Rolex. An extremely fine and rare stainless steel and gold automatic bubble back wristwatch with bracelet

Reference 3536 is an exceedingly rare example of an early Oyster Perpetual model, hardly published in literature and scarcely appearing in public. It was introduced into the market in the 1930s and available in stainless steel and pink gold or stainless steel and yellow gold and with different dial layouts.

Reference 3536 is doubtlessly one of the most unusual "bubble back" models ever made and easily distinguishable from the better known versions by its unusual design, featuring a round case, a concave or inward-curved enlarged bezel and slender straight lugs. The highly attractive appearance of this rare wristwatch is topped by the inlay between the lugs, rendering the model its designation "hooded".

The present watch furthermore impresses by its extremely attractive champagne and black dial, perfectly matching the combination of a stainless steel and gold case, the period bracelet and the unusual retailer signature Cuervo y Sobrinos.

Consigned by a private collector it is furthermore preserved in excellent, original overall condition, rendering it a trophy for the discerning collector.

Cuervo y Sobrinos
In 1882, Armando Rio y Cuervo and his brothers ran a watchmaking workshop founded by their uncle Ramon in Havana, Cuba, hence the name "y Sobrinos": "and Nephews", retailing watches of the world's most prestigious watchmakers. In the 1940s, when Havana became the meeting point for intellectuals and artists from all over the world, Cuervo y Sobrinos produced their own watches while continuing to sell watches of other famous manufacturers. Einstein, Caruso, Churchill, Hemingway, Gable and Neruda are amongst the renowned firm's faithful clients.