Why Rolex got his own...

[nitros]

... Fonderie?
Is it any special reason behind that

[kilyung]

They wanted to be able to formulate their own metals. I imagine it's also cheaper to smelt it themselves from raw materials.

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by kilyung

They wanted to be able to formulate their own metals. I imagine it's also cheaper to smelt it themselves from raw materials.

Cheaper for them . . . . . you mean . . ;-)

HAGS

[Tools]

It's more about quality..

If you are processing your own metals you know exactly what you are getting.. If you contract it out, you constantly have to evaluate what you get.

Works that way in any industry.. counterfeit metal (metal falsely claiming certain qualities) is rampant in the world and unsafe in construction, costing billion annually..

[mks4]

As someone who deals with metals every day for a living, my guess is that Rolex likes having strict control over their chemistries. Stainless is awful to machine but I am sure that Rolex knows exactly how to produce their alloys such as 914L consistently in order to maximize and predict tooling life. All this adds up to predictable production volumes and, as mentioned by others, ensures quality.

I also think Rolex really likes to control things and we've seen that they spend money on R&D as it relates to metallurgy. Helps to melt in your own shop in order to maintain confidentiality.

Mike

[tdegroot]

Originally Posted by mks4

As someone who deals with metals every day for a living, my guess is that Rolex likes having strict control over their chemistries. Stainless is awful to machine but I am sure that Rolex knows exactly how to produce their alloys such as 914L consistently in order to maximize and predict tooling life. All this adds up to predictable production volumes and, as mentioned by others, ensures quality.

I also think Rolex really likes to control things and we've seen that they spend money on R&D as it relates to metallurgy. Helps to melt in your own shop in order to maintain confidentiality.

Mike

I would believe that Rolex purchases the 904L steel. It would make sense to me to have control of the precious metals, but not the steel. Although you can buy "junk" steel, that's generally never the case from a reputable manufacturer. Also tool life is easily predictable. If you know for sure that they make their own steel, please correct me.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by mks4

As someone who deals with metals every day for a living, my guess is that Rolex likes having strict control over their chemistries. Stainless is awful to machine but I am sure that Rolex knows exactly how to produce their alloys such as 914L consistently in order to maximize and predict tooling life. All this adds up to predictable production volumes and, as mentioned by others, ensures quality.

I also think Rolex really likes to control things and we've seen that they spend money on R&D as it relates to metallurgy. Helps to melt in your own shop in order to maintain confidentiality.

Mike

First its 904L S.steel and Rolex S.Steel is supplied to them ready made in billet form, but they do proses all there own precious metals.The only difference between 316L over 904L it has slightly more Molybdenum(Mo)approx 2% more,and approx 1-2% more Chrome(Cr), 1% more copper(Cu), and approximately 10% more nickel and thats it there is nothing magical about 904L ss.

[mks4]

Originally Posted by padi56

First its 904L S.steel and Rolex S.Steel is supplied to them ready made in billet form, but they do proses all there own precious metals.The only difference between 316L over 904L it has slightly more Molybdenum(Mo)approx 2% more,and approx 1-2% more Chrome(Cr), 1% more copper(Cu), and approximately 10% more nickel and thats it there is nothing magical about 904L ss.

Sorry, I stand corrected and brutal for me to err on the alloy nomenclature...it was early

I wonder who their source of stainless is...I could think of a few names.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by padi56

First its 904L S.steel and Rolex S.Steel is supplied to them ready made in billet form, but they do proses all there own precious metals.The only difference between 316L over 904L it has slightly more Molybdenum(Mo)approx 2% more,and approx 1-2% more Chrome(Cr), 1% more copper(Cu), and approximately 10% more nickel and thats it there is nothing magical about 904L ss.

Peter,

Notwithstanding the higher chloride resistance of 904L I have wondered why Rolex accepted the increase in Nickel content to achieve this given the nickel allergy that some have or may now have?

[77T]

Even doing their own proprietary work doesn't protect them from impure or improper metals. The Gold, Silver, Platinum, Copper, Nickel, Brass, etc suppliers also can provide poor metals.

I think it's more about having better supply chain control over the main element in the watch case and bracelet.

[LightOnAHill]

they make a white good that doesn't need plating, very cool

[nitros]

Originally Posted by LightOnAHill

they make a white good that doesn't need plating, very cool

Is it true?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by nitros

Is it true?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Supposedly yes but ask again in 20yrs.

[Speed]

Mike...won't WIS pay more for a watch that is discolored (Patina'd)

;-)

[MiamiLawyer]

Just another reason to love my pieces even more!!!

[Stuxnet]

There are very few fabricators of high tensile strength steel in the world. The global recession and lack of any recovery over the last 5 years has not really stressed the supply chain very much, and in fact there have been some structural adjustments to take out fixed costs because of waning demand. However, if global demand picks up close to 2006/07 levels, there may be inadequate capacity to keep up with demand for all the various applications of high tensile strength steel (turbines, parts of ships, cranes, mining equipment etc). I don't know how big Rolex is in terms of purchase quantity and whether they make the top 10 or 20, but by investing Capex and building their own foundry, they will be able to keep up with demand even when everyone feels rich and wants to buy ,ore watches, or when global manufacturing picks up and high tensile steel allotments take time to get filled. Even the top 10 buyers of HTSS had to wait and wait and wait in 2007 when the economic growth seemed unstoppable.

Quality control, trade secrecy and scale would also be sensible reasons why.

[Cru Jones]

it's a great luxury to be able to control the process.

just ask those watch companies that recently sold "bronze" watches only to later find out the supplier had supplied them with brass, not bronze (e.g., magrette - to their credit, they did the right thing and gave the option to refund the watch).

[nitros]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

it's a great luxury to be able to control the process.

just ask those watch companies that recently sold "bronze" watches only to later find out the supplier had supplied them with brass, not bronze (e.g., magrette - to their credit, they did the right thing and gave the option to refund the watch).

I haven't heard of this, but I guess you talk about pam?

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by nitros

I haven't heard of this, but I guess you talk about pam?

No. 382 () is and always has been bronze, no worries.

[Porsche]

I'm not sure, so happy to be corrected, but do all solid Gold products sold in the UK (and some other countries) need to have a Hallmark through some kind of law?

Excuse my ignorance, but do gold Rolexes all have a Hallmark? I remember reading somewhere that was one of the reasons Rolex make their own, to avoid the need for a Hallmark...

[joe100]

Two words: vertical integration

[wohlfecc]

I think it's worth mentioning the prestige factor, too- for customers and the competition.

[Darlinboy]

Originally Posted by nitros

... Fonderie?
Is it any special reason behind that

Because no one else can make Rolesor or Everose.

[tdegroot]

904l supposedly polishes better than 316l if you can tell the difference.

[DrLindaPhD]

what was the question?