Reference:3139 - Revision history

Admin: Resize hero: 340px -> 250px

2026-04-30T04:22:04Z

Resize hero: 340px -> 250px

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:22, 30 April 2026
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	<small>Oyster → '''3139'''</small>		<small>Oyster → '''3139'''</small>
	[[File:Ref 3139 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|~~340px~~\|alt=Rolex Oyster 3139 cushion case 1941\|Rolex Oyster 3139, 1941 example with silver dial]]		[[File:Ref 3139 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Rolex Oyster 3139 cushion case 1941\|Rolex Oyster 3139, 1941 example with silver dial]]

	The 3139 is collected for one word: Army. It is the only Rolex reference to carry that dial text, and that is why the watch matters.		The 3139 is collected for one word: Army. It is the only Rolex reference to carry that dial text, and that is why the watch matters.

Admin: Audit: clean stranded dealer-name residue (& Sons, Bulang & Sons, Gray & Sons)

2026-04-29T22:50:03Z

Audit: clean stranded dealer-name residue (& Sons, Bulang & Sons, Gray & Sons)

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:50, 29 April 2026
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	The 3139 is a mid-tier vintage Rolex by value but a specialist collector's watch by character. Its auction record is steadier at smaller houses and specialist dealers than at the major international rooms, and the variance between dial variants is substantial.		The 3139 is a mid-tier vintage Rolex by value but a specialist collector's watch by character. Its auction record is steadier at smaller houses and specialist dealers than at the major international rooms, and the variance between dial variants is substantial.

	The 3139 has a steady specialist-market record rather than a big mainstream one. Antiquorum and Bonhams have both handled examples, and dealer archives from ~~Bulang & Sons~~, Lunar Oyster, WannaBuyAWatch, and others show the normal spread: black gilt dials at the top, more ordinary watches lower. What matters most is dial originality, case shape, and whether the watch is the common 30x30mm form or the less common larger variant.		The 3139 has a steady specialist-market record rather than a big mainstream one. Antiquorum and Bonhams have both handled examples, and dealer archives from, Lunar Oyster, WannaBuyAWatch, and others show the normal spread: black gilt dials at the top, more ordinary watches lower. What matters most is dial originality, case shape, and whether the watch is the common 30x30mm form or the less common larger variant.

	The market range is workable enough to separate the main tiers: standard dials at the baseline, glossy black gilt above that, and California dials as the real outliers when original.		The market range is workable enough to separate the main tiers: standard dials at the baseline, glossy black gilt above that, and California dials as the real outliers when original.
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	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
	* [https://bulangandsons.com/ ~~Bulang & Sons~~ — sons 3139]		* [https://bulangandsons.com/ — sons 3139]
	* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/ Antiquorum — 3139 2006]		* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/ Antiquorum — 3139 2006]
	* [https://shop.connoisseuroftime.com/ Connoisseur of Time — of time 3139]		* [https://shop.connoisseuroftime.com/ Connoisseur of Time — of time 3139]

Admin: Audit: fix Bonhams join error from earlier dealer-strip pass

2026-04-29T22:48:56Z

Audit: fix Bonhams join error from earlier dealer-strip pass

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:48, 29 April 2026
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	The dial text is unambiguous. Below the coronet and "ROLEX OYSTER," the word "ARMY" appears in block capitals, with "SWISS MADE" at the six-o'clock minute track. No other Rolex dial carries that word. The reference is routinely described in dealer copy and collector forums as a "military-issued" watch supplied to Allied troops, and the about three-thousand-unit production figure is cited as the wartime distribution total.		The dial text is unambiguous. Below the coronet and "ROLEX OYSTER," the word "ARMY" appears in block capitals, with "SWISS MADE" at the six-o'clock minute track. No other Rolex dial carries that word. The reference is routinely described in dealer copy and collector forums as a "military-issued" watch supplied to Allied troops, and the about three-thousand-unit production figure is cited as the wartime distribution total.

	The markings tell a different story. None of the surfaced 3139 examples (Antiquorum 2006, Antiquorum 2014, Bonhams ~~& Sons~~) carry formal military issue marks. There is no W.W.W. (Watch, Wrist, Waterproof — the British Ministry of Defence standard applied to the "Dirty Dozen" issue watches of 1945). There is no broad arrow. There is no Allied service number engraved on the caseback from the factory. Service-number engravings do appear on some examples, but they are owner engravings, added post-purchase in the field, not factory-applied issue marks.		The markings tell a different story. None of the surfaced 3139 examples (Antiquorum 2006, Antiquorum 2014, Bonhams) carry formal military issue marks. There is no W.W.W. (Watch, Wrist, Waterproof — the British Ministry of Defence standard applied to the "Dirty Dozen" issue watches of 1945). There is no broad arrow. There is no Allied service number engraved on the caseback from the factory. Service-number engravings do appear on some examples, but they are owner engravings, added post-purchase in the field, not factory-applied issue marks.

