Rolex jewellery

A symbol of luxury and excellence, the famous Swiss watchmaking brand Rolex started out in business in 1905, headed by Hans Wilsdorf. The company’s founder revolutionised the world of watchmaking by inventing the wristwatch, which would gradually come to replace the fob watch and the pocket watch.

In 1908, Wilsdorf renamed his company Rolex, a short name that was easy to pronounce in all languages, reflecting his ambition to make the brand a global success.

Rolex watches stand out for their technical performance.

1926 saw the release of the first completely waterproof case, resistant to sudden temperature changes and dust. The Oyster collection is characterised by the "sport-chic" style. A young swimmer from London swam across the channel wearing an Oyster model on her wrist, sparking immediate success and proving the watches’ water-tightness.

The Oyster was released in a number of models over subsequent years: • 1945 – the Oyster Perpetual Datejust, displaying the date for the first time • 1953 – the Oyster Perpetual Submariner, the first diving model water-resistant to 100m. The same year saw the release of the Explorer, a model resistant to extreme temperatures and sudden changes in temperature. • 1954 – the Oyster Perpetual GMT Master, this pilot’s watch displays the time in two time zones (at 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock) • 1956 – Oyster Perpetual Day Date, featuring the date plus the day of the week • 1960 – introducing the Cosmograph featuring a tachymetric scale on the bezel • 1967 – the Deepsea, the ultimate diving watch, waterproof and fitted with a helium release valve. • In 1971, the Explorer II speleologists (potholers) with 24-hour display on the fixed bezel

Other models also introduced novel features: the Turn-o-graph, with bi-directional case and bezel, and the Milgauss, resistant to magnetic fields.

In 1960, Hans Wilsdorf died and André Heiniger took over at the helm of Rolex.

In 1992, André Heininger’s son took over the company and continues the strategy initiated by Hans Wilsdorf: high-quality watchmaking, sales skill and cutting-edge marketing.

The brand has now achieved such global success that wearing a Rolex is often seen as synonymous with social success.

The current Rolex collection includes 170 models with 3200 possible combinations.