Rolex is one of the world’s leading brands, especially in the luxury watch industry. Thanks to their models, an unmatched reputation, and a massive marketing effort, it has become a household name. Even those with no interest and knowledge of watches can recognize the name and signature designs of Rolex.
Below, we explore seven things you need to know about Rolex watches and what makes it the best brand on the market.
1. Rolex Movements Are All Hand-Assembled
One of the most pervasive myths about Rolex watches relates to the way in which they’re assembled. This piece of disinformation is often posited as a reason for why Rolex’s aren’t as special as people think they are.
Of course, machines assist at certain points in the process. When you have the reputation of Rolex, you need your watches to work perfectly every time. Because of this, the individual parts in their watches are machine-made for the ultimate precision. Hand assembly occurs once all of the required pieces come together.
2. It Takes A Long Time to Build A Rolex Watch
You may have heard this interesting fact before because it has been used in Rolex advertising. It might sound fishy though. A whole year for one watch?
Each watch consists of incredible precision and the finest materials. No shortcuts occur in production, and that production takes a very long time. An example of precision taking longer is their production of hour markers. Each marker is applied by hand, rather than by machine. This ensures that no watch has any errors in placement.
3. Virtually Everything Is Made In-House
A typical practice for watch companies is not importing their materials from China and assembling them in their factory. Not Rolex.
At the Rolex facility, workers put together nearly every material in-house. They build their own cases, gold, bezels, dials, bracelets, and movements on-site to ensure the highest possible quality. This adds to their mystique, too. As such, they are not easily replicable.
4. Rolex Watches Are Highly Secured
If you think about the materials Rolexes are made out of, this makes a lot of sense. Not only are they a sought-after brand, but their products are made from precious metals and often incorporate priceless jewels. The result? An incredibly sophisticated security system.
First, employees use a badge and a fingerprint scan to enter the facility. In addition, each individual part consists of a given serial number to keep track of it. For completed watches, there is an impenetrable safe that must be accessed through an eye scan. Rolexes are too valuable to leave anything to chance.
5. Rolex Watches Are Part Of Movie History
Though the James Bond watch endorsement has been sold to many companies throughout the years, the very first Bond books and movies chose Rolex. The suavest and most sophisticated man in the world needed a watch to wear. Naturally, he chose Rolex.
6. Rolex Watches Have A Lot of “Firsts”
The Rolex reputation is not just based on their modern products. It is based on the company being a technological leader in the industry for over a century. Here are a few milestones of Rolex:
- In 1910, they produced the first wristwatch that was chronometer certified. Before Rolex, only bulky pocket watches could achieve such precision. Rolex was able to master precise movement at a smaller scale.
- In 1926, Rolex produced the Oyster, the world’s first waterproof watch. In the modern watch world, this is a standard feature, but in 1926 it was unheard of. Later, they produced the first watch that could withstand 100m depth.
- In 1985, Rolex was the first company to start producing watches with a superior 904L steel.
7. Rolex Watches Use Special Steel
Not all stainless steel is created equal. 316L is the standard stainless steel that makes up most watches. This is the industry standard which Rolex has followed for many years. Then, they made the switch to the superior 904L.
904L has a few key advantages. First, it resists rust and corrosion better. There is nothing more disappointing than your luxury watch rusting. Rolex makes sure that doesn’t happen by using the best steel available.
Second, 904L has a certain shine that other steel does not. The result is a better-looking watch that holds a polish longer. The reason Rolex uses this steel is essentially because it is more valuable. Most companies will not sacrifice their margins to produce a better product, but Rolex will.
Conclusion
Rolex has built an undeniable reputation over the years. The uninformed will chalk this up to smart marketing, but real watch enthusiasts know the truth: Rolex has the highest standards and the best products. For all of the reasons we have presented today, the Rolex brand is always the best!
Thanks a lot for taking the time to read this article. For more watch trivia, check out 7 Reasons Why You Should Get A Vacheron Constantin.
