Rolex Oyster Perpetual 3708

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 3708 is a very early and rare vintage model dating to the mid-to-late 1930s, produced during a period of foundational advancement in Rolex’s waterproof automatic wristwatches. It features a compact 30mm case, constructed in stainless steel or gold, with Rolex’s patented Oyster design including a screw-down crown and caseback for water resistance, along with a domed acrylic crystal. The watch was powered by one of Rolex’s earliest automatic movements, likely a bumper-style or pre-Perpetual rotor system, offering a power reserve of around 36 hours and laying the groundwork for future calibers. Dials on the 3708 typically featured small seconds at 6 o’clock, applied Arabic numerals or dot markers, and radium-lumed hands, set against silver or cream-colored backgrounds that reflected the refined yet utilitarian style of the pre-war era. The lug-to-lug measurement is approximately 36mm, with a lug width of 16mm, matching the elegant but compact sizing of the period. Though produced in low numbers, the 3708 holds significant value among collectors for being part of the first generation of truly waterproof, self-winding Rolex watches. It represents the technological innovations and stylistic choices that would eventually define the brand’s global reputation, making it a hidden gem in the early Oyster Perpetual lineage.