trying to understand the big thing about movement

[seanbrooklyn]

Hi, Guys,
im kinda new to the world of rolex, I only own one for about a month, I visit the forum everyday and notice alot of talk about movement... one being better then the other or a new movement on the YM II ect...
is it that one is better at keeping time or longer reserve or.... i dont know, please help

[supermarz]

hi there! welcome to the forum....
im not too familiar with the movement ...all i know my yacht master has a movement ref 3135 which apparently keeps a good timing

[wandyprawira]

Originally Posted by seanbrooklyn

Hi, Guys,
im kinda new to the world of rolex, I only own one for about a month, I visit the forum everyday and notice alot of talk about movement... one being better then the other or a new movement on the YM II ect...
is it that one is better at keeping time or longer reserve or.... i dont know, please help

I'm not a movement expert and many members here can address your question better than me in a short while.

As far as I know that one movement is not better than the other in terms of time keeping as long as they're in the same chronometer spec (tolerance of -4;+6 secs per day). Why one is called better than the other is because it has more complications. For example, 3185 which is used in old GMT Master II has more complication to say 3135 which is used in Sub, SD, DJ eventhough 3185 is based on 3135 but it has the dual time zone capability. Another example is 3186 which is pretty much the same as 3185 but it has some other features such as Parachrom Bleu hairspring. So it can be said as being better than the other if it has more features in it.

[frostie]

All movements are made for keeping time. For example 3135 that is been used in subs or the old 3185 that was in the old gmt's or the new 3186 that is used in the new generation are the same movements when talking about timekeeping. The differences between these movements are that they embody different features. For example tha 3185 or the 3186 have the gmt feature where you can track multiple time zones with your watch. When talking about the 3135 movement which is maily used in the subs it is made for timekeeping and for changing the date. Until now the most sophisticated movement is the movement of the yachtmaster II which is the first mechanical movement that has a programmable countdown timer. In general all of the movements are a piece of art and are made for timekeeping. All of them are the best that movements that you can find constructed from the best materials in the market. The differences that the movements have are in the features as i mentioned. I hope that this was helpful to you. Regards

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by frostie

All movements are made for keeping time. For example 3135 that is been used in subs or the old 3185 that was in the old gmt's or the new 3186 that is used in the new generation are the same movements when talking about timekeeping. The differences between these movements are that they embody different features. For example tha 3185 or the 3186 have the gmt feature where you can track multiple time zones with your watch. When talking about the 3135 movement which is maily used in the subs it is made for timekeeping and for changing the date. Until now the most sophisticated movement is the movement of the yachtmaster II which is the first mechanical movement that has a programmable countdown timer. In general all of the movements are a piece of art and are made for timekeeping. All of them are the best that movements that you can find constructed from the best materials in the market. The differences that the movements have are in the features as i mentioned. I hope that this was helpful to you. Regards

Well, I wouldn't say that the Rolex movement 3135 is a "piece of art" in terms of beauty. If you want beauty, go for the Patek movements in general!

But in terms of sturdiness and simplicity (easy to repair and every watch repairman's dream), the Rolex Cal. 3135 is a "beauty".

If I should choose ONE "beautiful" Rolex movement in every respect, I would choose the Cal. 4130. Now, that is ONE heck of a movement! Considered to be the best chronograph movement of the world.

[frostie]

the 4130 movement used on rolex daytona models.

Enjoy the pic spacedweller

[padi56]

In very basic terms for the mens range of watches Rolex only uses two base Cal movements.Now the cal 3135 was introduced in 1988 and has not changed since introduction.Now the 3185 is a 3135 with just a added time zone fuction complication.Now the 3186 although very slightly thicker and uses the new hair spring its still basically made from the 3135 design.Now the cal 3130 used in Airking non date sub is basically the cal 3135 but without the date complication.And the cal 3155 used in the Day Date is the cal 3135 with the added day complication.Now the chronograph range the first movement of this kind Rolex has ever made.Now the cal 4130 in the Daytona and the cal 4160 used in the yachtmaster 11 is basically the cal 4130 with added complications to make the 4160.So the complete Rolex range except for the ladies are made basically from two Rolex movements and this keeps machining costs down and production high.

[seanbrooklyn]

thanks for all of your time, I now understand alot more then I did,once explained, its not as hard to understand as you think.

[royce]

whoa...that was a lot of information. good question, sean i was wondering the same thing

[JJ Irani]

You want movement? I'll give you movement. Try and figure out this baby from A. Lange & Sohne!!

[mike]

Here's my take on movements--from someone who is NOT a movement expert.

Rolex does NOT build the prettiest movement. Nor do they try. What they do build is an incredibly strong movement capable of taking a lot of abuse. Secondly, Rolex makes one of the most consistent movements out there. Subject to little positional variation, a Rolex will gain/lose close to the same rate reguardless of position. This in my view is what make an accurate watch. It might need regulation, but when done they are amazing timekeepers.

[seanbrooklyn]

thats a whole lotta movement JJ lol

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

You want movement? I'll give you movement. Try and figure out this baby from A. Lange & Sohne!!

Would an L & S with that movement inside be able to tell the date??

[Andad]

Originally Posted by padi56

In very basic terms for the mens range of watches Rolex only uses two Cal movements.Now the cal 3135 was introduced in 1988 and has not changed since introduction.Now the 3185 is a 3135 with just a added time zone fuction complication.Now the 3186 although very slightly thicker and uses the new hair spring its still basically made from the 3135 design.Now the cal 3130 used in Airking non date sub is basically the cal 3135 but without the date complication.And the cal 3155 used in the Day Date is the cal 3135 with the added day complication.Now the chronograph range the first movement of this kind Rolex has ever made.Now the cal 4130 in the Daytona and the cal 4160 used in the yachtmaster 11 is basically the cal 4130 with added complications to make the 4160.So the complete Rolex range except for the ladies are made basically from two Rolex movements and this keeps machining costs down and production high.

Yeah,

Says it all really

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Spacedweller

Would an L & S with that movement inside be able to tell the date??

Looks big enough to power a YM II.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Looks big enough to power a YM II.

I'd say that bloody thing is big enough to power the whole damn Rolex fleet!!

[roadcarver]

Amen to that, Mike.

Originally Posted by mike

Here's my take on movements--from someone who is NOT a movement expert.

Rolex does NOT build the prettiest movement. Nor do they try. What they do build is an incredibly strong movement capable of taking a lot of abuse. Secondly, Rolex makes one of the most consistent movements out there. Subject to little positional variation, a Rolex will gain/lose close to the same rate reguardless of position. This in my view is what make an accurate watch. It might need regulation, but when done they are amazing timekeepers.