Founded in 1905, Rolex SA is a British-founded Swiss watch manufacturer that is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Their watches are popular throughout the world for their accuracy and durability.
Founder Wilsdorf
Known as the founder of Rolex, Hans Eberhard Wilhelm Wilsdorf was a German businessman. He was born in Kulmbach, Bavaria, Germany on March 22, 1881. He was 12 years old when both of his parents died. Wilsdorf then attended boarding school in Coburg, Germany.
Wilsdorf was interested in timepiece technology at a young age. His family owned a hardware store. He was exposed to influential people in the Swiss watchmaking industry. Among others, he met a young Swiss in La Chaux-de-Fonds. During his time there, Wilsdorf worked for a watch exporting company. He was exposed to all sorts of watches. He realized the potential of the Rolex Oyster watch. He thought that a waterproof watch was something that an average person would need. He promoted the watch as a necessary accessory.
He also became fascinated with timepiece mechanics and began to study watches. Eventually, he decided to move to London and begin his own career. His first product was a portfolio watch that was cased in leather. He also worked at a pearl distribution company.
In 1905, he founded the company Wilsdorf & Davis in London. He teamed up with Alfred Davis, a watchmaker. Davis specialized in high-quality watch cases from Dennison. Wilsdorf and Davis began to develop watches. They also began to produce men's watches with leather straps.
Sea-Dweller Deepsea
Designed by a team of engineers, the Rolex Sea-Dweller is a robust waterproof watch that is designed to endure extreme pressures. The watch is water resistant up to four thousand feet. It also features a specially designed three-piece case. This case has an 18 mm thickness and can handle pressures that could crush a submarine.
Rolex has used Oystersteel, a specially patented steel, for the case back of the watch. This steel is corrosion-resistant and is commonly used in the aerospace and chemical industries. It also offers excellent resistance to wear and tear.
The watch also has a gas escape valve that automatically expels gasses from the watch. This feature is useful for saturation diving. It also protects the crystal from cracking when the watch is under external pressure.
The Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea features a five mm sapphire crystal, which is tough as nails. It also has a helium escapement valve, which allows tiny molecules of helium to escape from the watch. The watch also features a 60-minute graduated bezel. It also has a unidirectional rotator.
The Rolex Sea-Dweller collection is one of the most trusted brands of divers. Celebrities like Sylvester Stallone, James Cameron, and Tiger Woods wear Rolex Deepsea watches.
Yacht-Master
Among Rolex's most successful and popular watches, the Yacht-Master has earned its place among the most recognizable watches in the world. Its design has been inspired by the Submariner, but has been enhanced with some new features. The Yacht-Master is ideal for those who love sailing. It is a sturdy, attractive timepiece, with water resistance of 100 meters.
The Yacht-Master is available in a variety of models. You can choose between two-tone Rolesor and Rolesium combinations, or a stainless steel case with a platinum bezel. You can also choose a model with an Oysterflex bracelet, which is Rolex's first-ever rubber strap. The yacht-master is also available in Everose gold.
Rolex's history with water sports dates back to the 1950s. During the 1980s, Rolex attempted to redesign the Submariner, but the redesign was scrapped. This gave way to a more traditional Yacht-Master design. The Yacht-Master also features a unique bezel, which is curved and turns both directions. It features raised 60-minute gradations that are embossed on the surface. It has a Cyclops lens at 3 o'clock.
Rolex introduced the Yacht-Master in 1992. It first came in three different sizes, ranging from 29mm to 40mm. The larger model was released in Everose gold with a black Cerachrom ceramic bezel. It was also available in 18k yellow gold.
Explorer
Originally introduced in 1953, the Rolex Explorer has gone through a few transformations and tweaks over the years. The latest model features a new case and movement. It is available in a variety of materials.
The Rolex Explorer was initially designed for mountain climbing. It features a case made from stainless steel. This makes it water resistant to 100 meters. The case is also curved for a more comfortable fit. It also features a Twinlock water-resistant crown system.
