Rolex Vintage OysterQuartz DateJust 17000 36mm (1986)

During the 1970s, quartz movements in watches became increasingly popular. Though Rolex is famous for their intricate and advanced mechanical movements, the company began researching and developing quartz movements as early as the 1950s. Rolex officially released its first quartz models with the OysterQuartz in 1977. During its production run from 1977 to 2001, close to 25,000 OysterQuartz watches were produced by Rolex.

Rolex initially introduced the OysterQuartz in both the DateJust (Ref. 17000) and the Day-Date (Ref. 19018). Both models were an improvement upon the original Quartz Date of 1970 in terms of enhanced accuracy and a slimmer case design. The OysterQuartz featured an 11 jewel movement which utilised the latest CMOS circuitry, a 32 khz oscillator, and analog thermocompensation. In addition, each movement was finished to even higher standards than Rolex’s mechanical movements at the time.

Rolex stopped producing the OysterQuartz in 2001, with the last of the models selling by 2003. Rolex experts know that new 23 jewels quartz movements with a perpetual calendar were set to replace the discontinued OysterQuartz, but for reasons unknown were never produced. Thus, the OysterQuartz watch is now highly valued on the collectors’ market as a rare Rolex watch. Rolex has not yet ventured back into the quartz watch market despite its history of achievements, leaving the OysterQuartz as a valuable collector’s item.

Specifications:

• Model: Vintage OysterQuartz DateJust, 17000
• Dial: Aged Silver with Date Feature at 3 o’clock
• Crystal: Scratch Resistant Sapphire
• Material: Oystersteel
• Movement: Quartz
• Water Resistance: Not recommended