As a result, the timepieces were officially certified as chronometers by independent control authorities from as early as 1914. These groundbreaking innovations reflect the core philosophy of the company: A Rolex watch can never fail.įounder Hans Wilsdorf placed special emphasis on the precision and reliability of Rolex watches.

The introduction of a watertight watch in 1926, and the introduction of the self-winding movement in 1931 formed the basis for the legendary Oyster Collection. Rolex owes its outstanding reputation not only to its famous clientele, but also to the flawless craftsmanship of the Rolex watches themselves. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual represents a milestone in the history of watchmaking and is a testament to the inventive genius that defines Rolex to this day.

This revolutionized the entire market as automatic watches could not be mass-produced during that time. The result was a success: in 1931, Rolex introduced the automatic movement with a unidirectional rotor winding mechanism. With his dream of offering his customers the highest levels of comfort, he gave John Harwood the task of further developing the automatic watch. From that day forward, demand for the robust watch quickly increased, and Hans Wilsdorf did not rest on his laurels. The day after this record-breaking achievement, Rolex placed a large advert on the first page of the Daily Mail, celebrating the success of the Oyster. Just like an oyster, the case of this watch is tightly sealed and, therefore, offers exceptional protection for the mechanical movement.Īt a request made by Hans Wilsdorf, the Oyster was worn by swimmer Mercedes Gleitze during her historic crossing of the English Channel in 1927. In 1916, the company that is now based in Geneva, presented the first worldwide water and dust-tight watch, with the telling name of “Oyster”. Hans Wilsdorf may not have invented the wristwatch, but many milestones in the history of a wristwatch can indeed be attributed to Rolex. Even if the truth remains hidden, the Rolex brand continues to represent exquisite watchmaking to this very day.

It has also been stated that the brand name is an acronym for “Rolling Export”. Watch experts have argued that the name Rolex is a play on “Horlogerie Exquisite” (French for exquisite watchmaking). The meaning of this name has been subject to many myths. Thus, from 1908 onward, “Rolex” was born. In order to raise awareness and recognition of his watches, he assigned them with a name that was easy to pronounce worldwide. From the very beginning, Wilsdorf followed this motto and sold the highest quality Swiss-made timepieces. When he founded his watch business in London in 1905, he already seemed aware of the perfect formula for success – to offer the absolute finest in quality. Born in Kulmbach, the entrepreneur was a marketing genius and a brilliant businessman. The company owes much of its success to its founder, Hans Wilsdorf. No other brand symbolises a successful lifestyle quite like Rolex.

Rolex timepiece