Community Stories

Rolex Innovates Watch Accuracy With Imaging

blufinz52
Posts
3,157
Likes
8,274
According to a patent made public Monday, Rolex said it has developed a new method to improve measurement accuracy which could revolutionize how mechanical watches are regulated in the future.

Instead of the traditional method of “hearing” the ticking sound of a watch over a short interval, Rolex's new approach would use advance imaging and a computer algorithm to determine movement transitions of the seconds hand — termed sauts in French, or “jumps” — with exceptional precision.

https://coron.et/new-1minute-reads/rolex-watch-accuracy-imaging-new-patent
 
Vercingetorix
Posts
3,685
Likes
6,253
Seems like technology that would be most beneficial in a production environment. Makes regulating faster.
 
adonalsium
Posts
25
Likes
52
I'd be interested in how much this actually improves measurement.
 
Walrus
Posts
10,032
Likes
48,060
On a side note I was listening to Bloomberg business on the way to work. They read the announcement that Rolex increased prices 8% this year. They got in a short talk on watches and mentioned Bloomberg does track the value of watches on a “ticker” but didn’t go into detail. I gotta look I usually just listen to the radio not TV broadcast.

Anyway interesting they are changing ways to measure time. I’m reading about it now, it at least sounds interesting.
 
Archer
Posts
27,953
Likes
71,255
It would be great if the article stated what problem this is supposed to solve. Watch timing is done initially on a timing machine that uses sounds, but after assembly the timing is verified through a series of checks. This appears to be more of an internal cost savings thing for Rolex than any breakthrough in watch accuracy.

Witschi already makes a timing machine that has both acoustic and optical timing, looking at the actual balance wheel. This seems like just a variation on that idea…
 
adonalsium
Posts
25
Likes
52
Archer Archer
It would be great if the article stated what problem this is supposed to solve. Watch timing is done initially on a timing machine that uses sounds, but after assembly the timing is verified through a series of checks. This appears to be more of an internal cost savings thing for Rolex than any breakthrough in watch accuracy.

Witschi already makes a timing machine that has both acoustic and optical timing, looking at the actual balance wheel. This seems like just a variation on that idea…
Yeah exactly. Unless it makes the watches more accurate, they're not accurate enough for timing machines to be any worse.
 
E
Posts
303
Likes
301
Archer Archer
It would be great if the article stated what problem this is supposed to solve. Watch timing is done initially on a timing machine that uses sounds, but after assembly the timing is verified through a series of checks. This appears to be more of an internal cost savings thing for Rolex than any breakthrough in watch accuracy.

Witschi already makes a timing machine that has both acoustic and optical timing, looking at the actual balance wheel. This seems like just a variation on that idea…
This is just them reporting on a patent application, so the news doesn't really have any information on it.

I would guess that this is very simply an optimization for manufacturing, and doesn't actually gain anything over audio other than you can check multiples at one point without separating them too much. Basically, a few cheap cameras can keep an eye on a few dozen watches, vs a separate microphone for each, plus having to separate them.

Someone above mentioned the ability to take out backlash, but backlash is gone as soon as the watch starts moving, so I don't think that this is in any way more accurate/reliable/etc, it is just capable of doing so in a noisy environment.
 
Pastorbottle
Posts
2,426
Likes
4,177
Maybe the big innovation is a new lot of exclusive bullshit words for marketing department to use!
 
Pvt-Public
Posts
2,525
Likes
3,573
Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
Maybe the big innovation is a new lot of exclusive bullshit words for marketing department to use!
Maybe to justify even higher pricing. As if they need to, they are Rolex and do whatever they please.
 
Archer
Posts
27,953
Likes
71,255
Pvt-Public Pvt-Public
Maybe to justify even higher pricing. As if they need to, they are Rolex and do whatever they please.
Surely if this improves efficiency, they will pass the savings on…right…😉
 
Pastorbottle
Posts
2,426
Likes
4,177
Archer Archer
Surely if this improves efficiency, they will pass the savings on…right…😉
Absolutely correct they will pass the savings onto the shareholders.......What you didn't think the consumer was ever going to get a look in did you?......Fat chance of that!
 
blufinz52
Posts
3,157
Likes
8,274
Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
Absolutely correct they will pass the savings onto the shareholders.......What you didn't think the consumer was ever going to get a look in did you?......Fat chance of that!
There are no shareholders. It's a private charitable trust.
 
blufinz52
Posts
3,157
Likes
8,274
Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
Charitable in name only, I dare say
Just two ways they use their charitable trust:

-The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative supports ocean exploration and environmental research and preservation.

-The foundation supports entrepreneurial programs in developing countries, scholarships, apprenticeships, and watchmaking schools.
 
Pastorbottle
Posts
2,426
Likes
4,177
If it's anything like a lot of big corporately run charities only a small percentage of the revenue actually goes to benefit the good works while the bulk of it is consumed by the overheads like the shiny office space for the over paid under worked senior executives and board member sto swan about looking important in on the rare occasions they actually bother to turn up as they are normally too busy jetting about on some gravy train junket, playing golf or having lunch!

Don't mind me I'm just a cynical old bastard who refuses swallow the bullshit all the dickheads in suits keep trying to feed me!
Edited:
 
blufinz52
Posts
3,157
Likes
8,274
Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
Don't mind me I'm just a cynical old bastard
Really? We hadn't noticed 🙄
 
Pastorbottle
Posts
2,426
Likes
4,177
blufinz52 blufinz52
Really? We hadn't noticed 🙄
I figured you mightn't have noticed.....easy to miss, so I just thought I should point it out in case the unobservant amongst you didn't notice! 🤣
 
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

Leviathan

Do you prefer watch accuracy or stability?

Leviathan Modern Omega Watches
A
alakapla1
Posts
34
Views
4K
TechFounder

Watch accuracy and performance

TechFounder Open Discussion
Deafboy
Deafboy
Posts
24
Views
5K
mrchen

Thought Experiment: Watch Accuracy in Outer Space?

mrchen Open Discussion
sevenhelmet
sevenhelmet
Posts
9
Views
1K
llvhhui

App that tests watch accuracy?

llvhhui Open Discussion
Tacket
Tacket
Posts
11
Views
21K
Bp1000

New watch accuracy and changes

Bp1000 Modern Omega Watches
midcentury
midcentury
Posts
3
Views
867
Dedalus05

[Gratuitous Bragging Inside] - Watch Accuracy of 48 Yr Old Constellation.

Dedalus05 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
paulwatch001
paulwatch001
Posts
12
Views
1K