Ophiuchus
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Agreed. However, the pivots...
in a Rolex are chemically hardened, instead of fully heat hardened. To me, that smacks of cheapness.
Patek fully heat hardens their pivots, why not Rolex? Is there a reason for it chronometrically? I cannot
find one.
Agreed with the rest of your comments though. So much of what people love about watchmaking are
complicated delicate mechanisms. Frankly put, such things have no place in a true precision timekeeper.
As a time telling watch, Rolex does the basics, uncomplicated, very very well. It is a watchmaker's watch.
Designed from the ground up to have everything either replaceable or adjustable. Basically, it will keep
time as its main goal, and always lend to being fixed.
In 200 years from now, I can safely say that no one will be wearing something like a RM or Hublot. They
are not such things that a lone watchmaker can adjust and fix the way a Rolex is made to be. There will
be Rolexes in operation or capable of being serviced or fixed long after I'm dead.
That kind of reliablity, no matter how stodgy or branded, is worth something.
What is Rolex?
Rolex doesn’t grab the headlines for its innovations. Houses like Patek Philippe and Jaeger LeCoultre have their histories replete with examples of ingenious horological breakthroughs and clever, highly complicated innovations. Rolex seemingly sails under...
Brilliant article, Joe.
This is a good pleading for Rolex. You mentionned all what we sue to read about and against Rlex, but it was fair- and necessary- to recal all whar rolex did and still does, for watchlovers. Cirticism is good, too, and there will be also a lot to say abou...
The car door analogy....
.....it is exactly spot on. Reminds me of a joke I know. A man discovers a leaking pipe in his attic. He calls a plumber. The plumber takes his hammer and taps the pipe in several places. Then, on the fourth tap he says the problem is fixed. He charges £1...
very detailed, thanks!
Thank you very much for the thoroughness. I love reading about the history of these watch companies. I learned a great deal from your article and that much more educated =D Greatly appreciate it.
Solid improvements...
A few low key, but solid improvements over the years equate to a solid watch. Good job Rolex, and I know that Rolex is the definitive watch for someone who needs pure reliability and dependability. Great watch! No matter what!
Good article Joe! Reliability and robustness are the two key for me....
....my 16600 has been my chosen watch for technical diving since I got it, and has but up with a lot of abuse! Made for the job, the ultimate tool watch for me! Of course, my 2 vintage are treated with kid gloves, but I'm pretty sure the 1680 (given the a...
Very interesting article with a lot of great information
The one thing I've struggled to understand is their use of a jeweled post instead of ball bearings for the majority of their simple (non-daytona/sky dweller/yatch master II) movements which is widely known to result in main plate wear from the rotor (I've...
What can i say?
SAStonishing reading! i can say i love lot of maisons as some of you guys, but every time I go out without Rolex I can't wait the day after. They are not the most accurate...nor the most complicated, most likely not even the most beautiful... but when I h...
Great essay
Rolex is really focused of delivering a carefree experience to last a life time literally. When I think back on wear just one watch for more than fifteen years in the shower, in the sea never taking it off and I expected it to work. Actually i did not rea...
Fantastic post...
I think a lot of people don't realise how many ground breaking innovations Rolex have done over the years that we take for granted. Probably why I have 3.... if I want something stylish, bullet proof and dependable it's out with a Rolex every time. Yours,...
What a nice instructive thread!
did you spend your week end on it or what? Loved how you started from the vintage and got to the modern. This whole world is growing more and more on me. Reminds me of someone i know that has all kind of watches and still pride himself of his 30 year old ...
Agreed. However, the pivots...
in a Rolex are chemically hardened, instead of fully heat hardened. To me, that smacks of cheapness. Patek fully heat hardens their pivots, why not Rolex? Is there a reason for it chronometrically? I cannot find one. Agreed with the rest of your comments ...
Thank you
For the informative post! Yes indeed. Reliable, accurate, tough. Rolex will stand the test of time long after we are gone if they stick to their DNA. Very generous of Nicolas to lend you his 6542 (which he loves dearly) for this post ;) Best Edmond
Interesting that nobody contests the idea that ...
...Rolex invented the Adventurer's Watch
What a great article dear Baron! I enjoyed reading it ...
... so much! You know, I have been loving these watches since I was almost a child. My late father loved them, and hearing him talking about these watches, when I was a 10 year old lad in the late 50´s convinced me I was going to own one some day. The day...
Abel....
.....really kind words from you and great emotion on your watches. It is so clear how much they mean to you. And so good that you share those feelings here. Regards Joe
Thank you dear Joe for your comment...
... it is true, there is a lot of passion, nostalgia, and love with this brand and for many years now. I´m happy to be able to share these feelings here, with my friends. All the best, Abel.
Excellent Article, just one correction
Rolex wasn't the first automatic wristwatch on the market, Harwood had been selling them, possibly under other brands as well, since the mid 1920s (I know the date on the patent is 1923, when the first ones hit the market I don't know) A
On your correction...
I agree and disagree. Harwood's self-winding patent used a winding-weight that banged hard against its buffers. This was an extremely destructive technique that inevitably led to the movement failing. A few thousand watches were made but were not really a...
Hmm...
I've not played with any of the original Harwoods to judge so I'll defer to you on that. On the other hand, though, putting that caveat (reliable, or workable) in the article would have made that clear, versus "The first self-winding watch was offered to ...
Great watch company..
that has my respect and admiration. A must have watch in any collection. Thanks for reminding us Baron. Too bad its not a public listed company, otherwise it would definitely go into my stock portfolio as a long term "investment". :) cheers fernando
Hi Baron, your report is spot on...
... and as a guy that has a whole boatload of watches, majors and independents alike, there's one thing I know for sure: If the defecation was hitting the oscillation, I'm grabbing for my Rolex GMT. Period. End of story. - Scott
Thanks Joe for reminding me.............
Why I own and wear a Rolex. As a child I used to dream of one day owning one and that dream was fulfilled in the mid 80's when I bought my first S/S Submariner. Now 30 years later and after many different types of Rolex watches as well as other brands, wh...
Sometimes it is good to stand back...
....and remind oneself what it is that one likes. When I look at other areas of my life...from the car i drive to the job I do....i see similar traits of behaviour. What ticks my box in Rolex seems to tick my box in many areas of life. I guess that makes ...