Movement Oils Used By Rolex

[Vintyage]

Thanks for sharing OP

[77T]

Originally Posted by saxo3

Making High-Tech Lubricants:
https://www.rolex.com/about-rolex-wa...-friction.html
"Rolex is the only watchmaking brand that develops and makes its own range of lubricants in-house at a specialized laboratory."

Now that was an interesting read.

I wonder if the Tribologists at Rolex have quantified the percentage of reduced lubrication needed in the latest 3235 movement design compared to movements of yore…


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[Ksbi]

Interesting thread thanks for sharing

[psya]

Great read thanks!

[Benzsiam]

Thanks Peter for a great info!

[Gab27]

Originally Posted by DCheeta

They do, as you can see here on Moebius’ oil chart. Properly oiling a movement is a whole skill in itself.

https://www.moebius-lubricants.ch/si...df/tableEN.pdf

Oh wow - that is a lot of different lubricants! Pretty cool stuff! Thanks!

[Incroyable12]

Originally Posted by saxo3

Making High-Tech Lubricants:
https://www.rolex.com/about-rolex-wa...-friction.html
"Rolex is the only watchmaking brand that develops and makes its own range of lubricants in-house at a specialized laboratory."

So does a service at a RSC use Rolex lubricants instead of the Moebius ones?

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Incroyable12

So does a service at a RSC use Rolex lubricants instead of the Moebius ones?

I think Moebius is still used for the more general purpose applications but Rolex has their own proprietary stuff for the exotic applications

[Golden Ellipse]

Sire, give me a perfect oil, and I will make you a perfect watch!

[Vishy26]

Thanks, Peter.

[Soultime]

It would be good to hear from Tools about the lubricant application when a watch goes in for service.

[boogiebot]

Love it Padi! Thanks for sharing.


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[Tavli3]

Excellent post. How do these lubricant companies stay in business if only 1-2 liters for the whole industry is sold per year? Must be super expensive stuff!


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[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Tavli3

Excellent post. How do these lubricant companies stay in business if only 1-2 liters for the whole industry is sold per year? Must be super expensive stuff!


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In the Rolex context it's bought and paid for many times over at the point of sale.
So much so that it's complimentary as part of an RSC service

[BLNR Nairobi]

Loving this. Thank you.

[Bizcut1]

Fantastic and intriguing - thank you!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Tavli3

Excellent post. How do these lubricant companies stay in business if only 1-2 liters for the whole industry is sold per year? Must be super expensive stuff!


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Sorry typo on my part it should be around 100-200 liters, and yes quite expensive a 2ml bottle Moebius 9010 synthetic oil average retail coast around £25.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Soultime

It would be good to hear from Tools about the lubricant application when a watch goes in for service.

Although now Rolex makes some of there own oil,as long as any oil meets the movement manufacturer spec for the part to be lubricated does not realy matter who makes it.

[swatty]

Interesting read, thanks Peter

[IamJacky]

Really informative post, thanks for sharing.

I have a question, will applying too much lubricant at the winding crown be a problem? I feel like it may be? I ask because one time I was browsing at a grey dealer's shop, I got to see a Patek 5980 and asked to see/examine the watch since I've never handled one before; when I attempted to wind the crown, it was way too smooth I almost could not feel the gears, it felt like the watchmaker applied too much lubricants. I asked the SA if it was due to it having too much lubricant but he couldn't give me a concrete response. The watch seemed to run just fine though.

[George58]

Thank you great info like always

[Gab27]

Originally Posted by padi56

Although now Rolex makes some of there own oil,as long as any oil meets the movement manufacturer spec for the part to be lubricated does not realy matter who makes it.

Does Rolex have their own production facilities or are they developing their own spec in conjunction with another oil producer? (I envision Rolex as having a very large R&D budget/facilities?)

I noticed Moebius is part of Swatch and I know Rolex (understandably) likes to really be independent with their various components.

[brandrea]

Fantastic post Peter, really informative. Thank you

[KeithP]

Great stuff!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Gab27

Does Rolex have their own production facilities or are they developing their own spec in conjunction with another oil producer? (I envision Rolex as having a very large R&D budget/facilities?)

I noticed Moebius is part of Swatch and I know Rolex (understandably) likes to really be independent with their various components.

IMHO that Rolex's tendency to be now 100% independent has its good and bad sides. On one hand, independence in business is good, but on the other hand it makes manufacturing much less flexible. And now being forced to make there there own escapement parts for the first time, as the Swatch group stated they are to cut of supplies of the Nivarox hairsprings to all outside the group. And today its very expensive to design and tool up to make these parts but I would doubt in the real world would the average wearer notice any difference no matter hairspring in the case.

But now Rolex could say almost 100% in-house built but they still out-source a few things its doubtful if Rolex themselves make there own movement/bracelet screws, plus a few things are still out sourced by Rolex, like mainsprings they are made by Schwab-Feller AG, all movement bearing and cap jewels, watch crystals, spring-bars, and a firm called Aiguilles makes all the watch hands for all models.. There are very huge costs today associated with producing a new caliber, and replacing an old caliber with a new one has to be justified economically. That's why Rolex sometimes (well most of the time) uses older conceptions and decisions in its movements and just slightly mod them like the Cal 3130 cal 3132 and the Cal 3186 and now we have the 32 series. Just like the modern day car they use the same floor pan for many models,with just a different brand and body. Today all the mens line up except for the Chronos are basically now clones of the Cal 3135 with or without complications.. Plus now a fancy name for a ceramic insert but real 100% new models I think not just a tarted up old ones now with movement changes but still one of the finest mechanical watches made today.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by IamJacky

Really informative post, thanks for sharing.

I have a question, will applying too much lubricant at the winding crown be a problem? I feel like it may be? I ask because one time I was browsing at a grey dealer's shop, I got to see a Patek 5980 and asked to see/examine the watch since I've never handled one before; when I attempted to wind the crown, it was way too smooth I almost could not feel the gears, it felt like the watchmaker applied too much lubricants. I asked the SA if it was due to it having too much lubricant but he couldn't give me a concrete response. The watch seemed to run just fine though.

Well to much lubricant could be worst than to little,but extremely unlikely that the correct amount was administered when movement was assembled.