Quartz? In a Rolex? Unfathomable! Blasphemy! Yes, we are sure most people thought the same when the famed Geneva manufacture released a quartz watch. It was the 1970s, during the quartz crisis, that Rolex introduced the Ref. 5100 with a Beta 21 movement, which was used by everyone from Patek Phillipe to Omega, IWC and everyone in between. Rolex wanted to distinguish itself from the other brands and beginning in 1972, started researching and developing its own in-house quartz movement. In 1977, the brand introduced the caliber 5035 and 5055 which would power the oysterquartz and the present Oysterquartz Day-Date respectively. 

The Oysterquartz is a legendary part of Rolex history as it served an important role for the manufacture. Rolex made the Oysterquartz for nearly 25 years, until about 2004. It was their staple quartz model and one of their first “integrated bracelet” references. Legend says that less than 30,000 oysterquartz models had ever been produced. Some notable figures have donned this peculiar model on their wrist including, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Edmund Hillary and Reinhold Messner. Some may find it difficult to get behind quartz watches, but you cannot deny their accuracy and convenience, in addition to the comfort of the integrated bracelet.