Why We Will (Probably) See Rolex Return to Quartz

Rolex Oysterquartz ref. 1630

Rolex haven’t made a quartz watch for almost a quarter century, yet somehow, I think that we might see one before long. Here’s why.

Rolex have a long history with quartz technology; they were one of the founders of the CEH (Centre Electronique Horloger) back in 1962. They were one of the major users of the CEH’s movement, the Beta 21 –  using 1,000 of them for the Reference 5100. They even developed their own radical movement, the 5035/5055, an all-metal construction with Geneva stripes, fully jewelled, with a modular design so that it could be serviced and parts replaced just like a mechanical watch, and like a mechanical watch it had an escapement. In production for almost 25 years, it outlasted its mechanical partner the 3035/3055 by over a decade.

Rolex Oysterquartz Day-Date 19019 Caseback with the 5055 movement

At the time Rolex’s belief in quartz remained strong, so around a decade after the 5035/5055 movements were introduced, Rolex decided to develop a successor. This wasn’t just an updated 5035/5055, it was an entirely new movement with every possible facility. Perpetual Calendar, adjustable hour hand in one-hour jumps, 10-to-15-year battery life and, most impressively, everything was controlled through the Oyster winding crown. There were no buttons or recessed adjusters. However, the watches only went as far as the immediate pre-production stage, with several ‘Beta Test’ watches given to Rolex employees to wear and report on. But by the early part of this century, the decision was made to scrap the project. This decision was made only a few years after the Oysterquartz had ceased production, so why do I think that we might see a new quartz watch from Rolex?

Rolex Land-Dweller 40mm Platinum

Several reasons: the year before the Oysterquartz was launched, Rolex launched the models 1530 and 1630; these had the same integrated bracelet angular design case as the Oysterquartz but were powered by the old 1535 movement. They were a US market only launch, so they are pretty rare here, but they laid the ground for the Oysterquartz. Earlier this year Rolex launched the Land Dweller, a mechanical movement in a case which Rolex stated was an homage to the 1630. So, is history going to repeat itself, with the automatic first and then the quartz?

But mostly the reason I think we might see a new quartz Rolex is because Rolex doesn’t like being left behind and many of the high-end brands are embracing quartz technology once again. Patek might like to keep you focused on their split seconds and perpetual calendar mechanical movements, but their most popular movement is the quartz calibre E15, with 6 jewels and Geneva stripes. Whilst one of the most desirable watches from F-P Journe is their Elegante model with its 18 jewel calibre 1210, also featuring Geneva stripes.

Rolex Oysterquartz ref. 17014

It’s also worth remembering that since 1910, Rolex have been obsessed with accuracy; their current watches are regulated to +/- 2 seconds per day and the new 7135 calibre in the Land Dweller is reportedly even more accurate. So, it must irritate Rolex that the world’s most accurate watch is currently the Citizen calibre P0100, accurate to +/- 1 second – but not per day, rather per YEAR. But I think that Rolex have the capability of producing something even more accurate. The recent launch of a new company called ‘Rolex Quantum’,  specifically to manufacture scientific clocks accurate to a second in several million years gives me hope that this technology might be on our wrists, sooner rather than later.

I’m probably wrong, but as my everyday watch is an Oysterquartz I live in hope.