Parachrom hairspring

[Stud Screw]

Can anybody tell me when Rolex introduced the parachrom in the Datejust? I have a 16233 from 2003, and was wondering if it had it. Thanks!

[Lex_Ordo]

It's just a guess but I am thinking in 2009.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Stud Screw

Can anybody tell me when Rolex introduced the parachrom in the Datejust? I have a 16233 from 2003, and was wondering if it had it. Thanks!

I can't recall when the DJ got it, but I'm certain it wasn't as early as 2003.
It doesn't really matter though, as the pre Parachrome variations of the 31xx movements were magnificent timekeepers regardless from my own experience.
As a counterpoint, the worst timekeepers I've had have the Parachrome Hairspring. They're consistently good but not the best I've had. To me it's little more than a novelty as it's worked out

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Stud Screw

Can anybody tell me when Rolex introduced the parachrom in the Datejust? I have a 16233 from 2003, and was wondering if it had it. Thanks!

The parachrom hairspring was first introduced way back in 2000 with the cal 4130 in the Daytona but then it was more of a grey colour now its blue by some chemical proses. Now if the parachrom was so wonderful dont you think Rolex would have introduced it to all of there line up instead of waiting almost 10 years to do so.One of the main reasons for Rolex to become self sufficient in escapement parts was perhaps down to this. The Swatch company the owner of Nivarox-Far that supplied hairsprings to most all of the Swiss watch market they stated once that they might stop supplying parts to movement manufactures outside the Swatch group.

While in the Rolex video it states the Parachrom is 10 time more shockproof, but what they dont state is to what.Most certainly not the Nivarox ones that Rolex and most of the watch industry have used for the past 40 odd years.And with magnetic test where they hold a powerful magnet over a open case on a watch.So if you dont wear your watch dial down with the case back off with a powerful magnet near any hairspring.Then I would doubt in the real world that it would make little or no difference whatever the name of hairspring in the case while wearing.

Now Nivarox thats the name of the alloy much like Rolex calls there Parachrom.Today it is used mainly in the watch/clock industry, but also in other micro-machine industries and in certain types of medical equipment and high precision surgical instruments. There are several variations of the Nivarox alloy depending upon the intended application. These alloys are stainless steel alloys with high concentrations of Cobalt (42-48%), Nickel (15-25%) and Chromium (16-22%). There are also small amounts of titanium and beryllium. Hairsprings made of this alloy are highly wear-resistant,and they are practically non-magnetic in normal wearing,and non-rusting and possess a low coefficient of thermal expansion.

Nivarox 1 to 5 is a series of grades of hairsprings with number 1 being the best quality. The most commonly encountered Nivarox hairsprings in the watch industry are grades 1 to 3. The alloy is unaffected by heat and normal every day ordinary magnetic fields. There is however, also the Anachron hairspring which is said to be of even higher quality than the Nivarox No 1 grade.Who knows perhaps that the grade that Rolex used over the past 40 odd years.

3130 base without date, now some later models reported with parachrom.
3131 parachrom
3132 parachrom and paraflex shock system
3135 base with date
3135 Sub ceramic parachrom
3136 parachrom bleu and paraflex shock system
3155 base with date & day
3156 parachrom bleu and paraflex shock system
3185 base with date and GMT function
3186 parachrom bleu
3187 parachrom and paraflex shock system
Now all 32 series parachrom
4130 Chronograph Parachom started 2000 this was the first but grey colour then

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by padi56

3130 base without date, now some later models reported with parachrom.
3131 parachrom
3132 parachrom and paraflex shock system
3135 base with date
3135 Sub ceramic parachrom
3136 parachrom bleu and paraflex shock system
3155 base with date & day
3156 parachrom bleu and paraflex shock system
3185 base with date and GMT function
3186 parachrom bleu
3187 parachrom and paraflex shock system
Now all 32 series parachrom
4130 Chronograph Parachom started 2000 this was the first but grey colour then

Let's not forget the later 3135 which had Parachrome blue Hairsprings from around 2008 and prior to that Nivarox

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Let's not forget the later 3135 which had Parachrome blue Hairsprings from around 2008 and prior to that Nivarox

Well in my list its states Ceramic subs GMTs had parchrom with cal 3135 the GMT 3186 from 2007 Subs a year later 2008 as for the DJ with the cal 3135 only Rolex knows but possible from 2008 on.

[Dirt]

Almost certainly Parachrome was used for the first time in the 3135 for the introduction of the DSSD in 2008

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Almost certainly Parachrome was used for the first time in the 3135 for the introduction of the DSSD in 2008

Possible but the GMT ceramic with the cal 3186 was the first to use parachrom in the 3 series movements.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by padi56

Possible but the GMT ceramic with the cal 3186 was the first to use parachrom in the 3 series movements.

Thanks Peter
That all happened while I was out of the scene and sitting on a nice collection in my own little world. As I was deeply into EXP II's I normally would have been across it
Then I went and bought the DSSD which upended things.

Prior to that I thought that only the Daytona was the model with the Parachrome(later Parachrome blue) which you are certainly across
I do wonder why Rolex haven't introduced Silicon hairsprings more universally with the introduction of the 32xx movements being a great opportunity for example

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Thanks Peter
That all happened while I was out of the scene and sitting on a nice collection in my own little world. As I was deeply into EXP II's I normally would have been across it
Then I went and bought the DSSD which upended things.

Prior to that I thought that only the Daytona was the model with the Parachrome(later Parachrome blue) which you are certainly across
I do wonder why Rolex haven't introduced Silicon hairsprings more universally with the introduction of the 32xx movements being a great opportunity for example

Well in the real world with todays mainly pampered watches it would make little or no difference whatever the mainspring was called in the case. Even some movements like the Chinese seagull ST19 after a bit of careful regulation can run to average -+ 2 seconds a day, movement cost around $75 now. Bought a few Alpha watches with this movement as a donna for another chronograph that was beyond repair, almost 10 years ago still ticking strong and keeping excellent time, but have re-regulated a few times over those years.

[brandrea]

Thanks for the information Peter

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well in the real world with todays mainly pampered watches it would make little or no difference whatever the mainspring was called in the case. Even some movements like the Chinese seagull ST19 after a bit of careful regulation can run to average -+ 2 seconds a day, movement cost around $75 now. Bought a few Alpha watches with this movement as a donna for another chronograph that was beyond repair, almost 10 years ago still ticking strong and keeping excellent time, but have re-regulated a few times over those years.

Our discussion has had me thinking and I googled with the hope of coming across the history around the introduction of the Parachrome blue hairspring in the 3135.

Sources varied around the Sub with some references indicating 2010.
Then I came across a very detailed review in December 2010 of the DSSD which outlined the introduction of the Parachrome blue in the 3135 with the 2008 DSSD along with special mention of the imminent introduction of it in the 3135 with the release of the 6 digit Sub.