Passions Watch Exchange

About This Watch

Vintage. No box/papers. This is a very rare & highly collectible Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust with a "Quartz" case from the mid 1970s. The style of this case design was influenced by the 1st ever quartz watch by Rolex, Ref.5100 using the Beta 21 movement which was made in limited numbers between 1970-1972.

By 1975 which this watch dates to, Rolex launched the ref.1530 with "Oyster" styled bracelet & the 1630 with "Jubilee" styled bracelet, both had the bracelets integrated with the case & in this instance, with the gold fused into part of the case to complete the half-gold look. Both were rated to 50m or 165ft.

This is the first Datejust to feature a sapphire crystal & uses the Ca.1570 movement without quick-set date. It also has a slower beat of 19800vph instead of the later high-beat @ 28800 which generates better accuracy.

Only a small production of these were made & finally discontinued by 1977 with this halfgold version produced in lesser nos due to the complex case construction of fusing gold into steel. The design was subsequently carried on with a new chronometer certified quartz movement & under reference 140000.