Ceramic bezel colors on BLRO

[nworbled]

So back when I purchased my BLRO last month, I asked the salesperson at the AD about the variations in colors on the bezel (i.e., MKI, MKII, etc.). He told me that up until recently, there was only ONE person at Rolex who knew how to craft the bezel colors on the BLRO. Supposedly she was the one who figured out how to make the colors on the bezel the way they are. And she flat out refused to tell or show anybody else how to make the colors. (Talk about job security).

Until fairly recently (I think within the past year), did that lady finally take on an apprentice to show her the process as well. So the salesperson said there are now TWO ladies in all of Rolex who know the process and who do the work on making the ceramic bezel colors.

I have no reason to believe the salesperson was lying to me (in fact, I believe him). So if this information is true, that COULD be a reasonable explanation why some people think they detect a difference in bezel colors on the BLRO. Maybe the difference is one lady is making some bezels and the other lady is making some bezels--so there is a slight variation in colors.

Just a thought, but I figured I'd throw it out there for consumption and discussion. I personally do not really care so much about the variation in colors but I know it's been a much discussed topic before (perhaps ad nauseum...sorry if I'm beating a dead horse).

[Jona]

I find the statement that the lady refused to tell or show anybody else how to make the colors highly suspect. I also doubt that only 1 or 2 people know the process. Just doesn't pass the smell test. I realize that variations in the process could affect the colors, nor am I calling anyone a liar, but it sounds incredulous.

[nworbled]

Originally Posted by Jona

I find the statement that the lady refused to tell or show anybody else how to make the colors highly suspect. I also doubt that only 1 or 2 people know the process. Just doesn't pass the smell test. I realize that variations in the process could affect the colors, nor am I calling anyone a liar, but it sounds incredulous.

Fair enough. You're right it does seem odd that there would only be two people in the entire company who knows the process. I thought the same thing when the salesperson told me that but like I said, I don't see why he would have lied about it.

[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by Jona

I find the statement that the lady refused to tell or show anybody else how to make the colors highly suspect. I also doubt that only 1 or 2 people know the process. Just doesn't pass the smell test. I realize that variations in the process could affect the colors, nor am I calling anyone a liar, but it sounds incredulous.

I agree that it sounds far fetched that the lady refused to tell anyone how she made the bezel colours.

However, I did hear that there are only a few highly skilled watch makers within the whole of the Rolex organisation that are capable of assembling the Skydweller movement due to its complexity.

With that in mind, as the bi coloured ceramic bezels are very difficult to produce (only around 1 in 10 pass the QC process apparently) its not unfeasible to think only a few highly skilled workers are trusted with the job - whether that number of workers is as low as 2 is open to discussion...but as you say, not wanting to doubt anyone's word, it just sounds really hard to believe.

[watchmework]

If we think that Rolex is going to ultimately let one person dictate the production levels of GMT bezels then I think we are kidding ourselves....anything is possible but the specifics of this story are likely a byproduct of the telephone game, if there is any truth at all to the idea.

[bobabreath]

Probably same way Coke and KFC keep their recipes secret.

[Shdrolex]

Originally Posted by nworbled

So back when I purchased my BLRO last month, I asked the salesperson at the AD about the variations in colors on the bezel (i.e., MKI, MKII, etc.). He told me that up until recently, there was only ONE person at Rolex who knew how to craft the bezel colors on the BLRO. Supposedly she was the one who figured out how to make the colors on the bezel the way they are. And she flat out refused to tell or show anybody else how to make the colors. (Talk about job security).



Until fairly recently (I think within the past year), did that lady finally take on an apprentice to show her the process as well. So the salesperson said there are now TWO ladies in all of Rolex who know the process and who do the work on making the ceramic bezel colors.



I have no reason to believe the salesperson was lying to me (in fact, I believe him). So if this information is true, that COULD be a reasonable explanation why some people think they detect a difference in bezel colors on the BLRO. Maybe the difference is one lady is making some bezels and the other lady is making some bezels--so there is a slight variation in colors.



