The Golden Age Of Rolex Movements Part I: Sowing The Seeds Of Greatness

If you want to love Rolex, but you love mechanical movements more than you love watch brands themselves, rejoice: we are living in the halcyon days of Rolex movement innovation.

Since the late 1990s, Rolex watchmaking – complications, patents, and even movement finish – has flourished in the shadow of the Rolex brand and individual blue-chip model families. While it would be tempting to forge straight into the highlights of this golden era, proper perspective first requires a retrospective.

The desert of Grunge-era Rolex

I grew up during the 1990s, and my awareness of the larger watch scene began to take shape around 1999. The crazy stuff – complex calendars, rattrapantes, tourbillons, and chiming watches – was made by brands like Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, Blancpain, Breguet, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and other nameplates that an American kid stood no chance of encountering in the cultural desert of a strip-mall Tourneau.

But Rolex was as ubiquitous as boy bands, New York Yankees caps, and overheated dot-com stock in ’99.

Rolex Submariner Ref 14060

Rolex Submariner Reference 14060 (photo courtesy WatchBox)

 

At the time, most Rolex models and their Caliber 3000 or 3135-based architectures dated back more than a decade. You could have a dual time (GMT, Explorer 2) or a chronograph (Daytona).

Rolex had yet to take complete control of its movement production facilities in the old Aegler works in Biel at that time. If you were willing to be waitlisted for a Cosmograph Daytona in those days, it would arrive with an El Primero-based Caliber 4030 assembled by Zenith of Le Locle to Rolex’s specifications.

Reflecting on past glories: Rolex complications in the twentieth century

It was tempting to comb the specialist collector’s guides and then-embryonic online watch media for evidence that Rolex of a different era was a glorious champion of ambitious watchmaking.

Setting aside its pioneering role in fundamental breakthroughs like popularizing water-resistant cases and automatic movements, Rolex of the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s was flush with extravagant mechanisms.

Rolex Oyster Zerograph mono pusher flyback chronograph Reference 3346 from 1937

Rolex Oyster Zerograph monopusher flyback chronograph Reference 3346 from 1937

During the 1930s, you could have ordered a largely in-house caliber 10’5” flyback in the Rolex Zerograph or Centregraphe. Reference 4113 of the same period offered split-seconds chronograph muscle in a 44 mm case that still wears with epic wrist presence. Granted, only a few of these were made, but it’s the ambition that impresses.

Rolex Padellone Reference 8171

Rolex Padellone Reference 8171

A second wave arrived in the early 1950s with the 8171 “Padellone” triple calendar moon phase and its 6062 Oyster-cased counterpart.

No fewer than five Rolex Dato-Compax “Jean-Claude Killy” triple calendar chronograph references arrived amid this torrid streak, and the 1955 Reference 6556 Tru-Beat “deadbeat” seconds bowed on the heels of Omega’s own attempt at this function with the abortive Synchrobeat of 1954.

And it’s easy to forget that the original Rolex GMT-Master and Day-Date arrived within this bumper crop of complications.

Rolex 1950s Ref 6238 Pre-Daytona

Rolex 1950s Reference 6238 Pre-Daytona (photo courtesy WatchBox)

Rolex changed during the 1960s. While innovation continued in detail, and regular upgrades were made to the basic calibers through the 1980s, most of the firm’s energy was directed at refinement of existing mechanical models and a ramp-up for quartz production during the 1970s.

Y2K Rolex Cosmograph Daytona: moving toward a revolution

This relentlessly abridged history of Rolex watchmaking returns the narrative to the 1990s.

While I was oblivious to developments from my vantage point in American suburbia, wheels were turning above my head. U.S. patent number 5793708, which Rolex applied for in October 1996, revealed the Genevan giant’s hand: “the present invention relates to a timepiece with a chronograph mechanism comprising seconds, minutes, and hours counters.”

Moreover, Rolex “proposed to replace this [lateral] type of coupling with a friction coupling between coaxial circular members one of which is axially movable against the action of a spring tending to apply them against one another.”

If that sounds like a vertical clutch – the heart of today’s Caliber 4130 Daytona powerplant – it’s no coincidence.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref 116520 (photo courtesy Watchbox)

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Reference 116520 (photo courtesy WatchBox)

It’s easy to forget how impressive the 4130 chronograph movement seemed in 2000.

Rolex had created a mass-produced chronograph caliber almost as thin (to one mm) as the benchmark high-horology Frédéric Piguet 1185 and just as sophisticated with both vertical clutch coupling and a column wheel function cycler to match the Piguet. The Rolex was tougher too.

Compared to its predecessor, the El Primero-based 4030, the new Rolex chronograph was built with a full rather than half balance bridge and was immensely simplified with fewer parts and fewer unique screws; and hacking seconds became a feature of the automatic Daytona.

And with a three-day power reserve, this mass-market Rolex catapulted itself among the then-scarce options with more than two days’ worth of autonomy; others in that class included the Blancpain 8-Day tourbillon Caliber 25, the Patek Philippe Caliber 28-20/220, the Frédéric Piguet 1150, and the IWC Portuguese Automatic’s Caliber 5000.

