Most interesting point of the article is the fact that Rolex are now using MEMS techniques to make silicon mechanical parts for watches.<p>IMO that’s kind of “cheating”, fab tech makes it way too easy compared to traditional metal machining craftsmanship.
I know folks are going to complain about the aesthetic. As they do literally every time Rolex does something "new".<p>e.g. the Skydweller in the last decade or so.<p>This watch is interesting in that it draws on the Genta-esque integrated bracelet (also reminiscent of their 70s-era quartz stuff). I personally like the hexagons. I think everyone "will have always loved this" in 5-10 years.<p>The technical details of the watch are really on brand for Rolex: they just kinda turned everything up to 11, i.e. new escapement, turning up the BPS, thinner. Overall, I think it's really a great watch.
Meta: wish more watches had a day (of the week) display/complication.<p>Date (of the month) is fine, but Tuesday to Friday often tend to blur together nowadays (especially post-COVID hybrid), and it'd be nice to have that option.<p>* <a href="https://teddybaldassarre.com/en-ca/blogs/watches/day-date-watches" rel="nofollow">https://teddybaldassarre.com/en-ca/blogs/watches/day-date-wa...</a>
Rolex has an animation on their site (scroll about 1/3 down): <a href="https://www.rolex.com/en-us/watches/land-dweller" rel="nofollow">https://www.rolex.com/en-us/watches/land-dweller</a><p>They will really have to have good tolerances, because now there are two wheels connected via a gear instead of just the one in a Lever escapement. The wheels themselves interlock because of their shape, but there's going to be additional backlash.<p>I'm wondering if the hollow areas in the wheels provide some impact shock resilience with the sides flexing a tiny bit.
The design language sort of echos, to me, the Atelier Wen Perception with the integrated bracelet. Neither of these watches are for me but sort of interesting seeing this style comeback after so many years of diver/tool watches with straps.<p><a href="https://us.atelierwen.com/products/perception" rel="nofollow">https://us.atelierwen.com/products/perception</a>
If you want to have a close-up look at wristwatch movements, including Rolex's, I enjoy Wristwatch Revival on YouTube[1]<p>He's a gifted amateur, and it looks like a very soothing hobby (until you manage to lose one of the springs).<p>[1] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/WristwatchRevival" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/c/WristwatchRevival</a>
Rolex is a funny brand. They have cheap models that exist exclusively for you to make a dealer happy by buying several of them, before they will consider allowing you to buy a high-end watch.<p>“Normal” people can’t actually buy these high-end Rolexes, even if they have the money.
Why does 80% of the article describe the movement technically and 20% sounds like AI/crypto hype? Two paragraphs about how the thing works followed by one about how it will change everything or some "unparallelled" sprinkled in...