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Rolex plays an important part in the horological world as the Crown are the undisputed number one watch brand in the world. The Swiss brand obtains the most sales in comparison to its competitors, especially last year, when Rolex were reported to have made over $11 billion from sales alone.
Part of Rolex’s catalogue and discography are some of the most iconic timepieces like the Daytona, Submariner and GMT-Master II. But like most watch brands, Rolex’s story to the top is full of intriguing facts, like the brand’s origins and times they made history by producing the world’s firsts.
From where Rolex began, as the Crown were not based in Switzerland to begin with, to the most expensive Rolex watch sold at auction, in this article, we have curated a list including facts that you must know about Rolex to impress your friends and make you sound like a horological genius.
Rolex were Established in 1905 in London
Due to Rolex being a Swiss watch brand, many watch lovers would be under the impression that Rolex are established in the home of watchmaking. However, Rolex were founded in the capital city of England, London, in the year 1905. It wasn’t long after that till the Crown relocated its headquarters to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1919, following the end of WWI, where it remains today.
Rolex Founders were Hans Wilsdorf & Alfred Davis
So, we have established when and where Rolex were founded, but who were they founded by. Introducing the pair, Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis. Hans Wilsdorf was a German-born businessman who moved to London in 1903 at 22 years old and met Alfred Davis two years later, where the pair partnered up to create a watch company.
Rolex were Initially Called Wilsdorf & Davis
You read that right. Rolex were originally called Wilsdorf & Davis, which sounds like a duo you’d expect on a TV series like Suits, as the company sounded more like the partners of a law firm. The brand name, Rolex, was formed in 1908 and registered seven years later in 1915, which was a special way to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the brand.
Rolex’s Name Origins are Unknown
Whilst it is known that Wilsdorf and Davis formed and registered the name Rolex, it remains unknown as to how and why the pair chose Rolex, but there are a few theories. One story relies in that Wilsdorf heard “Rolex” whispered to him on a London bus, but alternatively, others say he was inspired by the French phrase, “Horlogerie Exquise” that translates to “Exquisite Watchmaking”. If it were known how the name, Rolex, surfaced, we would have known by now, so this is most likely going to remain a mystery.
Rolex Invented the First Waterproof Wristwatch
In 1926, Rolex invented the first waterproof wristwatch called the Rolex Oyster, which featured a patented, hermetically sealed case with a screw-down crown that prevented water from entering the watch, ultimately destroying the movement. To prove the Oyster was waterproof, Rolex gave an example to Mercedes Gleitze, who was a professional swimmer and wore it during her swim across the English Channel in 1927. After the 10-hour challenging swim, the Oyster remained operating, concluding that the watch was waterproof.
Rolex Invented the First Perpetual Rotor
Shortly after inventing the first waterproof wristwatch in 1931, Rolex went another step further to introduce the world’s first self-winding movement with a perpetual rotor. This innovation stopped the wearer from having to manually wind their watch, but instead used their own wrist movement to generate energy and wind the mainspring.
Rolex are Owned by a Charity
In 1945, Wilsdorf set up a charity foundation called the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, in which he transferred all his shares in Rolex to the foundation upon his death in 1960. Wilsdorf set up the charity foundation to help social projects in Geneva and beyond, like education. To this day, the trust owns Rolex, but it is important to note that the Crown is a for-profit company. Yet, profits are reinvested back into the company or charitable causes, not to private shareholders.
Rolex Manufactures its Own Gold
Through the use of its in-house foundry, Rolex creates its own gold by melting down pure 24-carat gold and combining it with other metals like copper and silver. The three different types of gold that Rolex offers include Everose gold, yellow gold and white gold, which are some of the most beautiful, aesthetically pleasing finished alloys in the horological world.
The Most Expensive Rolex Watch Sold at Auction is Paul Newman’s Daytona for $17,752,500
Paul Newman was known for wearing the Rolex Daytona due to his passion for motor racing; in fact, he wore a series of reference numbers that were produced in the 1960s and 1980s, which enthusiasts link his name to in modern times. In 2017, Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona hit headlines for becoming the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction, accumulating a total of $17,752,000. Unfortunately, its title was lost in 2019, dethroned by the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime reference 6300A-010, which sold for $31.19 million.
Rolex Supplied Watches to British POW officers during WWII
As already highlighted, Wilsdorf was a very charitable figure, and before setting up his trust, he supplied watches to British POW Officers during WWII. Wilsdorf incorporated the idea of allowing officers to pay after the war, and the watches served as a significant morale boost for the officers. This type of act by Wilsdorf was truly inspirational and remarkable, reinforcing his giving nature and his dedication to building a reputable brand.
Rolex Produced the First Watch to feature the Date and Day on the Dial
In 1956, Rolex released the first-ever Day-Date a groundbreaking timepiece that became the first watch to feature both the date and day of the week. What was even more marvellous about the Day-Date was the fact that the day of the week was spelt out in full, which is what remains key to the Day-Dates of today. There was no watch like the Day-Date at the time, so the model rose to prominence very quickly, worn by world leaders, especially in the US. This is the reason why the Day-Date is commonly referred to as “The President’s Watch”, spotted on the wrists of Lyndon B. Johnson and Donald Trump.
A Rolex Watch Travelled to the Deepest Part of the Ocean
Yes, you read that correctly a Rolex watch has travelled to the deepest part of the ocean and returned to the surface, ticking perfectly fine. What is even more impressive is that this happened on two separate occasions: first in 1960, when Rolex attached the Deep Sea Special to the exterior of the bathyscaphe Trieste, where the watch reached a depth of 10,916m (35,814ft) and lastly in 2012, when Rolex created the Deepsea Challenge and sent it down with expeditioner James Cameron who took on a 10,908m (35,787ft) descent to the Mariana Trench in which was successful for both Cameron and the Rolex’s Deepsea Challenge.
A Rolex Wristwatch was the First to be Granted a Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision
In 1910, five years after the brand’s establishment and two years after trademarking the name Rolex, the Crown became the first brand to have a wristwatch granted a Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision (COSC). This was a major milestone for the brand’s reputation that proved their watches’ movements were highly accurate and reliable.
Rolex Identify its watches through Nicknames
Despite using their own model names or reference numbers, Rolex are aware of nicknames given to watches by the horological community. This is because on their website, you can type in the search bar one of many nicknames given to their timepieces by fanatics, and the watch model will appear. This is very interesting from Rolex as it shows, not only are they aware of the nicknames, but also allowing customers to access and view their stock much more easily.
There is no doubt that Rolex will continue to hold its number one spot, and we expect more facts to be added to this list in the years to come. With 2026 shortly approaching, we wonder what milestone Rolex could reach next.
