Rolex Oyster Perpetual 5052

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 5052 is a rare vintage “Bubbleback” reference from the late 1940s and early 1950s. As a “Bubbleback,” it features a prominent, rounded caseback to house one of Rolex’s early self-winding movements. Its historical significance lies in its representation of Rolex’s transition to automatic movements. Known examples are often found in two-tone (stainless steel and 14k yellow gold), reflecting the post-war aesthetic. The specific caliber is not consistently documented but would be an early Rolex “Perpetual” movement. While a 1961 example is noted as 31mm, “Bubblebacks” of this era were typically 32-34mm. Due to its rarity, precise specifications like lug width and lug-to-lug are not well-documented. Modern Rolex Cellini models also use the ‘5052’ prefix, but are unrelated.