Reference:4220 - Revision history

Admin: Resize hero: 340px -> 250px

2026-04-30T04:22:15Z

Resize hero: 340px -> 250px

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:22, 30 April 2026
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	<small>Oyster → '''4220'''</small>		<small>Oyster → '''4220'''</small>
	[[File:Ref 4220 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|~~340px~~\|alt=Rolex 4220 Speedking Precision 1946 sunburst\|1946 Speedking Precision, silver sunburst dial]]		[[File:Ref 4220 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Rolex 4220 Speedking Precision 1946 sunburst\|1946 Speedking Precision, silver sunburst dial]]

	The 4220 is the centre-seconds Speedking of the 1940s: a 30mm stainless steel Oyster, Mercedes hands at the centre, and on its first-half dials a California "Error-Proof" layout, Roman numerals across the upper half and Arabics across the lower. The California was a Rolex patent, filed 30 May 1941 and granted 15 June 1942. The 4220 arrived alongside it. Bubbleback ref 3595 carries the same dial on the Perpetual side; the 4220 is the Precision-line counterpart and, for most 1940s-oriented collectors, the reference the Speedking name points at first.		The 4220 is the centre-seconds Speedking of the 1940s: a 30mm stainless steel Oyster, Mercedes hands at the centre, and on its first-half dials a California "Error-Proof" layout, Roman numerals across the upper half and Arabics across the lower. The California was a Rolex patent, filed 30 May 1941 and granted 15 June 1942. The 4220 arrived alongside it. Bubbleback ref 3595 carries the same dial on the Perpetual side; the 4220 is the Precision-line counterpart and, for most 1940s-oriented collectors, the reference the Speedking name points at first.

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

2026-04-29T22:47:50Z

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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	\|-		\|-
	\| production		\| production
	\| 1941–early 1950s (~~Bob's Watches~~ cites 29X,XXX serials to ~1955, possibly late stock)		\| 1941–early 1950s (cites 29X,XXX serials to ~1955, possibly late stock)
	\|-		\|-
	\| case shape		\| case shape

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2026-04-29T03:22:00Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 03:22, 29 April 2026
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	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Oyster ~~Speedking Precision 4220~~ — BezelBase		\|title=Rolex 4220 Oyster Perpetual — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 4220 is the Speedking-line reference most closely associated with the defining 1940s Rolex look: a 30mm stainless steel Oyster, a California…		\|description=The 4220 is the Speedking-line reference most closely associated with the defining 1940s Rolex look: a 30mm stainless steel Oyster, a California…
	\|keywords=Rolex, 4220, Oyster, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 4220, Oyster, specifications, reference guide
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:58Z		\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:58Z
	\|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:35:~~15Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:49:22Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

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2026-04-29T02:49:22Z

SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:49, 29 April 2026
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:58Z		\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:58Z
	\|modified_time=2026-04-~~28T02~~:55:~~11Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:35:15Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

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

2026-04-29T02:35:15Z

SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:35, 29 April 2026
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:58Z		\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:58Z
	\|modified_time=2026-04-28T02:50:~~05Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-04-28T02:55:11Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

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

2026-04-28T02:55:11Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 02:55, 28 April 2026
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	\|description=The 4220 is the Speedking-line reference most closely associated with the defining 1940s Rolex look: a 30mm stainless steel Oyster, a California…		\|description=The 4220 is the Speedking-line reference most closely associated with the defining 1940s Rolex look: a 30mm stainless steel Oyster, a California…
	\|keywords=Rolex, 4220, Oyster, specifications, reference guide		\|keywords=Rolex, 4220, Oyster, specifications, reference guide
			\|image=Ref 4220 hero.webp
			\|image_alt=Rolex 4220 Speedking Precision 1946 sunburst
	\|type=article		\|type=article
			\|og_type=article
			\|published_time=2026-04-17T22:13:58Z
			\|modified_time=2026-04-28T02:50:05Z
			\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Admin: Add hero + gallery images for vintage Bubbleback/Oyster ref

2026-04-28T02:50:05Z

Add hero + gallery images for vintage Bubbleback/Oyster ref

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:50, 28 April 2026
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	<small>Oyster → '''4220'''</small>		<small>Oyster → '''4220'''</small>
			[[File:Ref 4220 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|340px\|alt=Rolex 4220 Speedking Precision 1946 sunburst\|1946 Speedking Precision, silver sunburst dial]]

