Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIII Hong Kong Thursday, November 25, 2021 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1987
    Reference No: 19018
    Movement No: 0’125’989
    Case No: 9’724’709
    Model Name: Oyster Quartz Day-Date
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Quartz, cal. 5055, 11 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex bracelet, max length 155mm
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex folding clasp
    Dimensions: 36mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    Released during the exciting and perhaps one of the most daunting periods of watchmaking, the 1970s witnessed the heights of the quartz crisis. In the late 1960s, a consortium of Swiss watchmakers including Rolex, Patek Philippe and Omega came together with an aim to produce the world’s most accurate quartz movement, known as the Beta 21. By the end of the 1960s, it is estimated that over 6,000 units of the movements were produced and where 1,000 numbered units were fitted onto the Rolex Beta 21 ref. 5100.

    In 1977, Rolex finally unveiled the Oysterquartz utilizing their own in-house quartz movement developed over the course of five years after the release of the Beta 21. Made in two versions, Datejust and Day-Date, both models were available with varying case metals and dial configurations.

    The present example Oysterquartz Day-Date ref. 19018 from circa 1987 is certainly a rare example to come across. Featuring a blue jubilee dial with applied gold Arabic hour markers, the appeal is unique and tasteful.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.

    One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.

    View More Works

901

Ref. 19018
A fine and rare yellow gold quartz wristwatch with center seconds, day, date and bracelet

Circa 1987
36mm diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$39,000 - 78,000 
€4,300-8,700
$5,000-10,000

Sold for HK$94,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIII

Hong Kong Auctions 25-26 November 2021