Rolex 2319

Steel-and-yellow-gold Rolex watch catalogued as ref. 2319 by Monaco Legend Auctions — Case 37308, catalogued as ref. 2319; Monaco Legend Auctions, lot 90, 2024.

Three photographed casebacks carry ref. 2319: Monaco Legend's case 37308, WatchNet's example with partial serial 42,***, and Awad Watches' case 37264. Seller and auction records date examples or listings from circa 1930 to circa 1950. Treat these as individual-watch dates; the factory production span remains unknown.

Core facts

detail	value
reference	2319
model name	Auction and dealer listings use Oyster Flatback, Oyster Royal, and Bubbleback. A period Rolex name for the reference has not surfaced.
documented examples	Caseback-marked examples are catalogued circa 1930, in the 1930s, and in 1936; production endpoints are unknown
movement	Manual winding is shown or reported in the inspected examples; two movement photographs show Rolex Ultra Prima. The numbered caliber remains unconfirmed.
case	Steel and gold combinations are reported; two records describe yellow gold, while Awad and Gazette Drouot describe rose gold
diameter	Catalogue measurements range from 31 to 32 mm
dial examples	Oyster Precision, black sector, Mappin-signed Oyster Royal / Extra Precision, applied spike indexes, and two-tone champagne
bracelet evidence	Riveted, combination-bamboo, expandable, and leather straps appear in separate records; fitment and original delivery are unproved

Where it sits in the line

The photographed examples belong among early manual-wind Oysters. Some catalogues use “Bubbleback” for watches they also describe as manual-wind; the term here is a lot-level label, not a movement identification.

Production outline

Awad Watches dates case 37264 to 1930. WatchNet dates its separate example to the 1930s, and Monaco Legend dates case 37308 to 1936. Gazette Drouot's 2019 catalogue gives circa 1950 for a ref. 2319, though its accessible record has no caseback photograph. These dates describe individual listings; they do not establish when production began or ended.

Movement notes

Two photographs linked to caseback-marked watches show manual Rolex Ultra Prima movements: Awad's case 37264 and WatchNet's separate example. Monaco Legend's case 37308 has conflicting catalogue fields: the title and description call it an automatic Bubbleback, while the movement field says “Manual, cal. 9 3/4.” WatchNet separately lists “10-1/2,” without explaining the field. Gazette Drouot transcribes “ROLEX - ULTRA PRIMA / n° 11300” for its circa-1950 listing but does not identify what 11300 numbers. Bonhams reports a manual 18-jewel movement for its ambiguous 2319/2081 entry. The photographed examples are manual-wind; the listings do not establish a numbered caliber across the reference.

Dial map

The documented dials differ by example. Monaco Legend's case 37308 has a silvered dial that the catalogue says aged to a sand color, signed Oyster Precision. WatchNet shows a black sector dial with applied markers and a single-rail minute track. Case 37264 carries an Oyster Royal dial signed Mappin and Extra Precision, with Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9. Gazette Drouot describes a silver dial with applied spike indexes on its circa-1950 listing; the accessible record does not include the caseback image. Bonhams describes a two-tone champagne dial with Arabic quarters and baton markers on its 2319/2081 listing; the slash notation leaves the reference assignment unclear.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes

Monaco Legend and WatchNet describe 32 mm steel-and-yellow-gold cases. Awad calls case 37264 steel and rose gold; Gazette Drouot lists a 31 mm steel-and-rose-gold case in its circa-1950 record. Monaco's photographs show covered lugs, a smooth bezel, and a screw-down back. WatchNet also describes a screw-back case.

Covered lugs and crown on case 37308. Monaco Legend Auctions, 2024.
Exterior caseback marked 37308 and 2319. Monaco Legend Auctions, 2024.

Case 37264 and the Mappin dial

The photographed caseback on 37264 carries both 37264 and 2319. Its dial reads "ROLEX OYSTER ROYAL," "MAPPIN," "EXTRA PRECISION," "FAB. SUISSE," and "SWISS MADE." Awad dates the watch to 1930 and describes its case as rose gold and steel; those are seller attributions. The open view shows the manual Rolex Ultra Prima movement associated with this case.

Mappin-signed Oyster Royal dial on case 37264. Awad Watches archive.
Caseback engravings 37264 and 2319. Awad Watches archive.
Manual Rolex Ultra Prima movement shown with case 37264. Awad Watches archive.

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging

Monaco Legend describes a two-tone riveted bracelet with case 37308. WatchNet calls the Gay Frères combination-bamboo bracelet on its example non-original. The Awad photographs show an expandable bracelet with case 37264; the listing does not establish that it was delivered with the watch. Bonhams lists an associated leather strap on its ambiguous 2319/2081 entry; Gazette Drouot describes leather on its inaccessible circa-1950 listing. Bracelet and end-link fitment, clasp dating, and packaging remain unverified at reference level.

Closed clasp on the bracelet catalogued with case 37308 — Clasp shown with case 37308; no code is legible. Monaco Legend Auctions, 2024.

Catalogued examples

Source	Record
Awad Watches archive listing	Case 37264, marked 2319; seller dates it to 1930 and describes a rose-gold-and-steel case, Mappin-signed dial, and manual Rolex Ultra Prima movement.
Monaco Legend Auctions, lot 90, 2024	Case 37308, marked 2319; catalogued in 1936 as steel and yellow gold, 32 mm. Title says automatic Bubbleback; movement field says manual, cal. 9 3/4.
WatchNet / Private Eyes, item B-10974	Caseback-marked 2319; partial serial 42,***; seller dates it to the 1930s and describes a 32 mm steel-and-yellow-gold manual-wind Oyster Flatback.
Gazette Drouot, lot 5, 2019	Catalogued as a circa-1950 Bubble Back Hooded ref. 2319; 31 mm, steel and 9K rose gold, manual movement signed Rolex Ultra Prima / no. 11300. The caseback image is unavailable for checking.
Bonhams, London Watches, lot 24, 2026	Oyster Royal listed as ref. 2319/2081, circa 1930; 32 mm, steel and gold, 18-jewel manual movement. The slash notation leaves the reference assignment unclear.

Gallery

Case 37308, front view. Monaco Legend Auctions, 2024, lot 90.
Case 37308, profile and crown. Monaco Legend Auctions, 2024, lot 90.
Exterior of case 37308, marked 37308 and 2319. Monaco Legend Auctions, 2024, lot 90.
Bracelet clasp with case 37308. Monaco Legend Auctions, 2024, lot 90.

Sources