Rolex diamond addition: Pros and cons weren’t already stunning enough, the addition of diamonds takes their beauty to another level. A Rolex encrusted with gems is instantly recognizable, and the combination of these precious stones and expert setting techniques make them glow in ways that only a watchmaker can master.

But not all diamonds are created equal, and it is important to know what you’re buying when you decide to add gemstones to your Rolex. This article will give you an inside look at the gem-set Rolex production process so that when you are ready to purchase a diamond-set watch, you will have an understanding of what to expect.

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To start, we will talk about the quality of the diamonds that Rolex uses to adorn its watches. Rolex only chooses the highest clarity grades, and to achieve this, the diamond must be free of internal flaws (inclusions) and external imperfections (blemishes). Only a handful of diamonds are graded to meet these standards, and each one is meticulously chosen by gemologists for its pristine appearance.

Once the gems have been chosen, they are carefully matched to their counterparts in a watch component and then prepared for mounting. A watchmaker then applies the finest of skills to set each stone, one at a time. Rolex’s specialized diamond-setting techniques ensure that each stone is precisely placed and secured in its proper place.

One of the most popular Rolex customizations is to encrust the case or bracelet with diamonds. While there are factory-set diamonds that were added by Rolex and were intentionally part of the original design, there are also aftermarket diamonds that are installed on preexisting Rolex watches by third party jewelers unaffiliated with Rolex.