ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

thomaswentworth · 16 March 2018, 09:04 PM

If you were a machinist, you would be standing in front of a CNC mill hour after hour and day after day making the exact same thing... let's say Submariner cases. You would only be doing your portion of the process. Then the item would go to someone else for the next step.

If you were making dials, you would be doing the same thing day after day. The dial making process and the dial painting process and the dial printing process are likely done by different people. Can you imagine the pressure of dial printing? How about the pressure put on the QC team? Tolerances are extremely tight and unforgiving. Precision is required. It is probably not wise to show up for work at a Rolex factory hung over from a night at the disco. That would probably be frowned upon.

The same monotony goes for bracelet production, crown production, stem production, bezel production, and the production of watch movement components.

Standing or sitting all day plating parts or polishing cases would not be that great. I have seen a video in which robots do the polishing, but I don't know if that's real. If it is real, then you would be standing there pushing buttons to control the machine... which sounds less satisfying than hand polishing all day long, every single day of the work week.

Putting together parts trays for the assemblers wouldn't be such a blast in the pants.

And assembling the same movements over and over, day after day... meeting your quota... How much fun could that be?

I wonder if there are "clicks" or groups who are treated as superior amongst the staff. Maybe the movement assemblers are considered the big dogs and you had better not get in their way. Maybe the smelters are the grungiest at the end of the day or maybe that honor belongs to the polishers.

Sometimes "suits" will be walking the factory floors and then you'd really be on edge.

I'm sure many people who work in polishing have dreams of getting a promotion into the cnc lathe department or maybe they have CAD/CAM skills and dream of getting an opportunity to work in the design department. I'm sure many people hold onto their careers at Rolex as long as they can. I would guess that the turn over rate is very low, so the chances of promotion are pretty low.

To me, working in the Rolex factory sounds prestigious, but in the end, I assume it is a nicely paid boring, very monotonous, high-pressure factory job in a super well lit sterile environment. Probably not the most enjoyable of jobs in the world.

Just some food for thought.

Helmi · 16 March 2018, 09:08 PM

It may sound boring but so is 90% of other jobs

airchitect · 16 March 2018, 09:11 PM

Working a job period is generally boring, monotonous, and high-pressure. It’s the exact reason we all love weekends/holidays, and spend crazy amounts on hobbies like this one. But hey, gotta keep the lights on.

Chewbacca · 16 March 2018, 09:26 PM

People who do those types of jobs are no different than line workers at an auto plant. They just do what they do with smaller tools and swap donuts for toblerone.

Lugduno · 16 March 2018, 09:33 PM

Probably not more fun or boring than most other jobs within the production business. Something that could make it a bit more bearable is the high level of automatisation and the specially made tools and machines, but besides this it feels like some more high-end watch companies would be more fun, especially considering the relatively low level of handmade details of the Rolex watches.

Etschell · 16 March 2018, 09:37 PM

i would rather visit.

TonyD · 16 March 2018, 10:13 PM

Its never the way you think...

I knew an engineer that worked for a local toy company. You imagine a colorful place filled with toys and people brainstorming new ideas. It was a horrible dreary place. They used contractors only and abused them until they quit and then got more. It was a grind to try and remove pennies from molded junk.

I visited Fisker in CA to work on a project with them. I thought it would be car guys enjoying making a new electric car. It was just a bunch of electrical engineers working on faceless circuits. None of them had any interest in cars, exciting new technology etc. None had ever even driven in the car they were working on.

THC · 16 March 2018, 10:23 PM

I imagine Rolex takes VERY good care of all their employees... The Rolex Way

jaySL350 · 16 March 2018, 10:25 PM

If its a 38mm datejust then my dj2 is gone,,,,

wytrader · 16 March 2018, 10:29 PM

A lot has to do with passion, the people that work at Rolex are easily above average in their field and therefore share an experience with a great likeminded group. Would you rather work at Ferrari or Ford? Rolex or Swatch?

Jim Smyth · 16 March 2018, 11:04 PM

I would love to be in the R&D department. I would have plenty of 1 off's!