Rolex Caliber 4130

Rolex Caliber 4130

In hindsight, the Basel 2000 arrival of the Daytona 1165xx was the focal point for Rolex’s revolution as a movement manufacture.

Today, 70+ hours’ worth of power reserve is considered the standard for newly introduced Rolex calibers, and “model one” in that series was the 4130 chronograph. Moreover, the Daytona 4130 was the first modern Rolex caliber to dispense with the smooth but fragile jeweled staff rotor pivot previously used on most automatic Rolex movements.

And ball bearings arrived to stay with the 4130.

Rolex and Aegler: rent to own (your manufacture)

Events proceeded apace of engineering. April 2004 witnessed a development little noticed outside of the watch industry: Rolex purchased its longtime movement supplier, Aegler, from its controlling Borer family.

The two enjoyed a fruitful relationship dating back almost a century and were highly integrated, but it remains surprising from the vantage point of 2019 to think that Rolex took full control of its movement supply only 15 years ago. This newfound capability soon would be tested.

Case back fit for a (Rolex) Prince

The next public revolution in Rolex movement design came in an unprecedented form: a sapphire crystal display case back.

For the first time in series production, a Rolex caliber was designed expressly for visibility through a showcase window, and the now Cellini-branded Rolex Prince of 2005 served as the unlikely vessel.

Rolex Cellini Prince Ref 5440-8

Rolex Cellini Prince Reference 5440-8 (photo courtesy WatchBox)

Initially launched as the Rolex Prince in 1928, this rectangular family of interwar Rolex shaped watches enjoyed its glory years during the heyday of Art Deco style and the parlous balance between gilded towers and Depression-era privation.

And the original Prince was a testbed for flamboyant concepts: fused “tiger stripewhite-and-yellow-gold models, board-flat “brancard” styles, and jump hours all had their day before the Prince line became uncool in the postwar world of the late 1940s.

Rolex Cellini Prince Caliber 7040

Rolex Cellini Prince Caliber 7040 (photo courtesy WatchBox)

The precious metal-only Prince of 2005 was no less ambitious. All four versions of the watch featured movements expressly designed and finished to mirror the style and features of each respective model’s dial.

Yellow gold with a “pyramide” flourish included a yellow-gold set of bridges with matching peaks. White and pink gold could be ordered with an extravagant “rayon” motif.

A second white gold model boasted rippling silver gadroons worthy of a 1936 coffin-nose Cord 812.

More than simply a bridge motif, the style theme of the Cellini Prince’s Caliber 7040 extended to the very structure of the movement.

Rolex Cellini Prince sapphire crystal case back

The sapphire crystal case back of Rolex’s Cellini Prince Reference 5440 (photo courtesy WatchBox)

Rolex drew on the Prince’s history and chose the manual-wind format expressly to make the 7040 a visible and forceful feature of the watch. Vintage-inspired “finger” bridges led the power train from a brilliantly polished ratchet wheel to the balance.

As a modern manual-wind Rolex caliber, the 7040 in all four versions is a rarity; this arrangement was chosen to maximize movement visibility, and Rolex carefully designed bridges for a manual caliber rather than leave structural relics by converting an existing automatic.

No corners were cut: the 70-hour power reserve was only Rolex’s second after the Daytona, each Cellini Prince was an officially certified C.O.S.C. chronometer, and each featured the same fundamental full-bridge/free-sprung balance architecture of the sports watches.

The second act awaits

While the in-house Daytona and the Cellini Prince broke dramatically with past Rolex practice, they were table-setters for the most dramatic developments in the company’s watchmaking since the mid-twentieth century.

Even as watch media descended on the reborn Prince collection at Baselworld 2005, Rolex patent filings suggested greater exploits awaited behind the crowned giant’s iron curtain of secrecy.

Part II of this series explores modern-day Rolex’s patent patterns as they relate to the company’s headlong plunge into complicated watchmaking.

For more, please visit www.rolex.com.

Quick Facts Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 116500LN
Case: 40 x 12.2 mm, stainless steel with ceramic bezel
Movement: automatic Caliber 4130 with blue Parachrom hairspring, 72-hour power reserve, 4 Hz/28,800 vph frequency, officially certified C.O.S.C. chronometer (white or black dials)
Functions: hours, minutes, hacking seconds; chronograph
Years of manufacture: 2000 through present
Price: $12,400/€11,300

Quick Facts Rolex Cellini Prince, base Reference 544
Case: 46.3 x 28 x 9.8 mm, yellow gold
Movement: manual winding Caliber 7040, 70-hour power reserve, 4 Hz/28,800 vph frequency, officially certified C.O.S.C. chronometer
Functions: hours, minutes, hacking seconds
Years of manufacture: 2005-2014
Price as of 2015: $15,500-$17,000

You may also enjoy:

One Of The Rarest Rolex References Of Them All: The Oyster Zerograph Monopusher Flyback Chronograph Reference 3346

Exceptional Movements In History: Rolex Caliber 1575, The Watchmaker’s Watch

Is Silicon Here To Stay In (Rolex) Watch Movements?

