Pepsi production rumour?

[Sub24541]

Originally Posted by Rolexforthewin

I've heard rumor of this, but I was also told there are a very limited number of Rolex employees that have the knowledge and know how to produce these two tone bezels.

I’ve been told similar, that only a few Rolex employees know how to make these bezels, but I find that hard to believe. The method is clearly laid out in the patents.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US9434654/


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[LewisDouglas]

recently bought a pepsi but didn't enjoy as much as id anticipated

[buffetwarren]

Originally Posted by LewisDouglas

recently bought a pepsi but didn't enjoy as much as id anticipated

I’ll take it off you ;)

[Stewart_88]

Spoke to my rolex manager that i am debating letting mine go and he said wait til next year as he was told in Geneva at watch show that they are reducing production this year and few of them believe they may discontinue next year.

If that's the case I think they may release the coke so they then have blue/black, green/black and red/black.

[Auric Goldfinger]

Reducing production as they’re in the process of finalizing their new production center.

Some of the stuff that gets spewed on here.

[Jb1264]

During a recent AD visit, the SA said unprompted they had not had any Pepsi’s in
I thought this was odd, on my previous visit, it was impossible not to see the floor managers sporting the acquisition of a newly arrived Pepsi!
It would appear no shortage for the staff

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Sub24541

I’ve been told similar, that only a few Rolex employees know how to make these bezels, but I find that hard to believe. The method is clearly laid out in the patents.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US9434654/


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The procedure used to separate twins conjoined at the brain was incredibly well documented… yet the number of neurosurgeons qualified and able to perform it are in the single digits…

[grahammackay86]

I was offered a Pepsi from an AD back in December but unfortunately couldn't get it as I was abroad with work and they have a collect within a week policy.

Now 7 months on I've still not had a call for another one, thought it would have come by now.

Still hoping they come through as it's probably my favourite pound for pound Rolex and has been in my sights since it was released!

[Sub24541]

Originally Posted by dannyp

The procedure used to separate twins conjoined at the brain was incredibly well documented… yet the number of neurosurgeons qualified and able to perform it are in the single digits…

Which part of the process do you believe is complicated? You can order a myriad of reasonable facsimiles off the internet, not to mention the bezels manufactured for super clones. It’s ceramics manufacturing 101 - not neurosurgery - powder mixing, injection molding, sintering, machining & polishing. Now they may have experienced a deviation in QC of their raw materials that is causing their manufacturing process to be temporarily out of spec but to believe that Rolex would allow the process for manufacturing a key component to be only known by two individuals is ridiculous. There are two peoples names on the patent, which might be how this rumor started, but I would bet good money that they aren’t even involved in day to day manufacturing but are more likely in R&D.


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[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Sub24541

Which part of the process do you believe is complicated? You can order a myriad of reasonable facsimiles off the internet, not to mention the bezels manufactured for super clones. It’s ceramics manufacturing 101 - not neurosurgery - powder mixing, injection molding, sintering, machining & polishing. Now they may have experienced a deviation in QC of their raw materials that is causing their manufacturing process to be temporarily out of spec but to believe that Rolex would allow the process for manufacturing a key component to be only known by two individuals is ridiculous. There are two peoples names on the patent, which might be how this rumor started, but I would bet good money that they aren’t even involved in day to day manufacturing but are more likely in R&D.


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Exactly. In principle it’s not difficult. However, for whatever reason, there are perhaps only a few whose skill is at the level needed to get those colors to combine in a way that passes QC and also have the inserts themselves maintain structural integrity through testing. Just because the documentation is simple to understand doesn’t mean that color combo doesn’t take significantly more skill to execute.

[rolexjackson]

My guy said this is not true at all.

[Mathematoxic]

Just another scheme by some greys to hype it up. Too many Pepsi’s available for sale but taking up rate has been as slow as a tortoise.

[Sub24541]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Exactly. In principle it’s not difficult. However, for whatever reason, there are perhaps only a few whose skill is at the level needed to get those colors to combine in a way that passes QC and also have the inserts themselves maintain structural integrity through testing. Just because the documentation is simple to understand doesn’t mean that color combo doesn’t take significantly more skill to execute.

Seems like we will never agree. My 30+ years in technical ceramics manufacturing (and its ready availability as an aftermarket/fake part) tells me this is a relatively simple part to manufacture and, even if it was a difficult part to manufacture, Rolex would never allow that knowledge to be restricted to 2 people.
I think this is more likely a reason cooked up by Rolex SAs to explain to clients why they have been waiting years for a BLRO.


