subject: Rolex Watch History And Innovations [print this page] Rolex Watches have reigned supreme in the world of watches for over a century; a century in which the brand has become representative of superior quality and in which Rolexes have grown to be timeless timepieces.
There is a power to the simple words Rolex watches. It is not like mentioning some other watch making brand; Rolex has a gravitas which has been earned over the last century, and it has been hard earned with exceptional engineering, innovative design and groundbreaking concepts. The appeal of Rolex watches has steadily grown since the companys inception and nowadays the brand is as major as ever, and is King of the timepiece industry. Let us have a look now, at how Rolex has achieved these feats, with a glimpse into its past.
A Century History Rolex Watches
It may appear a little surprising that the Rolex company in reality originated in London. Hans Wilsdorf and his brother in law Alfred Davis founded Wilsdorf and Davis there back in 1905 and the pair worked importing Swiss Watch movements which they would place inside of watchcases. Wilsdorf registered the trademark Rolex three years later and opened an business office in Switzerland and the Rolex company took off not long after that. Rolex watches have continued to get produced in Switzerland since the early 20th century and the watches that have been conceived include many innovations.
Rolex made history in 1910 when Wilsdorf decided to step out of his comfort zone and go beyond pocket watches. Their wristwatch became the first in the world to receive the Swiss Certificate of Precision. Just four years later, the Rolex watch also received a Class A precision certificate from Kew Observatory in Great Britain. Up until then, only marine chronometers were awarded for their precision. It was this milestone that led to great success for Rolex.
The shift from pocket watches to wristwatches came about during World War I. Soldiers needed highly accurate watches that were more comfortable to wear. After the war, men continued to search for such watches and Rolex was willing to meet the peoples demands. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Rolex obtained many awards and set new records for watchmaking. They continually exceeded standards with their exceptional quality and accuracy. In 1926 they created the first waterproof and dust-proof wristwatch the Oyster. The reliability of the watch was put to the test by Mercedes Gleitze when she swam across the English Channel. The swim lasted over ten hours. The watch was still in perfect working condition.
The prosperity of the company continued to grow and it wasnt long before they were recognized as the top manufacturer of watches. In the 1950s they decided to expand their lineup again by creating professional watches for deep-sea diving, mountain climbing, and scientific exploration. The company has proven no signs of stopping their worldwide success. To wear Rolex watches is to exhibit that you know the meaning of the true luxury.
Rolex Watches Super Models
Being fantastically functional and precise, Rolexes are also known for their striking beauty and devastating design. The Rolex models that are available on the market either brand new or second hand, look exceptional and iconic models include:
* Rolex Daytona the Rolex Daytona was originally presented in the 1960s but only a limited number were produced. More were manufactured in the 1908s and were immediately snapped up by eager fans of this stunning timepiece.
* Rolex Sea Dweller the Sea Dweller was designed as a diving watch in the 1960s for marine divers and it can withstand depths of up to 610 metres. It is also a favorite fashion watch thanks to its simple but stylish design.
* Rolex Submariner this is one of the most iconic Rolex watches and this is thanks largely to the fact that the Submariner was what James Bond wore in the movies, on the insistence of producer Cubby Broccoli. This watch though, being a Rolex, has plenty of other attributes that make it a lovely timepiece.
Even to this very day, with the world watch market flooded with less expensive quartz watches and second-rate imitations, Rolex continues to manufacture its highly precise, chronometer certified mechanical watches.
With the birth of the 21st century, it has developed an institute called the "Watch Technicum" in the small town of Lititz, Pennsylvania where 12 students are trained every year in the art of mechanical watch repair.
The supreme engineering of Rolex in making quality watches places it among the top 100 firms in the world. Nowadays, it is the single largest luxury watch brand! Producing about 2000 watches per day, it has been ranked #71 on the 2007 annual list of the top 100 worldwide corporations by Business Week magazine and at the top slot amongst all watch companies.
Rolex has continuously improved the functionality and look of different Rolex models under all of the three major categories: Oyster Perpetual, Professional, and Cellini. It is rightly said that tradition meets innovation at Rolex. Probably no other company in the world has such a tradition and consistent legacy of both innovation and high qualitative standards. Without question, Rolex is the place where luxury and precision are one.
