Rolex Parts, all Swiss made and in house?

[leopardprey]

Ok, based on another thread, does anyone have proof or statements by Rolex that confirms all of Rolex Parts are made in Switzerland? Or or some of the parts produced by Rolex in other countries, such as China?


From what I understand, the "Swiss Made" rating only signifies that the watch was assembeled in Swiss, more than 50% of the parts produced in Swiss and the case made in Swiss. That is the requirement for the "Swiss Made" rating.

Also, how many parts from Rolex are not "In-House"? For example, the older springs (not on the newer GMTs) are outsourced as is also the Kif Shock absorption system.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by leopardprey

Ok, based on another thread, does anyone have proof or statements by Rolex that confirms all of Rolex Parts are made in Switzerland? Or or some of the parts produced by Rolex in other countries, such as China?


From what I understand, the "Swiss Made" rating only signifies that the watch was assembeled in Swiss, more than 50% of the parts produced in Swiss and the case made in Swiss. That is the requirement for the "Swiss Made" rating.

Also, how many parts from Rolex are not "In-House"? For example, the older springs (not on the newer GMTs) are outsourced as is also the Kif Shock abosorption system.

Hi Chad,

I'm pretty sure that the SWISS MADE on the dial signifies that the watch is ENTIRELY MADE IN SWITZERLAND!!

Now what exactly the word MADE signifies, I'm not too sure. Whether it means ASSEMBLED or actually every part is MANUFACTURED in Switzerland....that's a point to be discussed.

JJ

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Hi Chad,

I'm pretty sure that the SWISS MADE on the dial signifies that the watch is ENTIRELY MADE IN SWITZERLAND!!

Now what exactly the word MADE signifies, I'm not too sure. Whether it means ASSEMBLED or actually every part is MANUFACTURED in Switzerland....that's a point to be discussed.

JJ

I believe they made everything except the jewels in the movement. Then they don´t
made the steel, gold, platinum or the sapphire crystal either.

Jocke

[leopardprey]

A Swiss watch

Only when it is Swiss, may a watch carry the indications "Swiss made" or "Swiss", or any other expression containing the word "Swiss" or its translation, on the outside. According to Section 1a OSM, a watch is considered to be Swiss if:

its movement is Swiss;
its movement is cased up in Switzerland;
and the manufacturer carries out the final inspection in Switzerland..

A Swiss watch movement

As we have seen, to be Swiss, a watch must use a Swiss movement. According to Section 2 OSM, a movement is considered to be Swiss if:

it has been assembled in Switzerland;
it has been inspected by the manufacturer in Switzerland; and
the components of Swiss manufacture account for at least 50 percent of the total value, without taking into account the cost of assembly.
If the movement fulfills these conditions, but the watch is not assembled in Switzerland, the "Swiss" indication may be affixed to one of the components of the movement. On the outside of the watch, may then only appear the "mouvement suisse" or "Swiss movement" indication. Section 3 § 3 OSM requires that the word "movement" appear in full, and be written in the same type-face, of identical size and colour, as the word "Swiss".

quoted from http://www.fhs.ch/en/swissm.php

[leopardprey]

Jocke, there are several internal parts as I stated above that Rolex does not make as well.

Still were is the statements or proof from Rolex that all of their parts are made in Swiss and not produced in another country? Or are we jsut assuming it is all Swiss Made. As my above link and post (originally posted by Ohlins) shows Swiss Made does not mean 100% swiss made.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by leopardprey

Jocke, there are several internal parts as I stated above that Rolex does not make as well.

Still were is the statements or proof from Rolex that all of their parts are made in Swiss and not produced in another country? Or are we jsut assuming it is all Swiss Made. As my above link and post (originally posted by Ohlins) shows Swiss Made does not mean 100% swiss made.

Perhaps our watch maker friends, Nick and Ironstark, will be able to throw some more light on this subject.

JJ

[frostie]

I think that everything is manufactured and assembled by rolex. Correct if i am wrong

[ohlins]

Originally Posted by leopardprey

From what I understand, the "Swiss Made" rating only signifies that the watch was assembeled in Swiss, more than 50% of the parts produced in Swiss and the case made in Swiss. That is the requirement for the "Swiss Made" rating.

there is a difference between 50% of the components......and 50% of the total value of the components of the movement.....

[padi56]

Originally Posted by leopardprey

Ok, based on another thread, does anyone have proof or statements by Rolex that confirms all of Rolex Parts are made in Switzerland? Or or some of the parts produced by Rolex in other countries, such as China?


From what I understand, the "Swiss Made" rating only signifies that the watch was assembeled in Swiss, more than 50% of the parts produced in Swiss and the case made in Swiss. That is the requirement for the "Swiss Made" rating.

