Rolex movements


Brand: Rolex
Model: cal. 3135
Diameter: 28.5mm
Thickness: 6mm
Vibration Frequency: 28,800 MPH
Jewel: 31 pieces
Power Reserve: 50 hours
Function: instantaneous jump date, hour-minute-second
Balance Wheel: four-arm alloy balance
Weight: 4 pieces (2 adjustable weights included)
Hairspring: Parachrom balance spring
Shock System: Kif shock absorber device
Known Models: Submariner, Sea-Dweller, Deepsea, Yacht-Master, Datejust, Datejust II

Rolex Submariner divers watch ref. 116610LV-97200 with Calibre 3135

Cal. 3135, a self-winding mechanical movement is entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Like all Rolex Perpetual movements, the 3135 is a certified Swiss chronometer, a designation reserved for high-precision watches that have successfully passed the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) tests. Due to stable and accurate performance, it has win widespread praise from other watch brands in the industry and customers since it was launched formally in 1988. After 30 years of development, Cal. 3135 is still the king of automatic movements, a Rolex basic movement which is used most widely in Rolex watches for now. Here I analyze its strength and weakness in details.

Calibre 3135

Most of Rolex Date men’s watches are equipped with Cal. 3135, for example, Rolex Submariner green watch reference 116610. Some of Rolex ladies’ watches for small diameter are equipped with Cal. 2235 self-winding movements. The difference between cal. 3135 and cal. 2235 is the size, the diameter of cal. 2235 is 20 mm.

Cal. 3135 consists of 195 components and parts, as far as I know. Based on cal. 3035, cal. 3135 has more stable and excellent performance after optimized. The balance cock is developed from single fulcrum to double-pivot structure.

From the pallet, the escape wheel and three wheels, we can easily get the information that the diameter and teeth of each wheel are the same, so that the escapement can greatly reduce power consumption.

The eleven components and parts make up a self-winding system. The red gears with TEFLON treatment has excellent resistance to wear, corrosion and friction.

Two yellow gold gears above will be used to stop the balance wheel when the crown is pilled out.

In addition to delicate design, the accuracy is also affected by materials. Parachrom balance hairspring made of niobium and zirconium and oxygen-containing alloy is applied to Cal. 3135, offering greater resistance to shocks and to temperature variations. Its architecture, in common with all Oyster watch movements, makes it singularly reliable.

There isn’t a flawless and perfect thing in the world. Its weakness isn’t known by many people. If the watch with cal. 3135 gets good maintenance, there won’t be big issues. Generally, the end of the automatic axle is easy to be frayed. The issues come along as the abrasion comes out. The long-term abrasion will lead to increase the gap. Slowly, the wheel loses normal balance, then the plywood will be scratched. The worse status is that the coating has lost its color. So regular maintenance is necessary.