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You are here: Home / Families / Rolex 3000 Family

Rolex 3000 Family

Last Update: November 19, 2019

BRANDS: Rolex

Production: 1977 – 2001
1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
Rolex Cal. 3000
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Rolex developed the Cal. 3000 family in the 1970s just as quartz movements were taking over the market. It was designed to replace the Cal. 1500 family of movements and was developed alongside the Oysterquartz Cal. 5000 family. The Cal. 3000 movements represented a new standard for movement design and production in the 1970s and are respected today for their durability and simplicity.

These movements operate at 28,800 A/h and measure 12.5 ligne (28.5 mm) in diameter. They feature bi-directional automatic winding and most are chronometer certified. The movement are 5.8 to 6.3 mm thick, with 27 jewels. They have a power reserve of 48 to 50 hours. Unlike later Rolex movements, which use a balance bridge, Cal. 3000 movements feature a simple clockwise balance cock.

Cal. 3000 lasted in production until 2001

Most movements in this family use a free-sprung Breguet overcoil and all have a hairspring glued to the balance stud. They all also feature Microstella regulation on the balance. Notably, Cal. 3000 was the last Rolex movement to not feature a Breguet overcoil for the hairspring. Despite the choice of a flat hairspring, Cal. 3000 achieved Chronometer certification, with accuracy of +4/-6 seconds per day.

Setting the time on the Cal. 3000 family of movements is “backward” from usual expectations, with the crown rotated counter-clockwise to advance the hour and minute hands. This was changed in the follow-on Cal. 3100 movements, but remains an item of lore among Rolex fans.

The Cal. 3000 family began in 1977 with Cal. 3035, famously used in the Rolex Datejust and Submariner models, and was phased out in favor of the Cal. 3100 family beginning in 1988. But Cal. 3000, introduced in 1989, lasted in production through 2001.

1500 Family1520 Family1560 Chronometer1570 Family3000 Family
Time Only15301520156015703000
Milgauss1580M
Datejust15351525156515753035
Day-Date155515563055
GMT1565GMT1575GMT3075
GMT II3085
3000 Family3100 FamilyParachrom FamilyChronergy Family
1977-20011988-20102005-present2015-present
Time Only300031303130
3132
Milgauss3131
Datejust303531353135
3136
3235
Day-Date305531553155
3156
3255
GMT307531753187
GMT II3085318531863285
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Calibre Start Year End Year Jewels Diameter (mm) Height (mm) Complications
Rolex 3000 1989 2001 27 28.50 5.80 Hacking Seconds, Hand Winding
Rolex 3035 1977 1988 27 28.50 6.35 Date, Hacking Seconds, Hand Winding, Instant Date Change, Quick Date Correction
Rolex 3055 1977 1988 27 28.50 7.11 Date, Day, Hacking Seconds, Hand Winding, Outer Day Wheel, Quick Date Correction
Rolex 3075 1981 1988 27 28.50 6.35 24 Hour Hand, Date, GMT Hand, Hacking Seconds, Hand Winding, Instant Date Change, Quick Date Correction
Rolex 3085 1983 1989 27 28.50 7.20 24 Hour Hand, Date, GMT Hand, Hacking Seconds, Hand Winding, Independently-Adjustable 12 Hour Hand, Instant Date Change, Quick Date Correction
Rolex Cal. 3000

Rolex 3000
Rolex Cal. 3035

Rolex 3035

Rolex 3055
Rolex Cal. 3075

Rolex 3075

Rolex 3085

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