Steel & 18ct rose gold Rolex ref. 3696 'Bubbleback' Oyster Perpetual wristwatch with rose gold bezel. Made 1945

Information

• Brand: Rolex
• Made: 1945
• Model: Oyster Perpetual
• Reference: 3696
• Calibre: 9 3/4
• Movement: Automatic
• Material: Stainless steel & 18ct rose gold
• Features/complications: Bubble back 
• Dial: Golden dial with outer minute track featuring luminous hour indices with luminous Oyster hour and minute hands and sweep centre centre seconds 
• Case dimensions: 32mm
• Bracelet/strap: Leather strap
• Accessories: N/A
• SKU: 3391

Essay

Rolex created the auto-rotor movement from the Aegler movement in Hunter watches that featured a “perpetual motion” winding mass. Rolex subsequently patented its first successful perpetually self-winding wristwatch in 1932 and the Bubble Back was introduced in 1933 and featured the first auto-rotor. The reference 3372 is yet another model of a long line of a Oyster Perpetual wristwatches since their inception in 1926