The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Old 15 July 2014, 02:18 AM   #1
Mack Bolan
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Anywhere but here
Watch: Submariner
Posts: 259
Swatch Watches and Rolex

I was in a brand new Swatch store, which was very colorful and cheery. The sales clerk noticed my Rolex and said "Swatch supplies Rolex with a lot of its "parts""..I asked her "Like what?" to which she replied "Im not sure"...So I wondering, Does Swatch supply Rolex with parts?
Mack Bolan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:24 AM   #2
T. Ferguson
"TRF" Member
 
T. Ferguson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 7,025
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mack Bolan View Post
I was in a brand new Swatch store, which was very colorful and cheery. The sales clerk noticed my Rolex and said "Swatch supplies Rolex with a lot of its "parts""..I asked her "Like what?" to which she replied "Im not sure"...So I wondering, Does Swatch supply Rolex with parts?
I can't think of any besides the ETA movements used by Tudor. And I highly doubt it in the context of the store you were in, Swatch watches (and not Swatch Group). I mean, they weren't selling Omegas there, were they? I'm trying to think of one Rolex reference that comes on a neon yellow plastic band that may have come from the Swatch parts business, but I can't think of one.
__________________
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.
T. Ferguson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:26 AM   #3
Mack Bolan
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Anywhere but here
Watch: Submariner
Posts: 259
Quote:
Originally Posted by T. Ferguson View Post
I can't think of any besides the ETA movements used by Tudor. And I highly doubt it, especially in the context of the store you were in, Swatch watches (and not Swatch Group). I mean, they weren't selling Omegas there, were they?
No they weren't selling Omegas...Although she did mention that Swatch owns Omega...
Mack Bolan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:30 AM   #4
T. Ferguson
"TRF" Member
 
T. Ferguson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 7,025
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mack Bolan View Post
No they weren't selling Omegas...Although she did mention that Swatch owns Omega...
Well, then maybe she was talking in terms of the Swatch Group then but still, the only thing I know of are the ETA based Tudors.
__________________
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.
T. Ferguson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 05:39 AM   #5
Welshwatchman
"TRF" Member
 
Welshwatchman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Real Name: Paul
Location: Wales, UK
Posts: 14,578
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mack Bolan View Post
I was in a brand new Swatch store, which was very colorful and cheery. The sales clerk noticed my Rolex and said "Swatch supplies Rolex with a lot of its "parts""..I asked her "Like what?" to which she replied "Im not sure"...So I wondering, Does Swatch supply Rolex with parts?
She's technically correct in so far as Rolex manufacture Tudor watches which contain a movement made by ETA, owned by Swatch Group.

Swatch watches are fun. Should have bought a couple.
Welshwatchman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:25 AM   #6
RolexJNJ
"TRF" Member
 
RolexJNJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Real Name: Joe
Location: Chicago
Posts: 5,036
This would surprise me! Rolex makes virtually everything in-house. The only parts that I think are outsourced are sapphire crystals and some of the dial hands?
RolexJNJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:28 AM   #7
tkerrmd
"TRF" Member
 
tkerrmd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Real Name: Tom
Location: In a race car!
Watch: ME RACE PORSCHES
Posts: 24,123
ETA movements for the Tudors and I think most others as well!
tkerrmd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:29 AM   #8
Mack Bolan
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Anywhere but here
Watch: Submariner
Posts: 259
I think she might be overly sensitive when people come in with expensive watches..I myself dig all kinds of watches, thats why I was there...but she noticed the Rolex and she couldn't stop talking about it as if I was going to point out something like "Rolex is better than Swatch" which I would never do.

It was kinda of a funny exchange
Mack Bolan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:30 AM   #9
Kyu
"TRF" Member
 
Kyu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Real Name: yes.. it's Kyu
Location: Los Angeles
Watch: Rolex 116759SANR
Posts: 1,499
Not sure either, I don't doubt it.
She said parts so maybe literally manufactures parts ?

I'm also interested in this little info
Kyu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:32 AM   #10
shirtguy
"TRF" Member
 
shirtguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ny
Watch: sub-c Date
Posts: 1,322
im beginning to think that most of us on this forum know more than the avg person working at a rolex boutique
shirtguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:34 AM   #11
WyoWatch
"TRF" Member
 
WyoWatch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Real Name: Chad
Location: USA
Watch: 1675 GMT and Sub C
Posts: 1,443
Quote:
Originally Posted by shirtguy View Post
im beginning to think that most of us on this forum know more than the avg person working at a rolex boutique
We do.
WyoWatch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 04:29 AM   #12
AK797
2024 Pledge Member
 
