Rolex Oysterquartz Day-Date Ref. 19018 - 'Burlwood' Dial Unpolished

The 1970s were an interesting time for the watch industry. The Great Quartz Crisis from Japan offered the world better quality watches, that were more accurate, more reliable, and generally much more affordable. A kiss of death for mechanical watchmaking at the time. Even the very best of Switzerland will still lose accuracy over time — an issue that a quartz watch virtually solved (though not perfect). Great, beloved Swiss brands like Universal Genève, Gallet, Zodiac, and Blancpain would disappear — some of which were acquired by holding companies, other brands, etc. and eventually resurface, but hundreds of smaller brands were completely wiped away.

Rolex responded by producing their own version of the quartz watch called it the Oysterquartz, which introduced a more style-forward and angular design that was becoming popular in the 1970s, and of course, a quartz movement inside. On top of this new model line name, these pieces utilized existing cornerstone model names to denote specific models with the Oysterquartz range, such as the Datejust and Day-Date.

By the middle of the 1980s, the Swiss watch industry was able to pivot and re-establish itself as a luxury product worthy of higher prices that could justify the cost and complexity of designing and manufacturing a mechanical watch. So, the Oysterquartz is massively important in the history of Rolex, representing the only time in its nearly 120-years of business that it was ever under siege in a truly threatening way. These did not stay in the Rolex lineup for long and are therefore surprisingly unusual to come by.

The piece that we have here is a Day-Date variant dating to circa 1979, and as with all other pieces in Rolex's flagship line, it is constructed out of solid gold. Inside, it has a very of-its-time, lacquered 'burlwood' dial — further adding to this pieces scarcity. The case and integrated bracelet are in fantastic overall condition, seemingly unpolished and showing only light signs of wear throughout. The characteristic 'fluted' yellow gold bezel retains crisp finishing and also shows only light signs of wear. Inside, the non-luminous lacquered 'burlwood' dial with its printed minute markers, applied indices, and framed day & date apertures remains in outstanding, seemingly-flawless condition and is complimented by a gently patinated Tritium handset. The 'flat-link' bracelet wears beautifully on the wrist and features a signed 'hidden' deployant clasp.

This then, is a strange yet important piece from the pages of Rolex's history, and is a must if you are looking to add a Day-Date to a collection of many, or simply snag a lesser-known piece thats a bit out of the ordinary.