Rolex, in house or ETA?

[bayerische]

Hi there guys,

Are Rolex using ETA movements? Or modified ETA or in-house?

Just need to get my facts right, since I was amazed at the statement by a friend of mine, who is very well informed of watches, that all Rolex use ETA?

[submariner16610]

no., rolex use inhouse movements..

[Nicko]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Hi there guys,

Are Rolex using ETA movements? Or modified ETA or in-house?

Just need to get my facts right, since I was amazed at the statement by a friend of mine, who is very well informed of watches, that all Rolex use ETA?

You're kidding, right?

[Joelmor]

All Rolex movements are totally in-house. Rolex is a manufactura.

Joel

[raydin]

The day Rolex (not Tudor) start using ETA will be the day everyone sells their Rolex and buys a £10 casio.

Take it as gospel when I say that Rolex do not use ETA.

[Safetrends]

Did you have to much egg nog last night and fall off of the bar stool and hit your head. You must be delusional.

Time to bring out the:

[Sonny Crockett]

This is a Joke right! are we being punked ?

[petesjag]

Even I know this...
BUT seriously, this forum is the place to ask.. Thats why I like it here so much...
enjoy the in house movements!!
p

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Joelmor

All Rolex movements are totally in-house. Rolex is a manufactura.

Joel

Well not totally true but in a few months time when the ETA Swatch group cuts off supplies of the Nivarox hairsprings then they will be 100% in-house built.But most all Rolex watches for the last couple of decades had a tiny part of ETA in them with only the escapement hairspring.But on the movement side Rolex movements are made by Aegler.Now in the early days of the RWC the full name of the company tells the story "Aegler, Société Anonyme, Fabrique des Montres Rolex & Gruen Guild A.," this means, in translation, Aegler incorporated, manufacturer of Rolex & Gruen Guild A Watches. At this time ownership of the main factory was split between three parties, Herman Aegler (movements), (Hans Wilsdorf of Rolex) and the Gruen brothers, Frederick Gruen and George Gruen.Now Aegler manufactured movements for both companies, who then sold the completed watches in their respective territories; Wilsdorf of Rolex, throughout Europe, Asia and the British Empire; whilst the Gruen brothers sold in the US only. But today Aegler is fully owned by Rolex but a member of the Aegler family still manages the movement side of the business today.And its the Rolex Tudor brand that uses
movement ebauche from ETA and ETA Valjoux but looks like that could soon end.As ETA has said they will not supply ebauche movements escapement parts outside the Swatch group but we will have to wait and see.Now Rolex never made a chronograph movement till the cal 4130 before they used the ETA Valjoux right up till 1989/90 after they used a modified Zenith El-Primo before being forced to make there own.

[Nicko]

Originally Posted by petesjag

Even I know this...
BUT seriously, this forum is the place to ask.. Thats why I like it here so much...
enjoy the in house movements!!
p

You're right...Sorry, you kinda caught me off guard with the question. I don't think Rolex will ever do this. If they did, then I imagine my current Sub will be worth a lot more.

[Safetrends]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well not totally true but in a few months time when the ETA Swatch group cuts off supplies of the Nivarox hairsprings then they will be 100% in-house built.But most all Rolex watches for the last couple of decades had a tiny part of ETA in them with only the escapement hairspring.But on the movement side Rolex movements are made by Aegler.Now in the early days of the RWC the full name of the company tells the story "Aegler, Société Anonyme, Fabrique des Montres Rolex & Gruen Guild A.," this means, in translation, Aegler incorporated, manufacturer of Rolex & Gruen Guild A Watches. At this time ownership of the main factory was split between three parties, Herman Aegler (movements), (Hans Wilsdorf of Rolex) and the Gruen brothers, Frederick Gruen and George Gruen.Now Aegler manufactured movements for both companies, who then sold the completed watches in their respective territories; Wilsdorf of Rolex, throughout Europe, Asia and the British Empire; whilst the Gruen brothers sold in the US only. But today Aegler is fully owned by Rolex but a member of the Aegler family still manages the movement side of the business today.And its the Rolex Tudor brand that uses movement ebauche from ETA and ETA Valjoux but looks like that could soon end.As ETA has said they will not supply ebauche movements escapement parts outside the Swatch group but we will have to wait and see.Now Rolex never made a chronograph movement till the cal 4130 before they used the ETA Valjoux right up till 1989/90 after they used a modified Zenith El-Primo before being forced to make there own.

Since Rolex could not buy up the escapement hairspring, like the movemet company they have been developing a new escapement hairspring since 2001 from what I hear, but you did not hear that from me so do not quote me because I cannot remember where I read it from.

[Safetrends]

Originally Posted by Sonny Crockett

This is a Joke right! are we being punked ?

Yes, with a guy and a half eaten apple,

[Big Nutty]

I believe Rolex used Zenith movements (El Primero) in the Cosmographs for a number of years (now in house)

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Safetrends

Since Rolex could not buy up the escapement hairspring, like the movemet company they have been developing a new escapement hairspring since 2001 from what I hear, but you did not hear that from me so do not quote me because I cannot remember where I read it from.

