Rolex - Part III

[cab83_750]

+1

With all due respect, the comparison to English car is like comparing apples and oranges.

[MRM]

All mechanical watches are kind of like buying an air cooled rear engine/rear drive car. It's taking yesterday's technology to the next level. On the other hand, like buying an air colled Porsche, a Rolex mechanical or similar watch, carries some advatages over the more modern technology.

First, there is no battery. That means it runs as long as you use it. When do bateries fail? When you need them the most. With a mechanical watch there's no dead watch just as you need it most. Second, for not having to keep a battery updated, Rolex and some of the other top end watches offer the most accurate time possible. I don't even know how accurate my Rolex and Omega are because I inevitably let one or the other run down before I am able to do a serious test on them. For the purposes of your average person, a Rolex/Tag/Omega/ etc. is as accurate as an atomic clock. Third. Rolex and their ilk are far more rubust and waterproof than any mass market quartz. Omega makes a quartz Seamaster and it's about the same price as the mechanical version. Any Rolex Oyster is waterproof to 300 meters, some specialty models are waterproof to a thousand meters or so and have helium release valves. Just in case you find yourself in a diving bell half a mile under the surface of the ocean. Any Tag/Rolex/Omega can take being run over by a car, dropped, kicked, pretty much anything and still run. And to bring them back to new you only need a service that polishes the crystal, polishes or replaces the band and bezel.

And finally, they are mechanical. That means engineered to a degree that few things in today's world get engineered. They are works of art from the inside out. The engineering problem necessary to create a perpetual mechanical watch is stunning. It's about like creating an air cooled engine that meets today's emissions standards.

As an aside, Rolex did manufacture a quartz line from about the late 70s through about the late 80s or early 90s. They packaged them with brochures that featured the hottest Porsche of the day - the 928. Most Rolex afficianados consider that very appropriate. The 928 is to the 911 what quartz watches are to the mechanical Rolex.

[87coupe]

Both of my Landmonsters are running quite nicely. The orange faced Landmonster is running +1 sec/day and the black face is running +4 sec/day.

[vash]

ok, i love rolex! i have one. i wear a TUDOR most of the time. it is rolex's cheaper playful cousin. i loose a bit of accuracy, but i am not syncronizing with any delta force guys, or am i setting off a bomb anywhere. i walk through a door with reasonable accuracy, and i am a happy fool. never ever, have i had an appointment, and needed to the second accuracy. a rolex is just like a 911, classic!

my other watch is the most obnoxious gold oyster president. way too much bling for me. but it has value way beyond the dollar value for me.

[BertBeagle]

I got a Rolex as a gift over 20 years ago. A classic Oyster stainless. I can't ever see myself going out and buying one however I will admit to really enjoying it. It is a machine, timeless design and very rugged. I wore it for over 20 years every day and really abused it. It never gave any trouble. It went through a period of loosing a few seconds a day - maybe after a couple of months I would find it a few minutes behind. Took it in and paid hundreds (conveniently cannot remember the total but it was hundreds) to have it cleaned, crystal replaced and reset. Then it gained a couple of seconds a day - go figure.

Then one day I spotted and purchased a Casio G-Shock at a yard sale for $1. I took off the Roller and its been in the drawer ever since. I have since added two more G Shocks to my collection. They keep perfect time and are very light to wear.

Both the Rolex, when worn, and the G-Shocks get cleaned and degreased with a nail brush and spray cleaner like simple green or SD-20 then blow dried with compressed air at least once or twice a week. Very rugged watches.

[BertBeagle]

Originally Posted by 87coupe

Both of my Landmonsters are running quite nicely. The orange faced Landmonster is running +1 sec/day and the black face is running +4 sec/day.

What model is that G shock in the middle - haven't seen that one and I like it.

[87coupe]

The one in the middle is a GW-9000A Multi-band 5 / Solar "Mudman". Syncs to USA, UK, GE, and both JP atomic clocks, it's my current favorite G-Shock.

[tcar]

If it's digital. It's not really a watch.


IMO.

[87coupe]

So you only see two "watches" in my pic, what would you call the middle one then?

[alf]

GMT2 +2 Seconds in the last 24 hrs.

This watch is from the mid/late 90s, I bought it used about 4 years ago it does not appear to have been serviced since new. I wear it diving, swimming, showering, wrenching...just about everything, yes even that.

The older watches needed more frequent service because of the lube that was used, newer ones with morden lube do not dry out as fast.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

Mine loses about a minute a month - and it's 22 years old and has endured all sort of torture.

Mine are about the same. You can get them adjusted to be pretty accurate but how you wear them, how often they are on your arm and so on changes things.

This is with several flavours of the GMT Master, Daytona and President.

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

Okay, I hear ya...

Q: when you send your Rolex into be "serviced" what exactly do they do? How often does this have to be done? If you don't do it, then what happens to the watch?

-Wayne

You can take them to a local Rolex dealer and they will usually send them to the factory department for work. Everyone adds their percentage.

I was lucky enough to find a local guy who used to work at Rolex and is now retired. He still has his tools and such and does all of mine now for about 40% what the factory guys do.

