The Rolex Oysterquartz Proves That Quartz Is Cool

If Rolex is the ultimate symbol of prestige among watches, at the other end of the spectrum would be chap, battery-powered quartz watches. At least, that’s a perception common among many lay consumers — and even sophisticated, experienced collectors.

Though not without foundation, this assertion is too simplistic: Not only can quartz watches be every bit as refined as mechanical timepieces, but even Rolex once made their very own: the Oysterquartz.

Rolex watches today exclusively use traditional mechanics, deriving power from a an unwinding spring rather than from batteries. Quartz watch movements, on the other hand, are battery-powered, and are found in the majority of inexpensive watches out there.

You can often spot the difference because a quartz watch’s seconds hand will tick every second, while a mechanical watch’s will sweep continuously (usually). Quartz has come to have a low-end image, and the idea of a quartz Rolex watch