When it comes to naming a luxury watch brand, it is undoubtedly “Rolex” that springs to the mind of most people in the world. For over a century, the watchmaker has astonished the horology industry with its top-notch, avant-garde creations so much that today the name Rolex is agreeably associated with luxury watches. And the two terms appear to be inseparable practically.
However, virtually everyone across the globe is well-conversant with the name Rolex, no matter whether he/she is a watch enthusiast or not. Credit goes to the wily marketing strategies executed by the brand.
You will find almost all notable personalities from the past or present, fictional or real strapping a Rolex watch on the wrist, including Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Martin Luther King.
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However, both buying and selling Rolex timepieces is typically an involved and challenging process, especially for amateurs. Keeping in mind the unrivalled fame and crave that Rolex enjoys, the counterfeit Rolex market is today booming.
Thus, it is significant to carry out intensive research and analysis before deciding on a particular dealer to buy your first Rolex. Here’s a quick tip for you –
Search on the net, “how to tell if a Rolex is real or fake” or anything related to it.
This will help you to acquire some knowledge of the symbolic features of Rolex watches, and you can eventually deal with confidence.
Similarly, if you type on your search bar simply “sell Rolex London”, you will find a vast list of watch buyers near you, including the ones who can deceive you in selling your Rolex watch for a low price.
So choosing the right buyer is essential to rest assured that you are getting the best value of your beloved luxury timepiece. The quick tip will be to look for the dealer’s experience, reviews on Google or Trustpilot and get an initial quote for your watch.
Nonetheless, here is a brief history of the Rolex watches that enabled the brand to attain its current world-beating fame and status.
Rolex Watches – A Brief History
Hans Wilsdorf, a Bavarian entrepreneur, founded the company in 1905 in London that later came to be known as Rolex. Partnering with Alfred Davis (his brother-in-law), the firm began its journey by buying pieces from Switzerland and the UK, followed by selling them to several retailers.
However, Hans Wilsdorf had a higher ambition regarding watches. In 1908, he upended the firm’s name to Rolex and began assembling timepieces itself. The brand acquired the delicate elements from different watchmakers and gathered them in a single watch.
Gradually, success started to follow Rolex in time-tracking precision. The brand achieved a First Class Chronometer Certificate in 1910 from the accuracy rating office in Switzerland.
In 1914, the Kew Observatory in England granted a Class A Chronometer Certificate to another Rolex watch. The historical significance lies in the fact that it was the ever-first non-diving chronometer to secure this Kew certificate.
Significant Innovations over the Years
Rolex was on the track of reaching its world-beating status with its superior quality watches. However, Hans Wilsdorf was prepared to extend his reach. Between 1926 and 1931, the horology industry had two of the most significant innovations from Rolex.
The brand unleashed its now-iconic waterproof Oyster case for boosting the reliability of its watches. So the waterproof shell was crafted of a robust middle case, and the brand screwed the bezel, winding crown, and case-back onto it. It eventually formed an impassable housing.
Eventually, with Oyster cases, Rolex watches became resistant to moisture and dust. More significantly, this new invention turned wristwatches into a practical device that one can wear regularly. It was no longer confined to fragile ladies jewellery like it was before.
Another historic innovation from the brand was the automatic movement. For winding a timepiece, the only thing required was the motion of the user’s arm. So Rolex popped up with the perpetual movement.
Thus, the Oyster case housing the perpetual movement became the prototype for whatever the brand produced. And it continues to be so even today. Each contemporary Rolex watch encases a self-winding movement. Also, they are water-resistant up to at least 100m.
The inception of Rolex Tool Watches
In 1945, Rolex introduced their first waterproof, automatic, date-display watch – the Datejust. It became an instant hit. However, the watchmaker came up with the concept of “tool watch” in the 1950s.
It refers to the timepieces that can work more than only tracking the time. Consecutively, Rolex unleashed the Turn-O-Graph, Submariner, GMT-Master and more. All these “tool watches” were equipped with added functionalities to make them ideal for professionals to use in their regular life.
You will find a wide array of tool watches in the current Rolex’s catalogue. However, a Rolex watch is today perceived more as a status symbol than a necessity. It typically symbolises the level of your accomplishment in life.