If you do not service it on a regular basis they usually will do fine but should be cleaned and serviced every 10 years or so. Going longer means that they will not keep their accuracy and should a seal or such get old they can get moisture inside. Longer it stays there the more damage it can do and costs more for the repair and replacement parts.

[alf]

[QUOTE=87coupe;3660039]Both of my Landmonsters are running quite nicely. The orange faced Landmonster is running +1 sec/day and the black face is running +4 sec/day.QUOTE]

Are those quartz watches? I'd imagine they would be more accurate than +4 seconds. They are nice looking but I could not afford them.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

Q: when you send your Rolex into be "serviced" what exactly do they do? How often does this have to be done? If you don't do it, then what happens to the watch?-Wayne

Basically, they examine and correct the defects they find. If you send it a pristine watch, they don't have as much to do (and the cost would be less) than one that has been beat up pretty badly. The movement gets disassembled, cleaned, reassembled and oiled. It is then adjusted over a period of days or weeks until the watchmaker is happy with the rate results. The case and band are cleaned and refinished to as near new as they can make it. The crystal is replaced, if it is plastic. The high wear items are replaced (things like the crown tube, for example.) All gasket and seals are replaced. The watch is assembled and then pressure tested.

If there are other things that need attention, like the bezel, dial, hands, whatever, they'll suggest replacing those as well.

If you don't service a watch, sooner or later it will run so badly that it won't keep time well. It might even quit running altogether. Obvioulsy, the internal parts will wear more if the lubricant dries out, to the long term detriment of the parts. With a newer watch and modern lubricants, you can probably go longer between services than they recommend, especially if you only wear the watch every once in a while. It's analogous to changing the oil in a car.

JR

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

Okay, I hear ya...

Q: when you send your Rolex into be "serviced" what exactly do they do? How often does this have to be done? If you don't do it, then what happens to the watch?

-Wayne

Well, cosmetics aside- these are machines. Unlike a quartz watch which moves once per second. a modern high beat mech watch like a Zenith runs at 36,000 beats per hour. 10 movements per second. 24 hours, seven days. For years. Those jewles (rubies) are bearings. Movements need cleaning and lubrication, and maybe parts replacement.

Thsat said, who knows what they do at Rolex service. It takes years to make a Rolex, you know.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Okay, I understand luxury goods, I think everyone here does, as they have a Porsche or BMW (most likely one of the two). We appreciate the German engineering, the higher performance, higher quality build levels (typically), and the whole "driving experience."

That said, if I dropped a lot of coin on a watch, would expect it to be SUPER ACCURATE, as that would seem to be the most important feature in a watch - it's ability to keep accurate time. Perhaps I'm missing something here. To me it seems like buying a Rolex is similar to buying an old English car. Looks good, and occasionally works as it was supposed to.

Please, correct me if I'm wrong...

Don't think it's a matter of being right or wrong. But, I liken wearing an older mechanical watch to owning an older Porsche. For me it's not the bling. It's that it is mechanical and that it was made by a person. An 82 SC is not the best technology available. I could have bought a lot more comfortable, modern, reliable and cheaper to maintain car for the $20k I've spent in purchase and fix up costs over the last few years. If my watch loses or gains 5-10 seconds per day, who really cares. My 911 leaks a little oil, has a rattle in the drivers window, the AC doesn't work..............................................

I've got a couple old Omegas, Rolex and two watches by little known manufacturers like Atlantic and Orsa. Some keep better time than others.

People either seem to love or hate Rolex. They are not perfect, but their designs have stood the test of time and I've found mine to be bullet proof. Much like the 3.0 in my 911.

[jhynesrockmtn]

On the servicing

You can send your Rolex or other high end swiss watch to the manufacturer's service center and you'll get the red carpet treatment and pay for it.

or

You can find a local watchmaker who can do the normal servicing and pay for only what you need. Like taking your Porsche to John Walker for service, which I do

[87coupe]

Originally Posted by alf

Are those quartz watches? I'd imagine they would be more accurate than +4 seconds. They are nice looking but I could not afford them.

Nope, both automatic 23 jewel movements. They also have a cool rotating inner compass bezel.

[87coupe]

Originally Posted by stuartj

Well, cosmetics aside- these are machines. Unlike a quartz watch which moves once per second. a modern high beat mech watch like a Zenith runs at 36,000 beats per hour. 10 movements per second. 24 hours, seven days. For years. Those jewles (rubies) are bearings. Movements need cleaning and lubrication, and maybe parts replacement.

Thsat said, who knows what they do at Rolex service. It takes years to make a Rolex, you know.

Quartz movements oscillate roughly 32 thousand times a minute, not once a second. This is why they are so much more accurate. Even with their superior accuracy, I still love my automatics, their just cool.

[cab83_750]

Originally Posted by 87coupe

Quartz movements oscillate roughly 32 thousand times a minute, not once a second. This is why they are so much more accurate. Even with their superior accuracy, I still love my automatics, their just cool.

I am not watch-technology-inclined, but isn't oscillation different from a mechanical movement. I think that oscillation and mechanical is like 'apple and oranges," correct?

[87coupe]

No, mechanical watches oscillate as well.