1908 – The Birth of Rolex

In 1905, at the age of 24, Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf and Davis (the forerunner of Rolex) in London specialising in the distribution of timepieces. In 1908 it was renamed Rolex. Rolex moved its operations in 1919 to Geneva in Switzerland, where Rolex is located even today.

1910 – Chronometer Certified Watch

A Rolex watch became the world’s first chronometer certified watch. Rolex is always committed to make very accurate and reliable movements.

1926- Waterproof Watch

Rolex invented the very first waterproof watch- Rolex Oyster watch in the world, which made the screw-plug watch bezel, watch case bottom cover and the winding watch crown fixedly screw on the watch case through the Rolex patented technology.

1927- Excellent Waterproof Performance

The English swimmer Mercedes Gleitze swam across the English channel, wearing a Rolex watch – thusly proving that Rolex indeed is waterproof!

1931-Self-Winding Movement

Rolex was the first self-winding mechanism with a perpetual rotor. This design became the basis for every other self-winding watch in the world.

1945- Date Display

Rolex invented the famous replica Rolex Datejust. It’s a significant invention because it was the very first automatic chronometer certified wristwatch with a date window. 

1953- Diving Watch

Rolex invented one of the first and earliest divers watches in the world, called the Rolex Submariner which could withstand pressure to a depth of 100 m (330 ft).

1955- Time Zones

The Rolex Oyster GMT Master was introduced to allow Pan-Am pilots to be able to tell the time in two different time zones at once. That is the the world’s first wristwatch with a GMT function.

1956- Day-Date Display

The Oyster Perpetual Day-Date made its debut. It was the first wristwatch to display the date and day of the week.

2016 - High Reputation

Forbes ranked Rolex 64th on its 2016 list of the world's most powerful global brands.