Rolex Oyster 4499

The Rolex Oyster ref. 4499 is a vintage manually-wound wristwatch produced in the early 1940s, representing one of the earlier executions of the Oyster case in a compact format. The watch features a 30.5mm stainless steel case with a smooth bezel, an acrylic crystal, and the hallmark screw-down crown and caseback for which the Oyster line is known. It is powered by the Rolex Caliber 700, a simple and sturdy manual-wind movement widely used in small Rolex models during this period. Dial styles were utilitarian, with silver or cream finishes, printed Arabic numerals or mixed markers, and slender pencil or leaf-style hands. Its 36mm lug-to-lug measurement and 17mm lug width give the watch a proportionate, modest footprint on the wrist, reflecting the sizing norms of the 1940s. The 4499 is now a collectible piece for enthusiasts drawn to Rolex’s early tool-watch history, offering insight into the brand’s foundational work in water-resistant wristwatch engineering.