The Rolex Oyster Quartz

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Don't you think that lately the Rolex Oyster Quartz come out of the woodwork .. I never came across one for ages and now you see many of them on offer (Ebay etc.. )
Now , this morning I went down the "village" here to get some bread on my newly acquired " paralytics scooter "as my wife calls it now to get some bread and fresh milk . So I stop at my favorite terrace for a coffee as it is really easy to park now with that thing . I get of course the mickey taken out of me by some of the locals there ( I used to have a Fat Boy ..now this )
Anyway the young bartender there is a Rolex fanatic ( even got his Rolex on credit ) and he comes up running to me like he has seen the devil . Come quick you have to see this ...
He presents me to a man sitting at the bar and tells him .. go on show it to him .. The man is wearing a TT oyster quartz . Bartender goes tell him that it is fake , Rolex does not have quartz watches like this . So I explain him that he is half right .. Rolex does not have these in quartz .. any longer .
I understand that the man is considering selling it , he thinks that he still may have the box and papers but will have to go and have a good root at his parents house the other side of Barcelona .
It has been worn a bit and is in need of a polish but otherwise OK , the watch is mid '80 after all .

What would such a watch be worth ?

[TheVTCGuy]

I get of course the mickey taken out of me by some of the locals there

Gee Tristan, I don't know anything about the Oysterquartz but I sure hope this didn't hurt much... was it anything like my kidney stone?

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Gee Tristan, I don't know anything about the Oysterquartz but I sure hope this didn't hurt much... was it anything like my kidney stone?

Well it sounds better then " being taken the pi.. out of you " which is of course a kidney issue too

[BarkMaster]

I wouldn't mind having one just so I could win bets (Yes, this IS a genuine Rolex).

[Nicko]

Me, I don't like quartz anything. I think this was something Rolex should have never done. Sorry, hate them...

[greekbum]

I am not a big fan of the OQ series. You either love them or dont I guess. The bracelet design is still IMHO the best Rolex ever made.Below is ref 1530 the 1 before the OQ version.

[chris russell]

Originally Posted by Nicko

Me, I don't like quartz anything. I think this was something Rolex should have never done. Sorry, hate them...

Those who have strong negative reactions to the idea of a quartz Rolex may not understand that they were a very special quartz indeed. As with everything Rolex, they had to do it better than anyone else. Thus it was, afaik, the first commercially available thermocompensated quartz, and was able to be regulated to within a second a year. This was for a watch introduced in the '70s. You still have a hard time finding thermocompensated quartz watches, and the only watches that are more accurate today are the satellite-controlled quartz watches. Even those aren't really more accurate, they just get reset from a remotely-located standard.

[datejust1]

Originally Posted by chris russell

Those who have strong negative reactions to the idea of a quartz Rolex may not understand that they were a very special quartz indeed. As with everything Rolex, they had to do it better than anyone else. Thus it was, afaik, the first commercially available thermocompensated quartz, and was able to be regulated to within a second a year. This was for a watch introduced in the '70s. You still have a hard time finding thermocompensated quartz watches, and the only watches that are more accurate today are the satellite-controlled quartz watches. Even those aren't really more accurate, they just get reset from a remotely-located standard.

I'm with you on that 100%.

Although OysterQuartz are obviosly Quartz, they are revolutionary watches. I love them. Tristan, If he's willing to sell it, go ahead, try it.

[Nicko]

Originally Posted by chris russell

Those who have strong negative reactions to the idea of a quartz Rolex may not understand that they were a very special quartz indeed. As with everything Rolex, they had to do it better than anyone else. Thus it was, afaik, the first commercially available thermocompensated quartz, and was able to be regulated to within a second a year. This was for a watch introduced in the '70s. You still have a hard time finding thermocompensated quartz watches, and the only watches that are more accurate today are the satellite-controlled quartz watches. Even those aren't really more accurate, they just get reset from a remotely-located standard.