Just a thought, but I figured I'd throw it out there for consumption and discussion. I personally do not really care so much about the variation in colors but I know it's been a much discussed topic before (perhaps ad nauseum...sorry if I'm beating a dead horse).

I heard the same from the director of the AD i deal with, that only one person, a lady knows the process to color the bezel. Dont know how true that is though. But it might be true.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nworbled]

Originally Posted by Shdrolex

I heard the same from the director of the AD i deal with, that only one person, a lady knows the process to color the bezel. Dont know how true that is though. But it might be true.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who has heard this story.

[037]

Everything Rolex develops is done by a team. No one process resides with only one person. That's not how manufacturing works, especially when developing ceramics.

I have no problem saying that I think your sales associate is either full of it or heard some goofy story and is repeating it thinking it's true.

If I had a $20 bill for every line I've heard from Rolex sales associates over the last 20 years I'd have enough for a free BLRO at 2020 MSRP.

[brandrea]

I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you

[Shdrolex]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you

Lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pepsiretail]

Let me assume for the moment that you are not a master troll

I don't think I detect a difference, I know it as fact. Why would you have a reason to believe I am lying if you believe this salesman? When you write a sentence like this "why some people think they detect a difference in bezel colors on the BLRO." how do you expect an intelligent person with extensive first hand experience on the subject not to think that,

you are trolling right now?

[nworbled]

Originally Posted by pepsiretail

Let me assume for the moment that you are not a master troll

I don't think I detect a difference, I know it as fact. Why would you have a reason to believe I am lying if you believe this salesman? When you write a sentence like this "why some people think they detect a difference in bezel colors on the BLRO." how do you expect an intelligent person with extensive first hand experience on the subject not to think that

You are trolling right now

Sorry, my intent was not to troll. And I can assure you that I am not trolling.

The reason why I constructed the sentence in that manner was because I wasn't sure if it was a known commodity that there are in fact differences in color variations or if it's just something that's up for debate.

[ArtNouveau]

This is the silliest "my AD said" story I've ever seen here. Your SA probably does believe this story someone told her but to truly believe a giant company that makes a million watches a year only has one person that knows how to make a certain bezel insert?
NFW

[Easy E]

For what it’s worth my SA, who goes to Basel each year, has told me that there are only two ladies that are qualified to process the bezels. Slightly different slant....just sayin’.

[037]

Originally Posted by Easy E

For what it’s worth my SA, who goes to Basel each year, has told me that there are only two ladies that are qualified to process the bezels. Slightly different slant....just sayin’.

The story still could have started from a Rolex rep who had no clue. It doesn't pass basic manufacturing logic that only one or two women at Rolex know how to make a component. Surely it would be developed as a team effort and documented in detail.

There might be one or two women who are currently making bezel inserts but I don't buy for one second that they're the only two who know how to do it. The premise was knowledge ownership rather than numbers. Perhaps the devil is in the details.

[Easy E]

Originally Posted by 037

The story still could have started from a Rolex rep who had no clue. It doesn't pass basic manufacturing logic that only one or two women at Rolex know how to make a component. Surely it would be developed as a team effort and documented in detail.

There might be one or two women who are currently making bezel inserts but I don't buy for one second that they're the only two who know how to do it. The premise was knowledge ownership rather than numbers. Perhaps the devil is in the details.

I do not disagree. I am simply perpetuating my SA’s hearsay. I fully agree that the development of such was almost certainly a team effort. While it seems unlikely, it is plausible that only a small number of people can actually produce the desired results. Also plausible, and to your point, that small number may have become embellished a bit by a rep or rep staff and morphed into the aforementioned magic 2.

[037]

Originally Posted by Easy E

I do not disagree. I am simply perpetuating my SA’s hearsay. I fully agree that the development of such was almost certainly a team effort. While it seems unlikely, it is plausible that only a small number of people can actually produce the desired results. Also plausible, and to your point, that small number may have become embellished a bit by a rep or rep staff and morphed into the aforementioned magic 2.

