Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/09/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Are movements for the Rolex made by others? Roland - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hoyen Tsang" <htsang@email.com> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Friday, September 15, 2000 1:36 AM Subject: [Leica] Forbes article on mechanical wristwatches OFF TOPIC > If you consider Patek Philippe a "ritzy ditzy bozo watch maker" then I'm afraid you don't know watches very well... Patek and A. Lange & Sohne are the current top echelon of watchmaking. You simply can't find movements better finished or more aesthetically pleasing. I also consider Blancpain, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Audemars Piguet to be among the top. My current dream watch, in fact, is the Patek "10 Days". > > Keep in mind that "in-house movements" doesn't mean much these days. There is a reason why Rolex doesn't allow tours of their factory, whereas real watch manufacturers like Blancpain often do. It's assembly line manufacturing vs skilled craftsmanship. I guess you can argue that Rolex caters to a totally different market than Patek and Lange do. Apples and oranges. > > Hoyen > > Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000 00:34:57 -0400 > From: Javier Perez <summarex@yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Leica] Forbes article on mechanical wristwatches > Message-ID: <39C1A6F1.1807001F@yahoo.com> > References: <Pine.SOL.4.10.10009141439320.17051-100000@stargate.gpcc.itd.umich.edu> > > Hi > Watches are an on and off hobby for me > There are very few swiss watch makers > still building their own movements. > These include Valjoux, Eta, Zenith > Rolex and a few of less important ones > Zenith* and Rolex use the movements in > their own watches leaving ETA and valjoux to supply > the industry. While different watches with diifferent brand names > may match for movement and caliber they will not necessarily > be of the same grade or build quality. Any of the movement builders will > hand select > parts for the movements if the watch maker is willing to pay the extra > $$$ > Also, many watch makers like to massage and tweek the movements > a bit further for use in their top of the range watches. > So even though your swatch has the same movement as someone > else's speed master The speedmaster is likely to have a better balanced > balance wheel, and will likely have been adjusted in several positions > in temperature and humidity controlled environment. These extras > will pay off 25 years from now when the Speedmaster is still running, > perhaps a few minutes fast and the Swatch has long been thrown out > or perhaps used to supply parts for a speedmaster > > > *Zenith does on occasion supply other makers with movements > It provided Rolex with detuned rainbow movements for their early > daytonas. > > See Ya > Javier > > PS: Please don't tell me that I forgot to > mention Patek Phillip. I'm talking about > serious watch makers here, Not ritzy > ditzy bozo watch makers. > > ----------------------------------------------- > FREE! The World's Best Email Address @email.com > Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com > > >