It’s the technology of bonding gold crystals to the dial. This method is used not only on the three subdials, but also for the lettering and the chapter ring.
This movement unites the leading Swiss minds (Felsa, Veus, UN, Rolex…).
One must look back at the actual auctions, where watches tied to this project were repeatedly put up for bidding up to three times. These were self buying and self-selling transactions. They are not insane, nor are they trying to defraud anyone of a few hundred thousand dollars, which is negligible for a project of this scale. In reality, they are baiting a response and stirring the pot. As ufor Rolex, they remained silent and covertly boycotted that auction house a move completely without precedent. Why have they not filed a lawsuit? This action clearly constitutes more than enough grounds for a defamation suit. However, suing would prove the project is real, as they would be legally required to disclose the entire archive.
Analyzing watchmaking technology naturally turns one into a polite historical storyteller. Why do so many people claim that the movement I previously reviewed resembles China's TY601 and old Soviet mechanisms? To understand this, we must travel back to the 1950s and 1960s. During this era, Venus was the ultimate survival powerhouse among Swiss movement manufacturers. In reality, Venus’s designs utilized raw Arcap material supplied by the US. Ulysse Nardin would then meticulously hand-refine them, and while Rolex could apply exquisite decoration to the movement, the outer casing remained purely Rolex. So, why the resemblance to Soviet and Chinese designs? In the early 1960s, facing severe financial distress, Venus sold off a portion of their machinery and designs to the Soviet Union and China. Later on, China legally bought out the technology, whereas the Soviet Union simply pirated it. It’s a long story—let’s continue in the comments
Just look at the movement in the photo. It’s a completely unique design. The most incredible part is that it runs in total silence—you won't hear a thing even with your ear pressed right against the caseback or the crystal. It looks like a simple 3-hand watch built with classic 1970s technology. Why is it so bizarre? Because it wasn't made for the public. It was a custom order built for ultimate shockproof protection, using a solid ARCAP ring molded directly onto the plate, floating inside without being screwed to the case. It’s a movement with zero official specs, but it carries the signature mark of a historic partnership between Rolex and a titan of watchmaking from that era.
I want to share and get your insights on Rolex’s gold crystal bonding technology used on the three sub-dials. The first photo I sent shows the gold crystals magnified 50 times—it looks just like a mountain range. The second photo highlights a detail of gold dust left under the letter 'L'. It seems like they pressed an entire layer of gold and then machined it, leaving some remnants behind. My dial is quite unique with its gold crystal text and tracks, and the design is a bit unusual, which I will analyze later. Today, I’d love for everyone to just focus on analyzing Rolex’s gold crystal craftsmanship. Looking forward to your expertise!
I have magnified the micro-etched Rolex crown on the crystal by 50x. It is absolutely stunning—like celestial pearls aligning to form a crown. Rolex's engineering from 20 years ago was truly top-tier. I have never encountered a shot like this online; the internet only has images like the second one, which tops out at 10x magnification. Eager to hear your thoughts and share insights!