Although it’s known for its reliable mechanical calibers, Rolex stepped into the quartz craze in the 1970s to compete with other watchmakers. During this period, the company introduced various types of watches that feature quartz movements. Similar to the automatic movement of timepieces before, the electronic timekeeping of quartz watches provided features designed to improve the efficiency of the watch at a lower price range. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the luxury watch industry was awash in quartz movements, which were considered to be the latest innovations in the industry. Rolex took this a step further and offered a luxury design with quartz mechanisms to compete with other watch brands. In this article, we take a closer look at the evolution of the Rolex Oysterquartz collection and learn about some of the surprising facts vital to these luxury watches.
Quartz Rolex Watches
The first quartz product released by Rolex was the company’s limited-series Date 5100, which was powered by the Beta 21 movement. The Beta 21 quartz caliber was created through a collaborative effort of 20 Swiss watch brands. The objective of the group, known as the Center Electronique Horloger (CEH), was to create Swiss-made movements that would compete against those made in other countries. Some of the prominent models that featured the Beta-21 movement included the Omega Electroquartz, the IWC Da Vinci, the Philippe 3578, and of course, the Rolex Date 5100.
It Took Five Years To Complete The Oysterquartz Movements
In 1972, the company started working on its in-house quartz movements. It took five years for the company to develop and test these new movements. In 1977, Rolex introduced the 5035 and 5055 quartz calibers for the company’s popular Oysterquartz models. The movements featured 11 jewels and a 32khz oscillator. To maintain its superior accuracy, the company had to find a higher frequency oscillator that could offset the effects of temperature changes. This resulted in the creation of the new in-house quartz calibers, regarded as modern marvels at that time. These new models also offered various features, such as quickset calendar functionality and the ability to split seconds.
The Rolex Oysterquartz Was In Production For 25 Years
From 1977 until the early 2000s, the company continued to produce its popular Oysterquartz collection. During this period, it introduced several variations, such as the Day-Date and the Datejust lines. Like their mechanical counterparts, the company’s popular Oysterquartz watches featured 36mm Oyster cases that were available in various materials. The watches’ design differed from the traditional round automatic versions by having a more angular appearance and integrated bracelets.
Less Than 25,000 Oysterquartz Watches Were Ever Produced
Although the company produced thousands of these watches over the years, it’s believed that fewer than 25,000 were ever made, making the Oysterquartz models incredibly rare by Rolex standards. This is an incredibly low number for the company, as it currently makes over a million watches annually. In 2001, the company applied for its last certification from the Committee for the Safety and Certification of Quartz Movements (COSC).
The design of the company’s popular Oysterquartz watches is an interesting piece of its history. Although it’s still fairly undervalued in the pre-owned market, the prices for these watches are changing. Similar to other vintage and retro models from the company, the prices for the same model are starting to increase. The distinct sound of the ticking of the Oysterquartz watch can sometimes have people asking if it’s a genuine Rolex. However, for those who are knowledgeable about the brand, this could be the sound of a collector’s item that some wish they had paid more attention to in the past.