Rolex

Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, it is recognized for its expertise and the quality of its products.

Hans Wilsdorf, founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence, leading to major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism. The brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components in-house. Rolex also supports the arts and culture, sport, exploration, and those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet. It is a committed and responsible company whose products are made to last. In its quest for excellence, Rolex strives each day to improve not only its watches but also its environmental performance and its impact on society.

The history of Rolex is inextricably linked to the visionary spirit of Hans Wilsdorf, its founder.

1905

The history of Rolex is inextricably linked to the visionary spirit of Hans Wilsdorf, its founder. In 1905, at the age of 24, Hans Wilsdorf founded a company in London specializing in the distribution of timepieces. He began to dream of a watch worn on the wrist. Wristwatches were not very precise at the time, but Hans Wilsdorf foresaw that they could become not only elegant, but also reliable.

To convince the public of the reliability of his resolutely innovative timepieces, he equipped them with small, very precise movements manufactured by a Swiss watchmaking company in Bienne.

1908

He said, “I tried combining the letters of the alphabet in every possible way. This gave me some hundred names, but none of them felt quite right. One morning, while riding on the upper deck of a horse-drawn omnibus along Cheapside in the City of London, a genie whispered ‘Rolex’ in my ear.”

1910

Rolex first concentrated on the quality of the movements. The relentless quest for chronometric precision rapidly led to success. In 1910, a Rolex watch was the first wristwatch in the world to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, granted by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne.

1914

Four years later, in 1914, Kew Observatory in Great Britain awarded a Rolex wristwatch a class “A” precision certificate, a distinction which until that point in time had been reserved exclusively for marine chronometers. From that date forward, the Rolex wristwatch was synonymous with precision.

1919

Rolex moved to Geneva, a city renowned internationally for watchmaking. Montres Rolex S.A. was registered in Geneva in 1920.

1926

In 1926, the creation by Rolex of the first waterproof and dustproof wristwatch marked a major step forward. Given the name “Oyster”, this watch featured a hermetically sealed case which provided optimal protection for the movement.

1927

It is one thing to claim a watch is waterproof. It is quite another to prove it. In 1927 a Rolex Oyster crossed the English Channel, worn by a young English swimmer named Mercedes Gleitze. The swim lasted over 10 hours and the watch remained in perfect working order at the end of it.

1927

To celebrate the crossing of the channel, Rolex published a full-page ad on the front page of the Daily Mail proclaiming the success of the waterproof watch. This event marked the birth of the Testimonee concept.

1931

In 1931, Rolex invented and patented the world's first self-winding mechanism with a Perpetual rotor. This ingenious system, a true work of art, is today at the heart of every modern automatic watch.

1933

The first expedition to fly over Everest was equipped with Rolex Oysters. The members of the crew were highly satisfied with the performance of the watches.

1935

In the 1930s, Rolex and one of the fastest drivers in the world, Sir Malcolm Campbell, became united by the quest for speed. On 4 September 1935, at the wheel of Bluebird – and wearing a Rolex watch – this “king of speed” set a land speed record of over 300 miles per hour (approximately 485 km/h) at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Sir Malcolm broke the world speed record nine times between 1924 and 1935, including five times at Daytona Beach in Florida.

1935

Rolex recognized the formidable opportunity to test, fine tune and showcase the technical performance of the Oyster in different arenas. The worlds of sport, aviation, motor racing and expeditions constituted living laboratories for the watches' countless technical attributes.

1935

“I have now been using my Rolex Watch for a while, and it is keeping perfect time under somewhat strenuous conditions”, Sir Malcolm Campbell.

1945

The year 1945 saw the birth of the Datejust, the first self winding wrist chronometer to indicate the date in a window on the dial. A watch of great distinction, the Datejust was equipped with a Jubilee bracelet created specially for it and a fluted bezel, making it immediately recognizable as a Rolex. It is the pillar of the Oyster Perpetual collection.

1953

In the early 1950s, Rolex developed Professional watches that served as tools and whose functions went far beyond simply telling the time. These watches were intended for professional activities, such as deep-sea diving, aviation, mountain climbing and scientific exploration. The watches generated lasting enthusiasm and became known as the watches of achievers.

1953

In 1953, Sir John Hunt’s expedition, in which Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest, was equipped with Oyster Perpetual watches.

1953

Inspired by knowledge gained from this fascinating chapter of human adventure, the Explorer, launched in 1953 to celebrate the historic ascent of Everest, immediately acquired iconic status.

1953

Launched in 1953, the Submariner was the first divers’ watch waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet). Its rotatable bezel allows divers to read their immersion time.

1953

As intercontinental travel developed in the 1950s, airliners began to fly swiftly across several successive time zones. For the first time it became important to know the time in various places in the world, simultaneously. It was the dawn of the jet age, and Rolex responded with a watch to match the spirit of the times.

