California

CWR3131-061.5

CWR3131-061.5 was crafted from an eighteen karat rose gold Rolex “Bubbleback” Ref. 3131, circa 1940.

After sourcing this forties Rolex Bubbleback, we completed a full mechanical overhaul of the movement while respecting the watch’s patinated case and original crystal. We selected a salmon/ pink hue for the dial and applied the “California” style text convention of Arabic and Roman numerals, correct to Rolex design of the period, with French-style text rendered in a contrasting maroon and lume applied in an off-white hue. We retained the watch’s original handset, color-correcting the lume on the hour and minute hands to a darker hue, and preserving the blued steel seconds hand. The watch was delivered on a bespoke strap crafted from the pigskin underside of a 1950s Hermes riding saddle, and fitted with a Rolex tang buckle in eighteen carat rose gold. Designed and executed for a friend, this piece features a half-number internal Cloister designation.