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Old 15 July 2012, 03:15 AM   #1
topofk2
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Is there any "handmade" part in a Rolex?

Hi all,

Just curious if there is any part in a Rolex that is strictly hand made? or are all parts machine/computer cut?

Outof curiosity, same question about Patek too.

thanks
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Old 15 July 2012, 03:16 AM   #2
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Your name on the warranty card.

hehe
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Old 15 July 2012, 03:19 AM   #3
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Handmade? No. Hand finished? Yes. The movement,hands and crown are 'cased up' by hand.
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Old 15 July 2012, 03:19 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by topofk2 View Post
Hi all,

Just curious if there is any part in a Rolex that is strictly hand made? or are all parts machine/computer cut?

Outof curiosity, same question about Patek too.

thanks
Sure,

The retard-manifold, gas accumulator, extractor-bar are all handmade.
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Old 15 July 2012, 03:21 AM   #5
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Think you will find with all the high volume manufactures today most are highly automated and robotised including Rolex.Today although there are some manufactures that still make each and every part, but these are very very few and very very very very expensive watches.
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Old 15 July 2012, 03:23 AM   #6
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Think you will find with all the high volume manufactures today most are highly automated and robotised including Rolex.Today although there are some manufactures that still make each and every part, but these are very very few and very very very very expensive watches.
Yes, think Speake Marin.

I spoke to Peter and he said a lot of parts in his watches are 100% handmade.
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Old 15 July 2012, 03:26 AM   #7
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Yes, think Speake Marin.

I spoke to Peter and he said a lot of parts in his watches are 100% handmade.
I was thinking more Roger Smith-esque
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Old 15 July 2012, 03:30 AM   #8
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I thought Rolex were elf made?
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Old 15 July 2012, 03:31 AM   #9
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Your name on the warranty card.

hehe
That is so dam funny man!

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Old 15 July 2012, 03:33 AM   #10
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I think with all the precision and tolerances required, human hand just can not compete with computer/laser precision cuts.
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Old 15 July 2012, 03:33 AM   #11
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I thought Rolex were elf made?

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Old 15 July 2012, 03:38 AM   #12
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I thought Mr. Rolex used Oompa Loompasto do all his assembly.
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Old 15 July 2012, 03:41 AM   #13
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The price tag


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Old 15 July 2012, 03:42 AM   #14
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Thanks folks but "assembly" does not count --- there are no computers/machines in existence that can assemble an movement from individual parts.
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Old 15 July 2012, 03:43 AM   #15
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The price tag
HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

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Old 17 July 2012, 02:57 AM   #16
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I thought Rolex were elf made?
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Old 17 July 2012, 03:01 AM   #17
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Your name on the warranty card.

hehe
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Old 17 July 2012, 03:02 AM   #18
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Thanks folks but "assembly" does not count --- there are no computers/machines in existence that can assemble an movement from individual parts.
Cannot see why not there are many Robots than can assemble parts a lot smaller and far more complicated than those found in any mechanical watch.
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Old 17 July 2012, 03:31 AM   #19
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Cannot see why not there are many Robots than can assemble parts a lot smaller and far more complicated than those found in any mechanical watch.
Well the concept is same as that of assembling a car BUT the pieces are a lot smaller. If any company can assemble a movement via a computer, that would accelerate their production. I do not think ROLEX has those machines yet.
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Old 17 July 2012, 03:39 AM   #20
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Think you will find with all the high volume manufactures today most are highly automated and robotised including Rolex.Today although there are some manufactures that still make each and every part, but these are very very few and very very very very expensive watches.
Seiko, especially Grand Seiko made all on house and 100% hand assembled by one of like 19 people. Cheaper then a SubC the Grand Seiko is truly a finely hand crafted piece. This is why I own one but also 4 Rolex.
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Old 17 July 2012, 03:40 AM   #21
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Well the concept is same as that of assembling a car BUT the pieces are a lot smaller. If any company can assemble a movement via a computer, that would accelerate their production. I do not think ROLEX has those machines yet.
Oh but they do.
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Old 17 July 2012, 03:41 AM   #22
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Seiko, especially Grand Seiko made all on house and 100% hand assembled by one of like 19 people. Cheaper then a SubC the Grand Seiko is truly a finely hand crafted piece. This is why I own one but also 4 Rolex.
This type of information makes me want to get a Grand Seiko even more! They really are wonderful pieces!
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Old 17 July 2012, 03:42 AM   #23
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Oh but they do.
So you are saying that Rolex movements are machine assembled?

If we can take humans out of the equation, we reduce chances of malfunctions and error rates drop to near zero.

I have seen them handassemble dials and diamonds on them and the placing of the crown...
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Old 17 July 2012, 04:06 AM   #24
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Take a look at how carefully they avoid showing assembly of movements.
If we saw how it was done it would probably change the way we think it takes a year to make a Rolex.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNoK2HypNXo
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Old 17 July 2012, 04:16 AM   #25
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Thanks folks but "assembly" does not count --- there are no computers/machines in existence that can assemble an movement from individual parts.
Why not? Microprocessors are assembled by machines and the parts that go into there are measured in microns.... MICRONS!
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Old 17 July 2012, 08:55 AM   #26
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As far as I have heard from fairly reputable sources, Rolex still hand assembles the movements. I recall James Dowling mentioning this somewhere, and there was also the well-known WatchTime article discussing a tour of the Rolex manufacturing operation which also covered how Rolex calibers were hand-assembled. Various Rolex pamphlets I've had over the years have also proudly trumpeted advanced production processes but added "The assembly of a Rolex chronometer is still done entirely by hand".

That Rolex uses advanced technology to manufacture everything IN their watch is absolutely beyond question---although as Padi says, all companies now aside from a few of the loftiest independents are pretty much doing the same thing, although obviously on a smaller scale and with varying further degrees of hand finishing to those parts that emerge from manufacturing. Its also worth noting that many of the famous higher end brands perform different finishing standards according to price point...in other words, a basic handwound or automatic caliber will indeed be nicely decorated, but under close examination parts do not show quite the same level of perfection as a tourbillon, perpetual calendar or minute repeater, etc. This sort of attention by well-paid craftsmen & women adds massively to the price of a Swiss or German mechanical watch, whether the final price tag is $15,000 for a basic piece or $250,000+ for a high-zoot complication piece with 500+ individual parts.
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Old 17 July 2012, 09:17 AM   #27
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This type of information makes me want to get a Grand Seiko even more! They really are wonderful pieces!
X3 on the Seiko, especially the Hi-Beat model. Maybe my next purchase, the first in a long time that isn't a Rolex. As noted, the movement is assembled by hand with select employee watchmakers.

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Old 17 July 2012, 06:10 PM   #28
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..."The assembly of a Rolex chronometer is still done entirely by hand".
For me, this means that the mating of case, movement, dial and hands are made by hand. I would still assume the movement itself is machine assembled.
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Old 17 July 2012, 09:05 PM   #29
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I hear most watch companies use women to assemble and do the fine details as they have better dexterity (smaller hands)
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Old 17 July 2012, 10:25 PM   #30
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I hear most watch companies use women to assemble and do the fine details as they have better dexterity (smaller hands)
There's some truth in that, I'm sure. The practice (and the dexterity rationale) has been in effect for a long time, as images taken of watchmaking ateliers from the early 20th century and before reveal--a time when you might think women would have had little opportunity to work with complex micromachinery.
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