From SwissWatchExpo… Spotlight on: Rolex’s Proprietary Materials.
Materials that Rolex produces in-house.
Rolex is known for its uncompromising standards.
The brand made its name through many firsts that it introduced to the watchmaking industry;
and has stayed ahead of the curve through constant innovation.
One of Rolex’s secrets to achieving top notch quality and aesthetics, is to rigorously
select, and even manufacture the materials for its watches.
While outsourcing materials is still the norm for many watch companies, Rolex has a number
of proprietary materials that they produce entirely in-house.
Which of the materials in your Rolex watch, is actually produced by the company? Stay
tuned, to find out!
In the 1990s, Rolex pursued to control every part of the manufacturing process, in
order to increase the level of their watches’ quality.
They began by manufacturing solid-link bracelets, and eventually developed their own foundry
in the early 2000’s, where they now make the metals used for their watches.
Used in Rolex’s contemporary steel watches is Oystersteel - a unique blend of 904L (nine
oh four L) steel that’s proprietary to the brand.
While the industry standard is still 316L (three one six L) steel, Rolex shifted all
their watches to 904L in 2003, due to its superior corrosion resistance.
Due to higher levels of chromium, nickel, and copper, Oystersteel is tougher, and has
anti-corrosion properties comparable to precious metals.
Both highly-resistant and polishable, Oystersteel keeps its shine even when exposed to elements.
Rolex has also been producing their own gold since the 2000s.
They exclusively use 18 karat gold, then add exactly the right mixture of elements - such
as silver and copper - to produce their yellow, white, and rose gold.
Their proprietary rose gold alloy, the Everose, even has a mix of platinum. The copper in
rose gold alloys react to saltwater, UV rays, and sweat, and the addition of platinum counters
this reaction.
Introduced to the market in 2005, Rolex’s Everose watches continue to live up to this
expectation.
For its platinum watches, Rolex uses 950 (nine fifty) platinum, an alloy consisting of nine
hundred and fifty thousandths of platinum, combined with ruthenium - a chemical element
in the platinum group.
This combination makes their platinum alloy robust enough to be used for watches, while
maintaining its brilliance and shine for long.
Ceramic has been explored by watchmakers since the 1980s, as a more scratch-resistant alternative
to aluminum and metals.
Rolex took its time to perfect their ceramic bezel, and launched the Cerachrom in 2005.
Not only is the Cerachrom virtually scratch-proof, it is also impervious to the sun’s ultraviolet
rays, so its vibrant hue never fades. It made its first appearance in the Rolex
GMT-Master II in yellow gold, and has been used in succeeding Rolex sport models.
Pushing the envelope further, Rolex created the first bi-colored ceramic bezel in 2013,
with the Rolex GMT-Master II Batman.
While it was first thought of as impossible, Rolex was able to achieve the two-color, single
ceramic component, through a patented process.
Rolex has used several kinds of lume for its watches, from radium and tri-tium, to SuperLuminova,
which are also used by other watchmakers.
In 2008, Rolex introduced its own proprietary luminous material called Chroma-light.
Watchmakers have long used luminous materials for the dial markers, in order to enhance
legibility in low-light conditions.
What makes the Chromalight superior, is that it lasts up to eight hours -- more than double
the lasting power of other luminous materials.
And finally, we have the Parachrom.
Look closely at this movement, and you’ll see a blue material used in Rolex’s modern
hairsprings.
The Parachrom is a proprietary alloy made from niobium, zirconium, and oxygen; and
is given a surface treatment that gives it its unique blue color.
Compared to traditional hairsprings, the Parachrom remains stable even when exposed to temperature
variations and magnetic fields.
When subjected to shocks, it is 10 times more accurate than the average watch movement.
Experimentation has always been a part of the watch industry.
Rolex, in its 100 year history, remains the leader in the development of new materials,
and continues to push the boundaries of watchmaking.
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