Our remarks

Rolex Day-Date Oysterquartz Ref. 19019, 18k White Gold, Silver Dial, Integrated Bracelet, Year 1979

In the 1970s, the quartz crisis shook the Swiss watch industry, and many brands simply bought cheap movements to keep up. Rolex did something different. It developed its own quartz movement and built it to the same standards as its mechanical calibers. The result was the Oysterquartz, presented in 1977. Today it is one of the most interesting chapters in Rolex history, and the Day-Date version in white gold is among the rarest and most distinctive watches of that era.

The Oyster case is made of 18 karat white gold and has a strikingly angular design, with sharp lines and flat surfaces that set it apart from every other Rolex. It flows seamlessly into an integrated white gold bracelet, a design that reflects the bold style of the 1970s and has become a favorite among collectors who appreciate something different. On the wrist, the white gold looks discreet, almost like steel, and only those who know will recognize what it really is.

The silver dial carries the classic Day-Date layout, with the day of the week spelled out in full in an arched window at 12 o’clock and the date magnified by the Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock. The applied markers and slim hands keep it calm and elegant.

Inside works the Rolex caliber 5055, a quartz movement developed and built entirely by Rolex. It is far more refined than an ordinary quartz movement, with a temperature-compensated oscillator, a finely finished construction with jewels and a Rolex rotor-free architecture inside the Oyster case. Like Rolex’s mechanical calibers, it was certified as a chronometer.

The watch dates from 1979 and is in [condition]. It is sold without box and papers.

A Day-Date from Rolex’s most unconventional chapter, and a white gold rarity for collectors who like to stand out.