The dial is usually referred to as the Explorer dial. It is generally a black dial with Arabic numerals at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions. The dial has an inverted triangle at the 12 o'clock position. It has batons for the rest of the hours. The indices are painted, while the rest of the dial has glow-in-the-dark coating.
The dial has a Cyclops lens, which provides easy readability in low light. The blue Chromalight luminescence is another feature that is unique to the Explorer. The glow-in-the-dark coating is also available on the hand.
The Rolex Explorer was the first to feature a sapphire crystal. This material is prized for its scratch-resistant surface. It is available on later models as well.
Milgauss
During the 1950s, there was a huge increase in the number of engineers and technicians working in magnetic fields. During this time, Rolex began developing the Milgauss, a watch that would protect the wearer from strong magnetic fields.
The original Milgauss had a large case, a Twinlock crown, and a riveted Oyster bracelet. It also had a special lightning bolt shaped second hand. This watch was very popular with scientists at CERN, which is a nuclear research center. CERN is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
Rolex Milgauss was designed to be resistant to magnetic fields up to 1,000 gauss. The Milgauss watch features a shield made from ferromagnetic alloys to protect the movement. The case is constructed from corrosion-resistant 904L stainless steel and is guaranteed to be waterproof to 100 meters.
The case back is hermetically screwed down. The crown features a rubber gasket to help keep water out. The bracelet is three-piece link and features a stoppable second hand.
The original Milgauss came in three dial colors. The white dial with orange accents was available in two models. The Anniversary Model had a black dial and an orange lightning bolt second hand. The model was discontinued in 1999. The reference 116400 was also released in three versions.
Submariner
Designed as a dive watch, the Rolex Submariner was the first waterproof watch in the world. The watch's rotatable bezel allows divers to check the time underwater.
The Rolex Submariner is also one of the world's most iconic watches, with a rich history of celebrity endorsements. Featuring a water-resistant case, luminous hands, and a rotatable bezel, the Rolex Submariner has become an icon of style. Originally designed for divers, the watch has evolved to become a classy timepiece for many.
The Rolex Submariner has undergone many improvements throughout the years. The first of these was a shift from 316L to 904L stainless steel for the case construction. This material offers higher corrosion resistance. The second upgrade was the introduction of a Cerachrom ceramic bezel, a highly scratch-resistant and fade-resistant material. This bezel is also added to the Super Case.
Another major upgrade was the introduction of Chromalight luminescence. This glows blue in the dark, pushing visibility in murky environments. This feature was first introduced on the 166x series, and then expanded to the entire Submariner line.
In addition, the Rolex Submariner has a bezel marked with minutes between 12 and 3 o'clock. The case is also sandblasted to a dark grey matte.
Datejust
Whether you're looking for a sophisticated, sporty dress watch, or you're simply in the market for a new Rolex, there's a model in the Datejust collection that's sure to suit your tastes. Whether you're looking for a stainless steel or gold watch, there are a variety of models and options to choose from.
Rolex's Datejust is the company's first self-winding chronometer watch. It was created to celebrate the brand's 40th anniversary. The watch features a unique window date display on the dial. There are various dial options, including classic bar indices and diamond-set dials.
Datejust models are water-resistant to 100 meters. They come in various bezel options, including fluted, smooth, and domed. Owners can choose between classic bar indices, Roman numerals, diamond-set indices, and more.
The Datejust is available in several different case sizes, including the popular 43mm Sea-Dweller and the 42mm Explorer II. The cases are crafted from high-grade 904L steel, and they feature scratch-resistant sapphire crystals. The cases also come with screw-in winding crowns.
The new generation of the Datejust, known as the 66XX, introduced a thinner silhouette and a flat case back. Other features of the new model include luminescence markers and a hacking function. It also features a Parachrom hairspring oscillator, which provides ultimate precision.