Rolex Day Date Oyster Quartz 19018 yellow gold in Birch dial

 

A Rare Gem: 19018 Rolex Day-Date Oyster Quartz with Unique Birch Dial

 

Let’s take a brief step back in horological history first. 

Between 1977 and 2003, Rolex produced a total of 25,000 Oyster Quartz watches — a bold move at a time when the Swiss watch industry was still reeling from the "Quartz Crisis". Among these, the yellow gold models with birch dials are exceptionally rare. In fact, it’s estimated that fewer than 200 were ever made. Over the past decade in Hong Kong, I’ve personally seen no more than five — and three of them are in my collection. 

Today, I’m offering one of the two I’m looking to part with — a truly beautiful Rolex Day-Date Oyster Quartz 19018, featuring an absolutely stunning birch-coloured dial. 

This is not your average beige or champagne dial. The birch tone on this particular example is remarkably brighter and more “orange-toned” compared to others I’ve encountered. When viewed alongside the crisp white Day and Date apertures, the contrast is striking — a visual detail that truly comes alive in person (unfortunately, my photos can’t quite do justice to it due to reflections). 

I had the battery replaced just last week on 4 October at CWR, so you’re getting a fully serviced, accurate timepiece ready to run for approximately two more years. 

Now, why is this watch interesting beyond its rarity? 

Many modern watch enthusiasts and critics have noted that the design language of the Rolex Oysterquartz — particularly its clean, integrated bracelet and bold dial layout — may have subtly influenced the later Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master (or even the newer Oyster Perpetual "Land-Dweller" concept). Speaking of which, the newly launched Rolex Oyster Perpetual 40mm "Land-Dweller" (Ref. 127334) in stainless steel with a white dial is currently retailing (or reselling) in the open market for around HKD 270,000. 

So here’s a thought:

Why not consider a solid 18k yellow gold Rolex Day-Date, with a rare and vibrant birch dial, powered by Rolex’s own highly engineered quartz movement, all for roughly half the price? 

It’s accurate. It’s elegant. It’s historically intriguing. And it’s definitely a conversation starter. 

This is one of the two I’m listing on Carousell — if you’ve been searching for something truly unique in the quartz world from Rolex, this might be your moment.

 HK Snob