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<\/a>The Origin of the Myth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s no denying that many people got into the luxury watch market as a direct result of pop culture. But while I\u2019m not a traditional gatekeeping-type watch enthusiast, I believe you should never let trends influence your taste. You\u2019ll be robbed into splurging and thinking you got a bargain because your favorite artist wore one in a music video. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, you\u2019d have passed on better or comparable affordable options because they\u2019re not trendy. How is this related to the Swiss luxury watch ticking? The myth started when arguably the greatest rapper alive, Jay Z, said, \u201cRollies that don\u2019t tick-tock\u201d. This braggadocious lyric has been used by countless artists since then, including A-Listers like Lil Durk and Future. It\u2019s true to some extent, but it’s practically impossible for a watch not to \u201ctick-tock.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Does It Mean When A Watch Ticks? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The thing about watches is that they all tick. I mean, there\u2019s a sound associated with time itself. You guessed right, \u201ctick-tock tick-tock\u201d. Now why do they make that sound? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To be clear, the volume of a watch\u2019s movement depends on factors like case material, material quality, escapement components, and sometimes, the manufacturer. The general rule of thumb is that timepieces made with cheap, lightweight materials tick the loudest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this isn\u2019t always the case; some watches, like models with a pin-lever escapement, generally tick loudly because they use metal instead of jewel pins. And quartz movements are usually quieter than mechanical watches, as they contain fewer or no moving parts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anyway, a watch ticks to keep the time running. How it ticks is a direct representation of its internal components\/engine\/caliber. Or, better yet, its movement. Mechanical watches like Rolex tick faster because they use a complicated mechanical movement rather than quartz, which is a cheaper alternative even though it\u2019s more accurate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s for this reason, and of course, as a status symbol, that many watch enthusiasts remain watch enthusiasts. And Rolex has been on top of the movement engineering game for decades to keep hardcore enthusiasts infatuated and aesthetic buyers drooling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s talk more about how Rolex and mechanical watches tick differently. More specifically, the reason why A-list rappers believe they don\u2019t tick-tock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sweeping Motion of Rolex and Mechanical Watches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rolex watches have a second hand that appears to glide through the dial rather than tick-tock. It\u2019s not restricted to the brand, nor is it a novelty. All mechanical watches tick at varying frequencies, including dirt-cheap ones, which are typically faster than quartz. So it gives the illusion that the hand isn\u2019t ticking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s what goes on behind the dial. A mainspring passes power into an escapement mechanism, which then saves energy by passing it through a couple of gears to the watch hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside the escapement, a balance wheel swings back and forth like a pendulum, while a pallet fork restricts its movement per second to stay accurate. It\u2019s the speed of this pause-and-start interaction that makes the second-hand in mechanical watches tick in a sweep motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mechanical movement watches with a faster balance wheel keep time more accurately and reliably than slower ones. They usually tick between four, six, and eight times per second, or 21,600, 28,000, or 36,000 bph (beats per hour), respectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The only exception is in specialty or vintage watches, like the Antoine Martin Slow Runner 1 Hz, which beats once per second. It took Martin Braun building the largest escapement to achieve this feat in The Slow Runner. But quartz watches achieve this accuracy only at a fraction of the cost of engineering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rolex watches tick 8 times a second, 8 hertz, or 28,000 vph (vibrations per hour). Listen to the tick-tock of the Rolex Submariner, played at 0.25 playback speed, below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n