Rolex Caliber 3175 Complete Guide
Ever since launching the first GMT watch in 1954, Rolex has led the way for GMT technology in watches. Known for its bi-colored GMT bezels, and its iconic GMT watch design, Rolex has continued to develop and improve its movements that incorporate the GMT function.
In this article, we are looking closer at one of the GMT movements that Rolex has developed throughout its history. More specifically, the Rolex caliber 3175.
Rolex caliber 3175
The Rolex caliber 3175 was released in 1988 up until 1999. It is, like all recent Rolex calibers, a self-winding mechanical movement, developed by Rolex, incorporating a perpetual rotor.
The Rolex caliber 3175 was the last fixed GMT movement that did not have an independently adjustable GMT hand. Instead, the GMT hand was dependent on the hour hand, meaning the way you kept track of the additional timezone was by rotating the bezel. The modern GMT calibers have been improved following this movement, meaning that the way you can set the GMT time is simply by adjusting the hand independently according to the bezel’s position.
The Caliber 3175 was only used in one reference from Rolex, the reference 16700. What many people don’t know is that the reference 16700, sporting the 3175 was actually produced at the same time as the 16710 which has an independently adjustable GMT hand. But how come Rolex produced, on paper, an inferior watch, when they had already figured out how to make a movement that solved a technological ”issue” of not being able to adjust the GMT hand? The answer is that it was offered as a more affordable, lower-cost alternative. That’s two words you don’t hear together with Rolex these days. But that’s a topic to dig into for a different article.
The benefit of being able to set the GMT hand individually is, apart from ease of use, that you can keep track of three timezones instead of two.
The Rolex caliber beats at the standard-Rolex frequency of 28800 BPH and has 31 jewels. In terms of technology, it incorporates a Breguet hairspring, stone lever, Yoke winding system, Glucyr balance wheel with Microstella screws, and Kif shock absorbers. Like all Rolex calibers from this time, it is a COSC-certified movement. The movement offers a power reserve of 48 hours.
In terms of functions, it displays hours, minutes, seconds, date, and an additional GMT hour, using an additional hour hand. It also has hacking seconds, which means the seconds hand stops when pulling you pull out the crown for more accurate time-setting. This caliber has a quickset date function.
Rolex caliber 3175 specifications
- Caliber: 3175
- Jewels: 31
- Produced: 1988-1999
- Frequency: 28800 BPH
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT hand.
- Technology: Self-winding movement, bi-directional winding, Breguet hairspring, Escapement: Stone lever, Yoke winding system, Glucydur balance wheel with Microstella screws, Kif shock protection for the balance and escape wheel. Quickset date function.
- Chronometer Certificate (COSC)
- Used in: GMT-Master II 16700
Main photo by https://www.chrono-shop.net.
