Oysterquartz Datejust Ref. 17000

ROLEX, OYSTERQUARTZ, DATEJUST, REF. 17000

ICONEEK price: SOLD

Iconeek is proud to introduce here a nice and attractive Rolex, Oysterquartz, certified chronometer, in stainless steel with its matching steel bracelet, made circa 1978.

Towards the end of the 1970s, the Swiss watch industry was great affected by the Quartz crisis, with Japanese watchmakers supplied the world market with a large quantity of quartz watches. To combat this situation, Rolex decided to manufacture a new series of watches fitted with quartz movement. The first model, Ref. 5100, made in a limited edition of 1000 pieces, was powered by the famous Beta 21 caliber movement, that is also found in some Patek Philippe or Omega 1970s quartz models. In 1977, after 5 years of researches, Rolex launched its in-house quartz calibers: the 5035 for the Datejust models, and the 5055 for the Day-Date models. With their incredible quality of manufacture and accuracy, these models were in advance for the time and are still actually very sought after by collectors. The Rolex Oysterquartz Datejust ref. 17000, first appeared in 1977, was introduced during the time when the brand sought to meet clients’ demands for quartz watch movements, and can be considered as the grandfather of all subsequent quartz watches created by the brand, such as the Oysterquartz Day-Date. Rolex Oysterquartz Datejust were available in stainless steel, with Ref. 17000, such as the present watch, in steel and 14K gold under Ref. 17013, in steel with white gold bezel under Ref. 17014. Day-Date Oysterquartz were only manufactured in 18K gold, yellow gold under Ref. 19018, white gold under Ref. 19019.

Ref. 17000 was still in Rolex catalog till 2001, fro the last year. The total Oysterquartz production run, Datejust and Day-date models together, is estimated to around 25’000 pieces. In 2001, the COSC stopped to deliver certificates for quartz movements.

Water resistant to 100m, the model has a three-body construction: a large robust tonneau-shaped stainless steel case, an inclined polished steel bezel, a screwed case back, a screwed Oyster crown. The back of the case is engraved with reference « 17000 » and serial number « 5573790 » as well as « Registered Design & Stainless steel ». Under the sapphire crystal, we find a great sunburst silvered dial, with applied stainless steel Baton indexes, painted luminous dots, outer minute division, aperture for the date at 3, center second, luminous Baton hands.The present watch is powered by the caliber 5035, 32KHZ quartz movement, rhodium-plated, with 11 jewels, hack mechanism and quick date change. In Rolex technical catalog, we learn that this movement has a variation of more or less one minute per year, with a normal use. The present watch comes with its original stainless steel Oyster bracelet with deployant clasp. Dial, case and movement are signed.

A great and rare daily watch !

Condition: 8/10, polish and fully serviced recently by Rolex, dial retaining rounded intact luminous plots. Through the years, Rolex watches with quartz movement have become increasingly sought after, as watch collectors have become aware of the beauty and collectability of these timepieces, with the era of the Rolex quartz watch ending in 2001.