Rolex calibre 3230

Five things to know about Rolex’s new-generation utility engine

It is a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology.

Launched in 2020, Rolex’s calibre 3230 exemplifies the adage ‘simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’. The COSC-certified, time-only movement is the culmination of over a century of constant research and development, packed to the brim with Rolex’s latest watchmaking innovations that led to the filing of several patents.

The calibre 3230 is the heir apparent of the ultra-dependable calibre 3130, which has been in Rolex’s catalogue for over two decades. Like its predecessor, the calibre 3230 is also a self-winding movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. The new movement comes with significant upgrades in terms of precision, power reserve, reliability, and resistance to shocks and magnetic fields. It is no wonder that calibre 3230 powers the new Oyster Perpetual Submariner, as well as the new Oyster Perpetual 41 and Oyster Perpetual 36 collections.

The Chronergy escapement patented by Rolex

It offers an inventive twist on a Swiss watchmaking standard.

In its pursuit of watchmaking excellence, Rolex turned its sight to improving the time-tested Swiss lever escapement, the standard escapement for mechanical watches today. Rather than reinvent the wheel, Rolex identified the Swiss lever escapement’s weaknesses and re-engineered various components to mitigate its shortcomings. Thus, the patented Chronergy escapement was born.

The Chronergy escapement, first used in the new-generation calibre 3255 presented by Rolex in the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 in 2015, is now also fitted in the calibre 3230, combining high energy efficiency with great dependability. In addition, it is made of a nickel-phosphorus alloy, which makes it insensitive to magnetic fields.

Rolex’s blue Parachrom hairspring

It is built for ultimate toughness.

Rolex is known for the performance and reliability of its timepieces, and its stable of robust movements is the foundation of this legacy. The calibre 3230 is no exception. It is equipped with the Rolex-patented blue Parachrom hairspring, manufactured by Rolex in an exclusive paramagnetic alloy that is exceptionally stable even in the face of temperature variations. The blue Parachrom hairspring is also up to 10 times more precise than a conventional hairspring in case of shocks. Augmenting the movement’s shock resistance, its oscillator is fitted on high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, designed and patented by Rolex.

It keeps working while you rest on weekends.

The calibre 3230, equipped with a self-winding module via a Perpetual rotor, has a power reserve of approximately 70 hours, an almost 50 per cent bump from that of its predecessor. This means one can leave his Oyster Perpetual Submariner or Oyster Perpetual 41 on the dresser on Friday, and the watch will still be keeping perfect time come Monday. This is thanks to the superior efficiency of the Chronergy escapement, as well as an ingeniously reworked barrel architecture.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 in Oystersteel with silver dial Ref. M124300

It is a watchmaker’s dream.

With a specified accuracy of -2/+2 seconds per day, the calibre 3230 is remarkably easy to regulate. Beating with a frequency of 28,800 BPH, the oscillator’s variable inertia can be precisely regulated via four gold Microstella nuts on its large balance wheel. The heart of the movement is also mounted firmly on a height-adjustable traversing bridge that facilitates exceptional stability to enhance shock resistance.

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