Rolex Oyster reference 2849

Rolex reference 2849 is a hand-wound Oyster with a broad stepped bezel and recessed seconds. Antiquorum calls “Lifesaver” a collector name and says period advertising used “Oyster De Luxe”; Christie’s also uses “Lifesaver” in its lot title. Auction catalogues date identified examples from circa 1936 through circa 1940.

Core facts

Field	Documented details
Reference	2849
Family	Oyster, manual wind
Documented dates	Auction examples dated circa 1936, 1937, 1938, and 1940; these are catalogue dates, not proven production endpoints
Case	Round Oyster case with broad stepped bezel; some catalogues describe concealed lugs
Diameter	32–33 mm in the reviewed auction catalogues
Materials	Steel examples; Christie's describes case 39,120/2849 as steel and gold, while Antiquorum calls the reference steel-only
Movement	Antiquorum names 17-jewel Cal. 500 on two cases; Christie's describes 18-jewel movements on separate examples
Dial	Documented black baton, black gilt-marker, black Arabic, black luminous-circle, and two-tone silvered examples

Where it sits in the line

The 2849 belongs to Rolex’s hand-wound Oyster line. The broad bezel frames a relatively small dial.

Production outline

Christie’s dates one 2849 to circa 1936 and another to circa 1938. Antiquorum dates two separate cases, 87,464 and 36,618, to 1937. Its 2013 catalogue quotes a 1985 Rolex letter saying the reference was made in 1937 in a unique series of 60 pieces. Christie's dates cases 36,592 and 39,120/2849 to circa 1940. These are dates assigned to individual watches. The letter is the sole source here for its 60-piece figure and 1937 date; the auction records give no production ledger or endpoint.

Movement notes

Movement descriptions vary by lot. Antiquorum names a 17-jewel Cal. 500 in both 1937 cases, 87,464 and 36,618. Christie's describes an 18-jewel Observatory Quality lever movement in its circa-1936 example and an 18-jewel 8¾-ligne Hunter in case 43,860. It lists a signed 17-jewel movement in case 39,120/2849 without giving a caliber. Antiquorum's 2006 note says Cal. 500 was created in 1935 but produced from 1943 to 1953, while dating its Cal. 500 watch to 1937. Those catalogue dates conflict; the available records do not settle the caliber chronology.

Dial map

The catalogue lots record several layouts; this sample is not a complete factory dial list. Christie's circa-1936 example has baton numerals; its circa-1938 case 43,860 has gilt markers on black, and case 36,592 has a luminous inner circle with outer minute divisions. Christie's also describes gilt Arabic numerals and subsidiary seconds on case 39,120/2849. Antiquorum's two 1937 watches have two-tone silvered dials with printed square indexes and Roman quarters; case 36,618 also has subsidiary seconds.

Two-tone dial with Roman quarters

Antiquorum describes case 87,464 with printed square indexes and Roman quarters.

Printed square indexes and Roman quarters on the dial of Rolex Oyster reference 2849 case 87464 — Antiquorum's 1937 case 87,464.

Black and silvered dial examples

These two catalogue photographs show different watches and different dial treatments.

Christie's case 36,592, circa 1940: black dial with luminous inner circle and outer minute divisions.
Antiquorum case 36,618, dated 1937: two-tone silvered dial; the photograph also shows the accompanying Rolex letter.

Christie's describes case 39,120/2849 as steel and gold. Antiquorum's 2006 note says the reference was made in stainless steel only. These catalogue descriptions conflict, and the available records leave original delivery of the gold components unresolved.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

The catalogues describe a round Oyster case with a broad stepped bezel. Some lots mention concealed lugs; Christie's records a screw-down crown and back on case 43,860. Reported diameters range from 32 to 33 mm. One Christie's example is steel with a gilt-plated case periphery; another is described as steel and gold, with caseback number 39,120/2849. The catalogue entries describe each watch as sold; original delivery of the gold details remains unverified. Christie's records case and crown details on case 43,860, while the catalogues leave crystal material unspecified.

Bracelet and strap

Auction photographs show leather straps on some sale watches; the catalogues make no original-fitment claim or identify a bracelet reference.

Gallery

Christie's case 43,860, dated circa 1938; stainless steel with gilt-plated periphery.
Antiquorum case 87,464, dated 1937; two-tone silvered dial with printed square indexes and Roman quarters.
Christie's case 36,592, dated circa 1940; black luminous-circle dial.
Antiquorum case 36,618, dated 1937, with the quoted Rolex letter.

Sources

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