Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 5031

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date ref. 5031 is an early post-war reference produced during the early 1950s, typically in stainless steel or 14k yellow gold. This reference marked an evolution in Rolex’s date-equipped Oyster lineup, with a 34mm case that included the familiar screw-down crown and caseback system, paired with an acrylic crystal and Cyclops magnifier over the date aperture. Powering the 5031 is the Rolex Caliber A296, one of Rolex’s early automatic movements known for its bubbleback-style rotor design and reliable timekeeping. Dials were usually simple, with applied indices and dauphine or alpha hands, consistent with mid-century Rolex aesthetics. The watch measures 41mm lug-to-lug with a lug width of 19mm, maintaining Rolex’s compact and balanced proportions for the era. As one of the foundational references in the Oyster Perpetual Date lineage, the 5031 is appreciated for its historical importance, vintage charm, and transitional design elements bridging earlier bubbleback models with more modern configurations.