![]() The Submariner received a safer uni-directional timing bezel, and many sports watches made the transition to hour markers surrounded in white gold, marking the transition from classic vintage styling to the luxurious and modern aesthetic that now accompanies many of the brand’s models.įor many watch brands, the 1980s were an era of rebuilding with few standout releases. The sapphire crystal also became a staple throughout the brand’s portfolio. ![]() ![]() The 1980s saw various upgrades to its movements, including the independent 24-hour hand within the GMT-Master II series and the release of the higher-beat calibers 31. The merger of both groups, also known as the SMH Group by 1985, would prove to be a smart move as by the 1990s, it was one of the most successful watchmakers in the world and played a key role in saving the crippled Swiss watchmaking industry in the wake of the Quartz Crisis.ĭuring that trying time, Rolex always pushed the boundaries, continuing to innovate and improve its mechanical calibers, despite creating its own quartz movements. Hayek, the SWATCH group released the SWATCH watch, an affordable and highly precise timepiece intended to compete with the Japanese market. The SWATCH Groupĭuring this time, the SWATCH group was formed, merging the ASUAG and SSIH, including several heavy hitters in the luxury watch industry. Through precise, well-made movements and classic Rolex styling, the company survived what has since become known as the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s. To compete, Rolex released their own collection of quartz-powered watches in the form of the Oysterquartz series. ![]() The ASUAG group alone saw a sharp decrease in total production of 80% during this time. Japan had risen through the ranks as the top watch producer, threatening to topple the entire Swiss luxury watch industry. That all changed in the 1970s when the global watch industry saw a considerable shift from mechanical watches to those powered by inexpensive quartz movements. The brand’s professional series watches were among the finest on the market, offering unparalleled accuracy and durability. It was an era of incredible innovation and success for the company that had become a key player in the luxury watch industry. Rolex introduced many of its pillar models during the 1950s, including the Submariner, GMT-Master, and Explorer. 16234Ĭlick here for our complete buying guide on Rolex Watches. These 1980s Rolex watches will likely never quite catch up to quite the same levels of value and collectibility as their older counterparts, but as general interest in them (and prices) have been on the rise, they make for highly attractive options for those that want a vintage Rolex but who don’t want to necessarily invest as much as what is required to obtain one of the legendary blue-chip models from the earlier years of Rolex’s history. With that in mind, here’s a handful of Rolex models from the New Wave and Synth-Pop era of the 1980s. ![]() What does this mean for collectors? Well, among other things, it makes for an entire decade worth of Rolex watches that are still more attainable than their older counterparts (at least for now). Sitting right at the boundary of what could be considered vintage Rolex watches, the various references from the 1980s often don’t carry quite the same cachet as pieces from the ‘60s and ‘70s however, a number of incredibly important vintage Rolex watches first appeared during the 1980s, and they have become increasingly popular in more recent years. It also didn’t suffer nearly as badly through the decade either, compared to many of the other brands in the industry. That said, Rolex was never one to try and reinvent the wheel or throw out past design codes. The ‘80s weren’t a pretty time for watchmaking – or for design in general, for that matter. ![]()
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