Before a Rolex can leave the site to be sold, it has to undergo a series of extreme tests. Each watch is pushed to measures they aren’t likely to ever endure to prove their reliability.
Here are some of the company’s harsh testing methods.
High impact tests
There are more than 20 different drop tests that Rolex watches have to pass. The most serious of the tests sees the watch face an impact of 5,000 G, which is hundreds of times more force than used in a car crash test.
Testing Deepsea Watches
A high performance tank stimulates the pressure at 16,000 feet below sea level. Rolex Deepsea watches are placed into this tank to guarantee their resistance to water. The force on the watch during this test is equal to a weight of 4.5 tonnes.
Wear over time
A test called “Years in a Week” gives designers details on how the watch will behave over a long period of time. The experiment features a robotic arm which stimulates everyday movements. Some low intensity shocks and more forceful actions also occur, to have the effect of years of wear of a Rolex in a week.
Waterproof testing
The Oyster Perpetual model provides incredible protection against water, dust and impacts. To test the reliability of this particular watch, each one is immersed in water. The watch is then subjected to pressure greater than what it’s guaranteed to resist. In the case of testing divers watches, the pressure is 25% more than assured.
The intensity of these methods are enough to cause some watches to break beyond repair.
All Rolex watches available to purchase have survived this vigorous testing, therefore all are certified. They’ve each met the high standards set by the prestigious brand.
The information in this blog post has been sourced from www.rolex.com