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Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39
Ref. 01830003341
The 39mm Oyster Perpetual occupies an interesting position in recent Rolex history: it has since been discontinued, leaving a gap between the 36mm and 41mm variants that many wearers feel most naturally. That lug-to-lug of 47.5mm keeps it sitting close and centred on the wrist in a way the larger case cannot quite replicate, and at 125 grams it is present without being tiring across a full day. The blue sunburst dial is as uncluttered as the Oyster Perpetual gets — baton markers, no subdials, nothing competing with the colour as the light moves across it. The Calibre 3132 beneath earns its place here: the Parachrom hairspring resists magnetic fields that would unsettle a conventional movement, and the Paraflex shock absorbers add a layer of resilience that suits a watch worn without ceremony. Both are Rolex developments, made in-house, and they make this a more capable daily instrument than the plain dial suggests.
- Reference
- 01830003341
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Oyster Perpetual
- Case size
- 39mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3132
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 47.5mm
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in the Rolex Oyster Perpetual range (10), Stainless Steel Watches (2,624), Automatic Watches (1,472), Blue Dial Watches (708) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (262).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 39mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 01830003341 | Q1368480 | 03.3300.3604/21.C822 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,350 | £8,950 | £6,250 |
| Case size | 39mm | 39mm | 39.5mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 50m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap | Rubber strap |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 70 hours | 60 hours |
| This watch |
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Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 48 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 47.5mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference new, at £8,350. There is nothing to compare it against today.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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