About the Rolex Quartz
The first Rolex quartz watch was produced in 1952, and production on quartz watches continued for the next 50 years. A good number of battery-powered quartz models were designed, but some never got beyond the prototype phase. For instance the LED Rolex with caliber 7065 never reached the production stage. Other models went on to enjoy warm acceptance among the watch-purchasing community. The first battery-powered model was the Rolex Quartz with caliber Beta21, which was also fitted with a sapphire crystal.
Originally quartz watches were very expensive when they first came on the market. However, Rolex President Andre Heiniger envisioned a scenario where the very costly watch could be made affordable to many more buyers. So early in the 1970’s, Heiniger established a department at Rolex to do that. The new department was responsible for designing quartz equivalents of Rolex’s mechanical calibers, or movements.
Rolex quartz watches are extremely well made, and it would take an entire year for craftsmen to make one. The manufacturing process included rigorous testing to ensure perfection. All Rolex watches were made in one of four state-of-the-art manufacturing centers in Switzerland.
Dates Produced
The first Rolex Oysterquartz calibers were offered to the public in 1977, and they enjoyed a 26-year run following their introduction. These calibers featured a mechanically cut 32-kHz quartz resonator styled after the tuning fork model. The Rolex caliber 5035/5055 was produced in numbers approximating 106,000 during this period. Each of these were certified by COSC (the official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) as an electronic chronometer. Rolex was the first watchmaker to earn this kind of certification for a wristwatch.
Watch History
Oysterquartz was the first Rolex quartz to be fitted with an in-house movement, rather than making use of the calibers developed by others. Both the Datejust model (reference 17000) and the Day-date model (reference 19018) became extremely popular as battery-powered models. These electronic watches represented a modern alternative to the mechanical Rolex versions. The Day-date model became the first wristwatch with an automatically changing date. The Oysterquartz had a slim design and ultra-accurate timekeeping, which contributed greatly to its popularity.
Compared to the Rolex mechanical caliber, the Oysterquartz watches were far less costly and approximately 10 times more accurate. Rolex Oysterquartz would have been even more popular, if not for the fact that retailers were not highly motivated to feature the watch in their stores. It had a lower selling price, which meant they would earn less profit from it. Retailers preferred to sell the mechanical version of Rolex Oyster, which was more costly and generated much more profit.
Size and Weight
The Datejust model, reference 17000, was issued with all stainless steel construction, and in stainless steel/white gold (reference 17014). It also had a stainless steel Oyster bracelet and a polished bezel. The Day-date model, reference 19018, was made available in white gold or yellow gold. This version had a yellow gold President bracelet, a fluted bezel, and a hidden clasp.
The overall diameter of the 5035 caliber is 29.75 mm, and the case-fitting diameter is 29.00 mm. Its height is 6.35 mm, it contains 11 jewels, and it has a silver oxide battery with an active life expectancy exceeding two years, although most last between four and five years.
The approximate weights of Rolex Oysterquartz components are as follows: case ring – 18.5 g, case back – 7.21 g, bezel – 5.3 g, and the bracelet weighs 68.85 g. A little more than 50 g of this total weight is pure gold.
Distinct Features
One of the most distinctive features of Oysterquartz is the loud ticking of its movement. The ticking sound comes from the pallets engaging the pallet wheel, which gives the 5035/5055 caliber a very distinctive sound, This sound is very much like a mechanical watch, but at the rate of one tick per second.
Beside the ticking, a general quality about the Rolex Oysterquartz that really stands out is the amazing quality of manufacture. There is great attention to detail. The crown works very smoothly, the movement winds securely, the clasp is firm, the fit of the bracelet is perfect, and dial lettering is flawless.