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Rolex

Rolex is one of the world’s largest luxury watch brands. Rolex was founded in 1905 in London by Hans Wilsdorf, eventually Rolex moved to Switzerland in 1919. The Tudor watch brand is a subsidiary of Rolex. In 1914 Rolex obtained a chronometer certificate (Class A precision certificate) and thus became the first manufacturer of a chronometer wristwatch.

By obtaining the first chronometer certificate, Rolex demonstrated that, in terms of precision, a small wristwatch could rival that of the best timepieces, including pocketwatches, which were the norm at the time. This proof of performance would contribute significantly to the rise of the wristwatch in popularity. On the strength of this achievement, Rolex would eventually become the world’s largest manufacturer of chronometer-certified wristwatches. The Geneva-based brand perfected the concept of the modern watch in 1926 by inventing the waterproof “Oyster” case to protect the movement inside and then, in 1931, by developing the self-winding “Perpetual” rotor movement. Today, all Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches are officially certified chronometers, carrying on the heritage of the pioneering role the brand played in bringing precision to the wristwatch. That milestone feat of miniaturized precision. Rolex went on to innovate constantly and several times brought new technologies to the market that eventually set standards for the whole industry; among them are (according to Wikipedia) the first waterproof wristwatch Rolex “Oyster”, 1926; the first wristwatch with an automatically changing date on the dial (Rolex Datejust ref.4467, 1945); the first wristwatch case waterproof to 100 m (330 ft) (Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner ref.6204, 1953); the first wristwatch to show two time zones at once (Rolex GMT Master ref.6542, 1954); the first wristwatch with an automatically changing day and date on the dial (Rolex Day-Date, 1956). Rolex uses only in-house calibers and many automatic movements but also deployed Quartz movements in the 1970s. Notable models today are Rolex Air-King, Rolex Date, Rolex Oyster Perpetual, Rolex Datejust, Rolex Datejust II, Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph, Rolex Lady Datejust Pearlmaster, Rolex Daytona, Rolex Paul Newman Daytona, Rolex Day-Date, Rolex Day-Date II, Rolex Day-Date Oyster Perpetual, Rolex Explorer, Rolex Explorer II, Rolex GMT Master II, Rolex Masterpiece, Rolex Milgauss, Rolex Oysterquartz, Rolex Sea Dweller, Rolex Sea Dweller DeepSea, Rolex Sky-Dweller, Rolex Submariner, Rolex Turn-O-Graph, Rolex Yacht-Master, Rolex Yacht-Master II. Rolex is the timekeeper of Wimbledon and many other prestigious sports events. Explorers, aviators, military groups, celebrities and royals regularly purchase Rolex watches. Fake Rolex watches and Rolex replica watches are sought after by bargain hunters but can easily identified by Rolex serial numbers and by comparing the fake prices with the original Rolex prices on the internet and the Rolex price list in every brand boutique.

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The Rolex Oyster Case: Everything You Need to Know

Pegged as one of the most innovative and historical updates to the wristwatch, the Rolex Oyster case has enjoyed its day in the sun and for good reason. In this in-depth article courtesy of our colleagues at WatchTime India, we take you through the different parts of this piece of horological history and help you...

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Jan 29, 2023 by WatchTime

The Traditionalist: Hands-On With the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner

As of 2020, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner with no date display, which many view as the archetypal dive watch, is slightly larger and has an updated movement yet remains true to its original design. This is our first encounter with the new watch. We had to wait a long time for the latest Rolex...

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Jan 22, 2023 by Martina Richter

PORTFOLIO

Stopwatches at the Top: 7 Chronographs with In-House Movements

Looking for a chronograph with a completely in-house-manufactured movement? In this feature from WatchTime's June 2017 issue, we showcase some of the industry’s top picks, from seven power brands, from Breitling to Rolex to Zenith.

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Jan 21, 2023 by Alexander Krupp

WATCH REVIEW

Into the Blue: Reviewing the Rolex Deepsea D-Blue

When writer, director, and adventurer James Cameron reached the beginning of the “deep sea” at a depth of 1,000 meters on March 26, 2012, safely inside his submersible craft Deepsea Challenger, all the remaining light disappeared. But at that point, he hadn’t yet completed one-tenth of his journey. At 10,908 meters, he landed softly on...

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Jan 15, 2023 by Jens Koch

TIMEPIECE TIMELINE

The Evolution of the Men’s Wristwatch: A Decade-by-Decade Guide

World War I coincided with the breakthrough of the wristwatch. New and trailblazing designs followed in each subsequent decade. From the WatchTime archives, here are our highlights, from the beginning of the 20th Century to the present day.

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Jan 14, 2023 by Ruediger Bucher

No Date, No Problem: Six Watches Without Date Displays

While a date display is usually regarded as one of the most popular complications, some purists are opting more and more for harmony and symmetry on their dials by choosing a watch without a date window. Here are six notable examples in our latest story from the WatchTime Archives. Back to the Forties: IWC Big...

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Dec 31, 2022 by Alexander Krupp

2022 Year in Review: Flying High With 5 New Pilot Watches

Continuing our round up of some of the most important watches launched this year, today we look back at more exciting and innovative releases that broke onto the scene in 2022. Aviation is the theme for today’s recap with a host of memorable novelties on review today. So please fasten your seatbelts and place your...

