After years of watch collector’s frustrations about the challenges of trying to buy a Rolex, the Big Crown looks to be taking a very serious step in the right direction. Following a report yesterday, Rolex is planning to build a new factory at Bulle in western Switzerland that will cost CHF1 billion (AU$1.5 billion) and create around 2,000 new jobs, but fans of the brand will need to continue to exercise patience.
First reported by the Swiss news site RTS, Rolex looks set to expand its manufacturing footprint beyond the locations of Geneva and Bienne, with plans revealed for a new site in the Bulle industrial zone. The project is waiting on approval from the local authorities, however, the watchmaker has its sights set on two 100,000m² plots of land (the equivalent of 10 football fields) for the new factory to be constructed on.
“A project of a rare scale is on track in Bulle with the prestigious company Rolex,” explained Olivier Curty, the President of the Friborg State Council. “With the key to significant investments and very many jobs.”
RELATED: Rolex Prices Are Up To 32% Cheaper In The UK Than In The US
“This project is on the right track and the Friborg authorities will do everything to ensure that it succeeds,” he added.
Rolex is yet to confirm the new factory, reportedly wanting to wait until the deal is entirely signed off next month, however, based on the comments from Curty, it sounds highly likely to move forward without issue. Once the go-ahead has been given by local authorities, the project will get underway and is reportedly anticipated to be finished by 2029.
So while Rolex enthusiasts will need to wait a few more years until there’s a noticeable change to production levels, there does appear to be a real light at the end of the tunnel for those who have already been patiently waiting for their next Rolex. It’s been said that Rolex plans in decades, not quarters, and this window into the next few decades promise an exciting future for the biggest watchmaker in the world.
