Decorative dials, like for the Rolex President, are made by a diamond-tipped tool that automatically and meticulously carves the pattern into the surface. This is where we see Rolex’s past experience blend with modern technology.
In this post
What are Rolex dials made out of?
brass
Aside from some special dials made from materials such as meteorite, mother-of-pearl, and hard stones, Rolex dials are made from brass, while the dial markers are fashioned from 18k gold (also made in-house at Rolex’s own gold foundry) to prevent tarnishing.
How are watch dials made?
To make an enamel watch dial, the enameller has to coat a brass watch dial with glass powder (either white, or coloured), and then melt it by heating it. This process is very difficult to get right. The enameller has to be very skilled to use the right mix of glass powder and heat it to the correct temperature.
What is Rolex White dial made of?
brass
With just a handful of exceptions, all of Rolex’s dials are made from brass. Strong, hardwearing and easily machinable, it is the perfect material for the job. Manufacturing takes place in Rolex’s Chêne-Bourg factory, one of four massive complexes in their Geneva compound.
How Rolex parts are made?
An in-house foundry makes all their gold
24k gold comes into Rolex and it is turned into 18k yellow, white, or Rolex’s Everose gold (their non-fading version of 18k rose gold). Large kilns under hot flames are used to melt and mix the metals, which are then turned into cases and bracelets.
What are Rolex watch faces made of?
Depending on the era that they were made, Rolex watches can either have acrylic (a.k.a. plastic) crystals or sapphire crystals. First came acrylic (Polymethyl methacrylate), which is a transparent thermoplastic that was used as a shatter-resistant alternative to glass.
How thick is a Rolex dial?
Often carried out inside sophisticated vacuum chambers where the pressure is equivalent to that found in space, some 150 kilometres above the earth’s surface, the techniques used by Rolex coat the dials with a fine layer of vaporized oxides and metals less than one micron thick.
What is a dial made of?
Nowadays, watch dials are made from different materials. The two most common are metal and metal coated with porcelain enamel. Metal dials were just thin pieces of flat metal painted, embossed or printed with corresponding numbers, markers or decorations to show the time.
How are enamel dials made?
To make an enamel dial, the ground-up enamel is applied to a metal disc. Either by sieving it in an even layer, or by mixing the powder with water and brushing it across the surface. Through firing in an oven at 800 to 1,200℃, the enamel melts and flows into a smooth consistency that bonds with the metal.
How thick can watch dial be?
The dial contains centuries of culture, stories, and secrets, all packed in a wafer of metal that measures less than one millimeter thick.
What is the most popular Rolex dial?
black
By The Watch Standard
In a recent poll taken on the online Rolex Forum, the most popular Rolex dial colors ranking amongst members’ votes were black (43.3%), blue (39.2%), white (8.8%), green (6.0%), silver (1.4%) – with the remaining 1.3% categorized as “other”.
Why does my Rolex say T Swiss made T?
“T Swiss made T” means that the watch is Swiss and contains a certain quantity of tritium that emits less than 227 MBq (7.5 mCi). “Swiss T<25" means that the watch is Swiss and contains a certain quantity of tritium that emits less than 925 MBq (25 mCi).
Do all Rolex dials glow in the dark?
A glowing watch does possess a functional advantage over its non-glowing equivalent; however most vintage Rolex watches have lost their ability to glow, and it is simply considered a trait that is consistent with older timepieces.
Are Rolex dials handmade?
Their Movements Are All Hand-Assembled And Tested
Well the truth is that Rolex watches are given all the hands-on human attention that you’d like to expect from a fine Swiss made watch.
How many hours does it take to make a Rolex?
Reasonably, it would take a maximum of a few hours to assemble a Rolex movement, and that is probably a generous time estimation. The general time estimation is that it takes around 3h30min–3h40min for a Rolex watchmaker to assemble the complete watch from scratch.
What is the cheapest Rolex you can buy?
36mm Oyster Perpetual
What Is The Cheapest Rolex. The cheapest Rolex is the 36mm Oyster Perpetual which costs $5,800 MSRP. The Oyster Perpetual is a no date stainless steel sports model that is considered the most affordable or entry level men’s Rolex.
What is mother of pearl dial made of?
Mother of Pearl is a material that is sometimes used in making the dials of luxury watches. The material is found in the outer coating of pearl, which is why it is named so. Its most distinguishing feature is its iridescence, which makes it appear to change colour when viewed from different angles.
Can you scratch a Rolex face?
Wearing and using your Rolex watch will result in scratches. However, there are steps you can take to avoid scratching. For instance, you can lay your Rolex on a soft cloth or in its box at night.
Does Rolex glass scratch easily?
Rolex sapphire crystal and other glass
The fact is that the crystal is one of the parts that is the most subject to an outside force, stress, and potentially dangerous situations. It is large, and it sits unprotected on the outside of the watch. This means that it is easy to hit something, or potentially scratch it.
What is the thinnest Rolex?
Veriflat
This Rolex “Veriflat” ref. 6512 was originally created in 1954 and remains the slimmest Oyster case Rolex has ever created.
Can a man wear a 31mm Rolex?
Throughout its history, Rolex has introduced a plethora of designs for the Oyster Perpetual for both men and women. However, recently the lineup has become increasingly unisex, with all of the mid-sized watches (31mm, 34mm, and 36mm) featuring dial colors that appeal to men and women.