Also, how many parts from Rolex are not "In-House"? For example, the older springs (not on the newer GMTs) are outsourced as is also the Kif Shock absorption system.

Well as for the escapement components and hairsprings most all the Swiss watches and European got theres from Nivarox-Far part of Swatch group.But since introduction of the Cal 4130 Rolex could produce a small amount of there own parachrome hairsprings.But now soon they will be completely self sufficient in that department.Now as for the jewel bearings not 100% sure but believe now Rolex owns there own factory supplier.Now as far as I know every part is made in Swiss made.Some parts are still finished by home workers and a few years ago.There was quite a stink in the press about the very poor wages they paid.Because it was not a union rate,and they had to return such a huge number rate to make any money.And again not 100% sure but now believe they own the factory that supplies there watch crystals.So IMO very soon Rolex will be 100% in-house made and owned.

Posted this quite a while back.

Rolex Home Workers.


Found this article on the net,perhaps this explains getting rid of anchor etc they might have to pay there home workers more wages.


To put the mentioned wages in perspective, a teenager working at McDonald's will make around 18 francs (10.50 USD)The luxury watch manufacturer Rolex turns over billions every year but lets their home workers down. They do the finicky work of finishing watch parts, for 7 to 12 francs (4 to 7 USD) per hour.



By Rahel Stauber.


The ladies watch Datejust from Rolex - in 18 K white gold studded with diamonds - costs a proud 72,600 francs (59,000 USD), nothing for small wallets. But the luxury watch business is booming. Christmas sales were better than they'd been for a long time, certain models are sold out and the manufacturers are announcing that they urgently need additional manpower and are offering "wages better than ever before". Sandra K. doesn't notice anything of this, the single mother of two children in school age works as a home worker for Rolex in Bienne. Using a loupe, she has to file the edges of thumb-sized watch parts. A finicky work. Average hourly wage: 10 francs (5.9 USD).

When Sandra K. started working a half year ago, she was in good spirits because she knew her qualities. "I'm a quick worker, that's what they told me at all my other jobs". And she knows the trade too. For 20 years she's regularly been working for one, or the other watch company. To do her job for Rolex well, Sandra started by working 8 half days at Rolex in Bienne, for altogether 250 francs (200 USD). The meager wage didn't bother her. But she wanted to know what she could earn in the future. "That's not important, all will be fine" the department head told her. And she believed him. After all, it wasn't some dubious company she was working for but Rolex - with estimated annual sales of 2.5 billion francs (1.47 billion USD) Switzerland's second largest watch manufacturer. According to the Swiss financial magazine "Bilanz", the co-owning family Borer is "easily in the mid-field of the 300 richest" in the country.

280 francs for 14 days of work
Sandra K.'s optimism quickly faded. Rolex, for example, pays 6 francs (3.5 USD) for the "rouage" of 100 pieces of Calibre 5030. At first, Sandra K. barely managed 50 pieces per hour. Her first pay statement looked accordingly: For two weeks of work, she received 280 francs (165 USD). "I was devastated, just couldn't believe it", Sandra K. says. A calculation error ? No. "The department head told me clearly that it was normal that home workers hardly made any money in the first year". Roughly 350 women work for Rolex under these conditions. Quitting isn't for Sandra. That's why she's diligently continuing to work, in the hope of becoming quicker. In the mean time, if she hurries, she can make between 7 and 12 francs an hour (4 to 7 USD). Still a pittance. And additional activities are required: She has to drive to Bienne every second day to pick up the parts - at her own cost.

Union wants to act
Why does such a noted company like Rolex let their home workers work in such miserable circumstances ? Franziska Borer-Winzenried, general directress of Rolex, Bienne wrote the "Beobachter" a dry note on ritzy paper with gold coinage: "Depending on pace and sensitivity, the monthly income can vary". Sure, could well be. But the law says something different. The employer must set a basic wage and a target time for the home worker - meaning an approximate time for the work. And: Home workers may not earn less than comparable employees working at the factory. In the case of Sandra K, this isn't true. What's even more offending is that - due to the fact that Sandra used to be unemployed and can't make ends meet with such a pay - she receives supplemental unemployment benefits. So Rolex is employing cheap labor at the expense of the state unemployment insurance. The union "SMUV" now wants to intervene. And general directress Borer-Winzenried writes that she will review the rates for home workers and "if required, adjust them appropriately". The requirement certainly seems to be here ...

[supermarz]

i think only if a watch has a geneva hallmark AKA cote de geneva like all patek phillipe watches that the entire movement, case etc etc is all made in geneva.
this is probably the most coveted mark above COSC or others.

[Amileon]

And to continue this old thread with updated Swiss Laws

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/an-exist...king-/42796730