What is it with Rolex caliber nos.?

[buddy13]

Is it just me or do rolex try purposely to introduce complexity for nothing..do they purposely try and confuse me ?

For example how did Rolex update the 3135 inside the new DSSD and SUB-C with a new hairspring and still call it a 3135? But update the GMT movement and replace the 3185 with a 3186..or has this movement undergone further transformations rather than only the hairspring?

Am I correct in thinking there are two variants of 3035 movement? The current one powers the Sub ND and Explorer while the other used to be a date movement (replaced by 3135 then) which is an old caliber?!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by buddy13

Is it just me or do rolex try purposely to introduce complexity for nothing..do they purposely try and confuse me ?

For example how did Rolex update the 3135 inside the new DSSD and SUB-C with a new hairspring and still call it a 3135? But update the GMT movement and replace the 3185 with a 3186..or has this movement undergone further transformations rather than only the hairspring?

Am I correct in thinking there are two variants of 3035 movement? The current one powers the Sub ND and Explorer while the other used to be a date movement (replaced by 3135 then) which is an old caliber?!

Well over the past 20 plus years Rolex has only made slight mods to there movements.The cal 3185 a slight change to the detent gears more precise time zone settings that made it slightly thicker in-house hairspring its a 3186 now they have added there own shock system and now call it a 3187.But the cal 3035 is a old calibre that was before the 3135 that was introduced in 1988/9.Its the 3130 thats used in the non date sub its just a 3135 without the date complication.All the complete line up except the chronographs are just basically clones of the 3135 with or without added complications.

[Art161]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well over the past 20 plus years Rolex has only made slight mods to there movements.The cal 3185 a slight change to the detent gears more precise time zone settings that made it slightly thicker in-house hairspring its a 3186 now they have added there own shock system and now call it a 3187.But the cal 3035 is a old calibre that was before the 3135 that was introduced in 1988/9.Its the 3130 thats used in the non date sub its just a 3135 without the date complication.All the complete line up except the chronographs are just basically clones of the 3135 with or without added complications.

Padi, maybe in the future you could refer to the 3035 as vintage? That sounds nicer to those of us who have them in our watches.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Art161

Padi, maybe in the future you could refer to the 3035 as vintage? That sounds nicer to those of us who have them in our watches.

Well they now call the 16610 the old sub,but the construction of the cal 3035 the metals used in it,IMHO were much tougher and more robust than the present cal 3135.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by buddy13

Is it just me or do rolex try purposely to introduce complexity for nothing..do they purposely try and confuse me ?

For example how did Rolex update the 3135 inside the new DSSD and SUB-C with a new hairspring and still call it a 3135? But update the GMT movement and replace the 3185 with a 3186..or has this movement undergone further transformations rather than only the hairspring?

Am I correct in thinking there are two variants of 3035 movement? The current one powers the Sub ND and Explorer while the other used to be a date movement (replaced by 3135 then) which is an old caliber?!

Well, to be quite honest, they'd rather you didn't know the calibre numbers at all! The only time they mention them (unless it's a showcase movement like the cal. 4160) is in the Basel press packs for new models. The master catalogue doesn't list any references, because, for most people, it's not necessary. Damn difficult to find out anything about Rolex unless you go to dedicated fora like TRF, where you have the benefit of people with many, many years' worth of experience!

So, a quick run through of current gents calibres:

3130 - base non-date movement, powers 36mm OP, Air King, Submariner
3131 - non-date movement with soft iron Farraday cage for magnetic resistance. Milgauss only
3132 - slightly altered non-date movement with larger parts for added stability, in house shock absorbers and hairspring. New Explorer I

3135 - base date movement, workhorse of Rolex range. Found in Date, Datejust, Sub Date, Deep Sea, Yacht-Master I. Comes with standard Nivarox or in-house Parachrom hairsprings
3136 - slightly altered date movement, again, with slightly larger parts. Datejust II

3155 - day and date movement. Day-Date I
3156 - slightly altered day and date movement, larger parts. Day-Date II

3185 - previous generation GMT movement with independent hour hand. GMT 16710 and Explorer II 16570
3186 - current GMT movement, altered gears for more precise feel. Parachrom and in-house shock absorbers. Late versions of 16710 and 16570, GMT IIc
3187 - as above, but with larger parts. New Explorer II 216570

4130 - in-house column wheel chronograph movement. Daytona
4160 - regatta chronograph with programmable mechanical memory. Yacht-Master II

[buddy13]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

Well, to be quite honest, they'd rather you didn't know the calibre numbers at all! The only time they mention them (unless it's a showcase movement like the cal. 4160) is in the Basel press packs for new models. The master catalogue doesn't list any references, because, for most people, it's not necessary. Damn difficult to find out anything about Rolex unless you go to dedicated fora like TRF, where you have the benefit of people with many, many years' worth of experience!

So, a quick run through of current gents calibres:

3130 - base non-date movement, powers 36mm OP, Air King, Submariner
3131 - non-date movement with soft iron Farraday cage for magnetic resistance. Milgauss only
3132 - slightly altered non-date movement with larger parts for added stability, in house shock absorbers and hairspring. New Explorer I

3135 - base date movement, workhorse of Rolex range. Found in Date, Datejust, Sub Date, Deep Sea, Yacht-Master I. Comes with standard Nivarox or in-house Parachrom hairsprings
3136 - slightly altered date movement, again, with slightly larger parts. Datejust II

3155 - day and date movement. Day-Date I
3156 - slightly altered day and date movement, larger parts. Day-Date II

3185 - previous generation GMT movement with independent hour hand. GMT 16710 and Explorer II 16570
3186 - current GMT movement, altered gears for more precise feel. Parachrom and in-house shock absorbers. Late versions of 16710 and 16570, GMT IIc
3187 - as above, but with larger parts. New Explorer II 216570

4130 - in-house column wheel chronograph movement. Daytona
4160 - regatta chronograph with programmable mechanical memory. Yacht-Master II

Very informative! thanks a million ...

[major_error]

usefull list!

8-)

[LarryD]

3186 does not have the in-house paraflex shock system..

3187 does have the in house paraflex system

[padi56]

Originally Posted by LarryD

3186 does not have the in-house paraflex shock system..

3187 does have the in house paraflex system

Wow, Kif, Incabloc, Paraflex no matter what you call them its just a shock protection system nothing more.

[Boothroyd]

GMT Master, or anyone else: Doe the Milglauss movement replicate the 3130 or the 3132 movement then add the anti-magnetic Faraday cage? To put it another way, do the new 39MM Explorer 1 and the Milglauss "share" the same movement, only difference being Faraday cage? Thanks for any clarification you can add.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by Boothroyd

GMT Master, or anyone else: Doe the Milglauss movement replicate the 3130 or the 3132 movement then add the anti-magnetic Faraday cage? To put it another way, do the new 39MM Explorer 1 and the Milglauss "share" the same movement, only difference being Faraday cage? Thanks for any clarification you can add.

I believe the Milgauss movement is based on the 3130, whilst the 3132 has the opportunity to use larger a larger base plate and parts due to the case size. The extra space in the Milgauss is taken up by the Faraday cage

[Boothroyd]

Thanks, GMT Master. That would imply to me that the Explorer has slightly better shock properties than the Milgauss, in that case. Obviously, the Milgauss has the advantage in magnetized environments. But ability to withstand a blow was one of the reasons I picked my model, so wanted to ask. Thanks again.