Quick Guide to the Rolex 1530 Oyster Perpetual Date
When the controversial Rolex Land-Dweller debuted at Watches and Wonders 2025, because of its integrated bracelet and angular lugs, many were quick to draw comparisons to the Rolex Oysterquartz. That’s fair, but the slanted rehaut actually makes it even more closely resemble the Oysterquartz’s lesser-known predecessors: the 1530 and 1630 references. The 1630 is a two-tone model, but in this article I’ll give you a rundown of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 1530–the only automatic all-steel Rolex ever made with an integrated bracelet.
The 1530 was the first Rolex with a steel integrated bracelet, and that also happened to be their first steel solid-link bracelet (instead of folded links). Furthermore, the 1530 was the very first steel Rolex with a sapphire crystal, and I feel like it doesn’t get enough credit for that. Although most Oyster Perpetual Date models are 34mm, the 1530 is a true 36.00mm wide. I genuinely suspect that Rolex used dials that said “Oyster Perpetual Date” instead of “Datejust” (their usual name for 36mm date models) because that’s what they had lying around.
Note that the 1530 was not designed by Gerald Genta. Genta himself said that he only designed one Rolex and that it ended up in the Cellini collection (believed to be the King Midas from the early 1960’s). I view the King Midas as the true granddaddy of all luxury watches with integrated bracelets, but Genta’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak (released in 1972) tends to get more credit for that. Given that Rolex hired Gerald Genta years before Audemars Piguet did, and also because they released the Texano two years before the Royal Oak, I certainly don’t view Rolex as “ripping off” AP with the whole integrated bracelet thing.
How Many Were Made?
It has been widely repeated that “an estimated 500-1,500” Rolex 1530’s were produced during its run from 1974-1977. Serial numbers range from roughly 4.09 million to 5.17 million. Personally I think there were probably about 1,500-2,000 made, just based on how often they come up for sale. There are pretty much 3-4 on ebay at any given time, so while the 1530 is generally regarded as “rare,” it’s far from one of the rarest Rolexes ever made. Note that on the 1530, the serial number and model number both appear on the underside of the lugs, rather than on the case between the lugs.
Origins of the Rolex 1530
The legend goes that Rolex was hoping to launch the Oysterquartz sometime around 1974 or 1975, and they made a whole new integrated-bracelet design for it. But developing their own thermocompensated quartz movement took Rolex years longer than expected, and they didn’t want their sweet new cases to sit around collecting dust. So, they put automatic movements in them and sold them. The 1530 got a steel Oyster bracelet and a smooth bezel while its two-tone equivalent, ref. 1630, got a Jubilee bracelet with a fluted bezel.
There was just one issue–the automatic movements were thinner than the still-in-development quartz ones. Thus, there was extra vertical space in the case that Rolex needed to fill. And so…
Rolex 1530 Rehaut
Rolex gave the 1530 an extra-tall rehaut to fill the extra vertical space in the case. They gave it a 45-degree slope and put minute hashes and lume plots on it. The rehaut ended up being one of the most distinctive features of the watch, because almost every other Rolex rehaut is just a shiny flat upright metal ring. I absolutely love the deep dish rehaut; it’s probably my favorite thing about the Rolex 1530.
Note that some 1530 rehauts seem to have faded darker than the dial, but personally I prefer them to match.
Bracelet
The bracelet is probably the most defining element of the Rolex 1530. If you’re wondering what Rolex calls it, well, they actually just call it an Oyster bracelet. Instead of a three-link configuration, though, there’s just one link going all the way across. The code for the 1530’s original bracelet is 96660. You might see some 1530’s with 17000 bracelets too; those were made for the Oysterquartz and often put on 1530’s as service replacements. There’s nothing wrong with them–they look identical–but if you’re paying top dollar, try to find one with a 96660.
Dial
The Rolex 1530 was only offered with one dial option: silver. Some of them have faded champagne over time, however, and some even look a bit like salmon dials:
More on Rolex:
Rolex 1530 Price
A typical Rolex 1530 is worth about $12,000 give or take (depending on condition of course). Interestingly, the 1530’s dollar value hasn’t really changed in 30 years. It was selling for about $12,000 in the 1990’s, it was selling for about $12,000 when I got mine in 2010, and it’s still selling for about that today. Obviously the dollar isn’t what it was decades ago, though. Regardless, there are some key factors that can affect the value of a Rolex 1530:
- Case condition: This is important on all vintage watches but especially so on the 1530, because it has such an angular shape and each corner is an intersection of several beveled edges. Overpolished examples have lost a lot of their character, in my opinion.
- Dial condition: While some sellers try to act like any type of damage/fade is desirable, some dials simply look nicer than others. Whether the dial has faded salmon, champagne, or not at all, aim for a nice monochromatic one.
- Lume plots: Look for all 11 lume plots on the rehaut (there isn’t supposed to be one at 12). These are very fragile on the 1530 and in many cases, some have fallen off. For me, a couple missing plots wouldn’t necessarily be a dealbreaker, but it’s something to be aware of.
- Original bracelet: Having a 17000 (replacement) bracelet instead of the original 96660 should knock a couple grand off the price.
Rolex 1530 Specs
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model Name | Oyster Perpetual Date |
| Reference Number | 1530 |
| Years Produced | 1974–1977 |
| Quantity Produced | 1,500-2,000 pieces (est.) |
| Case Material | Stainless Steel |
| Case Dimensions | 36 mm width 13 mm thickness 42 mm lug-to-lug |
| Movement Caliber | Rolex Caliber 1570 (automatic, chronometer-certified) |
| Movement Functions | Hours, minutes, central seconds (hacking), date |
| Power Reserve | 48 hours |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Dial | Silver sunburst, applied baton markers, tritium lume, steep rehaut, date at 3 o’clock |
| Bracelet/Strap | Integrated stainless steel one-link Oyster bracelet with stamped folding clasp |
| Market Value (2025) | ~$12,000 |
Given that steel Rolex Land-Dwellers are “white Rolesor” (meaning the bezel is white gold), the 1530 is still the only fully stainless steel Rolex ever made with an integrated bracelet. And I think it’s also one of their best-looking watches ever. The Rolex Oysterquartz ultimately superseded it in 1977, and those are cool watches too. But there’s something about the fat slanted rehaut that takes the 1530 to another level.
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