Site icon Grail Watch Reference

Rolex 3135

© Rolex

Rolex Cal. 3135 is a mainstream automatic movement with date produced by Rolex from 1988 through at least 2009. It replaced the Cal. 3035 in the famous Datejust and other Rolex Date models and was updated with an in-house Parachrom spring beginning in 2009. The new Chronergy-based Cal. 3235 appeared in 2015 and is replacing Cal. 3135 and the larger Cal. 3136 across the board.

Like most other contemporary Rolex movements, Cal. 3135 measures 28.50 mm in diameter. When the larger 41 mm Datejust II was introduced in 2009, Rolex created a special larger movement for it, Cal. 3136. Although similar in many ways to Cal. 3135, it measures 30.97 mm in diameter, with a larger date wheel, and adds the new Rolex-made Paraflex shock absorbers.

One major upgrade for the 3100 family was the use of a full balance bridge rather than the simple balance cock used previously. This added stability and durability to an already well-respected movement. The balance is made of the advanced beryllium/copper alloy known as Glucydur and uses Microstella regulation using four screws inside. The balance uses a Nivarox hairspring, the only component not produced in-house by Rolex, and features a Breguet overcoil laser welded to the balance stud. The automatic winding gears, coated in PTFE, are deep red colored, and the rotor uses synthetic rubies rather than ball bearings. Most 3100 movements still use the Kif Elastor anti-shock system on the balance.

3000 Family3100 FamilyParachrom FamilyChronergy Family
1977-20011988-20102005-present2015-present
Time Only300031303130
3132
Milgauss3131
Datejust303531353135
3136
3235
Day-Date305531553155
3156
3255
GMT307531753187
GMT II3085318531863285
Exit mobile version