Self-winding 1946 Rolex bubbleback

[Watchwearer]

How efficient is the bubble back’s automatic winding mechanism compared to later Rolexes?

[INC]

?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Watchwearer

How efficient is the bubble back’s automatic winding mechanism compared to later Rolexes?

Early Rolex perpetual movements did have a sketchy history. Often the auto-wind would fail and be taken out by watchmakers, essentially converting the watch to a manual wind.

Doesn't have anything to do with bubblebacks or oysters, although most 50 or 60+ year old watches are not going to be as efficient as modern technology, machining processes, and tolerances have made them today.

[Dan S]

The bubbleback auto-winding movements were full-rotor automatics, obviously (not bumpers), that was the Rolex patent. So if the movement is in good condition, it can be very efficient. However, as Larry noted, those auto-winding modules are often not in very good condition, so that's really the issue. How well has it been maintained and can your watchmaker repair/service it?