Important Collectors’ Watches, Pocket...

Geneva, Oct 14, 2007

LOT 483

Ref. 2940, Stainless Steel So-Called ?Bubble-Back? Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual?, case No. 112960, Ref. 2940. Made circa 1940. Fine tonneau-shaped, center-seconds, self-winding, waterresistant, stainless steel wristwatch with a stainless steel Rolex buckle.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

EUR 4,300 - 5,500 / USD 5,800 - 7,500

Sold: CHF 6,844

C.Two-body, polished, screwed-down case back and crown, polished inclined bezel. D. Three-tone brushed gilt with painted luminous Arabic numerals, outer minute/seconds track with Arabic five minutes/seconds numerals. Blued steel "skeleton? hands. M. 9 3/4???, rhodium-plated, 19 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Superbalance, self-compensating Breguet balancespring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 32 mm. Thickness 14 mm. From ?The Collection?


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-7-01

Good

Oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

This case shape is called ?Bubble-back? or ?Ovetto? by collectors. Italian collectors use the word ?Ovetto? due to the olive shape of the case, while American, northern European and Asian collectors call these watches ?Bubble-Back? due to the heavily domed case back. A similar watch is illustrated in ?Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, 2001, p. 145.