Ceramic bezel colors on BLRO

[nworbled]

So back when I purchased my BLRO last month, I asked the salesperson at the AD about the variations in colors on the bezel (i.e., MKI, MKII, etc.). He told me that up until recently, there was only ONE person at Rolex who knew how to craft the bezel colors on the BLRO. Supposedly she was the one who figured out how to make the colors on the bezel the way they are. And she flat out refused to tell or show anybody else how to make the colors. (Talk about job security).

Until fairly recently (I think within the past year), did that lady finally take on an apprentice to show her the process as well. So the salesperson said there are now TWO ladies in all of Rolex who know the process and who do the work on making the ceramic bezel colors.

I have no reason to believe the salesperson was lying to me (in fact, I believe him). So if this information is true, that COULD be a reasonable explanation why some people think they detect a difference in bezel colors on the BLRO. Maybe the difference is one lady is making some bezels and the other lady is making some bezels--so there is a slight variation in colors.

Just a thought, but I figured I'd throw it out there for consumption and discussion. I personally do not really care so much about the variation in colors but I know it's been a much discussed topic before (perhaps ad nauseum...sorry if I'm beating a dead horse).

[Jona]

I find the statement that the lady refused to tell or show anybody else how to make the colors highly suspect. I also doubt that only 1 or 2 people know the process. Just doesn't pass the smell test. I realize that variations in the process could affect the colors, nor am I calling anyone a liar, but it sounds incredulous.

[nworbled]

Originally Posted by Jona

I find the statement that the lady refused to tell or show anybody else how to make the colors highly suspect. I also doubt that only 1 or 2 people know the process. Just doesn't pass the smell test. I realize that variations in the process could affect the colors, nor am I calling anyone a liar, but it sounds incredulous.

Fair enough. You're right it does seem odd that there would only be two people in the entire company who knows the process. I thought the same thing when the salesperson told me that but like I said, I don't see why he would have lied about it.

[watchmework]

If we think that Rolex is going to ultimately let one person dictate the production levels of GMT bezels then I think we are kidding ourselves....anything is possible but the specifics of this story are likely a byproduct of the telephone game, if there is any truth at all to the idea.

[bobabreath]

Probably same way Coke and KFC keep their recipes secret.

[Shdrolex]

Originally Posted by nworbled

So back when I purchased my BLRO last month, I asked the salesperson at the AD about the variations in colors on the bezel (i.e., MKI, MKII, etc.). He told me that up until recently, there was only ONE person at Rolex who knew how to craft the bezel colors on the BLRO. Supposedly she was the one who figured out how to make the colors on the bezel the way they are. And she flat out refused to tell or show anybody else how to make the colors. (Talk about job security).



Until fairly recently (I think within the past year), did that lady finally take on an apprentice to show her the process as well. So the salesperson said there are now TWO ladies in all of Rolex who know the process and who do the work on making the ceramic bezel colors.



I have no reason to believe the salesperson was lying to me (in fact, I believe him). So if this information is true, that COULD be a reasonable explanation why some people think they detect a difference in bezel colors on the BLRO. Maybe the difference is one lady is making some bezels and the other lady is making some bezels--so there is a slight variation in colors.



Just a thought, but I figured I'd throw it out there for consumption and discussion. I personally do not really care so much about the variation in colors but I know it's been a much discussed topic before (perhaps ad nauseum...sorry if I'm beating a dead horse).

I heard the same from the director of the AD i deal with, that only one person, a lady knows the process to color the bezel. Dont know how true that is though. But it might be true.


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[037]

Everything Rolex develops is done by a team. No one process resides with only one person. That's not how manufacturing works, especially when developing ceramics.

I have no problem saying that I think your sales associate is either full of it or heard some goofy story and is repeating it thinking it's true.

If I had a $20 bill for every line I've heard from Rolex sales associates over the last 20 years I'd have enough for a free BLRO at 2020 MSRP.

[brandrea]

I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you

[Shdrolex]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you

Lol


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[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by Jona

I find the statement that the lady refused to tell or show anybody else how to make the colors highly suspect. I also doubt that only 1 or 2 people know the process. Just doesn't pass the smell test. I realize that variations in the process could affect the colors, nor am I calling anyone a liar, but it sounds incredulous.

I agree that it sounds far fetched that the lady refused to tell anyone how she made the bezel colours.

However, I did hear that there are only a few highly skilled watch makers within the whole of the Rolex organisation that are capable of assembling the Skydweller movement due to its complexity.

With that in mind, as the bi coloured ceramic bezels are very difficult to produce (only around 1 in 10 pass the QC process apparently) its not unfeasible to think only a few highly skilled workers are trusted with the job - whether that number of workers is as low as 2 is open to discussion...but as you say, not wanting to doubt anyone's word, it just sounds really hard to believe.

[pepsiretail]

Let me assume for the moment that you are not a master troll

I don't think I detect a difference, I know it as fact. Why would you have a reason to believe I am lying if you believe this salesman? When you write a sentence like this "why some people think they detect a difference in bezel colors on the BLRO." how do you expect an intelligent person with extensive first hand experience on the subject not to think that,

you are trolling right now?

[nworbled]

Originally Posted by pepsiretail

Let me assume for the moment that you are not a master troll

I don't think I detect a difference, I know it as fact. Why would you have a reason to believe I am lying if you believe this salesman? When you write a sentence like this "why some people think they detect a difference in bezel colors on the BLRO." how do you expect an intelligent person with extensive first hand experience on the subject not to think that

You are trolling right now

Sorry, my intent was not to troll. And I can assure you that I am not trolling.

