Rolex Watch Co.: The Pinnacle of Swiss Luxury Watchmaking

The Rolex Watch Company stands as an icon of precision, innovation, and enduring prestige in the world of horology. Established in the early 20th century, Rolex revolutionized wristwatch design and remains synonymous with luxury and reliability.
Key Highlights

Founded: 1905 in London by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis, originally as “Wilsdorf & Davis Ltd.”

Branding: The name “Rolex” was registered in 1908; chosen for being short, memorable, and easily pronounced in any language

HQ Relocation: Moved headquarters to Geneva, Switzerland in 1919, adopting the French corporate name “Montres Rolex SA” to avoid post-war British taxes and anti-German sentiment

Core Philosophy: Hans Wilsdorf insisted on making wristwatches both precise and robust, foreseeing the transition from pocket to wristwatches well ahead of the market

Milestones & Innovations

1910: Rolex became the first wristwatch awarded an independently ratified chronometric certificate, setting new standards for accuracy

1914: Received the Class A precision certificate from Kew Observatory, England, previously reserved for marine chronometers

1926: Introduced the Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch

1931: Launched the Oyster Perpetual, the first commercially successful self-winding wristwatch.

1956: Released the Milgauss, groundbreaking for its resistance to magnetism

Design Icon: Registered the famous five-pointed crown logo in 1925, a symbol of excellence recognized globally