Always Expect The Unexpected: Rolex Surprises Yet Again With The Oyster Perpetual Datejust Pearlmaster 34

A Look Inside The Rolex Caliber 3135

22 replies
    • Tim Mosso
      Tim Mosso says:

      An infamous moment in online watch journalism, informally known as “Walt Odets’ Last Stand.” He makes good points about the macro finish, but he missed a few functional refinements such as pivot polishing and tooth detailing that made such a rough-hewn sight so accurate in the first place.

      In my experience, Rolex started to change its view on caliber finish in 2000 with the caliber 4130. It’s visibly cleaner in detail than the 3000 and 3100 series movements from the 1980s. Of course, the Explorer that Walt vivisected was part of the older series.
      Best,
      Tim

      Reply
  1. Halebobb
    Halebobb says:

    Wonderfull article on one of my favorite watch companies by my favorite watch authority.
    I love how he adds historical and style elements to his description of technical advancements in horology.
    He’s earned quite a name for himself in the industry and deservingly so.
    This is my first visit to Quill & Pad, but certainly not my last.
    Steve K.

    Reply
    • Tim Mosso
      Tim Mosso says:

      In terms of brand equity, I think Apple would gain more from that partnership than Rolex. Privately held Rolex is renowned for lifetime serviceable luxury goods, and sales volumes aren’t a problem; Apple is viewed as a hip purveyor of mainstream articles with a limited life expectancy, and Apple answers to shareholders who always want more, cheaper, faster…
      Best Regards,
      Tim

      Reply
  2. Michael Friedberg
    Michael Friedberg says:

    Interesting article. I would suggest following up with the newer Rolex Calibre 9000. It truly is innovative, especially the calendar and setting functions. Mine is also uncannily accurate, off -1second per week. Never have seen that before in any mechanical watch.

    Reply
      • Gil
        Gil says:

        Yeah, the 9001 is a technical marvel – an annual calendar with dual time can be found from other brands, but none of them have a system so clever and tactile. Look forward to reading about it.

        Reply
        • Gil
          Gil says:

          Actually, I think ‘from other brands’ maybe an exaggeration – only the Blancpain Villeret Annual GMT springs to mind on reflection. So it’s an uncommon combination, wonderfully executed.

          Reply
      • Tim Mosso
        Tim Mosso says:

        Guaranteed; the annual calendar GMT receives nearly one full article of attention and retrospective history in the succeeding installments of this series.
        Best Regards,
        Tim

        Reply
    • Tim Mosso
      Tim Mosso says:

      Hi Michael, thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my article. As Elizabeth notes, this is part one of a four-part series — a primer, if you will.

      The second, third, and fourth installments will dig extensively into recent complicated calibers including the 9001. In particular, I will delineate the nearly decade-long patent sequence that led to the retail-model 9001. The 4160 and 4161 will be traced back to Rolex’s first 10-minute regatta timer patent in 1989; the final article will discuss recently patented Rolex technologies not yet available.
      Best Regards,
      Tim

      Reply
  3. Oliver Harrison
    Oliver Harrison says:

    “During the 1930s, you could have ordered a largely in-house caliber 10’5” flyback”

    Can you elaborate on what you mean by “largely in-house”? I believe that at this time others (e.g. Omega) were fully vertically-integrated “manufactures” but Rolex were buying-in movements.

    Reply
    • Tim Mosso
      Tim Mosso says:

      Hi Oliver,

      The Rolex 3346 Zerographe used a 17-jewel 10.5″ (no formal caliber number) flyback chronograph movement of Rolex’s own design. Certain specialized parts were delivered from suppliers, but the movement was Rolex. As with the near-contemporary 4113 split-seconds chronograph, the Zerograph (there were two references, actually) was among the earliest Rolex watches to feature a true Rolex movement.
      Best,
      Tim

      Reply
  4. Timothy Treffry
    Timothy Treffry says:

    Really enjoyed this article and am looking forward to subsequent installments. I started going to Basel Fairs in ’89 as a watch journalist but have always found Rolex, in contrast to the other majors, very unwellcoming, especially with regard to factory visits, so have ignored the brand. (They certainly didn’t need me).

    Reply
    • Tim Mosso
      Tim Mosso says:

      Thank you for reading! The second installment of this series has posted to the front page of Quill & Pad, so please review that one for a deeper look at the most advanced Rolex movements of the present day. The third and fourth articles in the series will explore Rolex’s low-key approach to launching innovative engineering and recent Rolex patents for watch technology not yet for sale.
      Best,
      Tim

      Reply
  5. Koimaster
    Koimaster says:

    Great read. Posted a link to all four parts at our website for our members to enjoy. I would love to have a PDF version of this that could be posted as well if at all possible.

    Reply
    • Ian Skellern
      Ian Skellern says:

      Thanks for the links. I’m sorry but we do not have PDFs, those were from the days of print magazines.

      Reply

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