Rolex Oyster Perpetual 4362

Reference:4362

Steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 4362 with silver dial — Antiquorum Hong Kong, 1 June 2024, lot 73

Ref. 4362 is a steel automatic Oyster Perpetual documented in auction catalogues from around 1940 to the late 1950s. The records describe 35–36 mm cases, center seconds, and 9¾-line movements, but give several object numbers rather than a confirmed caliber. The dates belong to individual watches; they do not establish the reference's production limits. Christie’s 2005 catalogue and a later Monaco Legend sale use “King of Wings” and repeat a Canadian-market and Royal Canadian Air Force story; its origin is unverified.

Core facts

detail	value
reference	4362; one 2024 catalogue writes 4362/1796, without explaining the suffix
family	Oyster Perpetual
documented examples	case 286311, dated circa 1944–1945; case 286231, dated circa 1957; case 315874, dated circa 1940
case material	stainless steel in the reviewed auction records
reported diameter	35 mm in Antiquorum records; 36 mm in Cambi Aste's catalogue
movement	self-winding; 9¾ lines in two catalogue records; other listings report movement numbers, not a confirmed caliber
seconds	center seconds in the available descriptions

Where it sits in the line

Auction catalogues and the Vintage Rolex Field Manual identify ref. 4362 as an Oyster Perpetual. Antiquorum's 2024 title and a 2011 Rolex Forums reference list also group it with Bubble Backs. That is collector usage in these sources; neither establishes a separate Rolex model name.

Production outline

Christie's dates case 286311 circa 1945; Monaco Legend dates the same case circa 1944. Treat those as two descriptions of one watch. Antiquorum dates a separate ref. 4362, case 286231, circa 1957. Cambi Aste lists case 315874 circa 1940. These object dates place examples across the 1940s and 1950s, but do not establish when the reference entered or left production.

Movement notes

Antiquorum describes its 1994 example as having a rhodium-plated, 17-jewel, 9¾-line movement. Its 2024 catalogue also reports 9¾ lines; the photographs show movement no. 29304. Christie's lists movement no. 902507 for case 286311 and no. 97561 for another 1950s listing, which has no case number. Cambi Aste gives no. 6248 for case 315874. The records give object numbers but no confirmed caliber assignment.

Antiquorum's photograph of movement no. 29304, case 286231.

Dial map

The 2024 Antiquorum photographs show a silver dial with applied Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9, wedge-shaped markers, and center seconds. Antiquorum's 1994 catalogue describes a champagne dial with painted Arabic numerals and indexes. A Christie's 1950s lot has a textured white dial with raised Arabic quarter marks and dagger five-minute divisions. For case 286311, Christie's describes a silvered matte dial with gilt Roman numerals; Monaco Legend describes pink-colored batons and Roman indexes. The catalogue photographs show a compatible layout; these descriptions emphasize different details of the same watch.

A collector-sale post calls a 4362 “King of Wings” and says its dial was refinished. Repeated posts appear to show the same watch, so they do not establish a factory dial variant.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes

The photographed 2024 example has a smooth bezel, a screw-down crown, and a screw-down caseback. Its inner caseback is stamped 4362 and inscribed “31 Victoires”; the exterior shows the numbers 1796 and 286231. Antiquorum and Christie's report 35 mm for their examples; Cambi Aste lists 36 mm for case 315874. Christie's describes another 4362 with downturned scalloped lugs and a chamfered bezel. Antiquorum writes the 2024 reference as 4362/1796, but gives no explanation for the suffix. The catalogues do not specify the crystal.

Antiquorum, Hong Kong, 1 June 2024, lot 73: exterior marked 1796 and 286231
Antiquorum, Hong Kong, 1 June 2024, lot 73: inner caseback stamped 4362 and inscribed “31 Victoires”

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes

Cambi Aste shows a leather strap, and some catalogue photographs show no strap fitted. Monaco Legend lists a stainless-steel bracelet for case 286311; that catalogue entry does not establish factory fitment. No source ties a particular bracelet, end links, clasp, box, or papers to original delivery for ref. 4362.

Special branches

Christie’s 2005 catalogue essay calls ref. 4362 “King of Wings” and links the name to Canadian-market watches and Royal Canadian Air Force members; Monaco Legend repeats that account in 2022. Those catalogues repeat the same story, so they are not independent evidence of military distribution. Collector-sale posts appear to describe one watch with a refinished dial. The inside-caseback inscription “31 Victoires” does not identify who ordered or wore the watch.

Historical market and auction record

catalogue record	date assigned to the watch	identifying details
Cambi Aste, lot 15	circa 1940	case 315874; 36 mm; movement no. 6248
Monaco Legend Auctions, 22 October 2022, lot 9	1944	case 286311; 35 mm; movement described as 9¾ lines
Christie's, lot 4596496	circa 1945	case 286311; movement no. 902507
Christie's, lot 874550	1950s	35 mm; movement no. 97561; textured white dial
Antiquorum Hong Kong, lot 82	1950s	35 mm; 9¾-line, 17-jewel movement; case number not listed
Antiquorum Hong Kong, lot 73	circa 1957	case 286231; movement no. 29304; 35 mm

The auction dates and specifications apply to the lots as catalogued. Christie's and Monaco Legend describe case 286311, so their entries are not counted as two independent watches.

Gallery

Full watch, Antiquorum lot 73
Antiquorum, Hong Kong, 1 June 2024, lot 73: exterior marked 1796 and 286231
Movement no. 29304
Antiquorum, Hong Kong, 1 June 2024, lot 73: inside caseback stamped 4362

Sources

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