Notes: "Ovettone" is the nickname given to the bubble-back Rolex watches from the 1940s and 1950s. Italian for "Big Egg", Ovettone refers to the robust shape that the bubble back gives to the case. The dial face can have either stick or arrowhead hour marks. The watch features a calendar at the 3 o'clock location.

We have seen the 6105 with stainless steel and 14K yellow gold cases. There also seem to be some with cases that use both stainless and yellow gold. There also exists very rare 18K yellow gold examples.

This model likely used several different movements over the dozen years or so that it was produced. The A.296 seems to have been common for the early models.

Mechanism: The A.296 is the Chronometer version of the A.260 movement. It is also known as the 765 or 775.

Family Notes: The Datejust emerged in 1945, introducing the watch world to the innovative automatically changing date window. This feature made watch history and has since made the Datejust one of Rolex's most successful models. The ladies model that was introduced a few decades later has enjoyed a large amount of success as well, thanks to its functional yet luxurious design. The Rolex Datejust is the modern archetype of the classic watch, thanks to aesthetics and functions that transcend changes in fashion. Aesthetically, the Datejust has spanned eras, while retaining the enduring codes that make it, notably in its traditional versions, one of the most recognised and recognisable of watches.

Originally named the Jubilee Datejust, Rolex Datejust history began in 1945 when Rolex released the model for the company's 40th Anniversary. It was a direct descendant of the Bubbleback and included a date function, which was placed at the 3 o’clock position on the face. The Datejust had a coin-edge bezel, which later became the flutted bezel. It was the first watch to show the date automatically and also the first to change the displayed date at exactly midnight. The Datejust was innovative, unique, and different than any other watch offered at that time.

The history of Rolex Datejust begins with the first Datejust, the Jubilee Datejust Model 4467, which was only available in 18k gold and had a small bubbleback winder with a deeply domed back. In the 1950's, the Oysterdate joined the Datejust family, coming in two sizes. Although the Datejust originally consisted of three case parts, it was quickly updated to just two. Another major update was the addition of the Cyclops lens in 1954. Today this lens is standard to Rolex watches and even part of the brand’s signature. Before 1954, however, no one had used a magnifying bubble on the lens right above the date. Then, in 1957, a new, lighter, slimmer movement, the caliber 1065, allowed for a flattened case back in place of the old domed one. That same year, the Datejust became available in Steelium (stainless steel) in addition to the original gold. Other changes over the years included a flat dial (rather than curved) and the Rapid Date Change (aka quickset) feature.

The fact that Rolex Datejusts are still purchased and worn today is a testament to their enduring respectability and timelessness. To understand the Rolex Datejust history, pictures can be worth a thousand words. Seeing pictures of multiple presidents and other powerful people wearing the Rolex Datejust shows the importance and significance of this watch.

Type: The Rolex Bubble Back or Bubbleback was first manufactured in 1933. These watches got their name due to the fact that the auto wind mechanism appeared to simply be bolted onto the basic Rolex movement. This attachment was rather large so it was necessary to round out the case back in order to accommodate the mechanism in order to allow proper functioning of the oscillating weight which made complete 360 degree rotations within the case. The Rolex Bubble Backs were produced possibly as late as the early 1960's. Many good examples exist to this day possibly due to the simple and durable basic 18 jewel design of the movement.

Most of these watches were time only and also had a sweep second hand. Later models included a date mechanism and were possibly the first DateJust models produced by Rolex such as the model 6075 which was manufactured in 1948. Some of these early Bubble Backs also had subsidiary seconds bits and many also had the popular California dials which had both Roman numerals and Arabic numerals. None of the Bubble Back cases had bezels that could be removed. Rather than the watch crystal being held in by compression using a bezel crystals were installed by the constriction method. The most common crystal used for these watches is the Tropic 30 crystal. It measures 2.6mm in height. The inside diameter is 24.6mm and the outside diameter is 25.5mm. The Bubble Back shown below has a Registered Design of 6015. Case sizes for the gents watch is 31mm, the ladies is 24mm. Lug sizes for the gents watch is 16mm and the ladies is 13mm.