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The Rolex Oysterquartz was a range of quartz watches made by Rolex.
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The Rolex Oysterquartz was a range of quartz watches made by Rolex.
At the end of the 1970s, the Swiss watch industry was affected by the quartz crisis. Japanese watchmakers supplied the world market with large quantities of quartz watches. [1] Rolex responded by introducing a new line of watches, producing the Datejust Oysterquartz. It faced the Asian markets seeking to keep alive interest in Swiss watchmaking, an industry that seemed dominated by the Japanese quartz watch.
The Datejust Oysterquartz dates back to 1976. [2] The design differs greatly from the classic Rolex line and carved characteristics of the period: a completely angular case, an integrated band with a polished finish, and sapphire glass. The whole range consisted of three versions: gold, steel with white gold bezel, and steel and yellow gold.
Unlike most mass produced quartz watches, the Oysterquartz movement is notable for its use of an escape wheel and pallet fork [3] (resembling a lever escapement), but having its impulse provided by a stepping motor mechanically similar to a d'Arsonval galvanometer.
Model numbers of the Rolex Oysterquartz include: