The Hallmarks of the Rolex Oysterquartz Watch
The Rolex Oysterquartz Facts:
The Rolex Oysterquartz is a watch that marches to the beat of its own drum. It is unlike any other timepiece in the Swiss watchmaker’s lineup. And because it’s so unique, it certainly deserves some attention. So let’s dig in and take a look at the four Rolex Oysterquartz facts that set it apart from other Rolex watches.
The Oysterquartz Ticks Loudly
Contrary to popular opinion, if a Rolex watch ticks loudly, it does not necessarily mean it’s a fake. The Oysterquartz, for example, does have a loud ticking sound. Furthermore, the seconds hand moves to the next position every second rather than moving in a smoother sweeping motion. This is because, as its name suggests, the Oysterquartz runs on a quartz caliber rather than a mechanical movement.
In 1977, Rolex debuted a pair of in-house quartz movements—the Caliber 5035 for the Datejust Oysterquartz and the Caliber 5055 for the Day-Date Oysterquartz collections. The Oysterquartz collections were in production for about 25 years until they were discontinued for good in the early 2000s. In terms of production numbers, Rolex only made about 25,000 Oysterquartz watches, making this a pretty low-volume collection.
The Oysterquartz Sports An Angular Case
An icon of Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches is the Oyster case water resistant to a minimum of 100 meters. The Oysterquartz Datejust and Day-Date models also sport an Oyster case, yet they are slightly different in shape.
Perfectly encapsulating the watch trends of the late 1970s and 1980s, the case of the Oysterquartz is more angular than the cases of their mechanical counterparts. The sharp edges of the Oysterquarz give the watch its distinct look. Take particular note the beautiful beveled edges too.
The Oysterquartz Wears An Integrated Bracelet
Along with the angular case, another major design trait of the Oysterquartz is an integrated bracelet. Yet another display of a style that was all the rage in the seventies and eighties, the bracelet style of the Oysterquartz is similar to other iconic luxury watches of the era.
While all Oysterquartz watches come with an integrated bracelet, Rolex did makes some different styles. There’s the Oyster style integrated bracelet and the Jubilee style integrated bracelet for the Oysterquartz Datejust watches. On the other hand, outfitting the Oysterquartz Day-Date is a President style integrated bracelet. There are even some very interesting President integrated bracelets with pyramid patterns or diamonds.
The company truly did a fantastic job translating these iconic Rolex bracelet styles into an integrated bracelet for the Oysterquartz models.
The Oysterquartz Has Visible Reference and Serial Numbers
Rolex keeps the reference numbers and serial numbers somewhat hidden on their mechanical watches. For instance, engraved in between the lugs on the 6 o’clock side is the serial number. Conversely, the reference number is on the opposite side in between the lugs at 12 o’clock. Therefore, removing the bracelet is the only way to see these numbers on the watch.
However, on the Oysterquartz, both the reference and serial numbers are completely visible on the back of the watch. Just flip the watch over and you’ll spot them in the corners of the case. On the Oysterquartz, the reference number is in between 1 and 2 o’clock and the serial number is in between 11 and 12 o’clock.
Our Rolex Oysterquartz facts point to these four hallmarks so you can now easily spot an iconic Rolex Oysterquartz timepiece. If you’re seeking a Rolex watch that’s a little different than the norm, then you should try the Oysterquartz on for size to see if it’s right for you.
