The Speedking appeared in the Rolex catalogue in the early 1940s – a manual-winding watch housed in the famous water-resistant Oyster case with a screw-down crown. Its name evokes speed and pays tribute to the world of records, in keeping with the sporting spirit Rolex had cultivated since the exploits of Sir Malcolm Campbell at the wheel of his Blue Bird. Despite its accessible positioning, the Speedking shares with its elders the fundamentals that built the brand’s reputation: water-resistant Oyster case, screw-down crown, precision movement – a Rolex in its own right. The Ref. 4220, in the so-called "Boy Size" format (30 mm), is one of the very first Speedking references produced. Unlike the famous automatic "Bubble Back" models, whose value has been steadily rising in recent years, the Speedking is a "flat back" – a screwed flat back, with a slimmer and more elegant silhouette on the wrist.
The example we are offering, whose serial number (231xxx) places production in 1943, stands out for a dial of considerable rarity and desirability: the so-called "California" dial, patented by Rolex in 1941 under the name "Error-Proof Dial". Its origin is military: this mixed layout was designed to reduce the risk of accidental upside-down reading amid the chaos of combat. The dial is characterised by an inverted triangle at 12 o’clock, large bars at 3 and 9 o’clock, a small bar at 6 o’clock, Roman numerals in the upper half (I, II, X, XI) and Arabic numerals in the lower half (4, 5, 7, 8). All the markers are generously filled with luminescent material (radium-based) for optimal legibility in low-light conditions.
The colour of the dial adds even further to the interest of this example. California dials are already highly sought-after; in a salmon-pink version, they become truly rare. And above all, this one is original – a crucial point to underline, as reprinted or repainted California dials are extremely common on the market. Here, none of that: the dial is authentic, in a superb state of preservation. The radium of the markers has developed a golden/coppery patina that blends harmoniously into the salmon tone of the background. The inscriptions are perfectly legible. The blued steel Mercedes hands, also extensively luminescent, are characteristic of the very first Speedking watches. Their patina is perfectly matched to that of the markers – a sign of authenticity that connoisseurs will appreciate immediately.
The 30 mm steel Oyster case, with a polished smooth bezel, is in very fine overall condition. The screw-down Oyster Patent crown is original. The screwed caseback bears on the inside the inscriptions "BREVETÉE / Rolex S.A. / GENÈVE-SUISSE / 31 VICTOIRES / HAUTE PRECISION / (R.W.C. Ltd) / 4220" – the "31 Victoires" referring to Rolex’s successes in chronometric competitions, a marking characteristic of this period.
The manual-winding movement, Rolex caliber 710, 10.5 lignes, 17 jewels (signed "PATENTED SUPER BALANCE"), has undergone a complete service and works perfectly. An "ROW" inscription is visible on the movement, indicating that this watch was intended for the American market. While a fine leather strap would also suit it perfectly, we have chosen to present it on a vintage "rice grain" steel bracelet.
At a time when 1940s Rolex Bubble Back watches are enjoying renewed major interest, this Speedking Ref. 4220 with its original salmon California dial represents an alternative as rare as it is appealing – and an opportunity that discerning collectors will know to recognise.