AK797's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Real Name: Neil
Location: UK
Watch: ing ships roll in
Posts: 59,369
Quote:
Originally Posted by shirtguy View Post
im beginning to think that most of us on this forum know more than the avg person working at a rolex boutique
So do most of us off the forum.
AK797 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:36 AM   #13
WyoWatch
"TRF" Member
 
WyoWatch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Real Name: Chad
Location: USA
Watch: 1675 GMT and Sub C
Posts: 1,443
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mack Bolan View Post
I was in a brand new Swatch store, which was very colorful and cheery. The sales clerk noticed my Rolex and said "Swatch supplies Rolex with a lot of its "parts""..I asked her "Like what?" to which she replied "Im not sure"...So I wondering, Does Swatch supply Rolex with parts?
Tudor yes, ETA movements. Rolex, no. Rolex makes pretty much if not everything in house. They even have their own foundries for metals.
WyoWatch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:54 AM   #14
jack81
"TRF" Member
 
jack81's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: planet rolex
Posts: 1,728
Quote:
Originally Posted by WyoWatch View Post
Tudor yes, ETA movements. Rolex, no. Rolex makes pretty much if not everything in house. They even have their own foundries for metals.
Thanks for this
jack81 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 03:29 AM   #15
Tseg
"TRF" Member
 
Tseg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Real Name: Tom
Location: World Traveler
Watch: GMT Master II BLNR
Posts: 1,583
Quote:
Originally Posted by WyoWatch View Post
Tudor yes, ETA movements. Rolex, no. Rolex makes pretty much if not everything in house. They even have their own foundries for metals.
...precious metals, not steel, just to be clear.
Tseg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 02:57 AM   #16
lig
"TRF" Member
 
lig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: PacNW
Watch: Enthusiast
Posts: 2,611
I was in a Swatch store in Venice last week. Picked up a couple of Sistem 51s.

The clerk kindly offered to swap a few Swatches for my AP RO. Tough call - but I had to decline.
lig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 03:33 AM   #17
The Libertine
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2014
Real Name: Mike
Location: BOS
Watch: 16710;14060;214270
Posts: 6,375
I can't even remember when I last saw a Swatch.....
The Libertine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 03:34 AM   #18
ExplorerChris
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Real Name: Chris
Location: Ontario, Canada
Watch: Explorer II 16550
Posts: 1,401
I would guess that the young lady has no clue and she should either get the proper training from her superiors or educate herself before she says things.
__________________
There's a crown for every achievement

A Watch Is Just A Watch
A Rolex Is A Timepiece
ExplorerChris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 03:47 AM   #19
T. Ferguson
"TRF" Member
 
T. Ferguson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 7,025
Quote:
Originally Posted by ExplorerChris View Post
I would guess that the young lady has no clue and she should either get the proper training from her superiors or educate herself before she says things.
Chris, I know what you mean, but does the boss really care? It's a Swatch store for gosh sakes. Her typical customer is the high school kid looking for a watch that goes with the outfit they just bought at A & F a few doors down.

I give the girl credit for even properly identifying a Rolex. And if her comment was indeed referring to the ETA based Tudors, that's really impressive.

I'm not trying to light up Swatch or anything, but the line is just a very different market. They're not competing against Rolex anymore than they are against their own higher end brands. All I'm really saying is I'd more expect an Omega salesman to know a little something about Rolex than this gal.
__________________
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.
T. Ferguson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 05:32 AM   #20
louis redfoot
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Real Name: jc
Location: southern cal
Watch: datejust sodalite
Posts: 249
i have a simple swatch that i wear when travelling. $40, good watch for the price
louis redfoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 05:44 AM   #21
HogwldFLTR
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
 
HogwldFLTR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Real Name: Lee
Location: 42.48.45N70.48.48
Watch: Too many to list!
Posts: 33,694
I'm pretty certain that the ETA movements sold to Tudor represent a lot of business for both Swatch and Rolex. That would be a major account/supplier relationship.
__________________
Troglodyte in residence!

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=808599
HogwldFLTR is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 05:47 AM   #22
Sparkiem
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: South Africa
Watch: DRSD
Posts: 8
I went into a Swatch store in nice airport last week wearing a GMT, and was surprised at how knowledgeable the sales staff were about automatic movements - i was looking at their new sistem 51 auto movement
Sparkiem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 July 2014, 07:46 AM   #23
MILGAUSS88
"TRF" Member
 
MILGAUSS88's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: mississippi river
Posts: 3,192
I believe they make hairsprings for many high end watch companies. I read an article in either IW or Watchtime, about Philippe Stern (Patek Philippe) visiting Nick Hayek (Swatch) to confirm that he would still get hairspings (or other parts?), when Hayek announced he would no longer sell parts on the open market.
MILGAUSS88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Wrist Aficionado

My Watch LLC

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches

Takuya Watches

OCWatches


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.