	The 4220 is the centre-seconds Speedking of the 1940s: a 30mm stainless steel Oyster, Mercedes hands at the centre, and on its first-half dials a California "Error-Proof" layout, Roman numerals across the upper half and Arabics across the lower. The California was a Rolex patent, filed 30 May 1941 and granted 15 June 1942. The 4220 arrived alongside it. Bubbleback ref 3595 carries the same dial on the Perpetual side; the 4220 is the Precision-line counterpart and, for most 1940s-oriented collectors, the reference the Speedking name points at first.		The 4220 is the centre-seconds Speedking of the 1940s: a 30mm stainless steel Oyster, Mercedes hands at the centre, and on its first-half dials a California "Error-Proof" layout, Roman numerals across the upper half and Arabics across the lower. The California was a Rolex patent, filed 30 May 1941 and granted 15 June 1942. The 4220 arrived alongside it. Bubbleback ref 3595 carries the same dial on the Perpetual side; the 4220 is the Precision-line counterpart and, for most 1940s-oriented collectors, the reference the Speedking name points at first.

Admin: Lexical slop sweep: filler adverbs, load-bearing, stands as, breadcrumb, register

2026-04-27T13:30:35Z

Lexical slop sweep: filler adverbs, load-bearing, stands as, breadcrumb, register

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Admin: Strip Chevalier (Colin A. White is not a pseudonym; remove confusing label)

2026-04-27T04:33:26Z

Strip Chevalier (Colin A. White is not a pseudonym; remove confusing label)

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:33, 27 April 2026
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	Rolex filed the layout’s design patent on 30 May 1941 and the patent was granted 15 June 1942. The 4220’s introduction in 1941 places it at the beginning of the California-dial window. On the Precision side of the catalog, the 4220 is the reference most strongly associated with the layout: paired with blued Mercedes hands on a small 30mm steel Oyster case, it captures the 1940s Speedking look.		Rolex filed the layout’s design patent on 30 May 1941 and the patent was granted 15 June 1942. The 4220’s introduction in 1941 places it at the beginning of the California-dial window. On the Precision side of the catalog, the 4220 is the reference most strongly associated with the layout: paired with blued Mercedes hands on a small 30mm steel Oyster case, it captures the 1940s Speedking look.

	Two cross-reference notes belong here. First, the California dial is not exclusive to the 4220. It appears on other Precision references of the period and, on the automatic side, on Bubbleback ref 3595, which ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual ~~(Chevalier Edition)~~'' identifies as the first Bubbleback-line California dial. Dealer and forum commentary occasionally credits the 4220 with the first California dial full stop. The cleaner reading is that ref 3595 and ref 4220 are parallel debuts on two different lines (the Bubbleback and the Precision), both arriving in the 1941–1942 window when the patent was filed and granted.		Two cross-reference notes belong here. First, the California dial is not exclusive to the 4220. It appears on other Precision references of the period and, on the automatic side, on Bubbleback ref 3595, which ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual '' identifies as the first Bubbleback-line California dial. Dealer and forum commentary occasionally credits the 4220 with the first California dial full stop. The cleaner reading is that ref 3595 and ref 4220 are parallel debuts on two different lines (the Bubbleback and the Precision), both arriving in the 1941–1942 window when the patent was filed and granted.

	Second, the California configuration did not run the length of the 4220’s production. Mercedes hands with radium plots paired with California dials are characteristic of the 1941–1949 window. Around 1950, Rolex replaced Mercedes hands on the Speedking line with alpha (leaf-shaped) hands, and California dials were discontinued in parallel. A 4220 with California dial and Mercedes hands is first-half; a 4220 with alpha hands and an Arabic, gilt, or sector dial is second-half. Both are period-correct, to different halves.		Second, the California configuration did not run the length of the 4220’s production. Mercedes hands with radium plots paired with California dials are characteristic of the 1941–1949 window. Around 1950, Rolex replaced Mercedes hands on the Speedking line with alpha (leaf-shaped) hands, and California dials were discontinued in parallel. A 4220 with California dial and Mercedes hands is first-half; a 4220 with alpha hands and an Arabic, gilt, or sector dial is second-half. Both are period-correct, to different halves.
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	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
	* The Vintage Rolex Field Manual~~, Chevalier Edition~~ — ~~unknown~~, Morning Tundra		* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
	* [https://www.bobswatches.com/ Bob's Watches — 4220]		* [https://www.bobswatches.com/ Bob's Watches — 4220]
	* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/ Antiquorum — 4220 mondani]		* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/ Antiquorum — 4220 mondani]

