Rolex Movement Innovation Hits a Wall?

[Chewbacca]

was wondering today about the ceramic development, hairspings, lubricants, 904L, micro adjustment buckles etc... and thought, why is rolex still set on 28,800 bph movements? the argument to slow down the bph goes back to the 70' & 80's when rolex needed a chrono and got one from Zenith. the zenith el primero bph was over 36,000 and is still considered a great movement with near quartz accuracy but required servicing between 3 - 5yrs. shouldn't rolex have figured out a way to stretch this by now with the new alloys and lubricants available?

my theory is that this type of innovation wouldn't matter to the lay person or non-wis so they won't bother but i see it as an opportunity. other brands are slowing down bph for "accuracy" and "service interval extensions" but they still go to the shop for other reasons?

any thoughts?

[subtona]

Many pateks are and APs are still working at 21k bph.

For me 28k is like an old friend, wouldn't want it any other way.

[Jack T]

I don't know enough about innovation in the world of watches to comment, other than I want set it and forget it reliability in an attractive and durable package. My three Rolex's give me that and more. Keep it up.

[77T]

It's an interesting thought. There have been incremental changes over time. And Rolex brought some components in-house that were previously outsourced.

The Sky-Dweller brought us a new complication but since then nothing really new.

I wonder where the next innovation will come?

[Thevenin]

Bumping up to 5Hz is probably an overkill to attract more WIS.

Especially when there are still gazillion ways left to do so.

Playing with the movement is probably the last resort.

[HL65]

I guess for me I don't buy Rolex for new complications or fancy movements. I buy them because they are Rolex and are simple, durable and just plain cool to me! I buy Patek and AP for other reasons but they will always be part of a Rolex collection and not the other way around. Rolex will always be my go to watch for plenty of reasons other than innovation.

[14060m]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

I guess for me I don't buy Rolex for new complications or fancy movements. I buy them because they are Rolex and are simple, durable and just plain cool to me! I buy Patek and AP for other reasons but they will always be part of a Rolex collection and not the other way around. Rolex will always be my go to watch for plenty of reasons other than innovation.

Amen

[TAKUYA]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

I guess for me I don't buy Rolex for new complications or fancy movements. I buy them because they are Rolex and are simple, durable and just plain cool to me! I buy Patek and AP for other reasons but they will always be part of a Rolex collection and not the other way around. Rolex will always be my go to watch for plenty of reasons other than innovation.

[Tridor]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

I guess for me I don't buy Rolex for new complications or fancy movements. I buy them because they are Rolex and are simple, durable and just plain cool to me! I buy Patek and AP for other reasons but they will always be part of a Rolex collection and not the other way around. Rolex will always be my go to watch for plenty of reasons other than innovation.

Yep! Well said, sir.

[rustyduck]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

I guess for me I don't buy Rolex for new complications or fancy movements. I buy them because they are Rolex and are simple, durable and just plain cool to me! I buy Patek and AP for other reasons but they will always be part of a Rolex collection and not the other way around. Rolex will always be my go to watch for plenty of reasons other than innovation.

agreed.

[mike]

Just thinking out loud,..one wonders when you hit a point of diminishing returns on mechanical movements especially where price is concerned.

Yes there's coaxial ala Omega, springlock ala ball, and of course the improvements in hairsprings etc..., but Rolex movements are designed for durability, consistency, and accuracy. Certainly there are robust movements out there, but Rolex does seem to have the sweet spot for all three.

Consider that many of these movements go decades without service and keep on chugging along.

No their not the most decorated, but how many people even know what that means outside the smallish WIS world?

Rolex has what many consider the best Chrono movement made, and I want to say somewhere I read about a patent on a shocking absorbing case modification.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by subtona

Many pateks are and APs are still working at 21k bph.

For me 28k is like an old friend, wouldn't want it any other way.

[Chewbacca]

good points by all.

[cstone28]

Didn't Rolex release a ladies movement this year with a silicone hair spring?

[mfer]

Originally Posted by mike

Just thinking out loud,..one wonders when you hit a point of diminishing returns on mechanical movements especially where price is concerned.

Yes there's coaxial ala Omega, springlock ala ball, and of course the improvements in hairsprings etc..., but Rolex movements are designed for durability, consistency, and accuracy. Certainly there are robust movements out there, but Rolex does seem to have the sweet spot for all three.

Consider that many of these movements go decades without service and keep on chugging along.

No their not the most decorated, but how many people even know what that means outside the smallish WIS world?

Rolex has what many consider the best Chrono movement made, and I want to say somewhere I read about a patent on a shocking absorbing case modification.

Now I don't have to type much.

My thought exactly.

[Hairdude1]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

I guess for me I don't buy Rolex for new complications or fancy movements. I buy them because they are Rolex and are simple, durable and just plain cool to me! I buy Patek and AP for other reasons but they will always be part of a Rolex collection and not the other way around. Rolex will always be my go to watch for plenty of reasons other than innovation.

[Nidal]

Higher chance for malfunction with 36000 bpm for sure. They are releasing a silicon based hairspring with 55 hr reserve. Rolex is the most innovative brand so far


Nidal

[capote]

Rolex has been very innovate over the years I hope they will continue otherwise Rolex will just be a fancy name.

[eco8gator]

Rolex builds high quality robust time pieces...they have nothing to prove just keep producing good stuff.

I would like them to finally make a stainless steel sub with blue dial and blue bezel insert...this has been missing for far too long.

It would be nice to have a mainspring power indicator...my Seiko Spring Drive has this complication and its very helpful.

[14060m]

Enough said


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[14060m]

Oh my


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[joe100]

The higher the beat rate, the higher the maintenance needed

[gslaskin]

You want innovation? Buy a Casio or Seiko with solar, atomic or GPS technology.

Mechanical watches are anachronisms.

[MikeMc]

I am a Authorized Rolex Jeweler and about 15 years ago I was at Rolex NY for an educational seminar about Rolex. I asked them why they didn't make a 36000bph watch. They said they had, but at the current state of the art, that the longevity and less frequent need for servicing of the 28800bph movement was the best compromise for the small potential increment of accuracy gained by the 36000bph. I think that this is still true today. My Explorer runs 1 second\day fast, I'm thrilled with that. It didn't need to be regulated to get that accuracy. I have an advantage in that we have a Rolex trained watchmaker on premises, and many owners may not know that the watch can be calibrated to the individual wearer, and as long as the watch has been recently serviced and is in good condition the watch usually can run within + or - 2 sec/day. Develop a good relationship with your watchmaker and he can make your watch more accurately.

[Presa canary]

Tried and true can't really ever hit a wall... You want decoration? It was already stated, look at other manufactures

[red98a4ss]

Originally Posted by MikeMc

I am a Authorized Rolex Jeweler and about 15 years ago I was at Rolex NY for an educational seminar about Rolex. I asked them why they didn't make a 36000bph watch. They said they had, but at the current state of the art, that the longevity and less frequent need for servicing of the 28800bph movement was the best compromise for the small potential increment of accuracy gained by the 36000bph. I think that this is still true today. My Explorer runs 1 second\day fast, I'm thrilled with that. It didn't need to be regulated to get that accuracy. I have an advantage in that we have a Rolex trained watchmaker on premises, and many owners may not know that the watch can be calibrated to the individual wearer, and as long as the watch has been recently serviced and is in good condition the watch usually can run within + or - 2 sec/day. Develop a good relationship with your watchmaker and he can make your watch more accurately.

Thanks for sharing