1955

Designed as a navigation aid for professionals criss-crossing the globe, the GMT-Master became the official watch of several airlines, among them the famous Pan American World Airways, better known as Pan Am. Its most distinguishing visual feature was the two-tone bezel which marked daytime from night-time hours.

1956

In 1956, the Day-Date made its debut. Available only in 18 ct gold or platinum, it was the first wristwatch to display the date and day of the spelled out in full in a window on the dial. With the President bracelet, originally created specially for it, the Day-Date continues to be the watch par excellence of influential people.

1956

Rolex watches have long been associated with those who have, over time, guided the destiny of the world. No matter their vision, their domain of excellence, or their achievements, the one thing these exceptional men and women have in common is often their watch: the Day-Date.

1957

The Lady-Datejust was the first ladies’ version of the Rolex date chronometer, carrying its heritage of timeless elegance and functionality in a smaller size.

1959

Daytona Beach, Florida. Long, flat and firm, with hard-packed sand, the beach helped the city of Daytona to forge a legend as the world capital of speed. It boasts 14 world land speed records set between 1904 and 1935, five of them by Rolex-wearer Sir Malcolm Campbell. Over the years, the sand deteriorated. By 1959, a “Super Speedway” was built: the Daytona International Speedway®. This new amphitheater of motor racing quickly attracted what was to become one of the most prestigious endurance car races in the world, alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although the surface is no longer sand, Daytona still hosts a legendary test of man and machine: the Rolex 24 AT DAYTONA.

1960

In the 1950s, Rolex carried out rigorous testing of an experimental watch, called “Deep Sea Special”. Using the knowledge gained from the making of the first two models, the third Deep Sea Special was created to withstand the most extreme conditions - the Challenger Deep portion of the Mariana Trench.

1960

In 1960, the experimental bathyscaphe, the Trieste, successfully descended into the Mariana Trench, the deepest known depression on the Earth's surface. With Lieutenant Don Walsh at the helm, accompanied by Jacques Piccard, the Trieste accomplished a feat so incredible that it forever raised the bar for deep-ocean exploration. Emerging from 10,916 meters (37,800 feet), the bathyscaphe was in perfect working order – as was the Deep Sea Special experimental Rolex watch that had been attached to the outside during the historic dive.

1963

Launched in 1963 as a new-generation chronograph, the Cosmograph soon gained the name that became the mark of an icon: Daytona. Designed as the ultimate tool for endurance racing drivers, the Cosmograph Daytona was robust, waterproof and featured a tachymetric scale on the bezel for calculating average speed.

1967

1967 saw the launch of the Sea-Dweller, waterproof to a depth of 610 metres (2,000 feet). To meet the needs of professional deep-sea divers, the case was equipped with a helium escape valve so that, during long decompression phases in hyperbaric chambers, the helium from the gas mixtures used could be released without risking damage to the watch.

1971

Rolex presented the Explorer II, dedicated to polar explorers, speleologists, and all those pushing the boundaries of exploration. The watch featured a distinctive 24-hour hand, an invaluable aid around the poles and beneath ground when you can't tell night from day.

1971

A preferential relationship was established between Rolex and the Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises (Comex), whose divers wore Rolex Sea-Dweller watches while working at great depths. The company, headed by Henri-Germain Delauze, played a pioneering role in deep-sea diving and remains a world-renowned specialist in hyperbaric engineering and underwater work.

The relationship between Rolex and Comex is as strong as ever today, as demonstrated by the hyperbaric tank developed specially by the Marseille company to test the Rolex deep-sea divers’ watches.

1976

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Oyster, the Rolex Awards for Enterprise were launched to honour extraordinary individuals who possess the courage and conviction to take on major challenges.

Each Rolex Award for Enterprise is given for a new ongoing project anywhere in the world – one that deserves support for its capacity to improve lives, protect the world’s natural and cultural heritage. These projects have touched all aspects of humanity by expanding knowledge or improving life on the planet.

1978

Rolex launched the Sea-Dweller 4000, waterproof to a depth of 1,220 metres (4,000 feet).

1985

Specially developed for the brand, Oystersteel belongs to the 904L steel family, alloys most commonly used in advanced-technology fields such as the aerospace and chemical industries. Oystersteel is particularly corrosion-resistant, offers an exceptional sheen and maintains its lustre even in the harshest environments. In 1985, Rolex became the first watchmaking brand to use this steel from the 904L family for its cases.

1992

The year 1992 heralded the arrival of the Yacht-Master. This new model reinforced the ties between Rolex and the sailing world.

2000

Calibre 4130 is a self-winding mechanical chronograph movement, entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex in 2000 for the Cosmograph Daytona and incorporates a chronograph function with a reduced number of components.

