How long is the development cycle for a new movement?

[glamorama]

When Rolex or another brand want to release a new movement, fully redesigned or a new complication. How long does it take roughly from decision to shipment to market?

Sure it is different for different companies and type of movement, I can imagine Rolex being one of the slower ones due to quality testing etc. But in general?

3-6 years is my guesstimate.

I think Lange called their first movement 90x and it was released 94 so about 4 years.