A Rolex watch’s caseback does not reveal its movement. Photo: Luxurylaunches
Source:
https://scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3104670/rolex-vs-patek-philippe-day-date-and-submariner-nautilus Watches
Rolex vs Patek Philippe: from the Day-Date and Submariner to the Nautilus and Calatrava collection, 6 key differences between the world’s 2 most iconic watch brands
Iconic luxury watch brands Rolex and Philippe boast similar prestige, heritage, and sales results, but that’s where their commonalities end – their movements, designs and complications are all completely different
Despite being so often compared, Rolex and Patek Philippe occupy completely different worlds. Photo: Luxurylaunches
Patek Philippe and Rolex are usually the first two names that come up when discussing luxury watches. Both brands have proven track records in prestige, heritage, iconic references, and auctions results.
But that’s where the similarities end. Despite being so often compared, the two brands simply do not compete on the same playing field. Don’t believe us? Here are six examples of how Patek Philippe and Rolex are completely different.
Visibility of the movement
The movement of a Rolex watch isn’t visible, while most Patek Philippe watches incorporate a sapphire caseback through which the movement can be admired. Rolex prioritises reliable movements, while Patek Philippe presents its movements as true works of art.
Finishing of the movement
A great portion of Patek Philippe’s prices are linked to the amount of work that is done in the finishing of it’s movements.
The detailed finishing of a Patek Philippe watch movement. Photo: Luxurylaunches
For Rolex, the finishing of its movements is much more basic.
The finishing of a Rolex watch movement is more simple. Photo: Luxurylaunches
Industrialisation
Rolex produces watches in a much more industrialised way than Patek Philippe, which requires more manual operations. This also explains the difference in production volumes: around 800,000 watches per year for Rolex and around 60,000 for Patek Philippe.
Design codes
Some Rolex watches – such as the Submariner, the GMT and the Explorer – feature Mercedes hands, while others – like the Datejust, Day-Date, Milgauss and Daytona – have different types of hands. Contrast this to Patek Philippe’s Calatrava collection, which alone incorporates more types of hands than Rolex’s entire line-up.
Why is Rolex the world’s most-coveted watch brand? In terms of shape, all Rolex watches are around, while Patek Philippe offers the Nautilus, the Aquanaut, the Gondolo, the Ellipse, the Twenty-4, pocket watches, clocks, and more varieties.
Materials
Rolex mostly produces sports watches, so the brand has many steel models. On the other hand, Patek Philippe produces many watches in precious materials such as gold and platinum. And even when the brand produces steel watches, it frames them in a less utilitarian way. For instance, it marketed the Nautilus with the slogan, “One of the world’s costliest watches is made of steel”.
Patek Philippe’s ad campaign for the Nautilus. Photo: Luxurylaunches
Complications
You won’t find minute repeaters, tourbillons, perpetual calendars, worldtimers, or power reserve indicators in Rolex watches. On the flipside, Philippe Patek is famously known for its complications.
This article originally appeared on Luxurylaunches.