Rolex are probably the most famous manufacturer of luxury watches in the world at the moment. Watches made by Rolex are often considered to be much more than mere wristwatches – they’re a status symbol.
Rolex SA is the largest watch making company in the world ahead of other famous brands such as Omega and Cartier. It’s estimated that Rolex earns around $3 billion a year due to its position as the number one company when it comes to vintage and luxury wrist watches.
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ROLEX DATEJUST MENS STAINLESS STEEL WATCH DIAMOND DIALUS $2,950.00 |
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust Stainless Case 42 Round Brilliant DiamondsUS $3,300.00 |
Pre Owned Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6084US $2,950.00 |
History of Rolex Watches
Even though Rolex is the largest watch maker in the world it’s not the oldest. The company was established in the early 20th century (compared to other luxury watch makers which have histories dating back hundreds of years) in London. Originally the company imported watch components from Switzerland and then combined them with cases that were made in the UK. When it was founded the company was called Wilsdorf and Davis.
Just three years after the company was first founded the name Rolex began to be used. It’s said that the name Rolex was chosen because the company wanted to have a brand name that could be pronounced in any language. There are many other theories about why the name Rolex was originally used although most have never been confirmed.
Although the company was founded in the UK it moved to Geneva for tax reasons in 1919. This helped to keep the cost of manufacturing the watches down and hence allowed the company to grow at a faster rate.
Today, Rolex is still based in Geneva although they have offices all around the world. Over 2500 staff are employed and although the company’s primary focus is still wrist watches they also manufacture accessories and other items.
Some notable people who’ve worn Rolex watches include Che Guevara and Roger Federer. Rolex watches were also used in the early James Bond films.
Rolex Collections
There are many Rolex collections including the DateJust, Day-Date and Milgauss. Here are a few of the more popular collections in more detail. Some watches can be placed in the chronometer category which means they've been tested for their accuracy. For watches developed in Switzerland this means passing the COSC test.
Rolex Daytona
The original Rolex Daytona Cosmograph series was manufactured in the 1960s and the watches that were produced during this period have become collector’s items. The second series is more widely available today and can be indentified with a six digit serial number rather than a four digit.
The Daytona collection is named after the 24 hour Daytona race which the company sponsors. For this reason the watches are designed with driving in mind.
You can find Daytona watches in yellow gold, white gold and steel.
Rolex Sea Dweller and Submariner Collection
The Sea Dweller and Submariner collections are watches manufactured by Rolex for use when diving. The modern versions of the Sea Dweller range can cope with depths of up to around 3500 metres although the vintage models are only able to withstand the pressure of around 600 metres.
The Submariner collection is thought of as one of the most iconic collections of watches in the world. Not only is it a luxury watch but it’s also been used in highly demanding situations and locations such as expeditions across the Antarctic.