Rolex Watches: a Short History
Swiss Watchmaker Rolex is one of the most famous brand names in the world. Renown for quality and expensive prices, a Rolex is a status of success and wealth. Formed in 1905 and named Wilsdorf & Davis after its founders, the company used Swiss movements and English (Dennison) cases and assembled them in England. The name Rolex was registered in 1908.
Swiss Watchmaker Rolex is one of the most famous brand names in the world. Renown for quality and expensive prices, a Rolex is a status of success and wealth.
Formed in 1905 and named Wilsdorf & Davis after its founders, the company used Swiss movements and English (Dennison) cases and assembled them in England. The name Rolex was registered in 1908. The name was made up but no one is sure how it came about. The company moved to Geneva, Switzerland in 1912 due to the high British taxes and duties and eventually changed the name to the Rolex Watch Company in 1919, then to Montres Rolex, SA and then to the present Rolex, SA.
Rolex has contributed many innovations to the watch industry, including the first self-winding watch (manufactured in 1931), first watch to show the date, first dual time-zone, first truly waterproof watch and they actually helped develop the original quartz movement. Rolex have a reputation for ruggedness and the watch was often used by divers, mountaineers and aviators.
The company make three lines: Rolex, Tudor and Cellini. Tudor is sold in Europe and is less expensive but still of high quality. Because of its reputation, Rolex are often illegally copied and some fakes are made in solid gold and cost over $1000, making them very difficult for a laymen to distinguish from the real item.
You can find a nice selection on Amazon UK
eBay USA
On eBay UK: | Rolex Datejust Gold Men's Watch - 1601 £ 3,850.00 |
 | Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 1501 34mm £ 2,000.00 |
 | rolex submariner Black Stainless Steel Model- 16800 £ 6,350.00 |
 | Rolex datejust 36mm Blue Diamond Dot £ 3,500.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust Gents Watch 36mm 1983 £ 4,495.00 |
 | December 2024 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Green 41’ Men's Watch - 124300 £ 6,600.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust 36 WIDE-BOY Men's Watch Ref 1603 Generic Bracelet SERVICED. £ 2,850.00 |
 | Rolex Oysterquartz 17013 Steel & Gold Aftermarket Datejust Dial 1985 Rolex Box £ 3,995.00 |
 | Rolex datejust 36mm 16200 Roman Numerals £ 3,450.00 |
 | Rolex DateJust ‘1978’ Ref 1603 Gents Steel/Gold 36mm Vintage Watch, Serviced £ 3,450.00 |
 | Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41mm 124300 Full Set £ 5,700.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust 36mm diamond numerals £ 3,995.00 |
 | Vintage Rolex Oysterdate Precision 1950, 6066, Patina Time £ 750.00 |
 | Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 15200 Blue Dial Mens Watch - 2000 - £ 3,395.00 |
 | ROLEX Submariner 14060 Watch 2000 With Box Papers Excellent £ 6,999.00 |
 | Vintage Rolex Oysterdate Precision £ 2,000.00 |
 | Rolex Air-King 116900 Automatic 40mm Black Dial Steel Oyster Perpetual Watch £ 4,695.00 |
 | SUPERB MENS ROLEX MARRIAGE WATCH, AUTHENTIC 1920'S ROLEX LEVER MOVEMENT £ 1,500.00 |
 | Rolex Oysterdate Rare Dial Watch - Ref 6694- 35mm £ 1,884.62 |
 | Rolex Oyster Precision LARGE Mens Mechanical "Baby Datejust" Bracelet & Genuine £ 1,999.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust Men's Black Watch - 116334 £ 7,300.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust Oysterquartz 17014 with 36mm Oystersteel case and Blue Dial £ 4,200.00 |
 | Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust - Factory Diamond Dial - Box / Papers. £ 5,995.00 |
 | Gents 18ct Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date 36mm 18038 Factory Champagne Dial £ 11,499.00 |
 | Rolex Yacht-Master Silver Men's Watch - 16622 £ 6,200.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust 36 Steel/Gold £ 3,700.00 |
 | ROLEX CARTIER EXPLORER 5500-VINTAGE ROLEX CASE & DIAL & SWISS ETA 2824 WATCH £ 1,555.27 |
 | Rolex Datejust Oyster Perpetual 16030 £ 3,345.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust 36 - Fix price £ 3,200.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust Champagne Men's Diamond Markers Dial Watch - 16233 £ 4,000.00 |
 | Rolex Submariner Men's Black Watch - 116610LN £ 8,375.00 |
 | ROLEX SUBMARINER NON DATE 2022 - 124060 - FULL SET - IMMACULATE CONDITION £ 8,700.00 |
 | Rolex GMT-Master II Men's Black Watch - 126710 BLNR - BATGIRL. £ 8,499.00 |
 | 31mm Rolex Oyster Perpetual with Box and Papers. £ 3,995.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust 36mm Stainless 16234 £ 4,500.00 |
 | Rolex Submariner Date 16610 £ 6,599.00 |
 | ROLEX MENS DATEJUST 1601/3 CHAMPAGNE LINEN DIAL 18K GOLD STEEL 2-TONE WATCH 1970 £ 3,650.00 |
 | 9ct gold tudor rolex watch mens £ 850.00 |
 | Rolex Explorer 39mm Watch - 214270 + Box & Papers £ 5,700.00 |
 | Rolex DateJust II - 116334 £ 6,500.00 |
