Rolex Oyster “Bubbleback” Chronometer Wristwatch Ref. 2940, Switzerland 1940s

Offered for your consideration is this beautiful 1940s Rolex Oyster Perpetual “Bubbleback” Chronometer Ref. 2940, combining an exquisite black dial, gold “Mercedes” hands, the celebrated Oyster case and a period riveted stainless-steel bracelet.

Compact at 32 mm in diameter yet remarkably substantial in appearance, the watch possesses precisely the distinctive character that has made early Rolex Bubblebacks such an important collecting category in their own right.

Its black dial provides a particularly striking setting for the warm gold hands and hour markers, while the characteristically rounded case back gives the watch the unmistakable profile from which collectors derived its affectionate “Bubbleback” nickname.

Most importantly, however, the Bubbleback represents far more than an attractive vintage Rolex. It belongs to the formative period in which the combination of OYSTER, PERPETUAL and CHRONOMETER established the technological identity that would define Rolex for generations.

Today universally known among collectors as the “Bubbleback,” these early Oyster Perpetual watches acquired their nickname from the prominently rounded case back required to accommodate Rolex’s early automatic winding mechanism.

Their importance in Rolex history is considerable. Rolex had already transformed the practical wristwatch with its waterproof Oyster case. The introduction of the Perpetual self-winding mechanism then addressed another fundamental problem: maintaining the watch’s power reserve without requiring its owner to unscrew the crown repeatedly for manual winding.

The ingenious centrally mounted rotor moved with the wearer’s wrist, automatically winding the mainspring and permitting the watch to remain sealed for considerably longer periods.

The combination proved extraordinarily successful.The Oyster protected the movement. The Perpetual rotor kept it wound. And chronometer-quality regulation addressed the third essential requirement: precision. Those three principles became cornerstones of Rolex watchmaking and remain fundamental to the company’s identity today.

REFERENCE 2940 — A CLASSIC 1940s BUBBLEBACK The present Ref. 2940 belongs to the classic wartime and immediate post-war generation of Rolex Bubblebacks.

Its proportions are unmistakably of the period: a compact 32 mm case, pronounced rounded back and relatively long lugs producing an overall lug-to-lug measurement of approximately 39 mm.

The black dial is especially attractive, creating a dramatic contrast with its gold-coloured details and characteristic “Mercedes” hour hand.

The screw-down crown is likewise correctly signed ROLEX OYSTER surrounding the Swiss-cross emblem, while the case carries Rolex signatures and trademarks together with the serial number between the lugs.

These details give the watch the unmistakable visual vocabulary of an early Rolex Oyster.

Inside is Rolex’s fully signed automatic NA movement, belonging to the early generation of self-winding mechanisms that gave the Bubbleback its distinctive form.

The additional depth required by the rotor assembly explains the characteristic convex case back and consequently the nickname by which these watches have been known for decades.

Far from being merely an eccentric design feature, that rounded back is therefore the visible consequence of one of the most important technical developments in Rolex history.

It represents the period during which the automatic Oyster evolved from an ingenious technical concept into a genuinely practical everyday wristwatch.

One of the most immediately appealing features of the present watch is its beautifully contrasted dial.

The deep black surface is enlivened by warm gold-coloured hour markers and Rolex’s now iconic “Mercedes” hour hand, producing a particularly handsome and sporting appearance.

That combination gives the watch considerably more visual presence than its relatively modest dimensions might suggest.

Together with the rounded Oyster case and riveted bracelet, it creates a recognizably early Rolex aesthetic that remains remarkably appealing more than eighty years later.

This Rolex Oyster Perpetual Bubbleback is preserved in Excellent vintage condition.

The case, dial, crown and movement present particularly attractively, while the watch remains fitted to an unsigned riveted stainless-steel Oyster-style bracelet.

Most importantly for a mechanical wristwatch of this age, the movement has been fully serviced by our Master Swiss Watchmaker and carefully tested for correct operation.

Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description and provide the best representation of the watch’s cosmetic condition.

Rolex was founded in London in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis.

From the beginning, Wilsdorf recognized that the wristwatch could become far more than a fashionable alternative to the pocket watch. His ambition was to create a wristwatch sufficiently accurate, reliable and robust to become a genuinely practical instrument.

Precision came first.

In 1914, a Rolex wristwatch received a Class “A” precision certificate from the Kew Observatory in Britain, demonstrating that wristwatches were capable of achieving standards previously associated primarily with marine chronometers.

The next major challenge was protecting the delicate movement from water, dust and contamination.

Rolex answered this in 1926 with the Oyster case, whose screw-down crown, bezel and case back created an exceptionally well-sealed wristwatch case.

The Oyster achieved worldwide publicity the following year when swimmer Mercedes Gleitze wore one during an English Channel swim, providing Rolex with one of the earliest and most celebrated demonstrations of the power of testimonial advertising.

Then came automatic winding.

During the early 1930s Rolex developed its Perpetual rotor system, using a centrally mounted rotor capable of rotating through 360 degrees to wind the movement through the natural motion of the wrist.

Combined with the Oyster case, this created one of the most influential and commercially successful early automatic wristwatch designs.

The watches collectors subsequently nicknamed “Bubblebacks” were among the earliest expressions of that formula.

Their distinctive rounded backs housed the automatic mechanism, but their historical significance lies in what was taking place inside: Oyster water resistance, Perpetual automatic winding and chronometer precision were being brought together in a single practical wristwatch.

That combination would ultimately become the foundation for virtually every great Rolex Oyster model that followed.

The present Ref. 2940 therefore represents much more than an attractive vintage Rolex. With its black dial, gold