The reason why I constructed the sentence in that manner was because I wasn't sure if it was a known commodity that there are in fact differences in color variations or if it's just something that's up for debate.

[nworbled]

Originally Posted by Shdrolex

I heard the same from the director of the AD i deal with, that only one person, a lady knows the process to color the bezel. Dont know how true that is though. But it might be true.


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Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who has heard this story.

[ArtNouveau]

This is the silliest "my AD said" story I've ever seen here. Your SA probably does believe this story someone told her but to truly believe a giant company that makes a million watches a year only has one person that knows how to make a certain bezel insert?
NFW

[Easy E]

For what it’s worth my SA, who goes to Basel each year, has told me that there are only two ladies that are qualified to process the bezels. Slightly different slant....just sayin’.

[037]

Originally Posted by Easy E

For what it’s worth my SA, who goes to Basel each year, has told me that there are only two ladies that are qualified to process the bezels. Slightly different slant....just sayin’.

The story still could have started from a Rolex rep who had no clue. It doesn't pass basic manufacturing logic that only one or two women at Rolex know how to make a component. Surely it would be developed as a team effort and documented in detail.

There might be one or two women who are currently making bezel inserts but I don't buy for one second that they're the only two who know how to do it. The premise was knowledge ownership rather than numbers. Perhaps the devil is in the details.

[evergreenwithenvy]

Would explain why a company with the manufacturing resources Rolex has only dribbles out their bicolor bezel GMT’s

[Easy E]

Originally Posted by 037

The story still could have started from a Rolex rep who had no clue. It doesn't pass basic manufacturing logic that only one or two women at Rolex know how to make a component. Surely it would be developed as a team effort and documented in detail.

There might be one or two women who are currently making bezel inserts but I don't buy for one second that they're the only two who know how to do it. The premise was knowledge ownership rather than numbers. Perhaps the devil is in the details.

I do not disagree. I am simply perpetuating my SA’s hearsay. I fully agree that the development of such was almost certainly a team effort. While it seems unlikely, it is plausible that only a small number of people can actually produce the desired results. Also plausible, and to your point, that small number may have become embellished a bit by a rep or rep staff and morphed into the aforementioned magic 2.

[037]

Originally Posted by Easy E

I do not disagree. I am simply perpetuating my SA’s hearsay. I fully agree that the development of such was almost certainly a team effort. While it seems unlikely, it is plausible that only a small number of people can actually produce the desired results. Also plausible, and to your point, that small number may have become embellished a bit by a rep or rep staff and morphed into the aforementioned magic 2.

I completely agree. The premise is that only one person at Rolex knows how to make these bezels and refuses to pass on the knowledge. That's the part of the story I have a hard time believing. No multi-billion-dollar company will accept a trade secret residing with only one or two people. Everything gets documented in case something happens with those responsible for production, be it illness or death. If Betty and Patty regretfully die in an avalanche*, I suspect BLRO bezels will continue mission.

*Only intended for illustration purposes. I wish Betty and Patty all the best.

[upsidedownbelt]

Nonsense. No decent company (much less Rolex) would ever allow this. What would happen if the lady(s) died or were kidnapped and held for ransom? Is that the end of that model?

[nworbled]

Originally Posted by Easy E

For what it’s worth my SA, who goes to Basel each year, has told me that there are only two ladies that are qualified to process the bezels. Slightly different slant....just sayin’.

[nworbled]

Originally Posted by upsidedownbelt

Nonsense. No decent company (much less Rolex) would ever allow this. What would happen if the lady(s) died or were kidnapped and held for ransom? Is that the end of that model?

Well if it was the end of that model, it would make the value of my BLRO skyrocket!

[nworbled]

Maybe someone at Rolex made up the story to explain the difficulty in getting a BLRO cause they only have two people making bezels?

[watchmework]

Originally Posted by upsidedownbelt

Nonsense. No decent company (much less Rolex) would ever allow this. What would happen if the lady(s) died or were kidnapped and held for ransom? Is that the end of that model?

That's the only logical explanation for why the bezel color has changed slightly

[nworbled]

Anyway, I'm just passing along information that the salesperson gave me and thought it was an interesting nugget to share. Even as far-fetched as it may seem. I agree that it seems somewhat ridiculous that only two people would be privy to such information since that information would literally die with them if something happened to them.

[nr1416]

Maybe half the story is true? Like only 2 ladies do the bi-colour bezels, but no way they are the only 2 people that know the process.

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[rambo99]

i think that's just another joke from ADs.

[exador]

Boswollocks. This ain’t a small family watch company. There are over 2000 employees making Rolexes in Biel.

[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by 037

I completely agree. The premise is that only one person at Rolex knows how to make these bezels and refuses to pass on the knowledge. That's the part of the story I have a hard time believing. No multi-billion-dollar company will accept a trade secret residing with only one or two people. Everything gets documented in case something happens with those responsible for production, be it illness or death. If Betty and Patty regretfully die in an avalanche*, I suspect BLRO bezels will continue mission.

*Only intended for illustration purposes. I wish Betty and Patty all the best.

My AD said they were called Heidi & Olga...

[BatmanFan]

Originally Posted by upsidedownbelt

Nonsense. No decent company (much less Rolex) would ever allow this. What would happen if the lady(s) died or were kidnapped and held for ransom? Is that the end of that model?

The next batch would be MKV.