Yes, maybe "Hate" is a strong adjective, perhaps dislike would be better suited here. Now, thanks for the history of the OQ, I had no idea. It still doesn't make me like them though, but I now appreciate them a bit more.

[Nicko]

Originally Posted by datejust1

I'm with you on that 100%.

Although OysterQuartz are obviosly Quartz, they are revolutionary watches. I love them. Tristan, If he's willing to sell it, go ahead, try it.

You like anything coño!

Gaby, would you be wiling to trade your DJ for one? Hmmmm....

[Submarino]

Go for it!!!!

[datejust1]

Originally Posted by Nicko

You like anything coño!

Gaby, would you be wiling to trade your DJ for one? Hmmmm....

Oh, wise guy, eh? Gladly, Coño!

[Nicko]

Originally Posted by datejust1

Oh, wise guy, eh? Gladly, Coño!

¡No tiene cojones!

Venga, esto lo quiero ver. Quiero verte con uno en la muñeca.

Put it up for trade..

[datejust1]

Originally Posted by Nicko

¡No tiene cojones!

Venga, esto lo quiero ver. Quiero verte con uno en la muñeca.

Put it up for trade..

Estas chisteando? No cambiaria uno de bateria, por un 3135!

Maybe later~!

And my DJ is a gift! How could I trade that?

[Lol-x]

I didn't know the Rolex Oyster Quartz had a thermocompensator.

I've got a Breitling B1 SuperQuartz which has a thermocompensator and said to be 10 times more accurate than the regular quartz movements.

That's pretty amazing quartz technology from Rolex for the time.

[johnliley]

How beat up the watch is and factoring in a service under 2000 USD I would guess would be a good price.

They were 2800 - 3000 new I think. Don't hold me to that one...



JL

[TheVTCGuy]

They are beautiful watches and being a Rolex, of course they did it better then anyone else; but it's still a matter of taste. Myself, I'm with Nicko, I never cared for a quartz watch, always preferring the ... harmony... of a mechanical timepiece. But, like I said, they are beautiful watches. If you like.... Go For It!

Don't forget to post pics!!!!

[Lamone]

I'd love to find myself a 5100 white gold...

[ersnyder]

Originally Posted by johnliley

How beat up the watch is and factoring in a service under 2000 USD I would guess would be a good price.

They were 2800 - 3000 new I think. Don't hold me to that one...



JL

Like some of the others, I'm really not into quartz (no matter how it's coupled) but this is one beatiful case and bracelet! Sweet!!

[gpateesq]

As with all things Tristan, do what you feel comfortable with, (after consultation with your wife, of course).

I like the OQ, and if I had the funds (and my wife's permission), I'd consider buying it.

[hhh007]

<<< They were 2800 - 3000 new I think. Don't hold me to that one... >>>


The all stainless 17000 model MSRP was $3025.00 or so, and SS/18K yellow gold 17013 was $5050.00 and the model 17014 SS w/WG bezel was $3575.00 The all gold models were very expensive at the time with the standard 18K DD 19018 model listing for $16500.00 and up from there.

These were pretty high MSRP's at the time as compared with the standard Datejust line and they were not strong sellers.

The vast majority of OQ's you see offered for sale these days are late 70s/early 80s models and it seems most I see offered are from 1982-1986 with the later models from the mid to late 90s and 2000-2001 actually being quite scarce.

As far as pricing, they can be all over the map depending on year, condition, accessories/box, last service date, etc. A typical earlier model TT 17013 in very average condition without accessories may bring from $1500.00 to $1900.00 and a later model one in mint condition with all the original accessories may bring up to $3000.00 or more.

It's also important to keep in mind that the RSC's charge quite a bit for servicing the OQ models and even more if they need extensive parts replaced. I believe the standard RSC service fee on the TT 17013 starts at about $900.00 and up, but they do replace the battery for free, LOL.

I love my OQ's and feel they are a much overlooked and undervalued series in the older Rolex lineup. The total number of all different model OQ's ever produced was probably less then the number of Submariners they now make in one year!!

[hhh007]

ooops, double post