VINTAGE LUXURY FROM THE WORLDS MOST TRUSTED BOUTIQUES
Established in Switzerland in 1905, Rolex is an enduring symbol of unparalleled precision in watchmaking. Rolex has become an industry benchmark for luxury timepieces. Discover our collection of Rolex, including the iconic Submariner, Datejust, and Daytona models.
More about Vintage Rolex Watches
At first, the name was coined in 1908 by one Hans Wilsdorf, who at the time was giving his watches a name that would be easy to remember but one that also looked good inscribed on the watches.
In 1910, a Rolex watch was the first in the world to receive the Swiss Certificate for Chronometric Precision. At last, the dream of a perfect wristwatch had come into reality for Wilsdorf. Since 1914, Rolex has also been synonymous with precision, as a Rolex wristwatch was rewarded with a class "A" precision certificate, which marine chronometers had been reserved for.
Rolex is the company behind the first waterproof wristwatch - the Oyster. The Oyster was thus described as "too complicated," "too fragile," "ill-suited." He pursued his vision and completed the watch and the blueprint for all subsequent Rolex watches: precise, robust, able to withstand all conditions.
The launch of Oyster and subsequently its patent followed in 1926, spurring the Oyster Perpetual Collection – an Oyster watch with a Perpetual rotor. Since defining its form in the early 1940s, the Oyster has developed into a collection of watches featuring new functions and innovative technologies.
Now, the collections sum up to more than 14 ranges, including Classic watches: Datejust, Day-Date, and Sky-Dweller; and Professional watches: Explorer, Submariner, and GMT-Master II. Rolex, as a company, has done a huge thing in developing tests and protocols that would ensure the reliability and robustness of every produced timepiece. These tests include battery testing, so that the gadget stays reliable through both 'every day'.
Colour is tested by aging tests so that the color of the dial changes with wearing, under the sun, and the metal bracelets are tested so that they do not scratch where they connect. The polish is one of the most illustrative stages in the making of a Rolex watch, as it gives the metal surfaces of the watch perfect luster and smoothness.
First, he must know how to become a polisher—nowadays called a termineur, a finisher—by a three-year apprenticeship to learn the trade, techniques, and know the tools and materials that are used at last to practice all the principles learned. Starting from the start up to completion, a Rolex watch passes through many hands of watchmakers, engineers, designers, and more to be sure you get the best product out there.
