What do I want with the 3235 caliber?

[doramas]

I have a Datejust of almost 32 years with a 3135 movement. It was one of the first Rolex to carry this fantastic caliber, and I say fantastic because my Datejust is at -0.16666666 seconds a day, or what is the same, -5 seconds a month.
With these figures, I don't need a 3235.

Long life to the 3135 caliber

[HNS]

I agree that it's not accuracy or durability that you may need with the 3235 because the 3135 is a great caliber.

The only two things you may need with the 3235 is the 70 hours power reserve which is nice to have for many of us and the future availability of spare parts, albeit after a long time.

Enjoy both in good health

[Mystro]

O.k. Your accuracy has more to do with the hands that regulated the watch.

[Fluster.Cluck]

Anyone know when the new movement will be in the Explorer 1 (214270)?

My local AD called and said they got one in that I planned on looking at. Worried it would be updated in 2021.

[Onikage]

I need my buttery smooth winding and almost silent rotor more than a 70 hour power reserve.

[Rori]

Originally Posted by doramas

I have a Datejust of almost 32 years with a 3135 movement. It was one of the first Rolex to carry this fantastic caliber, and I say fantastic because my Datejust is at -0.16666666 seconds a day, or what is the same, -5 seconds a month.
With these figures, I don't need a 3235.

Long life to the 3135 caliber

Didn’t know the 3135 was that old.
Hope that 30 years from now, we “3235 owners” will say the same of this caliber vs the future one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[doramas]

Originally Posted by HNS

I agree that it's not accuracy or durability that you may need with the 3235 because the 3135 is a great caliber.

The only two things you may need with the 3235 is the 70 hours power reserve which is nice to have for many of us and the future availability of spare parts, albeit after a long time.

Enjoy both in good health

Availability of parts? But there are still new Rolexes that use that caliber. I will pass on to a better life and there will still be spare parts for the 3135. It will certainly survive me working perfectly.

[R_Rated]

3235 is an upgraded & updated 3125. Saying that the 3125 is just fine and tells good time is like saying a timex keeps good enough time. Appreciate owning a piece of history that has been a faithful companion but also respect that after multiple decades things can be improved upon. Something better coming along doesn't taint the memories and story you have experienced with your beloved, its just progress.

[peterskinner]

All designs get overtaken at some point, no matter how good they are. What the new movement offers is the opportunity of years of fresh development.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by HNS

I agree that it's not accuracy or durability that you may need with the 3235 because the 3135 is a great caliber.

The only two things you may need with the 3235 is the 70 hours power reserve which is nice to have for many of us and the future availability of spare parts, albeit after a long time.

Enjoy both in good health

Well power-reserve would not be the main function in any watch for me, and when they get the few issues fixed with the cal 3235, would expect it will be as accurate and long lasting as the cal 3135.Today just like many Rolex watches like say the Daytona with 70 plus hours P/R, and those with the 32 series movement will end up on one of these so called winding machine.So is this extra power-reserve needed by making the spring-barrel very thin on the 32 series.And as for parts they still have most parts for the 15 series movements and in the case of the 31 series movements parts for another 30- 50 odd years.

[HNS]

Originally Posted by doramas

Availability of parts? But there are still new Rolexes that use that caliber. I will pass on to a better life and there will still be spare parts for the 3135. It will certainly survive me working perfectly.

It will definitely serve you well my friend !

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by R_Rated

3235 is an upgraded & updated 3125. Saying that the 3125 is just fine and tells good time is like saying a timex keeps good enough time. Appreciate owning a piece of history that has been a faithful companion but also respect that after multiple decades things can be improved upon. Something better coming along doesn't taint the memories and story you have experienced with your beloved, its just progress.

Well said.

[Boaters]

Personally speaking the 70 hour powereserve.

[LOWERCASE GUY]

The new movement is also 10x more shock resistant then the 3135 and also entirely paramagnetic. Not a deal breaker by any stretch but the increased accuracy, power reserve, shock resistance and anti magnetic features add up to a pretty impressive upgrade.

That said, the 3135 is tried and tested and has stood the test of time thus far and will continue to be effective for many years to come.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by LOWERCASE GUY

The new movement is also 10x more shock resistant then the 3135 and also entirely paramagnetic. Not a deal breaker by any stretch but the increased accuracy, power reserve, shock resistance and anti magnetic features add up to a pretty impressive upgrade.

That said, the 3135 is tried and tested and has stood the test of time thus far and will continue to be effective for many years to come.

10× more shock resistant? I think not...

There's literally no advantage of having the paraflex shock absorber VS the Kif.
The only real reason for the 'upgrade' to Paraflex is because it is their own shock absorber, rather than someone else's design, and just another step towards being fully in-house.

Oh and the 32×× rotor ball bearing is not even nearly as shock resistant as an old type rotor axle.

I have replaced many rotors on the 32 series already, after a hard knock/drop. Plenty of them didn't even have a shattered crystal.

Yes the 32×× is brand new, has cool features and looks much better. But I cannot think of it as a better movement in terms of durability.

Not to even speak of the incredible amount of watches that need a full service under warranty...

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by R_Rated

3235 is an upgraded & updated 3125. Saying that the 3125 is just fine and tells good time is like saying a timex keeps good enough time. Appreciate owning a piece of history that has been a faithful companion but also respect that after multiple decades things can be improved upon. Something better coming along doesn't taint the memories and story you have experienced with your beloved, its just progress.

The 3235 is not an upgraded/updated 3135, it is a completely new movement from the ground up. They're not alike at all.

[904VT]

3135 is amazing and pretty much bulletproof. It would be my choice still today.

[904VT]

Originally Posted by SearChart

10× more shock resistant? I think not...

