82 - Rolex - Bubble Back

Rolex - Bubble Back (*) A rare vintage wristwatch - chronometer Ref. 5011, Cal. Hunter, Case No. 645933, Dimensions 32 mm, circa 1948, Origin: Switzerland, Accessories: original gold clasp Case: 18K gold, screw-down back marked 5011, screw-down “Rolex Oyster” winding crown, fluted bezel. Dial: Gilded, applied arrow-shaped hour markers with luminous dots, sword-shaped luminous hands. Movement: Automatic. The signs of wear appropriate for its age in no way detract from the appeal of this wrist chronometer. The relatively small 32 mm size gives it an unobtrusive yet appealing presence on the wrist. The dart-shaped hour markers and the sword-shaped hands filled with luminous material, in particular, are real eye-catchers. The case and bezel are in very good condition, as is the OCC dial. The Rolex Oyster crown is also in excellent condition. The Hunter caliber is very clean and starts running immediately—all in all, a fantastic watch. The Rolex Bubble Back is one of the more unusual Rolex models; it takes its name from the large case back that protects the tall rotor-winding movement. The first Bubble Back was launched in 1933, and production continued for about 20 years; the model was largely responsible for establishing Rolex as a brand known for reliable watches—the relatively high number of Bubble Backs in perfect working order that still exist today is a testament to this. The most popular versions of the Bubble Back are Steelium (stainless steel), Rolesor (gold and steel), and Gold (9K, 14K, 18K red or yellow gold). The names Steelium and Rolesor were created and patented by Rolex. Changes to the case included, for example, smooth bezels, bezels with a guilloché pattern, or bezels with concealed lugs. The dials also came in several variations: silvered, black, pink, or white; two-tone 24-hour dials in a military style; or the “California Dials” featuring Roman and Arabic numerals. Case: very good, slightly worn. Dial: very good, slightly oxidized. Movement: very good, in working order, cleaning recommended. Please note that leather straps made from endangered or protected species—such as alligator, crocodile, or lizard—are used in our catalog or on our website for illustrative purposes only. For customs-related reasons, such straps cannot be shipped outside the EU.