Rolex Zerographe ref. 3346
1937 Rolex Zerographe ref. 3346 / Credit: Phillips
Tool watches are synonymous with Rolex, and their first tool watch is often seen as the Turn-O-Graph (or Thunderbird). But while the Turn-O-Graph is often remembered as the first Rolex with a rotating bezel, it was actually the first serially produced Rolex with a rotating bezel. Before that there was another watch: the Rolex Zerographe.
The Rolex Zerographe ref. 3346 was released in 1937 and was not only the first Rolex with a rotating bezel but also the first Rolex chronograph with an in-house movement and the first waterproof Rolex chronograph, as it was fitted inside an Oyster case. All of these historical facts leading to why the Zerographe is so desirable for vintage Rolex collectors.
Throughout the early 20th century, Rolex had, in fact, built chronographs – but with third-party movements. The Zerographe featured a 17 jewel, 10.5 lignes, manual-wind movement – that also featured a flyback function activated by the pusher at 2 o’clock. Interestingly, along with Mercedes hands, the Rolex Zerographe’s black lacquer dial featured a mix of Arabic and Roman numerals – what is known as the ‘California dial’; a design feature that reflected the times but is also seldom – if at all – seen on Rolexes.
Given its extremely limited production, and the fact that only a handful have been identified, the Zerographe is not only historically significant but also one of the rarest vintage Rolexes around; examples previously sold at auction have gone for more than 300,000 CHF. But what makes it really important from the point of view of vintage watches, is that different aspects of the Zerographe were the real basis for the development of further Rolex sports watches we revere so highly today. The rotating bezel we find in the Rolex GMT, for example.
In a way, you can consider the Zerographe the grandfather of Rolex sports watches. While the Rolex Turn-o-Graph may be considered Rolex’s first tool watch, a lot of its functionality was derived from its predecessor, the Rolex Zerographe.
By: Andres Ibarguen