Rolex Oyster 3351

A manually-wound, cushion-cased Oyster from the late 1930s/early 1940s. Its primary historical significance comes from examples co-branded with the “Lipton” name. These were not sold at retail but were presented by tea magnate Sir Thomas Lipton as awards for sporting achievements. This reference is a key early example of Rolex’s association with sport and achievement, a marketing strategy that would become central to the brand’s identity. It represents a unique piece of provenance-based history.