Why the blank case back?

[Robbie68]

Quick question and it may be a very obvious answer, why do Rolex persist with a blank case back? I really like an interesting design on the back of a watch and have always wondered why Rolex don't put more effort into the case back design.
I can think of two reasons they don't:
1. They have always done it that way
2. It is done to make it easy to engrave.
Any thoughts?

[esm]

Simple - almost everyone wears the watch the face up way, not the case back up way

[MortgageGuy]

Originally Posted by esm

Simple - almost everyone wears the watch the face up way, not the case back up way

[Watchonisto]

Originally Posted by esm

Simple - almost everyone wears the watch the face up way, not the case back up way

x2

[toph]

Some models do, like the Milgauss, sea dweller and certain ladies model. I think it's because the casebacks are interchangeable between many models that they don't engrave them.
Cheers

[joe100]

More comfortable that way. Omega's nice engraved casebacks leave hippocampus shaped marks on your wrist.

[Monte Cristo]

Not as beautiful a movement as other brands with clear casebacks????

[crowncollection]

as stated interchangable case backs

[sub2004]

I know we should stay away from the car comparison but:

1. Your average car will have "turbo" "3.5L" "super" "4wd" etc all placed on the rear

2. But a lambo or ferari dont have such markings on the back. You dont need to advertise the tank size, engine size, country, style etc.

3. On the same token rolex (and i think patek) dont have any markings on the back

[BOA]

Originally Posted by sub2004

I know we should stay away from the car comparison but:

1. Your average car will have "turbo" "3.5L" "super" "4wd" etc all placed on the rear

2. But a lambo or ferari dont have such markings on the back. You dont need to advertise the tank size, engine size, country, style etc.

3. On the same token rolex (and i think patek) dont have any markings on the back

I understand the argument, and I'm not in favor of markings, but the rear of a car is generally visible much of the time, as opposed to the undercarriage of a car, which is more analogous to the back of the watch. A better illustration for the markings would be the Yachtmaster II, which appears in block letters on the bezel, which is a wee bit much when I think about it. Of all the models, that one appeals to me the least because the model name is spelled out. Big design mistake IMO.

[The Waddler]

Originally Posted by sub2004

I know we should stay away from the car comparison but:

1. Your average car will have "turbo" "3.5L" "super" "4wd" etc all placed on the rear

2. But a lambo or ferari dont have such markings on the back. You dont need to advertise the tank size, engine size, country, style etc.

3. On the same token rolex (and i think patek) dont have any markings on the back

No they just have ROLEXROLEXROLEX round the rehaut

[aardvarkbark]

Originally Posted by esm

Simple - almost everyone wears the watch the face up way, not the case back up way

x3

Originally Posted by Mickey®

Its the FIRST question non "watch people" ask me...or comment. Its a Rolex and that is the case back????

um...I think you're wearing your watch upside down

[Silvio Mosiello]

You don't see a see threw hood on a Mercedes. Just a regular engine powering the guy. Nothing too special. Now a Ferrari....

[beshannon]

Fine with me, probably would be a reason for an even higher price

[Robbie68]

Originally Posted by beshannon

fine with me, probably would be a reason for an even higher price

lol

[ecsub44]

I like it unadorned. For the most part, superfluous design details without a purpose aren't my "style".

[subtona]

Originally Posted by esm

Simple - almost everyone wears the watch the face up way, not the case back up way

Originally Posted by ecsub44

I like it unadorned. For the most part, superfluous design details without a purpose aren't my "style".

1) interaction with fancy case back:
admirer "hey nice watch"
owner "thanks, check out this engraved case back"
admirer"oh darn, you dropped your watch ... down the sewer"

2) interaction plain case back:
admirer: "hey nice watch"
owner: "thanks"

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by subtona

..."oh darn, you dropped your watch ... down the sewer"

[Robbie68]

Thanks for the responses, I honestly thought that most were going to be about the engraving option.

[versatile1]

I thought I read somewhere that engraving voids warrenty

[padi56]

Originally Posted by versatile1

I thought I read somewhere that engraving voids warrenty

Well Rolex themselves offer a caseback engraving service.

[Passionata]

Originally Posted by Robbie68

Thanks for the responses, I honestly thought that most were going to be about the engraving option.

exactly that s the reason

[MoBe]

There is no need and it saves production expense.

[Time2time]

I think..

1) People can engrave what they like.

2) Interchangeable.

3) Saves cost, no need to put anything there.

[David Bali]

I've always thought about this too. I have a DJ 1601 also blank back, but a tudor has an engraved back; by rolex?

[steubi1]

I like it the way it is, pure and clean.

Really hate those case backs with engravings like:
....first watch...worn...bla...bla...bla...the one and ...bla bla... only out of a limited ...bla...bla...serie of 77.5 watches...bla...bla...five blue jewels extra for the olympic games in ....bla...bla...sand tight even in the desert of ...bla...bla.....BLA!

Thank you Rolex for NOT doing it!

Tom

[landroverking]

Everything you need to know is on the dial

[Zdenek]

Because the perfection is in SIMPLICITY.

[Luxe Time]

the dial usually lists all pertinent features of the model, i.e. Swiss Made, Water Resistance, etc.

[Mickey®]

Its the FIRST question non "watch people" ask me...or comment. Its a Rolex and that is the case back????