Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Ref. 1530 - Unpolished
If you boil Rolex down to its purest form, what do you get?
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual. This is truly the genesis for the entire Rolex brand. The very first Rolex models were called ‘Oysters’ which was owed to their innovative three part case that all screwed into each-other. That is where the fluted bezel actually derives from, being screwed down into the top of the case to secure the crystal with a gasket - as well as the grooves on the oyster case back. All makes sense now - right?
The piece that we have here is a descendant of those early watches, though probably not what you first think of when you hear Oyster Perpetual — or even Rolex for that matter...
What at first glance looks like a distant cousin of the Oyster line, an Oysterquartz model is actually something equally special as it is rare.
This is an Oyster Perpetual Date Ref. 1530. As its looks may suggest, it hails from the 1970s when the Oysterquartz line was unveiled, but inside that case with its matching integrated bracelet is not a quartz movement, but an automatic-winding calibre. Whats more is that this piece comes in with a 36mm diameter — oversized by OP standards and more in line with a Datejust, which is excellent!
This particular example from circa 1976 comes to us with an unpolished case and bracelet, exhibiting honest wear from age and use with a smooth polished steel bezel showing matching wear. Inside, the silver sunburst dial and rehaut exhibits an attractive, even yellowish-cream patina with uniformly patinated Tritium indices, some of which show loss, and a slightly darker handset.
These don't surface all that often, particularly in untouched condition, making this a great opportunity to pick up a lesser-known Reference that's likely to garner a nod from those that know.
Watch + Condition Details
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Shipping, Returns, & Warranty
At Oliver & Clarke, domestic shipping is on us! If you are international and require a quote – please feel free to reach out to us at info@oliverandclarke.com so we can get you squared away.
Returns (accepted within 3 days of initial delivery of your purchase) must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. For payments via Credit Card, a 5% restocking fee will be in place for any returns or cancellations in order to cover our processing fee. Of course, watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.
If you happen to trade a watch with us, which we welcome, trades are final, except of course if the watch is grossly misdescribed or misrepresented.
We back each Oliver & Clarke timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty starting at the date of first delivery. We service or perform necessary maintenance to the extent necessary to all of our watches, unless otherwise noted. All watches are listed and sold running and functioning as intended.
*Please note that due to the vintage or antique nature of many of our watches, these machines may not run as accurately as they did when new, nor will any mechanical timepiece keep time as accurately as a quartz or electronic device.
We do not guarantee water resistance, thus do not warranty against moisture incursion or water damage.
*We also do not recommend deliberate exposure to water or worse - steam!
Our warranty is voided under the following circumstances:
- Internal or external damage caused by an accident, mishandling, abuse, modification, or handling/service performed by a third party individual other than one of our own.
Our warranty is non-transferable.
The Oliver & Clarke Guarantee
Through rigorous vetting of each watch offered, we’re able to guarantee authenticity of our pieces. Ultimately, your satisfaction is our mission, as is helping you get YOUR perfect watch. If you have any questions at all, we will get back to you ASAP.
Each of our timepieces are vetted, evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our experienced team prior to sale. We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise disclosed. We guarantee the authenticity of each watch in perpetuity.
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From Rolex & Patek Philippe, to Cartier & Audemars Piguet. As collectors first, we love the small details that separate the Submariner from Daytona and Calatrava from Royal Oak. This is why you'll find our curated assortment spans decades of generations of models and brands. We believe that watches don't just tell time, they tell history - and life is too short to wear a boring watch.
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