History
Hans Wilsdorf was born in Kulmbach, Bavaria, on March 22, 1881.
1900, he settled at La Chaux-de-Fonds where he did clerical work for a watch exporter.
In 1903, he left to work in London. Soon after, in 1905, he founded a wholesale watch business, WILSDORF AND DAVIS, signing a contract in Bienne with AEGLER, to guarantee them distribution of watches under their name in England.
The name ROLEX (an abbreviation of the French phrase “horlogerie exquise”) dates from 1908. AEGLER watches were checked by the watch test service in Bienne, and their movements were double-checked at the Kew Observatory in England.
The Aegler company was renamed the ROLEX WATCH CO. AEGLER S.A. in 1914.
Wilsdorf transferred world exports to Bienne to thwart the British Government, who had imposed an import tax of 33.3% to finance the Great War.
He founded MONTRE ROLEX S.A. in Geneva in 1920.
The movements were made in Bienne. ROLEX assembly, testing and sales were in Geneva.
To improve the water resistance of wristwatches, Wilsdorf registered a patent for a case with
screw-down winding crown in 1926.
On 17 October 1927, the typist Mercedes Gleitze swam the English Channel in 15hrs. 15mins. wearing a ROLEX OYSTER.
In 1931, thanks to the talents of the technician Emil Borer, Wilsdorf presented an automatic permanent rotor winder, the ROLEX PERPETUAL. He retained the exclusive rights, and prohibited the automatic movement’s use by any competitor for the next fifteen years.
In 1945, ROLEX unveiled the DATEJUST, the first automatic water-resistant chronometer wristwatch with date viewer.
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In
1953, the SUBMARINER, the first diver’s watch, water-resistant to 100 meters, was launched. This model put Rolex into orbit.
The same year, Mount Everest was conquered. All of the team led by Sir John Hunt were equipped with OYSTER PERPETUAL chronometers.
In
1954, ROLEX launched the GMT-MASTER.
In
1956, DAY-DATE, first wrist chronometer showing the day of the week in 25 languages, was launched.
On
6 July 1960, Hans Wilsdorf died in Geneva. He left his successors a thriving business, multi-billion profits, and the biggest consumer of gold in Switzerland.
Professor Jacques Picard attached a ROLEX OYSTER, with specially reinforced case to his bathyscaphe. The TRIESTE attained
10,916 meters in the Pacific Ocean with no damage.
In
1971, the immersion record for the SEA-DWELLER 2000 was attained at 2000 feet (610 meters.)
In
1980, a new record of immersion for the SEA-DWELLER 4000 at 4000 feet (1220 meters.)
In
2000, introduction of new DAYTONA chronograph/chronometer now manufactured entirely within the factory, and not using modified Zenith/el Primero movements.
Introduction of new platinum and gold version of the DAY-DATE.
2001, new LADY-DATEJUST in platinum and gold.
2003, for its 50
th anniversary, ROLEX issued a commemorative version of the SUBMARINER, with green lunette, reference 16610LV.
ROLEX produces around
600,000 officially certified chronometers every year.