Rolex Oyster Perpetual 4021

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 4021 is a vintage wristwatch produced in the late 1930s to early 1940s, positioned at the forefront of Rolex’s development of automatic, waterproof timepieces. The watch features a 30mm case, typically made of stainless steel or gold, constructed with Rolex’s proprietary Oyster case system that includes a screw-down crown, screw-down caseback, and domed acrylic crystal for optimal water resistance. Powering the 4021 is one of Rolex’s early self-winding calibers, likely rotor-based or bumper-style, offering a practical 36-hour power reserve and showcasing the brand’s focus on mechanical reliability and innovation. The dial follows the clean and balanced style of the era—usually silver or white with a small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock, accompanied by applied indices or Arabic numerals and radium-filled leaf or pencil hands. With a lug-to-lug length of approximately 36mm and a lug width of 16mm, the 4021 maintains a refined and modest wrist presence in keeping with pre-war design conventions. Although not widely circulated, the 4021 is appreciated among early Rolex collectors for its technical advancements and contribution to the evolution of the Oyster Perpetual lineage. Its understated design and historical significance place it as a desirable piece for those focused on the formative years of Rolex’s automatic innovations.