	The right frame is commercial, not military-contract. Rolex sold the 3139 to wartime buyers through normal channels, but there is no sign of formal government issue. The military styling is real. The contract-watch reading is not.		The right frame is commercial, not military-contract. Rolex sold the 3139 to wartime buyers through normal channels, but there is no sign of formal government issue. The military styling is real. The contract-watch reading is not.

Admin: Audit: strip banned dealer names from prose lists per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5

2026-04-29T22:47:48Z

Audit: strip banned dealer names from prose lists per CLAUDE.md hard rule #5

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:47, 29 April 2026
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	\|-		\|-
	\| case sizes		\| case sizes
	\| mid-sized approx. 30×30 mm × 11.5 mm (Antiquorum); larger approx. 30×35 mm ~~(WannaBuyAWatch)~~		\| mid-sized approx. 30×30 mm × 11.5 mm (Antiquorum); larger approx. 30×35 mm
	\|-		\|-
	\| case material		\| case material
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	The dial text is unambiguous. Below the coronet and "ROLEX OYSTER," the word "ARMY" appears in block capitals, with "SWISS MADE" at the six-o'clock minute track. No other Rolex dial carries that word. The reference is routinely described in dealer copy and collector forums as a "military-issued" watch supplied to Allied troops, and the about three-thousand-unit production figure is cited as the wartime distribution total.		The dial text is unambiguous. Below the coronet and "ROLEX OYSTER," the word "ARMY" appears in block capitals, with "SWISS MADE" at the six-o'clock minute track. No other Rolex dial carries that word. The reference is routinely described in dealer copy and collector forums as a "military-issued" watch supplied to Allied troops, and the about three-thousand-unit production figure is cited as the wartime distribution total.

	The markings tell a different story. None of the surfaced 3139 examples (Antiquorum 2006, Antiquorum 2014, Bonhams~~, Bulang~~ & Sons~~, Lunar Oyster, Connoisseur of Time, WannaBuyAWatch~~) carry formal military issue marks. There is no W.W.W. (Watch, Wrist, Waterproof — the British Ministry of Defence standard applied to the "Dirty Dozen" issue watches of 1945). There is no broad arrow. There is no Allied service number engraved on the caseback from the factory. Service-number engravings do appear on some examples, but they are owner engravings, added post-purchase in the field, not factory-applied issue marks.		The markings tell a different story. None of the surfaced 3139 examples (Antiquorum 2006, Antiquorum 2014, Bonhams & Sons) carry formal military issue marks. There is no W.W.W. (Watch, Wrist, Waterproof — the British Ministry of Defence standard applied to the "Dirty Dozen" issue watches of 1945). There is no broad arrow. There is no Allied service number engraved on the caseback from the factory. Service-number engravings do appear on some examples, but they are owner engravings, added post-purchase in the field, not factory-applied issue marks.

	The right frame is commercial, not military-contract. Rolex sold the 3139 to wartime buyers through normal channels, but there is no sign of formal government issue. The military styling is real. The contract-watch reading is not.		The right frame is commercial, not military-contract. Rolex sold the 3139 to wartime buyers through normal channels, but there is no sign of formal government issue. The military styling is real. The contract-watch reading is not.

Admin: Audit: dedupe Sources block by URL

2026-04-29T20:46:22Z

Audit: dedupe Sources block by URL

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:46, 29 April 2026
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	* [https://bulangandsons.com/ Bulang & Sons — sons 3139]		* [https://bulangandsons.com/ Bulang & Sons — sons 3139]
	* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/ Antiquorum — 3139 2006]		* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/ Antiquorum — 3139 2006]
	* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/ Antiquorum — 3139 2014]
	* [https://shop.connoisseuroftime.com/ Connoisseur of Time — of time 3139]		* [https://shop.connoisseuroftime.com/ Connoisseur of Time — of time 3139]
	* [https://lunaroyster.com/ Lunar Oyster — src lunar oyster 3139]		* [https://lunaroyster.com/ Lunar Oyster — src lunar oyster 3139]

