Rolex Reference 3078

Rolex ref. 3078 9ct gold watch with Arabic dial and subsidiary seconds — Rolex ref. 3078 catalogued by David Duggleby as a 9ct-gold Precision. Photo: David Duggleby.

Auction catalogues describe ref. 3078 as a manually wound round watch with subsidiary seconds. They call examples either Chronometre or Precision and list stainless-steel, 9ct-gold, and 18ct-gold cases. Catalogued dates range from circa 1935 to the 1950s, but these individual estimates do not define the production run.

Core facts

Detail	Documented record
Reference	3078
Type	Manually wound round wristwatch with subsidiary seconds
Case materials	Stainless steel, 9ct gold, and 18ct gold in auction catalogues
Reported dimensions	29 mm or 30 mm, depending on the listed example
Movement descriptions	17-jewel movements marked Patented Superbalance; 18-jewel Ultra Prima chronometers timed to six positions. No numbered caliber is established.
Dial descriptions	Silvered Arabic dials; one two-tone silvered dial with batons and Arabic quarters; one refinished silvered dial with gilt Arabic numerals
Date evidence	Christie's dates individual examples circa 1935 and to the 1950s. Other catalogues report 1937 import marks or estimate circa 1938. These are not production endpoints.

Where it sits in the line

Christie's calls its examples Chronometre; David Duggleby calls a 9ct-gold watch Precision. The Precision overview distinguishes Precision wording from official chronometer certification. These listings leave the factory's family designation and each watch's certification status unresolved. Christie's, Live Auction 8802, lot 646 Christie's, ref. 3078, 1937 David Duggleby, lot 2177

Production outline

Christie's dates a stainless-steel example to circa 1935. Two 9ct-gold records carry import marks dated 1937: Christie's reports Dublin marks, and David Duggleby reports Glasgow marks. Osenat's 2024 catalogue estimates a gold example at circa 1938. Christie's dates an 18ct-gold example to the 1950s. These dates refer to separate catalogue statements and case marks; they do not show continuous production across that span. Christie's, circa-1935 steel example Christie's, Dublin marks David Duggleby, Glasgow marks Osenat sale catalogue Christie's, 1950s example

Movement notes

The reported movements are manual-wind. Christie's describes two 18-jewel Ultra Prima chronometers timed to six positions. Its circa-1935 steel lot specifies a nickel-finished movement; the 1950s gold lot uses the same Ultra Prima name. Christie's and David Duggleby also record 17-jewel movements marked Patented Superbalance. The Duggleby movement photograph shows that wording, but none of the reviewed records establishes a numbered caliber or a movement change during production. Christie's, lot 646 Christie's, 1937 Christie's, lot 344 David Duggleby, lot 2177

The photographed movement is marked 17 jewels and Patented Superbalance. Photo: David Duggleby.

Dial map

Arabic numerals and subsidiary seconds recur in the catalogue descriptions. Christie's circa-1935 steel example has a two-tone silvered dial with baton markers, Arabic quarters, and luminous hands. Its 1937 9ct-gold example has a silvered Arabic dial. The 1950s 18ct-gold lot has gilt Arabic numerals on a silvered dial that Christie's identifies as refinished. Duggleby's photograph shows visible aging; the image alone does not establish whether that dial is original. Christie's, lot 646 Christie's, 1937 Christie's, lot 344

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

The listed cases are round and measure 29 or 30 mm. Christie's describes snap-on backs on its examples. Its catalogue records one stainless-steel case and gold cases in both 9ct and 18ct; the available listings do not establish whether every material was offered throughout the reference's life. The records give little detail about bezel profiles, crystals, or crowns.

Outer caseback; the catalogue caption reports markings 3789/3078. Photo: David Duggleby.
Inside of the caseback with hallmarks. Photo: David Duggleby.

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging

Osenat's circa-1938 listing describes a 30 mm 18ct-gold watch on a Milanese bracelet it calls original; Green Auctioneers' 2025 listing describes a similar ref. 3078 with an 18ct-gold bracelet. Osenat calls its dial two-tone, while Green calls its three-tone. Neither listing gives a case number, so the records may be repeat appearances of one watch or two similar examples. They do not establish a standard ref. 3078 bracelet fitment. Other reviewed listings provide no end-link or clasp specification. Osenat, 15 December 2024, lot 42 Green Auctioneers, lot 30

Historical market and auction record

Sale record	Catalogue description	Result
Christie's, Live Auction 8802, lot 646	Circa-1935 stainless-steel Chronometre, 30 mm	Sale date and result not shown on the accessible page
Christie's, ref. 3078, 1937	9ct gold, 30 mm; Dublin import marks dated 1937	Sale details not shown on the accessible page
Christie's, 22 September 1999, lot 344	18ct gold, 29 mm; dated to the 1950s; refinished dial	Result not shown on the accessible page
David Duggleby, 4 July 2024, lot 2177	9ct gold, 29 mm; Glasgow import marks dated 1937; catalogue caption gives 3789/3078	Sold for £700
Osenat, 15 December 2024, lot 42	Circa-1938, 18ct gold, 30 mm; two-tone dial; Milanese bracelet described as original (19 cm); gross weight 54.7 g; family watch, first hand	Result not confirmed here
Green Auctioneers, 25 April 2025, lot 30	Circa-1938, 18ct gold, 30 mm; three-tone dial and gold bracelet. May repeat the Osenat listing.	Result not confirmed here
Cheffins, 20 November 2025, lot 188	Early steel model 3078, serial 035975; white Arabic dial and subsidiary seconds	Sold for £400

Christie's page for the 1937 9ct-gold watch does not expose its sale date in the current record. Cheffins' archived sale catalogue lists lot 188 as model 3078, serial 035975, sold for £400; its separate lot-detail page is unavailable. The available material does not show whether Cheffins' watch is the same steel example Christie's dated circa 1935. Christie's, 1937 Cheffins, 20 November 2025 sale catalogue

Gallery

9ct-gold ref. 3078, catalogued by David Duggleby. Photo: David Duggleby.
17-jewel movement marked Patented Superbalance. Photo: David Duggleby.
Outer caseback. Photo: David Duggleby.
Inner caseback and hallmarks. Photo: David Duggleby.