Watches are something that evolved from just a way to tell time, to becoming a status symbol. From watches attached to a chain, they became gold watches attached to gold chains and from there; they became more unique with the addition of digital age to them.
Now you could see numbers in the watches, but some companies decided to make them more unique and expensive and since then, one company has ruled the industry of luxury watches and that company is Rolex.
The London based watch manufacturers have been the leading brand in super expensive and luxurious watches and they have put out a must watch the video, detailing what makes Rolex watches expensive and unique.
The Rolex watch company was founded by the Montres Tudor SA design company in London, England in 1905. It was founded by Alfred Davis and Hans Wilsdorf and they moved the operations of company to Geneva, Switzerland in 1919 and since then, Rolex has been the face of Swiss watches industry.
The company is owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a family private trust, which does not pay corporate tax. Rolex manufactures 2,000 watches a day and has annual revenue of over $7.7 billion. They have quite a few ‘firsts’ in history with the company to make the first waterproof wristwatch in 1926 and first wristwatch with automatically changing date on the dial in 1945.
They are still seen as one of the most revered status symbols and owning one of them is something that is on every person’s checklist. Here is a video telling why these watches are expensive and unique.
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Rolex watches use expensive and difficult to machine steel which no one else uses. While most of the watches are made from a type of stainless steel known as 316L, the Rolex watches are made from 904L steel. Rolex uses 904L steel because it is more rust and corrosion resistant and harder than other steels.
904L steel is more expensive and complicated to machine. As Rolex has its in-house production, they are successful in using 904L steel. The large scale of production also enables them to use 904L in comparison to other brands of watches. The benefit of it is quite obvious once you use a Rolex watch.
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All the gold and platinum which are used on Rolex watches are made in-house. 24k gold is converted into 18k yellow, white or Rolex’s Everose gold ( a non-fading version of 18k gold rose). Rolex is the only watch manufacturer which makes their own gold. As Rolex has its in-house foundry, they are able to ensure best of quality in their watches. The metals are melted under hot flames and then they are turned into cases and bracelets.
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Rolex uses gems like diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. The big gemologist department at Rolex buys, scrutinizes, arranges and sets diamonds and other gems on the watches. X-rays are used to check whether diamonds are real or not. The selection and setting up of diamonds and precious stones are done manually by in-house experts.
Rolex is involved in testing diamonds with great involvement. Rolex does not take chances with the diamonds and check every batch of diamonds. All the diamonds and gems that have been put up on the watches are hand-selected and handset. Though they are a mass producer, Rolex never takes chances with the quality of the product. Hence, they are revered all across the globe.
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Though, Rolex produces almost a million watches every year, but they do not take any short cuts in manufacturing the products. The whole team of Rolex works in unison to make a product which is envious to others. As Rolex has a theory that human eye is better versed to spot problems.
The skilled workers at Rolex are diligently involved in the watch-making process. They are involved in all stages of production. Rolex’s perfectionist approach forces them to go for involved of man rather than machine in the watch-making process.
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Rolex has this approach where it lets technology handle the things that they can handle better than humans. Rolex takes robotic help whenever needed else they leave it up to humans where they suit best. Rolex uses technology for initial machine polish but they are also hand-polished as well in the end.
Machines are there to help humans when there is a need. Machines chip in when there is the need for greater consistency. Robots are used when there is need of a repetitive set of job. They perform those jobs easily and effectively.
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The video shows a Rolex Submariner being dismantled and it shows the delicate parts of the watch being taken apart piece by piece. It also explains the reason why the watches are so expensive with a voice saying “Initially uncovered to the general population in 1953, the Rolex Submariner was a jumping look for everybody. Speaking to both expert and leisure activity jumpers, the Submariner set the standard for the classification, its reasonableness and common sense unmatched. Rolex likewise created non-chronometer variants of the Submariner that were considerably more moderate, costing approximately two weeks’ pay at the time.