Feeling blue... parachrom blue!

[kingblackbolt]

What is the informed opinion of all the Rolex experts (and amateurs like me) regarding the new blue parachrom?

It certainly sounds like quite an innovation... high magnetic resistance, low friction, non-corrosive and that funky blue colour (very similar to JJ's bluesy!)

I have researched the net and some pump their fists and believe this to be quite an improvement while others simply shake their heads and mutter 'Rolex hype'

This is in newer models like the GMT IIc and has been in the Daytonas for a few years now.

So what do you think...?

[padi56]

IMHO its 95% pure hype and would seriously doubt if its more accurate or proved more anti-magnetic in life than the old ETA Nivarox hairsprings that Rolex used for decades before.
The Parachrome spring is most certainly 95% pure hype,and the main reason for Rolex to develop there own hairspring.Was one to stop the strangle hold Hayek from the ETA Swatch group,there main supplier of balance springs,they had such a hold,on nearly all the Swiss watch manufactures including Rolex. But Rolex now can manufacture there own, but still Swatch Nivarox was/is there main hairspring supplier until Rolex becomes totally self sufficient.

Lets not forget that ETA Nivarox H/springs have been in Rolex watches for 40 plus years.But now the only need for this new parachrome balance hair-spring,to be completely self sufficient in all watch parts for Rolex watches.Parachome is just a word like superlative, Rolesor, Rolesium and many more.Is it going to be more accurate or long lasting than the Nivarox springs IMHO I would doubt it.

Rolex movements from the 15XX upward have been very accurate and extremely long lasting. Just look how many of the vintage ones are still running today 40 years on plus.Fact John Harrisons marine chronometer a watch made nearly 300 years ago is as accurate as the best Swiss watches made today without the parachrome hairspring

[GeoGio Greece]

+ 1.

A friend of mine, an Electrical Eng., wearing a SUB no date was for years in the shipyards and next to magnets with fields that lifted metal sheets of 1,25 x 2,5x 0,02 meters, or generators with similar strong fields. It never got magnetized, nor lost its relevant accuracy - Non COSC.

Rolex has to make some fresh marketing, on renovation and excellence, to fight back other companies.

We love them for their endurance and looks. Any parachrom, will not for sure add to it more.

[CanuckRolex]

sorry, but I agree it is a benefit.

Most people saying it won't make a difference probably don't even know their watches are magnetized as we speak.

With the amount of problems I am having with watches being magnetized, I think it is something of an improvement and avoids the problems created from an expanding electronic world and the related magnetic fields that come with it.

[kingblackbolt]

Excellent answers gentlemen (in particular the ever eloquent Padi!) this is exactly why I asked this here... no place like TRF!

I did not realize that Rolex was having it springs supplied to them? It makes perfect sense that they would choose to manufacture their own and then hype the hell out of it...

[CVerKuilen]

http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/05/0...om-hairspring/

http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/10/17/parachrom-video/

To all of the non-believers, the proof is in the pudding. On top of antimagnetic properties, the hairspring is MUCH less susceptible to physical shock than a standard Nivarox. This means that when your wrist hits an object, regardless of the amount of force, the hairspring does not move / hit the balance bridge or wheel / move from it's form nearly as much, resulting in a more consistently accurate timekeeper.

[Tools]

I don't think that there is any question that the Parachrom hairspring is a revolutionary jump for Rolex in that it helps solidify their in-house capabilities.

But, still, the proclaimed benefits are likely more hype than they are reality for making the watch perform significantly better.

The hairspring itself may be less susceptible to shock...but what does that mean when it's the staff, pivot, or jewel that actually breaks.... or The shock system that actually does the protecting of the delicate balance..

A Rolex that operates within COSC is already 99.9 percent accurate....so far, the new parachrome versions are not any more efficient than that...

So, let's give Rolex credit for a personal breakthrough....and add their ability to make their own hairspring to their list of credits..... but let's not go overboard and say that a watch with one is going to perform "significantly" better than a watch with another top-end hairspring..

[ohlins]

well looks like it's a case of we agree to disagree..... :)

anyway it's not regular and often we can witness a new material introduced for hairsprings, be it spiromax by patek or parachrom bleu by rolex..... or silicium by UN or something unique by A Lange and Sohne.....

[leopardprey]

I would say it is an improvement. Maybe a minor one that may be hyped up, but still an improvement. And as other have stated, makes Rolex movements more of a "complete" in-house movement than before, which some seem to put in high regard.

But, Rolex watches made over the last 25 years have stood up pretty darn well without it.

As for recent improvements Rolex has made, I would say the Maxi Style Larger Hands was the best one!

[Lol-x]

A watch and it's movement are the sum of all it's parts. The hairspring is but one of those parts. The hairspring is a very important part and it is an objective improvement, according to Rolex, in terms of it's performance.

So although it is not the be all and end all, I do consider it to be a step up in that single component of the movement, but not a revolution in the movement.

[CanuckRolex]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

A watch and it's movement are the sum of all it's parts. The hairspring is but one of those parts. The hairspring is a very important part and it is an objective improvement, according to Rolex, in terms of it's performance.

So although it is not the be all and end all, I do consider it to be a step up in that single component of the movement, but not a revolution in the movement.

Here here!

[ArizonaHD]

More hype, justification for another price increase - IMHO

[kingblackbolt]

Originally Posted by ArizonaHD

More hype, justification for another price increase - IMHO

When did they ever need justification for a price increase?