Question.....

[zocsos]

Would you guys know the difference between the "High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers" that can be found in Explorer models and the shock absorber that is in GMT II ?
What separates or makes one more superior than the other?

Thanks


Zoltan

[dddrees]

I think the biggest difference is that the "High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers" are made by Rolex and the others are not.

[zocsos]

Thanks Dan! I was just curious about the details , I'm not sure if anyone else can help me out with this question?

[Dan2010]

Originally Posted by dddrees

I think the biggest difference is that the "High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers" are made by Rolex and the others are not.

I think that pretty much sums it up.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by zocsos

Thanks Dan! I was just curious about the details , I'm not sure if anyone else can help me out with this question?

I believe this may have something to do with Nicholas Hayek the founder of the Swatch Group, and when he made the pronouncement that ETA would stop supplying movements and ebauches so freely.

Rolex started working on making sure that they could produce all of their own parts in house.

Hopefully an expert will be along shortly to confirm or correct this information.

[Tools]

Rolex has been using the KIF shock system for decades... They used KIF instead of the more common Incabloc because Incabloc used to require that their name be put on the movement/dial, so Rolex went elsewhere...

Since systems like KIF and Incabloc, although similar, are patented; When Rolex decided to make their own they had to come up with a different design that did not infringe on the other patents, but still do the same thing..

So, the Paraflex system simply takes the place of the KIF system. It's unlikely that there is much difference in actual performance since they are designed for exactly the same shock loads on the same parts.. Calling something "Hi-performance" doesn't make it actually hi-performance..

[dddrees]

Thanks for showing up and correcting my misinformation Larry.

[zocsos]

Thanks for your clarification Larry!

[KirkWilfred]

I wear a GMT IIc everyday at work. I am a General Contractor and beat the tar out of my GMT. I can tell you that I have never had any issues with my watch being inaccurate!

[Tools]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Thanks for showing up and correcting my misinformation Larry.

Your information is fine for the Parachrom hairspring.. Rolex used/uses Nivarox-FAR hairsprings which was acquired by the Swatch Empire a few years ago...

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Tools

Your information is fine for the Parachrom hairspring.. Rolex used/uses Nivarox-FAR hairsprings which was acquired by the Swatch Empire a few years ago...

Yeah, I just wasn't sure if this was for the shock absorbers as well. But like I said thanks again for showing up and helping out.

[zeroshiki]

i've read it somewhere that KIF is actually owned by rolex too.. the KIF is used in some current JLC movements.

my theory about the new paraflex is maybe rolex wanted to make the movement with parts not just only 100% manufactured by rolex, but those parts are exclusive only for rolex as well. hence no other brands can source the 'exclusive patented' parts outside rolex.