Rolex

Wilsdorf and Davis registered the Rolex name as a trademark, taking a significant risk and betting on the success of their wristwatch-making business.

Rolex was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, United Kingdom.

Rolex, a renowned watchmaking company, was founded in 1905. Despite being relatively young in the industry compared to other brands, Rolex has established itself as a symbol of luxury and precision.

In 1908, Wilsdorf registered 'Rolex' as a trademark and opened the first Switzerland office in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The name 'Rolex' was chosen to be easily pronounced in any language and to sound like a watch being wound.

In 1910, a Rolex wristwatch became the first wristwatch to be awarded an independently ratified certificate of chronometric performance, showcasing Wilsdorf's high standards and Maison Aegler's excellence in watchmaking.

In 1914, a Rolex watch was awarded a Class A precision certificate by the Kew Observatory, a remarkable achievement as this honor was typically given exclusively to marine chronometers. This paved the way for Rolex to gain global recognition for its chronometric performance.

The brand name 'Rolex' was officially registered in 1915. It has since become synonymous with luxury, precision, and innovation in the watchmaking industry.

Rolex introduced the first waterproof and dustproof wristwatch, the Rolex Oyster, in 1926.

Mercedes Gleitze was the first British woman to swim the English Channel on 7 October 1927. For promotional purposes, Wilsdorf offered her one of the earliest Rolex Oysters if she would wear it during the attempt.

One month later, on 24 November 1927, Wilsdorf launched the Rolex Oyster watch in the United Kingdom with a full front page Rolex advertisement in the Daily Mail.

Rolex introduced the Oyster Perpetual, featuring the first self-winding mechanism with a Perpetual rotor, a groundbreaking innovation in watchmaking.

Rolex introduced the 'Datejust,' the first wristwatch with an automatic date display, marking a major milestone in the company's history and solidifying its reputation as a pioneer in watchmaking.

Rolex introduced the 'Oyster Perpetual,' a waterproof watch with an automatic movement, which became a major success and an iconic model in the Rolex lineup.

Rolex launched the Datejust, the first self-winding wristwatch with a date window, in 1945.

The "Padellone" 8171 was introduced by Rolex in 1949, becoming a significant reference in the brand's history.

In September of 1953, a specially designed Rolex dive watch was attached to the outside of Swiss scientist Auguste Piccard’s Bathyscaphe, diving to a depth of 3131.8 meters and returning to the surface in perfect running order without any signs of water ingress.

Rolex launched the Submariner, the first divers' watch waterproof to a depth of 100 meters, in 1954.

Rolex introduced the Day-Date in 1955, which was the first wristwatch to display both the date and the day of the week. This innovation solidified Rolex's position as a leader in the luxury watch industry.

Rolex introduced the Day-Date, the first wristwatch to display the date and day of the week spelled out in full, in 1956.

In 1960, Rolex introduced the Cosmograph Daytona, a timepiece specifically designed for racing drivers. This model quickly became a classic and is highly coveted in the Rolex collection.

The Rolex Submariner 5512 was released in 1961, contributing to the brand's legacy of producing high-quality diving watches.

The iconic Cosmograph Daytona made its debut in 1962, capturing the essence of speed and racing.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was launched in 1963, marking the birth of a legendary timepiece.

Rolex launched the Sea-Dweller, designed for professional deep-sea diving, in 1967.

Former Formula 1 driver Jackie Stewart has advertised Rolex since 1968.

In 1969, Rolex introduced the iconic Daytona model, which became highly popular and sought after, especially the versions associated with the renowned actor Paul Newman.

In 1972, Steve McQueen's association with Rolex brought significant attention to the brand, contributing to its popularity.

In 1974, Rolex introduced the iconic Submariner model, which quickly became a symbol of luxury and precision in the world of diving watches.

The year 1975 marked the release of the Rolex Daytona Cosmograph, a legendary timepiece known for its association with motor racing and its highly accurate chronograph function.

Since 1976, the Rolex Awards for Enterprise of 100,000 Swiss francs has been awarded; a Young Laureates award of 50,000 was added in 2010.

Rolex introduced the Cosmograph Daytona, a high-performance chronograph designed for professional racing drivers, in 1988.

The Rolex wristwatch on Ronald Platt's wrist led to the arrest of his murderer, Albert Johnson Walker, a financial planner who had fled from Canada when he was charged with fraud, theft, and money laundering.

A 23-year-old Malaysian named Jonaris Badlishah murdered a beautician Sally Poh Bee Eng to steal her Rolex and later give it to his girlfriend as a birthday present. The case became known as the 'Rolex watch murder'. Jonaris was arrested, sentenced to death, and executed.

In 2000, Rolex launched the Daytona model, known for its association with motor racing and its high performance, making it a coveted timepiece among enthusiasts and collectors.

Rolex has been the official timekeeper to the Le Mans 24 Hours motor race since 2001.

The biennial Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative with a grant of about $41,000 was launched in 2002.

Rolex launched the Deepsea, designed for extreme underwater exploration, in 2007.

Rolex introduced the Sky-Dweller, a distinctive technological masterpiece protected by 14 patents, in 2012.

A Rolex Daytona (Ref. 6239) wristwatch, originally purchased by Joanne Woodward in 1968 and given to her husband Paul Newman as a gift, was sold by Phillips in its New York auction for US$17.75 million, setting a record as the most expensive wristwatch and the second most expensive watch ever sold at auction as of 2018.

A Rolex Daytona 'Unicorn' Ref. 6265 was sold in auction by Phillips for US$5.937 million in Geneva, making it the second most expensive Rolex timepiece ever sold at auction as of 2018.

Rolex is a renowned luxury watch brand known for its quality, prestige, and innovation.