Located near Geneva, the Chêne-Bourg site houses all dial development and production activities, as well as those related to gemology and setting. It is also where Cerachrom bezel discs and hi-tech ceramic Cerachrom bezels are manufactured.
The Art of Precision: At the Heart of Rolex Dial Manufacturing
In the picturesque Swiss landscape, just a stone's throw from Geneva, lies Chêne-Bourg, a location that might look like a quiet alpine retreat but is actually the beating heart of one of the most sophisticated operations in the universe of luxury watchmaking. Here, at Rolex's dedicated production site, each dial of the world's most iconic watches comes to life through a combination of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology. Rolex's decision to concentrate the entire production process in Switzerland reflects a deep commitment to excellence and autonomy. With more than 9,000 employees spread among its four main production sites, Rolex is not only a symbol of luxury, but also a beacon of innovation and precision in watchmaking.
The Creative Process of Quadrants
A Journey Through Art and Science The Chêne-Bourg site is a veritable forge of beauty and precision, where the manufacture of each dial is the result of at least 60 meticulous operations. This complex process begins with the selection of the finest materials, such as brass and 18-carat gold, and continues with advanced coloring techniques, such as physical vapor deposition and lacquering performed in sterile environments, known as "clean rooms," to avoid any possible contamination. Some dials are distinguished by the use of extraordinary materials such as mother-of-pearl, meteorite or semi-precious stones, selected according to unparalleled quality standards, which give each watch a unique and unmistakable personality.
The Setting
Precision Jewelry No less important is the art of gem-setting practiced at Chêne-Bourg, where diamonds and precious stones are selected and mounted with a precision that defies imagination. Each gemstone, before adorning a Rolex watch, undergoes rigorous testing in the company's gemology department, ensuring that only stones that meet Rolex's very high standards are used.
Innovations in Ceramics
Cerachrom Bezels A separate chapter deserves the Chêne-Bourg ceramic workshop, where the revolutionary Cerachrom bezels are created from hi-tech ceramic, a material chosen for its hardness and scratch resistance. The creation of these components, through a process that includes physical vapor deposition, testifies to Rolex's relentless pursuit of perfection. The launch of two-tone Cerachrom discs in the GMT-Master II model represents a technological milestone, the result of years of dedicated research and development.
Conclusions
An Ecosystem of Excellence A visit to Chêne-Bourg offers a glimpse into the Rolex philosophy, where every detail is taken care of with the utmost attention and where vertical integration of production allows the brand to maintain unparalleled standards of quality and innovation. At this site, as in the other Rolex facilities scattered throughout Switzerland, watchmaking becomes an art that merges with science, creating watches not only as instruments for measuring time, but as true masterpieces of engineering and design.
