938 example also has a white enamel Arabic dial and subsidiary seconds. The dated lots document these layouts, but do not place them in a transition sequence. [Antiquorum, lot 31] [Christie’s, lot 6079990] [Christie’s, lot 856232] [Christie’s, lot 5130485] [Sotheby’s, lot 160] [Antiquorum, lot 226] [Antiquorum, lot 675] [Toovey’s, lot 1065]

Case, bezel, crystal and crown

The cited cushion cases measure 31 or 32 mm across. Antiquorum describes a three-body polished case with straight lugs, a screw-down back and crown; its 1948 lot also records a concave bezel and dust-protecting cap. Christie’s circa-1930 and 1930s listings also specify a screw-down crown; one calls the bezel milled. Auction catalogues call the cases water-resistant or waterproof, but give no pressure-test depth or crystal material. Antiquorum, lot 675

Catalogues disagree on materials. Antiquorum’s 2000 note says ref. 2081 was made only in stainless steel; Christie’s lists 9K-gold and chrome-and-steel examples, and Toovey’s describes a chrome-plated case. The available records do not settle the difference. [Antiquorum, lot 31] [Christie’s, lot 5130485] [Toovey’s, lot 1065]

Marked caseback photographed with the Rolex Oyster ref. 2081 sold by Toovey’s — Caseback photographed with Toovey’s ref. 2081. The catalogue records “5557 CH” over “2081.” Photo: Toovey’s, lot 1065.

Toovey’s transcribes “5557 CH” over “2081” on its screw-off caseback. Antiquorum separately identifies case 599744 on its 1947 example, and Christie's gives case 37'271 with a Glasgow import letter for 1937. Each number remains tied to its own case and catalogue description; the records offer no continuous sequence.

Bracelet, clasp and packaging

The located catalogue photographs show leather straps, and no bracelet fitment is established. Antiquorum records a stainless-steel Rolex buckle with its 1947 watch but does not establish that the buckle was originally paired with it. Christie's says its circa-1930 Oyster Imperial came with a fitted Rolex presentation box; that accessory belongs to the auctioned lot, not to every ref. 2081.

Catalogue records

Auction record	Catalogue description
Antiquorum, Geneva, 19 November 2000, lot 31	Ref. 2081; 1920s; stainless steel; 32 mm; 10 lignes movement, 15 jewels; subsidiary seconds.
Christie’s, lot 6079990	Oyster Imperial; circa 1930; stainless steel; 32 mm; manual 10½ lignes movement, 17 jewels; black Arabic/baton dial; fitted box.
Christie’s, lot 856232	Oyster; circa 1930; 9K gold; 32 mm wide; 15-jewel movement; black luminous Arabic/dot dial; centre seconds.
Christie’s, lot 965127	Oyster Chronometer; 1930s; chrome-and-steel case, 31 mm; 17-jewel movement described as adjusted to seven positions; caseback marked 66318/2081.
Christie’s, lot 5130485	Oyster; 9K gold, case 37'271 with Glasgow import letter for 1937; 15-jewel movement; enamel Arabic dial.
Sotheby’s, 2006, lot 160	Oyster; 1940s; stainless steel, 31 mm; nickel lever movement; white enamel Arabic dial and subsidiary seconds.
Toovey’s, 4 May 2023, lot 1065	Oyster; circa 1938; chrome-plated case, 32 mm; 15 rubies and Breguet spring stated on movement; caseback marked 5557 CH over 2081.
Antiquorum, Geneva, 14 May 2006, lot 226	“Standard Oyster”; made in 1947; stainless steel, case 599744; Cal. 700, 10½ lignes Extra-Prima, 15 jewels.
Antiquorum, Geneva, 16 March 2008, lot 675	Ref. 2081; made in 1948; stainless steel, case 63715; 32 × 32 mm; 10 lignes Prima, 15 jewels; two-tone silver luminous Roman dial, subsidiary seconds.

Gallery

Front view, Toovey’s lot 1065
Movement engraving, Toovey’s lot 1065
Caseback, Toovey’s lot 1065

Sources