Do Rolex Watches Have Batteries? Truth Revealed!

The Swiss watchmaker Rolex is known for its premium quality watches, and Rolex is a must-have for watch collectors due to its excellent craftsmanship and brand value. The brand has been around for over a hundred years, and its watches are popular among celebrities and politicians.

Do Rolex Watches Have Batteries

Due to its high price tag and luxurious reputation, people have many questions about Rolex watches. One of the most asked questions is, “Do Rolex watches have batteries?“. Today, we will answer this question for you!

Do Rolex Watches Have Batteries?

No. Rolex watches do not have batteries except for the Oysterquartz models. Then how do Rolex watches work without a battery?

The answer is Rolex watches are kinetic powered, which means that Rolex watches use a Perpetual rotor to generate energy from the movement of your hand, when you move the hand while wearing the Rolex, the rotor inside the watch gently swings and produces energy to power the watch.

Rolex Watch Movement
Credit: Rolex

The phenomenon of generating energy by an object due to its movement is called kinetic or self-winding energy. The Rolex watch design allows a rotor to fit easily in a small space, making it an efficient energy-generation tool. 

Rolex watches will stop working if you do not wear them for long. In order to keep your Rolex watch running, you should wear it at least once a week for 8 hours. Alternatively, you can manually wind your watch by turning the crown at least 25 times to wind the mainspring fully.

If you are unsure how to wind Rolex watches manually, please follow the steps below.

How to wind the Rolex watch manually?

1. Gently unscrew the winding crown on the right-hand side of the watch

2. Now turn the crown in the clockwise direction(at least 25 turms)

3. Once it is done, gently screw it back into the case to avoid water entry into the watch.

4. Done!

Still not sure? No worries, it is simple. Go through the detailed video guide below. 

Rolex Oysterquartz Watches: Only Rolex with Battery

The Oyster Quartz was first released in 1977 and was the first Rolex watch to have a battery. At that time, most watchmakers, such as Patek Philippe and Patek Philippe, used Japanese quartz movements on their watches.

However, Rolex developed its own quartz movement called the Beta 21 Quartz Movement (reference 5100) to power the Oyster Quartz Series of watches. However, Rolex did not produce the Beta 21 Quartz Movement for long. When they stopped production of Rolex Oyster Quartz reference 5100 in 1980, only 1000 Oyster Quartz watches were made, making it one of the rarest Rolex watches.

In 2020, One of the Rolex Oyster Quartz with Beta 21 Quartz Movement limited editions auctioned for $243,750 in Geneve, setting a new world record for the most expensive Rolex watch ever sold in an auction.

What is the battery life of the Rolex Oysterquartz watches?

The average battery life of Rolex Oyster-quartz watches is around 3-4 years. However, due to the high value of these watches, it is recommended to have the battery replaced at a Rolex Approved Service center near you to ensure that it is done correctly and without any damage to the watch.

Final Words

In conclusion, Rolex watches do not have batteries, except for the Oysterquartz models. Rolex watches use kinetic power, which means that they generate energy from the movement of your hand. However, Oysterquartz watches have batteries that need to be replaced every 3-4 years. Rolex watches are a symbol of luxury and sophistication, and it’s essential to maintain them properly.

If you own a Rolex watch, make sure to wear it or wind it down manually to keep it running smoothly. And if you have an Oysterquartz model, make sure to have the battery replaced by a Rolex Approved Service center to ensure that your watch is well taken care of. Remember, a Rolex watch is not just a timepiece; it’s an investment that deserves to be treated with care and respect.

I hope this article completely answers your question ‘Do Rolex Watches Have Batteries?”.

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