Hans Wilsdorf was 25 when they founded Rolex in 1905 in London. He aimed to offer luxurious yet very reliable timepieces. Therefore, he based the production of the movements in Bienne, Switzerland.
The history of the Rolex name is as simple as it gets. Hans was looking for a simple name and beautiful-yet-nice-to-look-at logo, once reproduced on the case and dial. You can learn more about how the "Rolex" name came out in our dedicated article.
Since then, the brand rapidly gained awareness thanks to an array of achievements:
1910 - First wristwatch to be certified as a Chronometer
1914 – The brand ensured the Kew Observatory's accuracy certificate, once reserved exclusively for marine Chronometer
1919 – The brand relocates its headquarters to Geneva and files registration as Montres Rolex S.A.
The Rolex Oyster's first-ever public appearance
Between the First and Second World Wars (1927), a global sporting event attracted the world's press media; Mercedes Gleitze, a young British swimmer, swam across the English Channel. Twenty-six years old swimmer was in the headlines.
Despite not being the first-ever athlete to achieve such an accomplishment, she earned nonetheless wide admiration.
Mercedes wore a fully functional watch throughout the crossing. Wrapped around her wrist was an Oyster, the first-ever waterproof wristwatch.
It faced ten hours of underwater testing at a freezing temperature, thus confirming an outstanding sturdiness. Mercedes Gleitze became, suddenly a watch brand ambassador and a Rolex one.
A Sports hero
One year after the other, Rolex has stood the test of time as a top-performing watch in the industry. The English Channel solo swim is the first of a long series of events the brand took part in or supported, testing its watch's durability and unmatched technical features:
1933: Oyster watches were supplied to the pilots flying over Mount Everest.
1935: Racing driver Sir Malcolm Campbell was wearing a Rolex watch when he broke the 300 miles per hour speed record
The achievements list includes endless record attempts, during which Rolex watches' new timepieces underwent reliability and usability tests.
Rolex is partnering with multiple sports categories today, including horse riding, mountaineering, climbing, and skiing.
The Perpetual movement
Style is paramount, but equally is functionality. Rolex is synonymous with one of the most efficient and precise self-winding movements: the Perpetual mechanism.
Patented in 1933, it can only be serviced by Rolex technicians who adopt specific, in-house engineered tools.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches are certified as Superlative Chronometers and guarantee long-term reliability and high resistance to shocks and temperature changes.
The Rolex collections
To this day, Rolex has racked up success after success, developing lines that increasingly explored its pioneering and adventurous spirit while also adapting to the occasions for which they were designed.
As one of the world's most prominent and dynamic brands, we constantly follow its every step. That's why we always stay informed about what new it offers. The most recent updates are the Rolex novelties 2020 and 2021.
It is a brand to which we are particularly attached, and over the years, we have studied all the collections and the new models introduced. We list a few.
The Rolex Submariner
The Submariner first appeared in 1953, hitting the market as the first diving watch capable of withstanding a depth of up to 100 meters.
Designed to meet professional divers' expectations, the Submariner stands out for ease of use and high visibility under dim or no light.
Our favorites are the Rolex Submariner 126619LB White Gold Blue Bezel and the Rolex Submariner No Date 114060 or the following 124060.
Rolex Milgauss
These models were certified by CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), which, in 1950, certified their capability to resist magnetic fields of up to 1,000 Gauss.
Among the most exciting models we have reviewed is the Rolex Milgauss 116400GV. Please note that the Milgauss was discontinued in 2023 and not replaced in the same year.
Rolex Yacht-Master
Conceived for sea lovers and skippers, the Yacht-Master sits slightly above the Submariner, offering a more luxurious finish.
The Yacht-Master II was discontinued in 2023.
Rolex Cellini
Inspired by the Renaissance artist Benvenuto Cellini, this product line combines classic watchmaking with contemporary mechanics.
Please note that the Rolex Cellini was discontinued in 2023 and replaced by a new product line.
Rolex Daytona
Designed for speed lovers and racetrack timing, the Rolex Daytona's story is among the most fascinating in the industry. It is, by far, the most desired self-winding sports chronograph.
Rolex Day-Date
Introduced in 1956, it was the first watch to display the day and date in letters. The window's displacement at twelve has soon become a signature Rolex hallmark.
Rolex prices: a few notes
The brand's market price usually exceeds retail. The price gap depends on the model and collection. While we invite you to read our recurringly updated article on Rolex watch prices, let's briefly look at the most and least expensive Rolex.
The original Paul Newman's Daytona fetched some 15 million dollars at auction. The less expensive one (up for sale on the secondary market since it is no longer available) is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34 reference 114200, whose price is in the 4,800 Euros area.