The perfect history: Rolex

When it comes to watchmaking, a lot of watch manufacturers build their brand starting with a dream. That dream was pretty clear for Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex: a perfect, precise, elegant and reliable timepiece worn on the wrist. Back in the day, in the early 1900s, a timepiece worn on the wrist, called a wristwatch, wasn’t elegant, wasn’t precise and wasn’t reliable at all. Until Hans Wilsdorf came into place.

Timo Klinge

Chief Entertainment Officer

Updated at: 17/12/2023

The founder

As already mentioned, Hans Wilsdorf is the founder of the Rolex company starting at the age of 24 back in 1905. He started distributing timepieces from London, but he had a clear mission: create a wristwatch that’s elegant and precise and worn on the wrist instead of a pocketwatch. To convince the greater public of the reliability of his timepieces, he equipped these watches with small but precise movements manufactured in Switzerland. But, this was all under a different name since the company Rolex was born in 1908, a couple of years later.

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The perfect precision

Back in 1910, Rolex focused on producing the most precise movements around with quality movements. The quest for chronometric precision led to the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, granted by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne, Switzerland. Rolex was the first ever wristwatch manufacturer to ever granted this certificate, making sure their timepieces were very precise starting in 1910, but even nowadays their timepieces are COSC certified.

Not just some case

There is a bit of history when it comes to the clasp, bracelet and case from Rolex. It’s called the Oyster, with a purpose: in 1914 Rolex got awarded class ‘A’ with the precision certificate, a distinction which was only reserved for marine chronometers. The Oyster-case was born in 1926, making sure the precise movement kept dry when using in wet circumstances.

Sporty elegance

In 1935, Rolex was testing their watches in different kind of arenas, such as sports, aviation, motor-racing and expeditions, making sure their precise timepieces kept on running and being able to withstand all sorts of things, such as rain, speed, gravity, G-forces etcetera. Just ten years later, Rolex introduced the date-function on their watch, calling it the Oyster Perpetual Datejust which was Officialy Certified by the COSC. A fluted bezel, the jubilee bracelet and a white/silver dial with a red date-wheel was the pillar of the well-known Datejust.

Utility watches from Rolex

Later on, Rolex introduced some really handy watches. Starting in 1953, Rolex introduced the Explorer and Submariner, being the first Explorer watch and first diver’s watch with a rotatable bezel. A couple of years later, the Milgauss was introduced, being able to withstand 1.000 Gauss. Still today, Rolex introduces a lot of new utility watches, such as the Deepsea Challenge Sea-Dweller that can dive up to 1.000 meters. Rolex is known for their ability to test, evolve and (re)create the best watches possible.