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travellingbrit · 4 November 2007, 09:56 AM

I've seen the 'Mercedes Hands' tags many times in Rolex descriptions and the three pounted star on my Merc and my Rollie are indeed if not identical then as close as close can be - so question for the historians on here. Is there any actual tie up between Rolex and Mercedes ?, .....or is it just a common symbol (for many years I had a Longines WWW with the same pattern). If so then why is that particular design so common ?

I can see some hours of google time ahead....

SPACE-DWELLER · 4 November 2007, 10:00 AM

This thread might shed some light unto the Mercedes hand and let it glow at night:

"Mercedes hand"! CLICK!

mike · 4 November 2007, 10:03 AM

There's no relationship. The mercedes hour hand as I understand it allows a better method of holding the lume compound in three sections rather than one.

watchgeek · 4 November 2007, 10:07 AM

mike, that's exactly what i've heard

Letsgodiving · 4 November 2007, 10:25 AM

My Tag has virtually the same hour hand as my SD. Was Rolex the first to adopt this?

ttannert · 4 November 2007, 10:34 AM

My Tag has hands that look the same.

supra2nv · 4 November 2007, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttannert

My Tag has hands that look the same.

my Rolex does not have the Merc hands!

mike · 4 November 2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Letsgodiving

My Tag has virtually the same hour hand as my SD. Was Rolex the first to adopt this?

Here's what I've been told. Rolex introduced the mercedes hands sometime in the 1940s. The design was found to be the best platform to affix the luminous material in a stable manner. What we call "mercedes" is actually more properly known as a skeleton design since when/if the luminous compound is removed all that's left is the "skeleton" design.
One sees this on some older vintage pieces where the tritium compound has dried and fallen out.

karmatp · 4 November 2007, 12:48 PM

[QUOTE=travellingbrit;345261]I've seen the 'Mercedes Hands' tags many times in Rolex descriptions and the three pounted star on my Merc and my Rollie are indeed if not identical then as close as close can be - so question for the historians on here. Is there any actual tie up between Rolex and Mercedes ?, .....or is it just a common symbol (for many years I had a Longines WWW with the same pattern).

Oh yes, that was one of the things that really attracted me to the Longines WWW or "Greenlander". I had one and let it go a little over a year ago, one of the ones I wish I kept. I really like the "Mercedes" style hands, one of the reasons I bought a sub....love the hands. The Longines WWW will always be my favorite WWW of the 12.

East Bay Rider · 4 November 2007, 01:29 PM

taken from WatchTime magazine, 2004, 05
"The status symbol" page 3 - Rolex's founder Hans Wildorf:

http://www.watchtime.com/search/inde...er%2C+mercedes

...After breakfast, his trusty chauffeur Rüttimann
would drive him to work in his Mercedes. Rolex’s
boss had first put his trust in the German car
brand around 1935. Rolls Royce repeatedly tried
to convince Wilsdorf of the merits of their noble
British brand, but had no luck in changing his
mind.

I wonder if this had any influence.

HoustonRider · 4 November 2007, 01:37 PM

My 5 year old son would disagree. I recently bought a new Mercedes SUV and the Nav map will show you a MB Star Icon of a MB dealer in the area. Sitting around the other night he pointed to my watch and said "is that a Mercedes watch?".. I would have never noticed, but he sure did. lol

leopardprey · 4 November 2007, 01:39 PM

Do Mercedes owners refer to the hood ornament, as the Rolex Hand ornament?

travellingbrit · 5 November 2007, 06:38 AM

Guys...thanks for the links and info, which I will read when I get a little time, but it looks like the pattern is purely practical.

Karmatp. My dad bought me the ' greenlander' when I was 8 years old (1965) and I wore it for 21 years until it was stolen form a pool locker....since then I've seen several for sale and am still (20 years on) in two minds about getting a replacement...I sort of want the memory, but it wouldn't be the same..

daunwaun · 5 November 2007, 07:23 AM

great info guys i cant add anymore thanks for sharing

4 November 2007, 09:56 AM	#1
travellingbrit "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Real Name: Simon Location: England (Manc) Watch: Explorer 11, BF Posts: 268	Mercedes Hands ? I've seen the 'Mercedes Hands' tags many times in Rolex descriptions and the three pounted star on my Merc and my Rollie are indeed if not identical then as close as close can be - so question for the historians on here. Is there any actual tie up between Rolex and Mercedes ?, .....or is it just a common symbol (for many years I had a Longines WWW with the same pattern). If so then why is that particular design so common ? I can see some hours of google time ahead....

