Roles Watches The Leader In Innovative Timepieces

If it’s true that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”, then The Rolex Watch Company should feel very flattered.  So frequent are these watches replicated, it is natural to be a bit skeptical when they are offered for sale anywhere other than a legitimate dealer.  While it happens that they are imitated often,  if examined by anyone familiar with a true Rolex, the evidence gives it away.  There’s a reason rolex watches are so coveted.  It’s no accident that Rolex is world renowned for it’s precision.  German born, Hans Wilsdorf was a perfectionist in anything he aspired to achieve.  

In 1905, what we now know as Rolex was founded by Wilsdorf and his brother in law Alfred Davis in London.  Then known as “Wilsdorf and Davis”, their business predominantly consisted of placing the Swiss movements of Hermann Aegler, which they imported to London, into the highest quality watch cases, some of which were made by Dennison.  These were in turn sold to jewelers who stamped their own names onto the face of the watch. These early creations were typically marked with “W&D” on the inside case back. 

In 1908, the made up name Rolex was trademarked, and they opened an office in Switzerland.  The origin of the name is obscure to say the least.  Whatever the origin, the name has indeed been the perfect one for such exquisite works.  In 1914, rolex watches were awarded a Class A precision certificate by Kew Observatory.  This elite certification was normally only awarded to marine chronometers.  After achieving this award, Wilsdorf was determined to meet this standard in all their timepieces. 

Moving the company to Geneva, Switzerland in 1919, Wilsdorf then established the company as Rolex Watch Company.  In 1931, Rolex released their first self winding wristwatch which had been preceded in 1928 by Harwood, who had patented the design in 1923.  Among other innovations by Rolex are the first automatic date changing watch, Datejust, in 1945 and the first waterproof wristwatch case in 1954 Then and now, rolex watches have set a standard that isn’t met by any other watch manufacturer.   

Clearly a leader in innovation and elegance, Wilsdorf was also charitable.  After losing his wife in 1944, He created the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation and  to ensure some of the company’s income would go to charity, he left all his shares of rolex watches to the foundation.  To this day, shares are not traded on any stock exchange and the company is owned by a private trust.