Admin: Tighten remaining dense reference prose

2026-04-24T01:34:14Z

Tighten remaining dense reference prose

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:34, 24 April 2026
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	== Dial variants ==		== Dial variants ==

	The 4220's dial range is ~~wider~~ than ~~its~~ production span suggests. The signature is the California "Error-Proof" dial, ~~half Roman upper and half~~ Arabic ~~lower~~, ~~with radium plots at the hour positions~~ and ~~matching lume on the Mercedes hands; base colours~~ are ~~typically black or cream, with silver~~ also documented~~, and it pairs with blued Mercedes hands across the 1941–1949 window~~. ~~Outside that window the bread-~~and-butter 4220 dial is a cleaner all-Arabic layout, typically applied or painted numerals with a minutes track. Two-tone sector dials sit on some earlier 4220s, Art Deco in register, with a minute track or sector dividing the centre zone from the outer ring. Gilt dials (glossy black or cream ~~base, gold-toned printing) appear on the 4220 paired with applied batons or gilt Arabic numerals, consistent with other gilt-era Rolex dials of~~ the ~~period. Base~~ colours ~~run cream, black, blue, and silver~~; blue is the least common ~~and tends to appear on later-run examples~~.		The 4220 dial range is broader than the short production span suggests. The signature look is the California Error-Proof dial, but all-Arabic, sector, and gilt layouts are also documented. Black and cream are the main colours; blue is the least common.

	Dial text across all variants reads “ROLEX / OYSTER / SPEEDKING / PRECISION” in four lines, typically with “ROLEX” at twelve, the “Speedking” line centered, and “PRECISION” at the base above the six. The “Speedking” wordmark is the single most important text element for a 4220 identification — a small Oyster case of the right period with sub-seconds and a “SPEEDKING” dial is not a Speedking, because the Speedking designation requires center seconds. That configuration would be an Imperial or Royalite dial on a 4220-family case.		Dial text across all variants reads “ROLEX / OYSTER / SPEEDKING / PRECISION” in four lines, typically with “ROLEX” at twelve, the “Speedking” line centered, and “PRECISION” at the base above the six. The “Speedking” wordmark is the single most important text element for a 4220 identification — a small Oyster case of the right period with sub-seconds and a “SPEEDKING” dial is not a Speedking, because the Speedking designation requires center seconds. That configuration would be an Imperial or Royalite dial on a 4220-family case.
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	== Auction and dealer record ==		== Auction and dealer record ==

	The 4220 does not ~~sustain~~ a deep public auction market~~; it trades mostly through specialist vintage dealers and smaller houses. Two indexed results anchor the record~~. Antiquorum ~~(2006), Mondani Collection, case 503302, made 1946, stainless steel with yellow gold accents, two-tone beige dial with gilt baton hands, a late-war production example with mid-run dial~~ and ~~hand configuration;~~ the ~~lot's Mondani Collection provenance (the Guido Mondani~~ reference ~~library sold through Antiquorum) gives it catalogue weight without pushing~~ the ~~4220 into a separate price tier. A 1946 stainless steel example sold at Bonhams for £1~~,~~152, a baseline result for a clean, period-correct, non-special 4220, roughly $1,300–$2,000 at the hammer~~.		The 4220 does not have a deep public auction market. Antiquorum and Bonhams give it enough record to show the reference is real in the market, but it trades mainly through specialist dealers rather than headline sales.

	Across the broader dealer market, 4220 prices run from roughly $1,300 at the floor for a serviceable, refinished-dial, non-special example to around $3,500 for a well-preserved, original-dial, correct-hands configuration. California dials command a premium: exceptional original California-dial examples with matching-patina Mercedes hands can reach the upper end of the range or beyond. Kew Observatory A-certified movements carry their own premium, independent of dial and hand configuration. A Kew A 4220 is a watch that passed the British observatory’s highest precision trial, and the certificate history is collector-visible through the movement serial.		Across the broader dealer market, 4220 prices run from roughly $1,300 at the floor for a serviceable, refinished-dial, non-special example to around $3,500 for a well-preserved, original-dial, correct-hands configuration. California dials command a premium: exceptional original California-dial examples with matching-patina Mercedes hands can reach the upper end of the range or beyond. Kew Observatory A-certified movements carry their own premium, independent of dial and hand configuration. A Kew A 4220 is a watch that passed the British observatory’s highest precision trial, and the certificate history is collector-visible through the movement serial.