4 November 2007, 10:00 AM	#2
SPACE-DWELLER "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Real Name: Bo Location: Denmark Watch: Rolex, of course! Posts: 22,436	This thread might shed some light unto the Mercedes hand and let it glow at night: "Mercedes hand"! CLICK! __________________ With kind regards, Bo LocTite 221: The Taming Of The Screw...

4 November 2007, 10:34 AM	#6
ttannert "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Real Name: Tim Location: Ohio Watch: SS Black Daytona Posts: 872	My Tag has hands that look the same. __________________ The greatest luxury in life is time; treasure every second. __________________ My Collection: SS Rolex M Black Daytona SS Rolex V Black Milgauss GV SS Rolex M Black Milgauss TT Rolex Z White MOP Datejust SS Rolex M Coke GMT II SS Tag Heuer Black Kirium Chronometer

4 November 2007, 01:29 PM	#10
East Bay Rider "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Real Name: Bill Location: East Bay RI Watch: GMT-II 16710LN Posts: 12,073	taken from WatchTime magazine, 2004, 05 "The status symbol" page 3 - Rolex's founder Hans Wildorf: http://www.watchtime.com/search/inde...er%2C+mercedes ...After breakfast, his trusty chauffeur Rüttimann would drive him to work in his Mercedes. Rolex’s boss had first put his trust in the German car brand around 1935. Rolls Royce repeatedly tried to convince Wilsdorf of the merits of their noble British brand, but had no luck in changing his mind. I wonder if this had any influence. __________________ I bought a cheap watch from the crazy man Floating down canal It doesn't use numbers or moving hands It always just says "now" Now you may be thinking that I was had But this watch is never wrong And if I have trouble the warranty said Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On J. Buffett Instagram: eastbayrider46

5 November 2007, 07:23 AM	#14
daunwaun "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Real Name: Ken Location: toronto Watch: 18K YG Day Date Posts: 2,985	great info guys i cant add anymore thanks for sharing __________________ DAUNWAUN

4 November 2007, 10:03 AM	#3
mike "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 22,683	There's no relationship. The mercedes hour hand as I understand it allows a better method of holding the lume compound in three sections rather than one.

4 November 2007, 10:07 AM	#4
watchgeek Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 559	mike, that's exactly what i've heard

4 November 2007, 10:25 AM	#5
Letsgodiving "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Mike Location: Virginia, US Watch: SD 16600 Posts: 4,319	My Tag has virtually the same hour hand as my SD. Was Rolex the first to adopt this?

4 November 2007, 12:48 PM	#9
karmatp "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Real Name: Trevor Location: Arizona Posts: 5,740	[QUOTE=travellingbrit;345261]I've seen the 'Mercedes Hands' tags many times in Rolex descriptions and the three pounted star on my Merc and my Rollie are indeed if not identical then as close as close can be - so question for the historians on here. Is there any actual tie up between Rolex and Mercedes ?, .....or is it just a common symbol (for many years I had a Longines WWW with the same pattern). Oh yes, that was one of the things that really attracted me to the Longines WWW or "Greenlander". I had one and let it go a little over a year ago, one of the ones I wish I kept. I really like the "Mercedes" style hands, one of the reasons I bought a sub....love the hands. The Longines WWW will always be my favorite WWW of the 12.

4 November 2007, 01:37 PM	#11
HoustonRider "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 191	My 5 year old son would disagree. I recently bought a new Mercedes SUV and the Nav map will show you a MB Star Icon of a MB dealer in the area. Sitting around the other night he pointed to my watch and said "is that a Mercedes watch?".. I would have never noticed, but he sure did. lol

4 November 2007, 01:39 PM	#12
leopardprey Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Real Name: Chad Location: Around the world Watch: Panerai 233 Posts: 4,204	Do Mercedes owners refer to the hood ornament, as the Rolex Hand ornament?

5 November 2007, 06:38 AM	#13
travellingbrit "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Real Name: Simon Location: England (Manc) Watch: Explorer 11, BF Posts: 268	Guys...thanks for the links and info, which I will read when I get a little time, but it looks like the pattern is purely practical. Karmatp. My dad bought me the ' greenlander' when I was 8 years old (1965) and I wore it for 21 years until it was stolen form a pool locker....since then I've seen several for sale and am still (20 years on) in two minds about getting a replacement...I sort of want the memory, but it wouldn't be the same..

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