JToddH
[Moderator]
2677
I've been told for years....
That a lot of the "old school" manufactures believe that a great watch doesn't need to show what's inside because the owner knows and that should be all that matters.
Sound like a cop-out! I've seriously considered putting Thomas Preik casebooks on my Sub and Daytona...but the Purist in me resists.
Rolex movement don't look bad and are certainly worthy of an exhibition casebook.
I can't help but wonder - with Omega on the rise, if Rolex will take notice and reconsider their position.
Great topic!
Why Rolex doesn’t offer a display back to its watches?
If I’m not a Rolex fan, that doesn’t mean I have no question about this brand and I don’t want to learn. I rade “Rolex for dummies” 😁 but I didn’t find the answer to my existential question which is why Rolex doesn’t offer a display back to its watches ex...
Yes most probably. Rolex doesn’t need a display back on its watches to sell more of them
Maybe the production is too large to embellish all their movements (I don’t think so)? Maybe a display back could have an impact on their reliability? Why only a specific reference with a display back? Best wishes Alkiro
because that one is pretty....
.....raison d'etre of the Sub isn't its movement aesthetic......rather its about its reliability/durability etc etc. Its a different DNA approach to most other watches. I am not sure it would add buyers at all. On a Rolex where the movement is pretty and ...
Ok ok but this one is pretty too
Note that I am not an advocate for see through case backs at all, because most of the time there really isn’t that much too see anyhow. ...
I’m sure it isn’t
But it will work forever. So I agree with Rolex keeping the lid closed.
I've been told for years....
That a lot of the "old school" manufactures believe that a great watch doesn't need to show what's inside because the owner knows and that should be all that matters. Sound like a cop-out! I've seriously considered putting Thomas Preik casebooks on my Sub...
Thank you Todd
I still don’t know if in the Rolex manufacture process there’s a “break” to put display backs or if it’s just a choice (too costly...?). One of my friend works for them. I’ll ask him if he can inquire about this topic. Best wishes Alkiro
Yep...exactly......
If you buy a VW Golf, you expect reliability and durability. You don't need to see the engine as its not especially pretty. With a Ferrari, on the other hand, it has something to show....and it often has a see-through caseback!
Impressive answer
Spot on. Many Rolex owners - for reasons that I still don't understand - are afraid to admit the "Engine is not especially pretty." There is a lot to like about Rolex, and I find many owners lose credibility by trying to justify the "engine as very pretty...
Spot on - showing off modest movement finish hurts a watch, rather than helping it
Which makes me wonder why some of these brands with slightly finished, at best, ETA automatic movements have display backs! Makes no sense.
Definitely agree with you about tool watches for which a solid back is much more consistent
But why not a display back for a Day Date, a Datejust and so on. Ugly movement? I don’t think so as it’s not the case and as many other watches show too little or not so nice calibers at the same time. As I wrote previously, that could be a question of re...
Good question my friend , i cant tell you the awnser my self but would like to know too .
Is it because the most of them are tool watches ? Cant think of a reason why a 50k rolex dosnt have it . Dont think at that price point its a tool watch anymore
You have got a point there .
Still its to bad that if you spent such a amount of money you cant see the movement at all
Sometimes yes and sometimes no
Depents on the amount of money i spent on a watch and what kind of watch it is .
I'm certainly not trying to be rude, but..........
are you wearing that in the water just because you can, or do you really need to know the time while scrubbing the under side of a boat? Personally I would never wear a $40k (??) watch into the water. I have a friend who lost his Rolex GMT doing something...
You are right my friend , would be a shame if you cant look at the beautiful movement of lets say your Zeitwerk .
The only thing i can think of that they didnt finish the movement as nice as we expect it to be . Safes a lot of time and money for them , so more profit imo .
Oh yes a solid case back for a Zeitwerk would have been a crime 😁
Don’t forget that the first Lange 1 released in 1994 had a solid case back 😉 Regarding Rolex, I still don’t know if it’s a question of cost/profit, reliability, not so nice movements... 😕 Best wishes Alkiro
The usp of Lange, Patek, AP is that they make superb watches fitted with the best finished movements. So they have to show the merchandise. That’s the whole point of the watch.
Would you buy a Zeitwerk with a closed back at that price point? Never. Rolex’ usp is that, well it’s a Rolex. Period. No competition. Their watches are more or less perfect (for what they are), so why show something that will never be able to compete wit...
Even with the clear case back
on this model there really isn't much to see anyway. The Rolex movements are't really all that beautiful in my opinion. I would want the movement to be something really special to look at. I don't spend any time looking at the movements of my watches (2) ...
You're correct, Rolex movements aren't a thing of beauty
but they are robust, reliable accurate movements.
Just maybe .......
A clean caseback presents a decent real estate for personalising inscriptions and engravings - and Rolex actually still holds the view that most people buy or get a Rolex gifted for that special occasion. (“Drive Slowly”)
Another good point in my opinion
I would be curious to know if a lot of Rolex customers decide to engrave something on the case back of their watch 🤔 Maybe with a Reverso but a Rolex I think it’s really marginal. Best wishes Alkiro
History of the Oyster Case, would be my guess
Losing durability, gaining width, adding expense, and the further expense of finishing which only gains criticism and most people don't care about... Something something The Rolex Way
Traditiionally lubricants were very sensitive to light.
A serious manufacturer therefore would choose a closed caseback. A tool watch like the Submariner underlines this view even more. Even PP choose this way for a very long time.
One small and almost irrelevant contribution ...
I don't know why Rolex don't offer display backs on any watch but the Cellini Prince. I do know, however, that they won't refinish the case back of the Cellini Prince, because it is a display back. Da, dah!
I am no Rolex expert and have only followed it cursorily for the last several years (though I own quite a few Rolexes myself)...
but I'd also be curious to know an "official" answer to this Alkiro... My best bet is simply that showing the movement would be of no use, rather it could only be detrimental, to Rolex. It's well known they are solid and extremely reliable watches, which ...
Thank you for your input. You’re probably right. I think it’s a mix of all the answers and possibilities we have developed here
Maybe one day we’ll have a Rolex explanation (I have a big doubt about that nevertheless). Best wishes Alkiro
