So wait Rolex does not make my Rolex

[gmtmastersxm]

I have heard many rumors about Rolex using parts manufactured outside of its company..is this a myth?

for the price we are paying they should be 100% rolex...not some parts that are found in many watches..

Swiss Made SHOULD be Rolex Made

[Andad]

Rumors...Rumors

[Atomant]

I've heard that part of Rolex are made in china too!

[The GMT Master]

Absolute myth. The only two components that weren't in house were the mainspring and the shock absorbers, and these are being phased out and being replaced with the Rolex in-house ones. Rolex even smelts its own metal

[padi56]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

Absolute myth. The only two components that weren't in house were the mainspring and the shock absorbers, and these are being phased out and being replaced with the Rolex in-house ones. Rolex even smelts its own metal

Not quite correct its the escapement hairspring and shock system thats been in most of the Swiss watch industry for decades.And has been in millions upon
millions of Rolex watches over 40 plus years.Now the Nivourox hairspring and Kif shock system were out sourced just like the dials in the past.But now Rolex owns the dial manufacturing side now.But the only main reason for Rolex
to make there own escapement parts.Is that the Swatch group owner of kif and Nivourox will cut of the supply of watch parts sometime in 2010 to all
outside the Swatch group.Thats why many Swiss independents now are making there own in-house movements and escapement parts.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by padi56

Not quite correct its the escapement hairspring and shock system thats been in most of the Swiss watch industry for decades.And has been in millions upon
millions of Rolex watches over 40 plus years.Now the Nivourox hairspring and Kif shock system were out sourced just like the dials in the past.But now Rolex owns the dial manufacturing side now.But the only main reason for Rolex
to make there own escapement parts.Is that the Swatch group owner of kif and Nivourox will cut of the supply of watch parts sometime in 2010 to all
outside the Swatch group.Thats why many Swiss independents now are making there own in-house movements and escapement parts.

Thanks for the clarification Padi

[padi56]

Originally Posted by gmtmastersxm

I have heard many rumors about Rolex using parts manufactured outside of its company..is this a myth?

for the price we are paying they should be 100% rolex...not some parts that are found in many watches..

Swiss Made SHOULD be Rolex Made

IMHO that Rolex's tendency to be now 100% independent has good and bad sides. On one hand, independence in any business is good up to a point, but on the other hand it makes manufacturing much less flexible.And now being forced to make there there own escapement parts for the first time, as the Swatch group have cut of supplies to all outside the group.Today its very expensive to design and tool up to make these parts but I would doubt in the real world would the average wearer notice any difference performance wise between the two,but now Rolex could say 100% in-house built now. There are very huge costs today associated with producing a new calibre, and replacing an old calibre with a new one has to be justified economically. That's why Rolex sometimes uses older conceptions and decisions in its movements and just slightly mod them like the Cal 3000 to Cal 3130 and the Cal 3185 to Cal 3186.Just like the modern day car they use the same floor pan for many models,with just a different brand and body.Today all the mens line up except for the Chrono are basically clones of the Cal 3135 with or without complications.And lets not forget most of the Swiss watch industry used escapement parts from Swatch ETA Nivourox even Patek Phillip.