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Old 13 September 2010, 05:48 AM   #1
davegct
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Origin of Mercedes Style Hour Hand

This is probably a very well known piece of trivia, but being a newbie to Rolex, could someone tell me the origin of using the Mercedes Benz style logo on the hour hand of some Rolexes and Tag Heuers?

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.
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Old 13 September 2010, 06:02 AM   #2
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Daimler-Benz paid Hans Wilsdorf and Edouard Heuer for product placement.
It was one of the first such deals ever made. Pure marketing genius.
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Old 13 September 2010, 06:04 AM   #3
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Old 13 September 2010, 06:05 AM   #4
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Daimler-Benz paid Hans Wilsdorf and Edouard Heuer for product placement.
It was one of the first such deals ever made. Pure marketing genius.

And then Pepsi paid Rolex for a certain type of GMT, and the rest is history!
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Old 13 September 2010, 06:12 AM   #5
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Because this is not so nice.



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Old 13 September 2010, 06:12 AM   #6
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They are likely just a modernized version of Cathedral Hands, which were very popular on watches in the first half of the 20th Century.
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Old 13 September 2010, 06:17 AM   #7
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I said this back in January in a similar thread and I'll say it again

"I actually believe that it corresponds to Mercedes, not the car but Mercedes Gleitze as she was believed to be HW's mistress."
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Old 13 September 2010, 06:39 AM   #8
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How did you do that?
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Old 13 September 2010, 06:41 AM   #9
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Because this is not so nice.



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Old 13 September 2010, 07:16 AM   #10
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I have been told that they were made that way to better hold the lume in place. They are also beveled a bit to serve the same purpose.
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Old 13 September 2010, 07:41 AM   #11
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The truth...

The Mercedes Symbol on a Watch Hand: How it came to Be.

by Will Estell

The use of the Mercedes emblem- perhaps more appropriatly known as the “rising star”-on the hour hand of wrist watches in fact has no connection to the Mercedes automobile brand other than the fact that when Gottleib Daimler and Karl Benz built and received the patent for the first Mercedes Benz (the Mercedes name being derived from the Daimler’s daughter, Mercedes, and his partner’s last name, Benz) in 1885, the two partners chose the same “rising sun” symbol for much the same reason as Rolex did when beginning its use on particular sports models of their watches. That reason being: that the symbol evokes great positive energy, fulfillment and a sense of “rising” or achievement- which both brands saw their product fitting into the category of.

As for the watch side the symbol also is said by Rolex historians to have been chosen in part due to its ability to be seen well on an hour hand, even when partially covered by the minute, second, or sub hands. This was of specific importance in the automobile racing, diving, and adventure aspects that Rolex watches first became, and continue to be, so highly admired in.
It is important to note that the Rolex brand was the first to use this symbol with others following shortly after in many various degree and price ranges of watch. So, though most do not feel that Rolex copied the Mercedes Benz company in the use of this emblem, most other watch makers did in fact copy Rolex, and Mercedes.

Today, the symbol, though more closely related to the automobile, stands as a sort of testament to quality and aristocratic stance of the products that carry it, and the people who believe in and depend upon the services that these products give- whether it be a great automobile or a trust worthy timepiece.

-Will Estell
Publisher 3G Media, LLC.
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Old 13 September 2010, 08:02 AM   #12
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Thanks everyone for responding and increasing my Rolex knowledge! I'm really enjoying TRF with great contributors like you all!

Regards,
Dave
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Old 13 September 2010, 08:06 AM   #13
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There are as many printed stories about this as a bag full of potatoes and nobody knows for sure.

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Old 13 September 2010, 08:13 AM   #14
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I think the Mercedes hands comes from the lady who break a swimming record in 30s wearing Rolex and also sponsored by Rolex whose name was Mercedes..
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Old 13 September 2010, 08:14 AM   #15
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Quote:
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I said this back in January in a similar thread and I'll say it again

"I actually believe that it corresponds to Mercedes, not the car but Mercedes Gleitze as she was believed to be HW's mistress."
He had bad taste in women
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Old 13 September 2010, 08:17 AM   #16
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He had bad taste in women
She was actually not bad looking in those days.
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Old 13 September 2010, 08:20 AM   #17
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She was actually not bad looking in those days.
I'm guessing you were around then to see her in person
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Old 13 September 2010, 08:27 AM   #18
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I'm guessing you were around then to see her in person
No, but my son was.
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Old 13 September 2010, 09:01 AM   #19
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it's because it looks awesome
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Old 13 September 2010, 10:01 AM   #20
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I thought it had something to do with land, sea, and air
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Old 13 September 2010, 01:52 PM   #21
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Nah...thats the Roundal. . .

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Old 13 September 2010, 02:17 PM   #22
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No, but my son was.
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Old 14 September 2010, 04:00 AM   #23
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How did you do that?
The website is lmgtfy.com (LetMeGoogleThatForYou.com) It comes in handy when people ask questions that are painfully easy to find out on their own.

No offense to the original poster!
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Old 14 September 2010, 05:03 AM   #24
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its a peace sign...old hans was one of the first flower children.
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