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[thesharkfactor]

Originally Posted by Sub24541

Seems like we will never agree. My 30+ years in technical ceramics manufacturing (and its ready availability as an aftermarket/fake part) tells me this is a relatively simple part to manufacture and, even if it was a difficult part to manufacture, Rolex would never allow that knowledge to be restricted to 2 people.
I think this is more likely a reason cooked up by Rolex SAs to explain to clients why they have been waiting years for a BLRO.


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You do know the aftermarket ones are 2 colours stuck together but the real one is all red then half of it is processed to make it blue? So not quite a fair comparison.

[Sub24541]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

You do know the aftermarket ones are 2 colours stuck together but the real one is all red then half of it is processed to make it blue? So not quite a fair comparison.

All of them? You’re absolutely sure about that are you? Given the patents describe how to make the part to a level of detail so that anyone skilled in the art can copy the process (as required by patent law) then I’m sure that the exact same manufacturing process is being practiced elsewhere, particularly China.


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[geoffreyis]

It’s not like there have been a bunch of Pepsi incomings lately…

[jb335]

Originally Posted by geoffreyis

It’s not like there have been a bunch of Pepsi incomings lately…

There’s been at least two in the last couple weeks. And of course, TRF represents a tiny fraction of Rolex buyers worldwide.

By the way, I stopped by my AD for the first time in about six weeks today and they have just added a SS BLRO to their exhibition display case. SA said it came in earlier this month…..


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[Steve Epps]

Originally Posted by espanol

If Pagani can create a ceramic red/blue bezel, I have a hard time believing Rolex would struggle in doing so.

You are absolutely right

[shirtguy]

The wynn in vegas has a Pepsi jubilee as an exhibition

[Watcheroo]

Originally Posted by Steve Epps

You are absolutely right

Any manufacturer can stick two halves of a bezel together. And many do to imitate. The story here is that Rolex produces the BLRO bezel as a single piece, which is apparently technically difficult to do with blue and red.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by grahammackay86

I was offered a Pepsi from an AD back in December but unfortunately couldn't get it as I was abroad with work and they have a collect within a week policy.

That's really bad luck. A right slap round the chops from the Universe.

Originally Posted by grahammackay86

Still hoping they come through as it's probably my favourite pound for pound Rolex and has been in my sights since it was released!

That's a long wait. It took me a long time to get mine and I had to ask repeatedly. Of all the Rolex watches in my collection the BLRO is the one that could theoretically serve as a one and done. It's so well executed in both form and function. I wish you luck, but not the kind of luck you've had so far.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Sub24541

Now they may have experienced a deviation in QC of their raw materials that is causing their manufacturing process to be temporarily out of spec

This is an all too common occurrence across many production sectors. The process itself can glitch too. It can happen to any company and it's probably happened to Rolex more than once. But that's far too dull an explanation for the more furtive imagination.

[Kisara]

Cracking, dark colors, color bleeding... Why can't this BLRO Cerachrom just turn fuchsia? That's the problem watch I would want!

[Dtle]

If lack of supply (for whatever reason ....) really was an issue with the BLRO it would be reflected in the grey price.

The price delta between blnr and blro has always been about $2-$2.5k on the grey market.

That was the case when the blro was 25k ans it's still the case now that the blnr is about 17k.

If there really was an issue I feel the grey price between blro and blnr would become larger.

But it isn't. But who knows really?

It's all speculation

[Goose 104]

I spoke to an AD recently who said there was an issue with the bezel but it has been rectified and they are starting to see them come through again.

[jaydav2306]

Again offered a 2023 stickered BLRO again today for 15K GBP... there is no shortage and I highly suspect this is just grey speculation, the same disco rumours will roll around again towards the end of the year. Why on earth would they disco their second most in demand sports configuration.

As someone sensible said above if it was true it would be reflected in the grey price but these are easily available no shortage of 2023 models

[worldofoyster]

Rolex will discontinue the pepsi

[Vice1391]

Originally Posted by Goose 104

I spoke to an AD recently who said there was an issue with the bezel but it has been rectified and they are starting to see them come through again.

That’s good news, can you elaborate on that a little more?

[Goose 104]

Originally Posted by Vice1391

That’s good news, can you elaborate on that a little more?

They didn't give much more information away (it wasn't my normal AD) I asked about the situation with the Pepsi, the SA said there had been a problem with bezel production this year but he said he thought it was fixed now as they are started to see a trickle (2 or 3) coming in again (large chain in the UK)

[SDR581]

The only reason Rolex will discontinue the Pepsi bezel is to push secondary market higher to elevate the brand, elevate prices of other references and eventually move the brand up market a couple of notches.

No other reason