Rolex Oyster 3358
Pre-Perpetual Oyster → 3358
The documented ref. 3358 examples are manual-wind Oysters, listed under several names. Antiquorum catalogued case 51,419 as a 1942 “Oyster Chronomètre” with Cal. 700 and subsidiary seconds. Auctionata calls case 299,752 an “Oyster Viceroy”; Daisy Exclusive uses “Oyster Victory” for another 3358 listing. Dated examples range from circa 1940 to 1942, but these records do not set the production years.
Core facts
| Detail | Documented record |
|---|---|
| Reference | 3358 |
| Family | Oyster; the cited examples are manual-wind |
| Production dates | Auction catalogues date examples to circa 1940 and 1942; no start or end year is established |
| Movement | Cal. 700 named on Antiquorum case 51,419; Auctionata describes its separate example as manual-wind without naming a caliber |
| Case | Three-body steel Oyster case with pink-gold bezel documented; a gold crown is described on the Antiquorum watch |
| Diameter | 28 mm (Auctionata); 29 mm (Daisy Exclusive); 30 mm (Antiquorum) |
| Seconds | Subsidiary seconds on the Antiquorum watch; Auctionata's description records hours, minutes and seconds |
| Dial names and signatures | “Oyster Chronomètre” (Antiquorum); “Oyster Viceroy” and W. Rosch, Berne (Auctionata) |
| Bracelet | No original bracelet fitment established in the cited records |
Where it sits in the line
The documented 3358 examples are manual-wind, in the same small-case group as the 3359 and the automatic Bubblebacks. Antiquorum says the two references differ in their seconds display: subsidiary seconds on the 3358 and center seconds on the 3359. Antiquorum identifies Cal. 700 in its example; Auctionata describes its separate 3358 as manual-wind. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual lists 3358/0 as Perpetual, a conflicting table entry whose scope remains unclear.
Production and dating
Auctionata dates case 299,752 to circa 1940. Antiquorum dates case 51,419 to 1942. Reconstructed serial charts place 51,419 between their 1935 and 1940 entries. The chart is a selective estimate, and its reading conflicts with Antiquorum’s date.
Movement
Antiquorum identifies Cal. 700 in case 51,419 and describes a 10½-ligne, rhodium-plated movement with 18 jewels, a straight-line lever escapement, a Superbalance adjusted to six positions, and a self-compensating Breguet balance spring. The dial, case, and movement are signed. Antiquorum says Cal. 700 was created in 1938 and entered regular production in 1944–1951, yet dates this watch to 1942. The catalogue gives no movement-fitment history. Auctionata describes its separate 3358 as manual-wind but gives no caliber.
Dial map
The Antiquorum example has a matte pink dial with printed Roman numerals at the quarters, dot indexes, an outer minute track and subsidiary seconds. Blued-steel baton hands match that layout. Auctionata records an off-white dial signed W. Rosch, Berne, with Roman numerals and baton indexes, plus rose-gold feuille hands. Daisy Exclusive lists a 29 mm steel example with a champagne dial, Arabic numerals at 12, 2, 4, 8 and 10, and rose-gold baton hands. The three listings document three dial layouts; they give no sequence or complete dial register.
Case, bezel, crystal, and crown
Antiquorum describes a polished, three-body, bi-colour case with a screwed-down steel back, gold crown and pink-gold engine-turned bezel with hour divisions. Its dial has sunken dot indexes; these are separate from the divisions on the bezel. Auctionata records a stainless-steel case and back with an 18-carat rose-gold bezel and crown. Daisy Exclusive also describes a steel case and rose-gold bezel. Auctionata gives its case as 28 mm across and 10 mm thick; Antiquorum gives 30 mm and 11 mm; Daisy lists 29 mm excluding the crown. Antiquorum calls its lot water-resistant; Daisy marks its watch as not water-resistant. Neither catalogue establishes current water resistance. Neither auction catalogue specifies the crystal material.
Bracelet, clasp, and packaging
All three listed watches are shown on leather straps. Daisy Exclusive explicitly says its strap is new and not original. Auctionata gives a 16 mm lug width; Antiquorum records a gold-plated Rolex buckle. None of these records establishes a 3358 bracelet or end-link fitment.
Special branches
Daisy Exclusive calls its watch an “Oyster Victory” and says the model was sold in Canada to servicemen. That account comes from the dealer listing; it provides no provenance or period citation for a military issue.
Auction record
Antiquorum sold case 51,419 as lot 225 in its Geneva sale of 14 May 2006. The catalogue dated it to 1942 and recorded the pink-dial Chronomètre, Cal. 700 and 30 mm case described above. The sale result was CHF 15,340. Auctionata separately catalogued case 299,752 at circa 1940 with the W. Rosch, Berne signature and 28 mm case.
Related references
- Oyster Perpetual 1069
- Oyster Perpetual 1072
- Oyster Perpetual 1073
- Oyster Perpetual 1573
- Oyster Perpetual 1873
- Oyster Perpetual 1925
See also the movement reference, bracelet & clasp guide, and serial numbers by year.
Sources
- Antiquorum, The Mondani Collection of Rolex Wristwatches, Geneva, 14 May 2006, lot 225; image credited to Antiquorum
- Auctionata / Auction.fr, lot 65, case 299752
- Daisy Exclusive, ref. 3358 listing; dealer description and images
- The Vintage Rolex Field Manual — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra; reference table entry for 3358/0
- RolexHaven, serial-number chart photographs reproduced in the serial-number reference