A by-word for the ultimate in high-quality, reliable and luxury watches, the Rolex brand is synonymous with exceptional performance, dependability and inimitable style. But what is it about a Rolex which inspires universal respect and a fair degree of envy for the fortunate wearer? Behind the brand lies a wealth of rich history, fused with exquisite workmanship, incredible attention to detail and an absolute commitment to delivering the very best product possible.
Read on to discover more about the fascinating world of Rolex, including some intriguing revelations which help to explain why Rolex continues to enchant and delight, more than a century after the first Rolex watches were created.
Rolex
Excellence Since 1905
Rolex was founded by Hans Wilsdorf, in London. His quest was to create watches which were not only technically advanced, but which were also extremely stylish and an absolute pleasure to wear. The first wristwatch anywhere to be granted the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision in 1910, Rolex has gone on to receive a range of awards and certifications for various aspects of its construction.
Relocating to Geneva in 1920, the Rolex continued to be refined and improved. Declared waterproof and dust proof in the 1920s with the invention of the Rolex Oyster, the brand also invented the iconic self-winding mechanism with a perpetual rotor. This invention absolutely revolutionised the way in which watches operate, with the technology forming the basis of almost every self-winding wrist watch right up until the present!
Emphasis
On Excellence
Because Rolex focuses on high-performance, its watches are closely associated with a number of sporting events and challenging adventures. Rolex Oysters were worn by the crew of the first flight over Everest and subsequently, a Rolex was worn by Sir Edmund Hilary on his successful ascent of Everest in the 1950s. The watch of explorers, adventurer sand intrepid travellers, the watch wasn't just limited to terrestrial pursuits: the Submariner, the first divers' watch launched in 1953, was capable of remaining waterproof to depths of 100m.
Supremacy in chronology beneath the waves continued to be a defining characteristic of Rolex: fast forward half a century and a Rolex was worn successfully by James Cameron during his descent into the Mariana Trench (the deepest part of the ocean). The Rolex Deepsea Challenge was guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 12000m. Apparently, the watch kept perfect time for the duration of the journey! Rolex watches can go to depths more than a hundred times deeper than a human being could survive!
Rolex Owns
The Means Of Production
One of the manufacturing features which defines Rolex is the fact that many of the materials which are used to create the watches are manufacturers solely for use by the brand. This sets it apart from many other watch manufacturers, who use pre-processed materials to manufacture their products.
Rolex has an in-house foundry, which creates the gold used on a Rolex. This enables Rolex to not only control the quality precisely but also the appearance of the final metal. In addition, the stainless steel which Rolex uses is made to its own unique specification: 904L stainless steel (Oyster Steel) isused only by Rolex, resulting in watches which are extremely resistant to rust and corrosion (an essential feature for watches which are marketed to be used regularly underwater).
Each Watch
Is Handmade
Rolex makes each watch by hand, with most taking around a year to create. Each one is rigorously pressure tested before it is allowed to leave the factory, ensuring it meets the demanding standards required by the brand for each and every one of its watches. Rolex's success is built on ensuring that every detail of its watches is as good as it possibly can be. Every small alteration is backed by years of painstaking research and testing, ensuring that every Rolex is a slight improvement on its predecessor.
The fusion of style and function continues until the present: unlike many other watches, where the number four is shown as IV in Roman numerals, the Rolex continues to show the number four as IIII, due to the enhanced aesthetics of the choice!
Why You
Need A Rolex
The Rolex is an iconic brand for many reasons. It’s considered the best watch in the world in many respects, when it comes to incredible performance in challenging conditions, an excellent level of accuracy and time-keeping you can rely on when it matters, Rolex is an out-and-out winner. Beloved by sailors, aviators, adventurers, divers and explorers, it is also the brand of business people, entrepreneurs and anybody with a suitable budget and an appreciation of a brand that really does stand out for all the right reasons. With the most expensive Rolex retailing for around $17.75 million, new and used Rolex watches certainly aren't cheap, but chronology connoisseurs believe they're worth every penny!
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