WatchTime – USA's No.1 Watch Magazine
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
  • News & Features
    • Watch Blog
    • Watch Features
    • Watch News
    • Watch Reviews
  • WatchTime Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Print Archive
    • Subscriptions Service
    • Subscribe Now
  • Watches
    • Popular Watch Brands
    • Watch Pronunciation
    • Watch Term Glossary
  • Events
  • Shop
  • submit search
  • Watches & Wonders
  • Baselworld
  • WatchTime New York 2021
  • Videos
WatchTime – USA's No.1 Watch Magazine
  • News & Features
    • Watch Blog
    • Watch Features
    • Watch News
    • Watch Reviews
  • WatchTime Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Print Archive
    • Subscriptions Service
    • Subscribe Now
  • Watches
    • Popular Watch Brands
    • Watch Pronunciation
    • Watch Term Glossary
  • Events
  • Shop

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.

Read more

WATCH TEST

Hands-On Review: Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” Ref. 126710 BLRO

Coke or Pepsi? It’s a matter of taste, some say, and individual tastes always differ. But there’s only one right answer if you’re talking about the Rolex GMT-Master. Although the manufacturer made a version that had a GMT bezel in red and black, called “Coke,” the first GMT-Master from 1955 bore the red-and-blue scale for...

Read the article

Aug 17, 2022 by Jens Koch

Sponsored: Turn Your Watch Collection into a Revolving Line of Credit

Quickly gaining access to capital can be a critical step in securing fast-moving opportunities and solving circumstantial problems. Luxury watches are a valuable asset for many collectors, though most financial institutions don’t accept them as loan collateral. The ability to gain access to the equity stored in these watches without selling them is a largely...

Read the article

Aug 18, 2022 by WatchTime

FEATURE

Double Time: Eight GMT Watches For Travelers at Work and Play

A second time zone can be shown in many ways, offering a wide range of options for watch designers. As the summer travel season winds down, we showcase some notable timepieces with second-time-zone (GMT) displays in this article from our 2019 Special Design Issue.

Read the article

Aug 9, 2022 by Jens Koch

Downsizing: Six Watches Under 40-mm from Top Brands

In this article from the WatchTime Archives, we revisit six watches released in recent times capitalizing upon the growing interest in smaller diameter watches, including timepieces from Tudor, Panerai, Omega, and more. Enjoy! Over the past several years, we’ve seen an influx of modestly-sized timepieces from the dominant industry players. Even the leaders of the “wrist-saucer”...

Read the article

Aug 5, 2022 by WatchTime

Sponsored: The Re-Edition of the First G-Shock Gets a New Color Variant

Unlike the MRG-B5000B, which was closely based on the first-generation model and whose dial used the key G-Shock color of red, the defining tone of the new MRG-B5000BA is blue. The concept behind the design is the “ao-zumi” (blue ink) used in Japanese calligraphy. The deep blue creates a mood of peace and serenity quite...

Read the article

Aug 15, 2022 by WatchTime

PORTFOLIO

Splash! A Plunge Into the Colorful World of Watersports Watches

Take the plunge with us into the colorful world of water sports in our latest dip into the WatchTime Archives! Here you can find professional instruments with appealing technologies, styles, and prices. In this article, we present divers’ watches without complex additional functions (e.g., chronographs) because the watches listed here are designed to focus your...

Read the article

Jul 31, 2022 by Alexander Krupp

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...

Read the article

Jul 24, 2022 by Roger Ruegger

Perfecting a Watch: The Design Evolution of the Rolex Datejust

Water resistant, automatic winding, chronometer-certified, a date window— in 1945, the Rolex Datejust was the first watch that could offer all this — just about perfect. Nevertheless, Rolex has continued to improve upon it. What does the perfect watch look like? Automatic winding, three hands, a date display, accurate, sturdy and water resistant — you...

Read the article

Jul 16, 2022 by Jens Koch

Competition in the Sea: Rolex vs. Omega Dive Watches

Rolex and Omega are renowned and admired for their dive watches. In direct comparison, which one of the two leading brands dives deeper, offers more value for the money and performs better? The Submariner divers’ watch has been one of Rolex’s most popular models, and not only since its redesign in 2020. Omega has also...

Read the article

Jul 5, 2022 by Jens Koch

FEATURE

Tools for the Depths: The Dive Watches of Rolex

Dive watches from Rolex are highly sought after. And it’s no wonder with such an exciting history, a number of noteworthy collaborations, unique designs and robust, accurate in-house movements. We explore the various models in this feature from the WatchTime archives. Rolex currently produces four different dive watch models: the Submariner and Submariner Date, the...

Read the article

Jun 21, 2022 by Jens Koch

Green Rambles: The Magic of a Movement

While there are, without a doubt, collectors that focus on a single type of movement, I have learned to love them all. There is an almost intimate feeling when you turn the crown to wind the mainspring with a hand wound movement. It is like you are breathing life into the mechanism. The fact that...

