Has Rolex painted themselves into a corner?

[Paul_I]

Originally Posted by Bt122

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f02dctSRA3c

See time marker 1:30


You guys may feel differently about bezel after

Just curious if you feel positively or negatively based on the UV effect. It doesn't really change my opinion either way, I might be missing your point.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by _speedmaster_

I'm not quite sure where they start with the bezel (if it's a completely red and they add blue or vise-versa).
But, doesn't it stand to reason that if they were trying to recreate the old Pepsi colors, one color would be spot on? I.e. a BLNR blue with a pinkish red side? Or a perfect red with a purplish blue? Because, as we've seen with the BLNR, they have the ability to create a proper blue.

I thought this initially that they could have a proper blue, BLNR, and have the red slightly compromised, but it seems to get both colours looking blue-ish and red-ish both needed to be off colour to start with before the blend, so presumably using the BLNR blue would have turned the red an unacceptable shade.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by AK797

I thought this initially that they could have a proper blue, BLNR, and have the red slightly compromised, but it seems to get both colours looking blue-ish and red-ish both needed to be off colour to start with before the blend, so presumably using the BLNR blue would have turned the red an unacceptable shade.

the base is red and then the blue is added. the problem is when you mix blue and red and you get purple.

the issue is they cannot make a ceramic bezel two independent pieces and then fuse them together. it has to be 1 solid piece.

i prefer the tudor blue ceramic to anything rolex pumps out either way.

if the process wasnt secret i think it would be interesting to see how it is made which would answer 100 percent of the whinning about it.

[Bt122]

Originally Posted by Paul_I

Just curious if you feel positively or negatively based on the UV effect. It doesn't really change my opinion either way, I might be missing your point.

I was pointing out we are all focused on whether the color of the bezel is pink and purple vs red and blue. But never tried to understand that Rolex designed this in on purpose. They chose to use a new aluminum oxide based ceramic vs the zironium oxide based ceramic. The Aluminum oxide is what gives the ceramic it’s translucent nature and likely the reason the color is slightly different shades. The ceramic supposedly would also be more glass like.


I think Rolex chose to make a big design change on purpose. Wouldn’t surprise me if they start doing this for all future bezels moving away from zirconium oxide.

Zirconium oxide prices are spiking but I doubt that’s the reason they have shifted away from it as the cost per watch is minimal.

This was definitely a thought through change.

[Uhtred59]

This thread caught on:-)

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Etschell

the base is red and then the blue is added. the problem is when you mix blue and red and you get purple.

the issue is they cannot make a ceramic bezel two independent pieces and then fuse them together. it has to be 1 solid piece.

i prefer the tudor blue ceramic to anything rolex pumps out either way.

if the process wasnt secret i think it would be interesting to see how it is made which would answer 100 percent of the whinning about it.

Yes we've seen an insert that was red based, but then why start with a base red that is off, when you have a blue that is ideal? Because presumably the red that is then mixed is unacceptable. Maybe Rolex have not produced a truer red even now, I do doubt that myself, so I think this cranberry/red was used to get the mixed blue as close as it is.

[904VT]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

they did though if you are talking about the original pepsi... not the aluminum. I talking actual colors, not the nickname pepsi

The original ran for two years i believe as the bezel was prone to cracking so you could argue that the aluminum and its color was a tradeoff and its not what they wanted at all. When ceramics became available in colors they revisited the original that they had to discontinue. Therefore the aluminum bezel might be the mistake or the compromise, not the current colors.

Agreed. Who’s to say Rolex even cares about colors matching a Pepsi soda can. Rolex didn’t nickname the watch Pepsi

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by AK797

Yes we've seen an insert that was red based, but then why start with a base red that is off, when you have a blue that is ideal? Because presumably the red that is then mixed is unacceptable. Maybe Rolex have not produced a truer red even now, I do doubt that myself, so I think this cranberry/red was used to get the mixed blue as close as it is.

here is my thoughts. why cant they make them independently then fuse them with additional ceramic. like an interlocking puzzel piece?

[RJRJRJ]

Originally Posted by AK797

Yes we've seen an insert that was red based, but then why start with a base red that is off, when you have a blue that is ideal? Because presumably the red that is then mixed is unacceptable. Maybe Rolex have not produced a truer red even now, I do doubt that myself, so I think this cranberry/red was used to get the mixed blue as close as it is.

I would imagine that the base would be the lighter color. Kind of difficult to turn black into green, for example.

The whole thing seems like a compromise. If the red was true red, the blue/purple would be way too purple.

[rickmanuk]

Originally Posted by bjw

I dont think one can make color assumptions based on photos. You are comparing different photos with different lighting. at least it appears to be. This new color combo on ceramic is very chameleon-like depending on the lighting.

Looks like the camera is white balanced for daylight on the WG GMT making the red appear stronger under the incandescent lighting (which emits a larger proportion of red in the visible spectrum).

[meganfox17]

Originally Posted by Etschell

here is my thoughts. why cant they make them independently then fuse them with additional ceramic. like an interlocking puzzel piece?