TheButcher · 17 March 2018, 12:39 AM

I wonder how many Rolex employees are members on the forum ?

spoilsofwar01 · 17 March 2018, 01:05 AM

Imagine the staff discount not to mention the servicing for possibly free... Id be happy just cleaning and empting there production bins

wondering what ends up in them ?

rossi46 · 17 March 2018, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lugduno

especially considering the relatively low level of handmade details of the Rolex watches.

You'd be surprised:

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/inside-rolex

TurboDiesel · 17 March 2018, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossi46

You'd be surprised:

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/inside-rolex

Excellent read

EDL7 · 17 March 2018, 02:23 AM

I'd be happy to be the janitor there..sweeping all the discarded Rolexes off the floor into the trash..as well as the gold and PT shavings...lol..

prozac51 · 17 March 2018, 02:23 AM

When you're working in the magician's hat, the magic is gone. I'd rather be the one cheering outside when the rabbit comes out.

Sent from my HTC_2Q4D100 using Tapatalk

pickettt · 17 March 2018, 02:29 AM

Work, factory, no.

Wembleyisgreen · 17 March 2018, 02:32 AM

not enjoyable. I am sure Mcdonalds employees no longer enjoy the food.

MonBK · 17 March 2018, 02:33 AM

No I can't.

Rlxlvr1 · 17 March 2018, 02:59 AM

Butchers are usually vegetarians

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

tyler1980 · 17 March 2018, 03:25 AM

only we would think its fun to work there, because we don't. Same as it might be fun in principle to work at a bakery, until you gain 200 pounds.

I would probably like Rolex less if i saw behind the curtain. Not knowing adds some mystery.

AK797 · 17 March 2018, 04:20 AM

Much nicer conditions than the ones in GZ.

bjw · 17 March 2018, 04:52 AM

Actually not much is hand made. You would be overseeing the the automated machines. Machinists have been replaced by computer programmers for the most part.

Designing the concept watches would be were the fun is.

elcompa · 17 March 2018, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airchitect

Working a job period is generally boring, monotonous, and high-pressure. It’s the exact reason we all love weekends/holidays, and spend crazy amounts on hobbies like this one. But hey, gotta keep the lights on.

Dead on accurate!

thomaswentworth · 17 March 2018, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wytrader

A lot has to do with passion, the people that work at Rolex are easily above average in their field and therefore share an experience with a great likeminded group. Would you rather work at Ferrari or Ford? Rolex or Swatch?

I think your analogy is similar to dating your future wife. She is like working at Ferrari at first, but then after the initial super proud, joyous phase wears off, you figure out that you are simply assembling fuel injectors every day at the same ol' job (the grind) and your boss is looking over your shoulder all the time and reprimanding you when you screw something up.

dba · 17 March 2018, 05:19 AM

I have a pretty good imagination but I doubt working there would be "fun"

Ballzzz · 17 March 2018, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossi46

You'd be surprised:

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/inside-rolex

Amazing article for a noob, thank you.

Onikage · 17 March 2018, 06:15 AM

Better than a lot of factories. Rolex employees are far down my sympathy list.

DoctorA · 17 March 2018, 06:42 AM

I do t have to work at the car factory to enjoy driving it! And I don’t cook my meals at restaurants I visit either! ;)

16 March 2018, 09:04 PM	#1
thomaswentworth Banned Join Date: Feb 2018 Real Name: Tom Wentworth Location: Los Angeles Watch: Rolex 116610 Sub Posts: 541	Can you imagine how fun it would be to work at a Rolex factory? If you were a machinist, you would be standing in front of a CNC mill hour after hour and day after day making the exact same thing... let's say Submariner cases. You would only be doing your portion of the process. Then the item would go to someone else for the next step. If you were making dials, you would be doing the same thing day after day. The dial making process and the dial painting process and the dial printing process are likely done by different people. Can you imagine the pressure of dial printing? How about the pressure put on the QC team? Tolerances are extremely tight and unforgiving. Precision is required. It is probably not wise to show up for work at a Rolex factory hung over from a night at the disco. That would probably be frowned upon. The same monotony goes for bracelet production, crown production, stem production, bezel production, and the production of watch movement components. Standing or sitting all day plating parts or polishing cases would not be that great. I have seen a video in which robots do the polishing, but I don't know if that's real. If it is real, then you would be standing there pushing buttons to control the machine... which sounds less satisfying than hand polishing all day long, every single day of the work week. Putting together parts trays for the assemblers wouldn't be such a blast in the pants. And assembling the same movements over and over, day after day... meeting your quota... How much fun could that be? I wonder if there are "clicks" or groups who are treated as superior amongst the staff. Maybe the movement assemblers are considered the big dogs and you had better not get in their way. Maybe the smelters are the grungiest at the end of the day or maybe that honor belongs to the polishers. Sometimes "suits" will be walking the factory floors and then you'd really be on edge. I'm sure many people who work in polishing have dreams of getting a promotion into the cnc lathe department or maybe they have CAD/CAM skills and dream of getting an opportunity to work in the design department. I'm sure many people hold onto their careers at Rolex as long as they can. I would guess that the turn over rate is very low, so the chances of promotion are pretty low. To me, working in the Rolex factory sounds prestigious, but in the end, I assume it is a nicely paid boring, very monotonous, high-pressure factory job in a super well lit sterile environment. Probably not the most enjoyable of jobs in the world. Just some food for thought.