Admin: SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

2026-04-29T03:21:37Z

SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:21, 29 April 2026
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	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Oyster ~~Army 3139~~ — BezelBase		\|title=Rolex 3139 Oyster Perpetual — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 3139 is the only Rolex ever produced with "Army" on the dial. That single word, printed beneath the twelve-o'clock coronet on a stainless steel…		\|description=The 3139 is the only Rolex ever produced with "Army" on the dial. That single word, printed beneath the twelve-o'clock coronet on a stainless steel…
	\|keywords=Rolex, 3139, Oyster, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 3139, Oyster, specifications, reference guide
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:52Z		\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:52Z
	\|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:34:~~54Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:48:59Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Admin: SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

2026-04-29T02:48:59Z

SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:48, 29 April 2026
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:52Z		\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:52Z
	\|modified_time=2026-04-~~28T02~~:26:~~06Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:34:54Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Admin: SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

2026-04-29T02:34:54Z

SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:34, 29 April 2026
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:52Z		\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:52Z
	\|modified_time=2026-04-28T02:25:~~57Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-04-28T02:26:06Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Admin: SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

2026-04-28T02:26:06Z

SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:26, 28 April 2026
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	\|description=The 3139 is the only Rolex ever produced with "Army" on the dial. That single word, printed beneath the twelve-o'clock coronet on a stainless steel…		\|description=The 3139 is the only Rolex ever produced with "Army" on the dial. That single word, printed beneath the twelve-o'clock coronet on a stainless steel…
	\|keywords=Rolex, 3139, Oyster, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 3139, Oyster, specifications, reference guide
			\|image=Ref 3139 hero.webp
			\|image_alt=Rolex Oyster 3139 cushion case 1941
	\|type=article		\|type=article
			\|og_type=article
			\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:52Z
			\|modified_time=2026-04-28T02:25:57Z
			\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
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Admin: Add hero + Army-dial + dial-detail images

2026-04-28T02:25:57Z

Add hero + Army-dial + dial-detail images

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:25, 28 April 2026
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	<small>Oyster → '''3139'''</small>		<small>Oyster → '''3139'''</small>
			[[File:Ref 3139 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|340px\|alt=Rolex Oyster 3139 cushion case 1941\|Rolex Oyster 3139, 1941 example with silver dial]]

	The 3139 is collected for one word: Army. It is the only Rolex reference to carry that dial text, and that is why the watch matters.		The 3139 is collected for one word: Army. It is the only Rolex reference to carry that dial text, and that is why the watch matters.
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	<span id="the-army-question"></span>		<span id="the-army-question"></span>
	== The "Army" question ==		== The "Army" question ==
			[[File:Ref 3139 full.webp\|thumb\|right\|260px\|alt=Rolex Oyster 3139 ARMY dial 1943\|Black gilt Army-marked dial, 1943 example]]

	The dial text is unambiguous. Below the coronet and "ROLEX OYSTER," the word "ARMY" appears in block capitals, with "SWISS MADE" at the six-o'clock minute track. No other Rolex dial carries that word. The reference is routinely described in dealer copy and collector forums as a "military-issued" watch supplied to Allied troops, and the about three-thousand-unit production figure is cited as the wartime distribution total.		The dial text is unambiguous. Below the coronet and "ROLEX OYSTER," the word "ARMY" appears in block capitals, with "SWISS MADE" at the six-o'clock minute track. No other Rolex dial carries that word. The reference is routinely described in dealer copy and collector forums as a "military-issued" watch supplied to Allied troops, and the about three-thousand-unit production figure is cited as the wartime distribution total.
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	<span id="dial-variants"></span>		<span id="dial-variants"></span>
	== Dial variants ==		== Dial variants ==
			[[File:Ref 3139 dial-detail.webp\|thumb\|right\|260px\|alt=Rolex 3139 ARMY dial detail\|Army-marked gilt dial detail]]
			[[File:Ref 3139 dial-detail 2.webp\|thumb\|right\|260px\|alt=Rolex 3139 ARMY dial macro\|Numerals and hands close-up]]

	The 3139's dial range is where the reference acquires most of its collector interest. Five configurations are documented across auction and dealer sources, and the dial variant is by far the most significant driver of market value among surviving examples.		The 3139's dial range is where the reference acquires most of its collector interest. Five configurations are documented across auction and dealer sources, and the dial variant is by far the most significant driver of market value among surviving examples.