Rolex Oysterquartz
Encyclopedia
The Rolex Oysterquartz was a quartz watch made by Rolex
.
At the end of the 1970s, when the Swiss watch industry was in the middle of crisis, Japanese
watchmakers invaded the world market with the quartz watch. Consequently, the Genevan brand Rolex decided to put forward a new line of watches to combat this event; thus, the Datejust Oysterquartz was born. Although not designed to turn the company’s tradition of producing mechanical watches upside down, it faced the international, namely Asia
n, markets seeking to keep alive interest in Swiss luxury watchmaking; an industry that seemed at that moment to have been completely absorbed by the Japanese quartz watch.
The conception of the Datejust Oysterquartz dates to the beginning of the 1970s, when the Rolex Company began to understand that this type of product could in some way establish itself on the market; and this was proved to be the case during the following years. The design of the watch is far removed from the classic Rolex line and carved characteristics of the period: a completely angular case, an integrated band with a polished finish and sapphire
glass
.
Regarding the materials used to make this watch, the whole range consisted of three versions: gold
, steel
with white gold bezel and steel and yellow gold. At the start, the Datejust Oysterquartz was somewhat overlooked in Europe
; however, it was much sought-after in the Asian and American markets. A renewed interest in the watch was sparked when Rolex decided to take the Oysterquartz out of its catalogue and thus out of production. The era of the quartz movement watch ended in 2001, having lasted less than three decades. The Rolex Datejust Oysterquartz began to appear in the most important auctions houses’ catalogues, becoming a highly valued object in the collectors’ market.
Rolex
Rolex SA is a Swiss watchmaking manufacturer of high-quality, luxury wristwatches. Rolex watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and BusinessWeek magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands...
.
At the end of the 1970s, when the Swiss watch industry was in the middle of crisis, Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
watchmakers invaded the world market with the quartz watch. Consequently, the Genevan brand Rolex decided to put forward a new line of watches to combat this event; thus, the Datejust Oysterquartz was born. Although not designed to turn the company’s tradition of producing mechanical watches upside down, it faced the international, namely Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n, markets seeking to keep alive interest in Swiss luxury watchmaking; an industry that seemed at that moment to have been completely absorbed by the Japanese quartz watch.
The conception of the Datejust Oysterquartz dates to the beginning of the 1970s, when the Rolex Company began to understand that this type of product could in some way establish itself on the market; and this was proved to be the case during the following years. The design of the watch is far removed from the classic Rolex line and carved characteristics of the period: a completely angular case, an integrated band with a polished finish and sapphire
Sapphire
Sapphire is a gemstone variety of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide , when it is a color other than red or dark pink; in which case the gem would instead be called a ruby, considered to be a different gemstone. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium, or chromium can give...
glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
.
Regarding the materials used to make this watch, the whole range consisted of three versions: gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
with white gold bezel and steel and yellow gold. At the start, the Datejust Oysterquartz was somewhat overlooked in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
; however, it was much sought-after in the Asian and American markets. A renewed interest in the watch was sparked when Rolex decided to take the Oysterquartz out of its catalogue and thus out of production. The era of the quartz movement watch ended in 2001, having lasted less than three decades. The Rolex Datejust Oysterquartz began to appear in the most important auctions houses’ catalogues, becoming a highly valued object in the collectors’ market.