16 March 2018, 09:37 PM	#6
Etschell "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: FL Watch: platinum sub Posts: 15,884	i would rather visit. __________________ If you wind it, they will run. 25 or 6 to 4.

16 March 2018, 10:13 PM	#7
TonyD 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: Tony Location: Boston North Watch: Meteorite Daytona Posts: 1,468	Its never the way you think... I knew an engineer that worked for a local toy company. You imagine a colorful place filled with toys and people brainstorming new ideas. It was a horrible dreary place. They used contractors only and abused them until they quit and then got more. It was a grind to try and remove pennies from molded junk. I visited Fisker in CA to work on a project with them. I thought it would be car guys enjoying making a new electric car. It was just a bunch of electrical engineers working on faceless circuits. None of them had any interest in cars, exciting new technology etc. None had ever even driven in the car they were working on. __________________ Pepsi GMT/SD43/DSSD Blue/ DJ41 TT Rose Diamond Dial/ Daytona Meteorite/ SS Sky Dweller White Dial/ IWC Bronze Big Pilot/ Aquanautic Super King / Omega Ploprof 1200 / Graham Scarab Diver

16 March 2018, 10:29 PM	#10
wytrader "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: EU Watch: SD Posts: 583	A lot has to do with passion, the people that work at Rolex are easily above average in their field and therefore share an experience with a great likeminded group. Would you rather work at Ferrari or Ford? Rolex or Swatch? __________________ 116520 116710LN, 116710BLNR 16600 V NIB, 116660, 116660, 116600, 126600, 126660, 126660, 126603 126610LV

17 March 2018, 01:05 AM	#13
spoilsofwar01 "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2017 Real Name: "H" Location: England Watch: ing Rainclouds Posts: 1,439	I would Imagine the staff discount not to mention the servicing for possibly free... Id be happy just cleaning and empting there production bins wondering what ends up in them ?

16 March 2018, 09:08 PM	#2
Helmi "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Doha Posts: 2,065	It may sound boring but so is 90% of other jobs

16 March 2018, 09:11 PM	#3
airchitect "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: KY Watch: A few..... Posts: 3,796	Working a job period is generally boring, monotonous, and high-pressure. It’s the exact reason we all love weekends/holidays, and spend crazy amounts on hobbies like this one. But hey, gotta keep the lights on.

16 March 2018, 09:26 PM	#4
Chewbacca Banned Join Date: May 2012 Real Name: CJ Location: Kashyyyk Watch: Kessel Run Chrono Posts: 21,112	People who do those types of jobs are no different than line workers at an auto plant. They just do what they do with smaller tools and swap donuts for toblerone.

16 March 2018, 09:33 PM	#5
Lugduno "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: The Hague, NL Watch: Heuer Autavia Posts: 22	Probably not more fun or boring than most other jobs within the production business. Something that could make it a bit more bearable is the high level of automatisation and the specially made tools and machines, but besides this it feels like some more high-end watch companies would be more fun, especially considering the relatively low level of handmade details of the Rolex watches.

