For the very first time in AVW history we can add a (non-Il Texano) Oysterquarz to our collection. Obviously, we won’t bother you and more importantly ourselves with a plain Jane execution from this battery-powered model line and wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t start our OQ journey (for how long it lasts…) with a masterpiece like this.

The Oysterquartz was introduced in 1977 and the yellow gold variant was only produced and sold in small numbers because of the massive amount of gold and therefore exceptionally high price for a quartz wristwatch. Because of the ridiculous high prices, those models were only reserved for the rich, famous and people who sold land to mr. André Heiniger. Yes, that’s right this watch was gifted by Mr. Heiniger to the man who sold the land where a large part of the Rolex factory is located today.

This extraordinary execution dates back to the year 1985 and can be seen as one of the top-notch examples that Rolex produced during the Quartz crisis. The 36-millimeter measuring Oyster case is executed with a very rare ‘Princess cut’ diamond bezel. (Often misnamed online as ‘Baguette bezel’). Underneath it’s sapphire crystal we find a centered string-diamond-set on a ‘two-tone’ wood dial, crafted from African Mahogany- and Burlwood.

The watch remains in an exceedingly well-preserved condition and was sold by the daughter of the original owner who provided it with a signed provenance letter. Besides that, it comes with Bucherer-Rolex service papers dating back to 2018.