There's literally no advantage of having the paraflex shock absorber VS the Kif.
The only real reason for the 'upgrade' to Paraflex is because it is their own shock absorber, rather than someone else's design, and just another step towards being fully in-house.

Oh and the 32×× rotor ball bearing is not even nearly as shock resistant as an old type rotor axle.

I have replaced many rotors on the 32 series already, after a hard knock/drop. Plenty of them didn't even have a shattered crystal.

Yes the 32×× is brand new, has cool features and looks much better. But I cannot think of it as a better movement in terms of durability.

Not to even speak of the incredible amount of watches that need a full service under warranty...

Great points Bas. Also, worth mentioning those ceramic ball bearings make for a much louder rotor swing too if that sort of thing matters to one.

[Mystro]

Funny about movement wars. If you believe Rolex knew how to make a movement 25 years ago, why would anyone doubt Rolex with increased technology wouldn’t build a better movement today? You either believe Rolex knows how to build a movement or you don’t. It’s not like the company and their founding principles of engineering have changed.

[904VT]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Funny about movement wars. If you believe Rolex knew how to make a movement 25 years ago, why would anyone doubt Rolex with increased technology wouldn’t build a better movement today? You either believe Rolex knows how to build a movement or you don’t. It’s not like the company and their founding principles of engineering have changed.

I certainly believe they can make a great movement and that the 3235 is one or has the potential at least. But like any new movement it takes a few years or more to fully work out the kinks. At least imo.

[LOWERCASE GUY]

Originally Posted by SearChart

10× more shock resistant? I think not...

There's literally no advantage of having the paraflex shock absorber VS the Kif.
The only real reason for the 'upgrade' to Paraflex is because it is their own shock absorber, rather than someone else's design, and just another step towards being fully in-house.

Oh and the 32×× rotor ball bearing is not even nearly as shock resistant as an old type rotor axle.

I have replaced many rotors on the 32 series already, after a hard knock/drop. Plenty of them didn't even have a shattered crystal.

Yes the 32×× is brand new, has cool features and looks much better. But I cannot think of it as a better movement in terms of durability.

Not to even speak of the incredible amount of watches that need a full service under warranty...

The parachrom bleu hairspring has been updated for the 3235. It is now 10x more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks. The shock resistance vs the kif has been improved by up to 50% so there is an advantage, albeit not as great I initially stated.

Is it not too early to judge it's durability?

Your knowledge vastly outweighs my own and I respect your point of view, I'm just a keen student trying to learn but I am a big fan of the new movement.

Peace.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Fluster.Cluck

Anyone know when the new movement will be in the Explorer 1 (214270)?

My local AD called and said they got one in that I planned on looking at. Worried it would be updated in 2021.

I would not worry about an update. If you like the watch and it is available now I would jump all over it. At some point there will be a gap in supply from the factory closure and a new model will be impossible to get for a while. The 3135 is a great movement without any of the documented issues of the new movement of oil problems and rotor noise. And the new movement is much expensive to repair down the road should problems arise with the escapement.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Funny about movement wars. If you believe Rolex knew how to make a movement 25 years ago, why would anyone doubt Rolex with increased technology wouldn’t build a better movement today? You either believe Rolex knows how to build a movement or you don’t. It’s not like the company and their founding principles of engineering have changed.

I think its really only an temporary issue for buyers in this transition phase. At some point soon, the entire line will have the new movement and if you want a new watch it will have the new movement. The issue then is really for people debating Subs and Explorers new this year or just waiting for the upgrade. Goods reasons for both buying now or waiting.

[R_Rated]

As soon as this movement makes its way into the sub it will be the new hotness. The primary reason for people justifying the 3135 love right now is the sub fad... and the resulting justifying the trend watch. The REAL divers already made the move to the 3235;) They[Rolex] would not have done that with durability concerns.

[Fluster.Cluck]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

I would not worry about an update. If you like the watch and it is available now I would jump all over it. At some point there will be a gap in supply from the factory closure and a new model will be impossible to get for a while. The 3135 is a great movement without any of the documented issues of the new movement of oil problems and rotor noise. And the new movement is much expensive to repair down the road should problems arise with the escapement.

Thanks for the informative response!

I will be turning 30 and having a son in the coming months. Really wanted to get a 2020 so your reply helps keep me at ease.

[brandrea]

I'm happy to have both.

From my perspective the only tangible difference is the power reserve which I do find handy for the BLRO and time setting (not that it's a hassle at all really, just convenient).

The 31 is a smoother winding movement though, I do notice that.



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[Napoleon]

Originally Posted by Onikage

I need my buttery smooth winding and almost silent rotor more than a 70 hour power reserve.

Amen!

[007_Omega]

3235 has had reported issues but it is a brand new movement and will take time to perfect. The 3135 has been around, improved, and refined for decades.

We are dealing with outdated technology here, so developments are going to be slow and certainly not necessary.

Also, it is pretty clear that mechanical watches, in many ways, have been quite advanced and some of the new tech being putting in comes with drawbacks. Omega now has a master co-axial but this has come at the cost of thicker movements. Rolex' 3235 doesn't feel as refined despite the technical improvements.

The 70 hour power reserve is certainly an upgrade. If you are rotating watches, that extra time can certainly save having to set your watch again. Also, maybe just my experience but I don't find the old Rolex rotors to be particularly efficient in powering a watch. You really have to wear them to keep them going so the lower power reserve of the 3135 sucks when you are rotating watches. Of course, some people don't mind setting their watches and all of this is null.

[donas]

My SD43 can lose/gain 5 seconds in a day or two, lol.

[denmanproject]

Originally Posted by Onikage

I need my buttery smooth winding and almost silent rotor more than a 70 hour power reserve.

Agreed