16 March 2018, 10:23 PM	#8
THC 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Real Name: Tom Location: Mandeville La Watch: 126333 Posts: 10,660	I imagine Rolex takes VERY good care of all their employees... The Rolex Way

16 March 2018, 10:25 PM	#9
jaySL350 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Real Name: jay Location: North London Watch: BBG,Hulk,16013,DJB Posts: 3,278	If its a 38mm datejust then my dj2 is gone,,,,

16 March 2018, 11:04 PM	#11
Jim Smyth Banned Join Date: Nov 2013 Real Name: Jim Smyth Location: Florida Watch: DD Posts: 1,842	I would love to be in the R&D department. I would have plenty of 1 off's!

17 March 2018, 12:39 AM	#12
TheButcher "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: vancouver Watch: 14060 & 16570 Posts: 183	I wonder how many Rolex employees are members on the forum ?

17 March 2018, 02:23 AM	#16
EDL7 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: USA Posts: 842	I'd be happy to be the janitor there..sweeping all the discarded Rolexes off the floor into the trash..as well as the gold and PT shavings...lol..

17 March 2018, 02:23 AM	#17
prozac51 "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Singapore Posts: 131	When you're working in the magician's hat, the magic is gone. I'd rather be the one cheering outside when the rabbit comes out. Sent from my HTC_2Q4D100 using Tapatalk

17 March 2018, 02:29 AM	#18
pickettt "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: California Watch: Shiny One Posts: 5,442	Work, factory, no.

17 March 2018, 02:32 AM	#19
Wembleyisgreen Banned Join Date: Mar 2018 Real Name: Mike Location: Allison Park Watch: 214270 Posts: 540	not enjoyable. I am sure Mcdonalds employees no longer enjoy the food.

17 March 2018, 02:33 AM	#20
MonBK Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kingstown Posts: 58,279	Can you imagine how fun it would be to work at a Rolex factory? No I can't.

17 March 2018, 02:59 AM	#21
Rlxlvr1 "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: New York Posts: 73	Butchers are usually vegetarians Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

17 March 2018, 03:25 AM	#22
tyler1980 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Houston Posts: 17,622	only we would think its fun to work there, because we don't. Same as it might be fun in principle to work at a bakery, until you gain 200 pounds. I would probably like Rolex less if i saw behind the curtain. Not knowing adds some mystery. __________________ Instagram: tyler.watches current collection: Patek 5164A, Patek 5524G, Rolex Platinum Daytona 116506, Rolex Sea Dweller 43 126600, Rolex GMT II 116710LN, AP 15400ST (silver), Panerai 913, Omega Speedmaster moonwatch, Tudor Black Bay (Harrods Edition)

17 March 2018, 04:20 AM	#23
AK797 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Real Name: Neil Location: UK Watch: ing ships roll in Posts: 59,368	Much nicer conditions than the ones in GZ.

17 March 2018, 04:52 AM	#24
bjw "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: USA Posts: 443	Actually not much is hand made. You would be overseeing the the automated machines. Machinists have been replaced by computer programmers for the most part. Designing the concept watches would be were the fun is. __________________ 116710 BLNR 16710 COKE Tudor 7922R Tudor 79220N Tudor 79260P Panda "Opinions are like wrist watches, everyone's shows different time from the other. But all believe that theirs is accurate. "

17 March 2018, 05:19 AM	#27
dba 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: David Location: Gardnerville, NV Watch: 16710 Posts: 2,703	Can you imagine how fun it would be to work at a Rolex factory? I have a pretty good imagination but I doubt working there would be "fun" __________________ Current: 16710 Previous: 16760 Fat Lady, 16613 Bluesy, 16800, 14060, 16710 Pepsi, 216570 Polar, 116710LN, 16610, 216570 Polar (again), 16713, 216570 Polar (yet again), 16710 Black w/ Pepsi Insert Hope is not a strategy.

17 March 2018, 06:15 AM	#29
Onikage "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: England Watch: 16710, 16628 Posts: 7,757	Better than a lot of factories. Rolex employees are far down my sympathy list. __________________ GMT II 16710 TRADITIONAL ( D- Serial #) ROLEXFANBOY P-Club Member #4

17 March 2018, 06:42 AM	#30
DoctorA "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: USA Posts: 6,545	I do t have to work at the car factory to enjoy driving it! And I don’t cook my meals at restaurants I visit either! ;) __________________ Wear the watch you like, not the one they tell you to wear!

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