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Rolex 3135

Probable

One of the most widely produced mechanical movements in modern watchmaking, fitted across the Submariner Date, Datejust, Sea-Dweller and Yacht-Master over three decades. Its long life means the caliber name alone does not date a watch — the Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex revisions do far more of that work.

Specifications

Movement manufacturer
Rolex
Production
1988–2020
Frequency
28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Jewels
31
Power reserve
48 hours
Diameter
28.5 mm
Height
6 mm
Winding
automatic
Complications
Centre seconds · Quickset date
Shock protection
KIF (later Paraflex on some executions)
Balance
Free-sprung Glucydur balance, Microstella nuts, full balance bridge
Regulation
Free-sprung; Microstella adjustment
Rotor
Full rotor, bidirectional Perpetual winding
Certification
Officially Certified Chronometer (COSC)

Architecture

Full-rotor automatic with a full balance bridge — as opposed to a cantilevered cock — which is the caliber's most visually distinctive feature and a significant contributor to its reputation for stability.

Authentication notes

  • BridgesHigh confidence

    Full balance bridge, not a balance cock

    The 3135 carries a bridge anchored on both sides of the balance. Reproduction movements built on donor ébauches frequently retain a single-anchor balance cock, which is inconsistent with the caliber. Treat as a strong indicator, and confirm alongside the free-sprung balance and the finishing rather than alone.

  • RegulationHigh confidence

    No regulator index

    A regulator arm and index scale on a movement presented as a 3135 is inconsistent with the caliber, which is free-sprung throughout its production. Combined with the balance bridge, these two checks identify the caliber from a single photograph of the balance area.

Production revisions

  1. c. 2000Probable

    Parachrom hairspring introduced

    Rolex began fitting its in-house Parachrom hairspring, initially in a natural finish and later in the familiar blue. Its presence dates a movement — or its last service — rather than validating it.

  2. c. 2005–2008Probable

    Blue Parachrom rollout

    The blue-finished Parachrom hairspring appeared across the range over several years rather than on one date, so a watch from the transition period may correctly have either.

Service practice

Service replacement of the hairspring with a later blue Parachrom unit is common on watches serviced after the mid-2000s. A Parachrom hairspring in an early 3135 is therefore a service finding and entirely legitimate; treating it as an inconsistency is a known misreading.

Related calibers

References using this caliber

Provenance of this record

Sources & Evidence

Secondary sourceCollector research

Ranfft Watch Movement Archive

Dr. Roland Ranfft (archived and maintained by volunteers)

Accessed
2026-08-18

Cited for

This referenceProbable

28.50 mm diameter, 6.00 mm height, 31 jewels, 28,800 A/h.

View source ↗
Secondary sourceSpecialist publication

Dowling, James M. & Hess, Jeffrey P. — The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches

Schiffer Publishing

Published
2006-01-01

Cited for

This referenceHigh confidence
Primary sourceManufacturer documentation

Rolex — Perpetual movements (official technical pages)

Rolex SA

Accessed
2026-08-18

Cited for

This referenceConfirmed
View source ↗

Last verified: Not yet reviewed