In my opinion, the master and forefront of ceramic technology is still Hublot and not Rolex and the former is going to produce more red (and other colours) ceramic watches in the coming years
Have you read what Jean Claude Bever had to say about the latest Red Hot Ferrari Red Hublot Big Bang Unico Red Magic avant garde watch ?
> The tagline is " Art of Fusion ", the creation a first in the watch industry.
>Put the watch next to a Red Ferrari and it looks exactly the same colour
> The patented Red Ceramic was an accidental finding when Hublot was researching into unscratchable gold 4 years ago. It was never a planned outcome because Hublot's R & D and Metallurgy & Materials Lab teams thought red ceramic was impossible
> The red pigmentation is burned to 2000 °C /3632 ° F and it becomes a little orange or it becomes a little bit rose or pink
> The vibrant colour is achieved through an innovation whereby a fusion of pressure and heat sinters the ceramic without burning the red pigments.
Now compare the creation of a large 45 mm vibrant red ceramic Big Bang to the half reddish pink ceramic alloy bezel of a 40 mm GMT Pepsi and you get an idea of Hublot's impressive feats of engineering.

I'm pretty sure Rolex would have preferred the tagline "The Art of Fusion" instead of " The Art of Interlocking ". Even Omega and Rado makes en bloc ceramic casings and bezels.In other words, Swiss watchmaker brands simply have too much pride at stake than simply gluing two parts together

[willuk]

Originally Posted by Vaxe

I enjoy the current blro bezel and can’t wait for my steel one this year. Perfect shade of blue and red imo. Much prefer this over “electric” blue.

I agree!

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[AK797]

Originally Posted by meganfox17

In my opinion, the master and forefront of ceramic technology is still Hublot and not Rolex and the former is going to produce more red (and other colours) ceramic watches in the coming years
Have you read what Jean Claude Bever had to say about the latest Red Hot Ferrari Red Hublot Big Bang Unico Red Magic avant garde watch ?
> The tagline is " Art of Fusion ", the creation a first in the watch industry.
>Put the watch next to a Red Ferrari and it looks exactly the same colour
> The patented Red Ceramic was an accidental finding when Hublot was researching into unscratchable gold 4 years ago. It was never a planned outcome because Hublot's R & D and Metallurgy & Materials Lab teams thought red ceramic was impossible
> The red pigmentation is burned to 2000 °C /3632 ° F and it becomes a little orange or it becomes a little bit rose or pink
> The vibrant colour is achieved through an innovation whereby a fusion of pressure and heat sinters the ceramic without burning the red pigments.
Now compare the creation of a large 45 mm vibrant red ceramic Big Bang to the half reddish pink ceramic alloy bezel of a 40 mm GMT Pepsi and you get an idea of Hublot's impressive feats of engineering.

I'm pretty sure Rolex would have preferred the tagline "The Art of Fusion" instead of " The Art of Interlocking ". Even Omega and Rado makes en bloc ceramic casings and bezels.In other words, Swiss watchmaker brands simply have too much pride at stake than simply gluing two parts together

Hopefully this means a CokeC with a true red is still on the cards. I can't believe Rolex don't have this.

[Paul_I]

Originally Posted by Bt122

I was pointing out we are all focused on whether the color of the bezel is pink and purple vs red and blue. But never tried to understand that Rolex designed this in on purpose. They chose to use a new aluminum oxide based ceramic vs the zironium oxide based ceramic. The Aluminum oxide is what gives the ceramic it’s translucent nature and likely the reason the color is slightly different shades. The ceramic supposedly would also be more glass like.


I think Rolex chose to make a big design change on purpose. Wouldn’t surprise me if they start doing this for all future bezels moving away from zirconium oxide.

Zirconium oxide prices are spiking but I doubt that’s the reason they have shifted away from it as the cost per watch is minimal.

This was definitely a thought through change.

Interesting, thanks.

[J_1964]

Originally Posted by bjw

With all the talk of the "off" colors of current 6 digit BLRO, the general consensus is that current method and technology is unable to make the colors true to its 5 digit predecessor so Rolex got as close as it could. If that is the case, what would happen if the research and development dept finally perfected the technique of producing a true Red/Blue color combo of the original PEPSI? Imagine, they they are - finally being able to produce a perfect Red/Blue ceramic bezel, but they can't do anything with it. To do so would be denouncing there own product, the WG and SS "pink/purple" ceramic bezel.

This is why, IMHO, there will never be a "perfect" BLRO color bezel in ceramic form Rolex. And why no-one should be expecting one in the future.

Completely Off Subject.... Love Your Avatar!

[lecorsaire]

Originally Posted by Etschell

rolex backs itself out of corners all the time.

if the plan for the blro was to be in ss when the wg was produced why did they change the dial on the wg? it wasnt.

that said the bezel is fine. if you don't like it don't buy it. not sure why so many people are burnt about it. you really think rolex can make the electric blue and red in ceramic? they cant right now.

I'm sure they planned to release a steel BLRO sometime in the future. It is the classic color scheme and it was always a steel watch. The WG Pepsi was something completely new. It made some noise for a bit but now the proper steel version is here. The question is when will we see the next steel Pepsi on an Oyster. I hope they don't do it for a while though.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by meganfox17

That's right Mr Lee. In other words, people should enjoy life and stop Bitching about everything....

Not exactly although it's a great idea. My point is that expecting Rolex to have been painted in a corner is to assume they have motives like the rest of the watch industry. They have no such pressures.

An example I have was RCA Corporation who I worked for. They manufactured consumer electronics up until their take over by General Electric. Their biggest income had nothing to do with their sales. It came from their patent portfolio.

Again, assuming Rolex has enough funds in their foundation, they may have none of the pressures which the rest of the industry has. Looking at them as a company confined by standard of for profit companies means nothing.

[Fabrice M]

I really doubt Rolex is the type of company that “settles” or compromise. I am convinced that the colors they have are the intended colors. Rolex isn’t the type of company to release “half baked” products.