2002

The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative was founded in 2002 to encourage talented individuals through a unique programme of one to one mentoring with a major figure in their artistic discipline. Over more than a decade, the Rolex mentoring programme community has expanded across continents and cultures, and includes major creative artists of different generations and backgrounds.

2005

Rolex developed and patented the Cerachrom bezel for specific Professional models to ensure lasting beauty and functionality even after exposure to the most extreme conditions. Fashioned from extremely hard ceramic material, it is virtually impervious to scratches, and its colour is unaffected by ultraviolet rays. Its diamond polished surface presents an exceptional lustre. The engraved 24-hour graduations are coated with a thin layer of platinum.

2005

After five years of research, Rolex created the blue Parachrom hairspring. Crafted from a paramagnetic alloy, it is unaffected by magnetic fields and up to 10 times more resistant to shocks than a traditional hairspring. Historically, the unique blue colour of the hairspring has been a sign of prestige reserved for only the most accurate timepieces.

2007

The Yacht-Master II is the first watch in the world equipped with a programmable countdown featuring a mechanical memory. This function is accessed via the rotatable bezel thanks to the Ring Command, a system developed by Rolex and patented. This regatta chronograph countdown allows skippers to cross the start line with perfect timing.

2012

Rolex presented a brand new innovative model, the Sky-Dweller, a technological masterpiece intended for world travellers. It offers a dual time zone as intuitive to read as it is easy to use, as well as a particularly innovative annual calendar named Saros – in tribute to the astronomical phenomenon which inspired it – that requires only one date adjustment a year. To set its functions quickly and easily, it is also equipped with a new interface: the Ring Command system.

2012

On 26 March 2012, filmmaker and explorer James Cameron made a historic dive to the deepest part of the world’s oceans, the Mariana Trench in his submersible. It was the first manned dive to the deepest part of the Trench, known as Challenger Deep, since the pioneering two-man Trieste expedition of 1960.

2013

In 2013, Rolex introduced an GMT-Master II with a two-colour Cerachrom insert in blue and black ceramic, and a year later, the watch was released with a two-colour Cerachrom insert in red and blue ceramic. Each two-colour combination on a single-piece ceramic component was a world first and a milestone in the use of ceramics in watchmaking.

2014

Rolex unveiled a new calibre 2236 featuring a Syloxi hairspring in silicon developed in-house which offers peerless chronometric performance for a smaller-sized watch. This self- winding mechanical movement, entirely manufactured by Rolex, inaugurates a new generation of calibres.

2015

Rolex introduced calibre 3255, a new-generation mechanical movement for the Day-Date 40 that sets new standards of performance in terms of precision, power reserve, reliability, resistance to shocks and magnetism, as well as the ease and convenience of its adjustment. Its power reserve extends to three days (approximately 70 hours), representing an increase of 24 hours (or 50 per cent) compared to that of the previous generation.

2017

Rolex has for decades had a strong presence as an iconic symbol, appearing in many legendary movies. Rolex became Exclusive Watch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2017, which has hosted the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles since 1929. Rolex is also Founding Supporter of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, aimed at safeguarding the history of cinema.

2019

For several years, Rolex has supported organizations and individuals working for the future of the planet.

In 2019, Rolex grouped them under the banner of the Perpetual Planet Initiative. They include explorers, scientists, entrepreneurs and citizens committed to the common good. By taking concrete action to find solutions to today’s major challenges, they inspire new generations and give our planet a future. Rolex stands alongside them through the Perpetual Planet Initiative.

2020

Calibres 2232 and 3230 are self-winding mechanical movements entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Boasting concentrated technology, these movements have led to several patents. Calibre 2232 features the Syloxi hairspring crafted in silicon. Calibre 3230 includes an optimized version of the blue Parachrom hairspring, made by Rolex in an exclusive niobium and zirconium alloy. Calibre 2232 has a nickel-phosphorus paramagnetic escape wheel. Calibre 3230 incorporates the patented Chronergy escapement made of the same alloy.

2021

In 2021, Rolex renewed its partnership with PGA of America, becoming the Official Partner and Official Timekeeper of the organization and its pre-eminent tournament, the PGA Championship. The brand is associated with all the men’s and women’s Major tournaments and is also a Worldwide Partner of the leading team tournament, The Ryder Cup.

The only Major contested exclusively by professionals, the PGA Championship is played on the most competitive courses in the United States and welcomes the top 100 golfers in the world rankings.

2022

For the first time, Rolex presented a Day-Date 40 in 950 platinum featuring a fluted bezel, fashioned in the same precious metal. Several years of research were required to adapt the guillochage used to create the fluting to the “finest of metals”. This technical feat marks a new step in the development of Rolex’s know-how and the fluted bezel in platinum has become part of the brand’s stylistic heritage.

Information taken from the site  https://www.rolex.com/about-rolex/history