I completely agree. The premise is that only one person at Rolex knows how to make these bezels and refuses to pass on the knowledge. That's the part of the story I have a hard time believing. No multi-billion-dollar company will accept a trade secret residing with only one or two people. Everything gets documented in case something happens with those responsible for production, be it illness or death. If Betty and Patty regretfully die in an avalanche*, I suspect BLRO bezels will continue mission.

*Only intended for illustration purposes. I wish Betty and Patty all the best.

[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by 037

I completely agree. The premise is that only one person at Rolex knows how to make these bezels and refuses to pass on the knowledge. That's the part of the story I have a hard time believing. No multi-billion-dollar company will accept a trade secret residing with only one or two people. Everything gets documented in case something happens with those responsible for production, be it illness or death. If Betty and Patty regretfully die in an avalanche*, I suspect BLRO bezels will continue mission.

*Only intended for illustration purposes. I wish Betty and Patty all the best.

My AD said they were called Heidi & Olga...

[nworbled]

Originally Posted by Easy E

For what it’s worth my SA, who goes to Basel each year, has told me that there are only two ladies that are qualified to process the bezels. Slightly different slant....just sayin’.

[evergreenwithenvy]

Would explain why a company with the manufacturing resources Rolex has only dribbles out their bicolor bezel GMT’s

[upsidedownbelt]

Nonsense. No decent company (much less Rolex) would ever allow this. What would happen if the lady(s) died or were kidnapped and held for ransom? Is that the end of that model?

[nworbled]

Originally Posted by upsidedownbelt

Nonsense. No decent company (much less Rolex) would ever allow this. What would happen if the lady(s) died or were kidnapped and held for ransom? Is that the end of that model?

Well if it was the end of that model, it would make the value of my BLRO skyrocket!

[watchmework]

Originally Posted by upsidedownbelt

Nonsense. No decent company (much less Rolex) would ever allow this. What would happen if the lady(s) died or were kidnapped and held for ransom? Is that the end of that model?

That's the only logical explanation for why the bezel color has changed slightly

[padi56]

Originally Posted by watchmework

That's the only logical explanation for why the bezel color has changed slightly

Exactly that and would expect further slight changes in colour over the full production of this model.But in the real world all this MK1 Mk2 stuff only exists on internet forums.Try going into a Rolex AD and asking for a MK1,MK2,MK3 insert on any watch.And today many ADs talk through where the sun dont shine many would not know there ar#e from there ellbow.

[TswaneNguni]

Lets face it ,Rolex didn't get the ceramic colours quite right on the BLRO .Aluminium insert red/blue is spot on .
Never before has there been so much discussion on a bezel insert ..

Ceramic black and the blue/black inserts look great !

Even on the blue TT Sub I prefer the colour of the aluminium insert above the ceramic blue insert . I have both the 16613 and 116613LB.

[jrs146]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

Lets face it ,Rolex didn't get the ceramic colours quite right on the BLRO .Aluminium insert red/blue is spot on .
Never before has there been so much discussion on a bezel insert ..

Ceramic black and the blue/black inserts look great !

Even on the blue TT Sub I prefer the colour of the aluminium insert above the ceramic blue insert . I have both the 16613 and 116613LB.

I can’t help but agree. In my humble opinion every single colored ceramic bezel is not 100% perfect. They’re all slightly off. I still own them and I enjoy them. But I think for whatever reason the colored ceramics are not perfectly colored.

[pepsiretail]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

Lets face it ,Rolex didn't get the ceramic colours quite right on the BLRO .Aluminium insert red/blue is spot on .
Never before has there been so much discussion on a bezel insert ..

Ceramic black and the blue/black inserts look great !

.

They look pretty spot on to me lol

With this watch tilt it around the light a bit and it’s chameleon character shows itself.

That’s why the talk of the colours being off has always baffled me as an owner, there isn’t one colour but many. Here is my “pink and purple” MK I




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by padi56

And today many ADs talk through where the sun dont shine

As always Padi, you are much more succinct than I.

[BatmanFan]

Originally Posted by upsidedownbelt

Nonsense. No decent company (much less Rolex) would ever allow this. What would happen if the lady(s) died or were kidnapped and held for ransom? Is that the end of that model?

The next batch would be MKV.