Read the article

Jun 20, 2022 by Martin Green

FEATURE

Dive Watches in Depth: A Dive Watch FAQ

"How water-resistant does it need to be?" "How does a depth gauge work?" We answer your FAQs about dive watches: learn about water resistance, diving bezels, depth gauges, and more in this feature from the WatchTime archives.

Read the article

Jun 19, 2022 by WatchTime

The Extra-Terrestrials: 5 Timepieces with Meteorite Dials

Meteorites are extraterrestrial objects that have passed through the atmosphere and landed on Earth. They can be divided into two different types: stone meteorites and iron meteorites. Most meteorite dials are made from the latter, which make up only four percent of all meteorites. Iron meteorites were born in the core of four-billion-year-old asteroids that...

Read the article

May 28, 2022 by Jens Koch

FEATURE

Touching the Past: Six Modern “Retro” Watches and the Historical Pieces That Inspired Them

When retro-inspired watches are modeled after specific predecessors, fans of mechanical timekeeping can “grasp” design history. In this feature from the WatchTime archives, we take a look at six watches that awaken a longing for the past.

Read the article

May 21, 2022 by Alexander Krupp

One of a Kind: Six Watches Made From Proprietary Gold Alloys

What’s even more exclusive than yellow, white or rose gold? A gold alloy that’s only available from a single brand. Here are watches made of unique gold alloys. Lime Gold (Montblanc)Montblanc relies on its own gold color, which has a green shimmer and is therefore named “Lime Gold.” It debuted this year in the 1858...

Read the article

May 14, 2022 by Ruediger Bucher

Green Rambles: Make All Watches Unisex

One of the things that have always struck me as very weird is watch brands telling us for which gender, specific models are. While this very well may help the marketing department target its efforts, why would you voluntarily limit to who you are selling your product to? Granted, not many men will be drawn...

Read the article

Apr 18, 2022 by Martin Green

Green Rambles: Are You Already Part Of A Tribe?

It is no secret that there are brands in the watch industry where the demand for their timepieces is far greater than the supply. Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Richard Mille are often the ones mentioned in relation to this. The focus was mainly on their sports models with the first two, but even that has...

Read the article

Apr 11, 2022 by Martin Green

Rolex Introduces the Day-Date 40, Now in Platinum with a Fluted Bezel

As Rolex enthusiasts are aware, even small adaptions make for big news in the brand’s universe. This year, Rolex’s elegant Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 is presented in a stunning new 950 platinum version with a fluted bezel. Until now, platinum executions of this model equipped with the nickname “president’s watch” sported only smooth bezels because,...

Read the article

Apr 7, 2022 by Sabine Zwettler

Bringing the Air-King in the 2020s, Rolex Launches Its Latest at Watches & Wonders

Rolex presents a new generation of its Air-King at this year’s Watches & Wonders, with a completely redesigned case, including a crown guard. This is the first major update to the Air-King line since 2016, when at Baselworld of that year Rolex unveiled the familiar, green-accented dial configuration which now defines the series. Like on...

Read the article

Apr 6, 2022 by Sabine Zwettler

Unveiled in Gold at Watches & Wonders 2022: The Rolex Yacht-Master 42

Premiered in 1992, the Yacht-Master then, as now, is Rolex’s vision of a nautical watch. The last addition was introduced in 2019 in a new 42mm white gold case. The fleet is now joined by a yellow gold execution. The new version, like the original model, is distinguished by a bidirectional rotatable bezel fitted with...

Read the article

Mar 31, 2022 by Sabine Zwettler

The Rolex GMT-Master II Takes Off With New Bezel and Case Design at Watches & Wonders 2022

With its crown and crown guard positioned on the left side of the case and a new green and black ceramic bezel, the latest version of the GMT-Master II is probably the biggest surprise of all Rolex releases at this year’s Watches & Wonders. As is de rigueur for the Swiss brand, the moulded, recessed...

Read the article

Mar 30, 2022 by Sabine Zwettler

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...

Read the article

Mar 28, 2022 by WatchTime
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 10
  • …
  • 19
  • »
Current Issue
Sponsored
Follow us
WatchTime on Facebook
Blogroll
  • A Timely Perspective
  • WatchTime Germany
  • WatchTime India
  • WatchTime Mexico
  • WatchTime Middle East
  • Dive into Watches
Recent Posts
  • Sponsored: Turn Your Watch Collection into a Revolving Line of Credit August 18, 2022
  • Diving Titan: Reviewing the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M in Black Ceramic August 18, 2022
  • Hands-On Review: Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” Ref. 126710 BLRO August 17, 2022
Recent Comments
  • John Bormann on Diving Titan: Reviewing the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M in Black Ceramic
  • Russ on Lift-Off: 6 Watches (Other Than the Omega Speedmaster) That Went to Space
  • Dieter Mueller on Vintage Meets Modern: Tissot Introduces the Telemeter 1938
Return to top
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Terms and Conditions
Shipping and Return Policy
Free Newsletter
About WatchTime
Current Issue
Contact us
Advertise
Press Releases
Subscribe

© 2022 Ebner Publishing International, Inc.

Return to top
Return to top

© 2022 Ebner Publishing International, Inc.