Dr. N.
The launch of the new Rolex Submariner 126610 has monopolized the attention of enthusiasts and collectors. But it wasn't the only news presented by Rolex to September 2020st XNUMX: the House of the Crown has in fact unveiled the new version of a model with a long history, which precedes the same Rolex Submariner.
We speak of course of the Rolex Datejust, revisited in its version by 31 Millimeters in diameter. Let's go together to find out how Rolex has renewed one of its most iconic timepieces.
Rolex Datejust: why the restyling?
The Rolex Datejust, presented in 1945, summarizes the characteristics for which Rolex has become famous. The self-winding Perpetual movement, the waterproof Oyster case, the date window that clicks precisely at midnight, are all innovations that brought the Crown House to fame in the first half of the twentieth century. The Rolex Datejust, in addition to being a still very valid watch, is a reference to the era in which the name Rolex it meant quality and robustness, before it became a status symbol.
Il Rolex Datejust he represented for Rolex a symbol of quality and tradition. In maintaining the original shapes, Rolex has gradually inserted new technical measures aimed at making this model increasingly precise and reliable, combining it with cautious aesthetic nods to underline the technological changes that have occurred "under the skin".
The cautious aesthetic renewal combined with a gradual but sure technical innovation is also the hallmark of this new generation of Rolex Datejust 31mm. The new Rolex Datejust 278274 in fact, it presents some significant technical innovations compared to its predecessor, the Rolex Datejust 178274.
On an aesthetic level, the differences are not too marked. The slight reinterpretation of the shape of the case serves to underline the novelty of theRolex watch, without, however, detaching itself from the forms that have made it successful over time.
The real innovations are, as often happens with Rolex, hidden under the skin. The Rolex Datejust 278274 It is equipped with the in-house movement Rolex 3236, developed on the basis of the previous 3235. The new movement, already tested on the Rolex Datejust 28 mm, is now also introduced on the Rolex Datejust 31mm. The great innovation of this Rolex movement is undoubtedly the named silicon hairspring Siloxi.
Rolex Datejust 31 mm: the new Siloxi hairspring
The silicon hairspring Rolex Siloxi it is, like all objects made with this material, antimagnetic. No magnetic field, however strong, interacts with the atoms of this material, derived from the computer industry. The advantage in terms of precision is evident: in addition to being insensitive to magnetism, the Rolex Siloxi hairspring it is characterized by great resistance to temperature variations and humidity.
However, no rose is without thorns: like all innovative materials, the silicon spiral also has disadvantages. First of all, the maintenance difficulty: only specialized watchmakers are able to work on silicon hairsprings without breaking them - and if you want to contact someone, we recommend the specific section of our website -. Furthermore, as we have explained in this article, the mechanical watch is designed to last indefinitely over time. Inserting components that can only be made by specialized companies in the electronics sector entails the risk that in fifty or one hundred years it will no longer be possible to build the replacement component. The silicon path was taken by great manufacturers such as Patek Philippe, Rolex and Omega, therefore it is not out of a – moreover senseless – snobbery that we make this criticism. The problem it is methodological: the presence of a potentially non-replicable component in the future, moreover in a vital part of the mechanical watch such as the balance wheel, denies the raison d'être of the mechanical watch, i.e. its being a bridge to the future .
Rolex Datejust 31 mm: conclusions
The new Rolex Datejust 31mm it is a watch of considerable importance for Rolex. It represents innovation in the wake of continuity that has made the Casa della Corona famous. The technical innovations of this model are not free of contraindications - like any technical choice - but they certainly have a charm for those who seek modernity.
Let us know in the comments what you think about the new one Rolex Datejust 31mm!
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