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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Gavin Bond’s Me And My Watch profile features a 1979 Rolex Day-Date Oysterquartz, a quartz-powered version of Rolex’s gold Day-Date from the late 1970s. The personal details of his ownership could not be checked against the original feature for this article, so this piece explains the watch family, shows how it differs from the Datejust Oysterquartz with a similar name, and sets out how to verify a vintage Rolex before relying on any description of one.
What this article can and cannot confirm about Bond’s watch
The title identifies the watch as a 1979 Rolex Day-Date Oysterquartz. The original interview was not available to check, so this article does not repeat Bond’s account of how he acquired the watch, why he chose it, or any quotation attributed to him. Readers should go to the original Me And My Watch feature for those details.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Rolex, Pre-loved 18K Gold Oyster Quartz Day-Date President 19018 36mm, Gold | $36,950.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Rolex, Pre-Loved Oyster Perpetual Datejust Automatic Watch 36 | $16,780.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Rolex, Pre-Loved Oyster Perpetual Automatic Watch 34, Silver | $8,820.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Rolex, Pre-Loved Oyster Perpetual Green Automatic Watch 41 | $14,390.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Rolex, Pre-Loved Oyster Perpetual Datejust Automatic Watch 36 | $9,435.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The same limit applies to the watch’s exact reference number, dial, metal, bracelet and movement configuration. Those are the details that distinguish one 1979 example from another, and they are not established here. Treat any specific configuration offered for Bond’s watch as unverified until it is confirmed against the feature itself.
Day-Date and Datejust are different watches
Rolex’s Oysterquartz name appears on more than one model family, and vintage listings often blur them. Two dealer listings from the same period illustrate the problem. Both describe 1979–1980 examples, but they are different watches, and neither is Bond’s.
#1 Best Overall
- Pre-Loved Condition: Excellent; Light scratching and wear throughout watch
- 36mm
- Made in Switzerland
- Hidden crown clasp
- Signature upon delivery required
| Model family | Reference cited in the listing | What the listing says | Relevance to Bond’s watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oysterquartz Datejust | 17013 | Described by the seller as a 1979–1980 Oysterquartz Datejust | None. It is a Datejust example, not the Day-Date featured in the profile. |
| Day-Date | 18038 | Described by the seller as a 1979–1980 Day-Date; the listing does not describe it as an Oysterquartz | None. It is a separate Day-Date example and is not identified as Bond’s watch. |
The lesson is practical. A family name and a year do not identify a reference. A Datejust and a Day-Date can share a decade, a quartz movement and a broadly similar Oysterquartz label while differing in case, bracelet and reference.
What the Oysterquartz was
The Oysterquartz was Rolex’s quartz range, introduced in the late 1970s alongside its mechanical models. Unlike the automatic Day-Date, which runs on a mechanical movement wound by the wearer’s motion, the Oysterquartz is battery-powered. That difference changes how the watch is maintained: the battery and electronic components need periodic specialist attention, and the movement is serviced differently from a mechanical calibre. Buyers should confirm the movement type stated in any listing, because a quartz Day-Date and a mechanical Day-Date are not interchangeable in service history or value discussions.
Rank #2
- Imported
- Pre-Loved Condition: Very Good; Scratches and wear on case and band.
- Case Size/Width: 36mm, Watch Height: 12mm, Band Width: 20mm, Wrist circumference: 7.5"
- Band material: Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold.
- Case material: Stainless Steel
How to check a vintage Rolex reference
- Read the reference number on the watch. On vintage Rolex models the reference is usually engraved on the case, typically between the lugs or inside the case back. Confirm the location against a specialist reference guide for the model before reading it.
- Match the reference to the model family. A reference that belongs to a Datejust should not be accepted for a Day-Date, and an Oysterquartz reference should not be accepted for a mechanical model.
- Check the movement type. Confirm whether the watch is quartz or mechanical against the reference documentation, not only against the seller’s wording.
- Compare the dial, hands, bracelet and clasp. Each should match what the reference and era normally include. Replacement parts are common on vintage watches and should be stated in the description.
- Ask for service and provenance records. A dated service note or original papers adds context, but it does not confirm the reference on its own.
Questions to ask about any listing
- Does the listing give the full reference number, not only the model name and year?
- Is the movement type (quartz or mechanical) stated explicitly?
- Are the dial, hands, bracelet and case described as original, replaced or restored?
- Is the case metal stated, and is it consistent with the reference?
- Is there any service history, and who performed it?
- Can the seller show who owned the watch before them?
Answers to these questions are seller claims until checked against the reference documentation and, for valuable watches, an independent specialist. The original Bond feature remains the only source for what he said about his own watch.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Imported
- Pre-Loved Condition: Good; Minor scratches on crystal, scratches and wear on case and band.
- Exceptionally Loved and Beautifully Well-Worn. These Preloved items have lived a full life and show it. Please expect visible wear including darkened/marked leathers, surface scratches, and other signs of use. We curate Exceptionally Loved pieces for their heritage and character. Well-traveled items add depth to any collection that shiny, new items cannot provide. Even with scars and bruises, these pieces remain beautiful and functional.
- Case Size/Width: 36mm, Watch Height: 12mm, Band Width: 20mm, Wrist circumference: 7.25"
- Band material: Stainless Steel; Case material: Stainless Steel
Rank #4
- Imported
- Pre-Loved Condition: Very Good; Minor scratches and light wear on case and band.
- Case Size/Width: 40mm, Watch Height: 12mm, Band Width: 21mm, Wrist circumference: 7.0"
- Band material: Stainless Steel
- Case material: Stainless Steel
Rank #3
- Imported
- Pre-Loved Condition: Very Good; Light scratches on crystal, scratches, wear and minor dings on case and band.
- Case Size/Width: 34mm, Watch Height: 11mm, Band Width: 18mm, Wrist circumference: 7.0"
- Band material: Stainless Steel
- Case material: Stainless Steel
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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