The only main reason for Rolex plus a few others to develope ther own hairsprings was that the Swatch group who owns Nivarox.Told the Swiss watch industry quite a few years ago that they would cut of supply of movements and escapement parts in 2010 to all not in the Swatch group.

[Big Nutty]

Didn't Rolex also use the manual wind Valjoux cal. 72 in vintage cosmographs?

[Safetrends]

Originally Posted by petesjag

Even I know this...
BUT seriously, this forum is the place to ask.. Thats why I like it here so much...
enjoy the in house movements!!
p

Listen, before I jumped into the TRF with the sharks I learned as much as I could about Rolex watches to understand the forum.

This way I do not look dumb as a rock here.

This question is really gone way beyoned that.

That is the point here, people need to read books to understand what they are dealing if it a watch car or whatever, and not ask questions like the movement in a Rolex, that is simple information that no one needs to bring up.

Another question people have asked is this a real Rolex watch, and they only have one post and we never hear from them again.

I get tired of simple questions that can be learned with a book and I see people not reading just want a simple quick answer.

Questions like the beats per hour on a certain watch or a movement spec of the Datona watch is what we need, another good question is the end springs of the watch, good quality educational material.

Sorry for the rant I just sometime go overboard.

[Safetrends]

Originally Posted by padi56

The only reason for Rolex plus a few others to develope ther own hairsprings
was that the Swatch group who owns Nivarox.Told the Swiss watch industry
quite a few years ago that they would cut of supply of movements and escapement parts in 2010 to all not in the Swatch group.

Thanks for that I was wondering why they were pouring out $$ for research. It makes sense to me.

[bayerische]

OK, didn't want to stir you guys up! :)

Well, I see this friend of mine only once every other year or so, so I didn't want to start an argument with him...

Just knowing he has a great deal of knowledge (or atleast I thought so), I just had to make sure.

[Nicko]

Listen, before I jumped into the TRF with the sharks I learned as much as I could about Rolex watches to understand the forum.

This way I do not look dumb as a rock here.

This is good advice we all can use.

[bayerische]

Looking back now, I guess I posted a dumb question, I got upset inside when he made this ridiculous claim, not wanting to "fight" with him over it, I just had to ask you this question.

Thanks for your replies.

[jdc]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Looking back now, I guess I posted a dumb question, I got upset inside when he made this ridiculous claim, not wanting to "fight" with him over it, I just had to ask you this question.

Thanks for your replies.

No problem, we are all here to learn, what's obvious to some is not to others

[Tools]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Looking back now, I guess I posted a dumb question, I got upset inside when he made this ridiculous claim, not wanting to "fight" with him over it, I just had to ask you this question.

Thanks for your replies.

No Problems... we try to teach as well as learn....

Here is the story.. Rolex does not use any ETA movements in any Rolex brand watch..

Even when they used the Valjoux 72 in the Daytona, it had not yet been bought up by the ETA movement empire. Also, the Nivarox hairspring, which Rolex has used for decades, was not owned by ETA (ETA is owned by the Swatch Group) until fairly recently. Rolex is now producing it's own hairspring, the Parachrom, which is finding it's way into all the line as each year goes by...

[springer]

Larry, there you go again. Thanks for clearing things up! Great post.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Looking back now, I guess I posted a dumb question, I got upset inside when he made this ridiculous claim, not wanting to "fight" with him over it, I just had to ask you this question.

Thanks for your replies.

Originally Posted by jdc

No problem, we are all here to learn, what's obvious to some is not to others

Exactly.
dP

[maverick]

My 1969, 6239 has a Valjoux 72B movement. But if you seen one of these run away fast. =) maverick

[Nicko]

Originally Posted by maverick

My 1969, 6239 has a Valjoux 72B movement. But if you seen one of these run away fast. =) maverick

I just threw up in my mouth!

[scl6118]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Hi there guys,

Are Rolex using ETA movements? Or modified ETA or in-house?

Just need to get my facts right, since I was amazed at the statement by a friend of mine, who is very well informed of watches, that all Rolex use ETA?

I don't think your friend knows as much about watches as he thinks, at least about Rollies. Hell no they don't use ETA's, Rolex makes all of their modern movements in house!

[scl6118]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Looking back now, I guess I posted a dumb question, I got upset inside when he made this ridiculous claim, not wanting to "fight" with him over it, I just had to ask you this question.

Thanks for your replies.

No problem buddy! Now, I suggest you distance yourself from this "friend" and deny any association with him immediately!

[Horologier]

Not all movements where in house from Rolex. Many many years ago... but in todays market there are no ETA movements being used in current Rolex models. and to my knowlage which can be limited at times LOL!!! Never have use ETA in any of its Rolex models past or present. Except in Tudors, there are a modified ETA movement to run to Higher Rolex standards.

Michael the watchmaker