Rolex Zerograph 3668

The Rolex “Zerograph” or “Centregraph” reference 3668, produced for an exceptionally short period around 1937, is one of the most historically significant and legendary watches ever created by Rolex. Its importance is monumental as it represents several “firsts” for the brand: it is arguably the first Rolex Oyster chronograph, the first Rolex with a rotating bezel, and, most notably, it was powered by a unique, in-house developed movement. This manually wound caliber was not a traditional chronograph but featured an innovative flyback, hacking central seconds hand, operated by a single pusher at 2 o’clock. The watch’s design was purely functional, featuring a 32mm stainless steel Oyster case, a black dial with luminous markers, and a rotating bezel with an engraved 60-minute scale and a prominent triangular marker. Believed to have been made in incredibly small numbers (perhaps a dozen), the Zerograph is considered a prototype or experimental model that served as a crucial technical precursor to future Rolex icons like the Submariner and Daytona. Its extreme rarity and groundbreaking features make it a true “grail” in the world of vintage watch collecting.