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Dec 27, 2022 by Caleb Anderson

2022 Year in Review: Going Deep With Notable 5 Dive Watches

Continuing with our annual round-up, today we look back at some of the most exciting and innovative debuts that broke onto the scene in 2022. In spite of an ever-changing and increasingly volatile economy, the year saw the expansion of high-profile retailers, the launch of a host of notable timepieces, and the watch industry resumed...

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Dec 26, 2022 by Caleb Anderson

Rolex Launches Certified Pre-Owned Program

Rolex today announced that it launches a program that will enable retailers that are part of the brand’s official distribution network to sell second-hand models that are certified as authentic. They will come with a new two-year international guarantee. According to Rolex, these timepieces benefit from the same high quality criteria as its new watches. The...

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Dec 1, 2022 by Sabine Zwettler

Green Rambles: The Power of the Lefty

As of recent, watchmakers have been giving more attention to releasing models with the crown (and pushers) on the left side of the case rather than the right. But why has this just become a thing? Earlier this year, we saw Rolex, and quite recently, Patek Philippe launch timepieces with the southpaw characteristic. While they...

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Nov 21, 2022 by Martin Green

PORTFOLIO

Time Tools: 8 Tool Watches From Luxury Brands

In this article from the WatchTime archives, we present eight "tool watches" that emphasize functionality and are robust, accurate, legible, and — importantly — not excessively expensive.

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Nov 13, 2022 by Jens Koch

WATCH TEST

Batman on Tour: Testing the Rolex GMT-Master II

Rolex has updated its popular travel watch, the GMT-Master II, in steel with its blue-and-black “Batman” bezel. We tested one of the first pieces available with a Jubilee bracelet and a new movement in this feature from the WatchTime archives (original photos by Marcus Krüger).

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Nov 12, 2022 by Jens Koch

TIMEPIECE TIMELINE

10 Highlights in the History of the Dive Watch

In the beginning, dive watches were pure tools that helped keep divers on time and alive. Today they’re something else: fashion statements, conversation pieces, rugged companions for a trip to the beach or pool. Our Timeline: "Dive Watches Through the Decades," traces the history of the dive watch from its start in the 1920s, with the invention of the first truly water-resistant cases, to 2014.

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Nov 5, 2022 by WatchTime

Pressure Resistant to 11,000 Meters: Rolex Introduces the Brand New Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge Clad in Titanium

On January 23, 1960, the Deep Sea Special – an experimental Rolex wristwatch designed for extremely high pressure – accompanied oceanographer Jacques Piccard and U.S. Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh as they set a diving record in the Mariana Trench. Attached to the outer shell of the deep-sea submersible Trieste, it descended to a depth of...

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Nov 1, 2022 by Sabine Zwettler

Watches and Wonders Creates Foundation Together with Rolex, Richemont, and Patek Philippe and Opens to the Public in 2023

After the success of the first edition of Watches and Wonders Geneva in 2022, Rolex, Richemont and Patek Philippe have decided to create the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation (WWGF), a not-for-profit foundation based in Geneva, established in September 2022.  According to the trade show, the mission of the foundation is “to promote watchmaking excellence throughout the world...

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Oct 28, 2022 by Sabine Zwettler

FEATURE

Field Ready: The Complicated Story of the Simple Field Watch

How the field watch journeyed from saving lives in the hellish trenches of World War I to decorating the wrists of fashionably rugged-looking civilians a century later is a rather befuddling tale. In this feature from the WatchTime archives, correspondent Allen Farmelo takes us through it.

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Oct 22, 2022 by Allen Farmelo

What Makes Rolex so Successful? Here Are Nine Reasons

Rolex is viewed by many as the Number One among major Swiss watch manufacturers. Why? Rüdiger Bucher, Editorial Director at WatchTime's German sister magazine, Chronos, lists nine reasons for the success of Rolex.

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Oct 16, 2022 by Ruediger Bucher

And Action:

Time for the Movies: 10 Times a Watch Stole the Spotlight from the Actors

(Warning: Spoilers ahead.) Watches in movies have fascinated watch fans since collecting timepieces became (at least) as interesting as getting an autograph from your favorite actor. From Steve McQueen’s Monaco in Le Mans (1971), Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) Seiko Giugario in Aliens (1986), Christian Bale’s Datejust in American Psycho (2000), Marlon Brando’s Rolex GMT and Martin...

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Oct 9, 2022 by Roger Ruegger

Rare Oyster: Testing the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date LV

Rolex revised its Submariner collection in 2020 and unleashed an extraordinary demand for its Oyster model with a green bezel. Our test from the WatchTime Archives looks at this newest edition, with its modified case and new movement, to see if it lives up to the hype. Spend any time at all at a Rolex...

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Sep 23, 2022 by Jens Koch

A Brief History of the Mechanical Watch’s Fight Against Magnetism

In our latest visit to the global WatchTime archives, a look at how watchmaking has countered the threat of magnetism over the years, from using metals like palladium in 1915 to silicon in 2015. Magnetism has been the mechanical timekeeping’s nemesis through the years. It is to the mechanical watch what Prof. Moriarty is to Sherlock...

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Sep 18, 2022 by WatchTime
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