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
On eBay UK: | Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41mm £ 500.00 |
 | 2005 Rolex Submariner 16610 Automatic 40mm £ 6,495.00 |
 | Rolex Submariner Men's Black Watch 40mm - 16610 1997 Full Set £ 6,650.00 |
 | Vintage Rolex Airking Mickey Mouse Dial Automatic Mens Watch £ 1,350.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust 1601 Steel 36mm Silver Dial Watch Patina £ 2,798.98 |
 | Rolex Submariner Blue 16613 Watch Steel & Yellow Gold 40mm 1991 £ 7,395.00 |
 | Rolex GMT-Master Faded "Pepsi" Bezel | 16700 Tritium Dial | Circa. 1991 £ 8,895.00 |
 | 1969 Rolex Datejust Oyster Perpetual 1603 Fluted Bezel Vintage Watch £ 2,995.00 |
 | Rolex 16610 Submariner Watch 1991 Box Papers £ 6,995.00 |
 | ROLEX EXPLORER 14270 TRITIUM DRILLED LUGS BOX & PAPERS NEAR NOS & MAGNIFICENT! £ 5,495.00 |
 | Rolex Explorer 214270 39mm 2015 Fully Serviced On 21/05/2024 - NO OFFERS!!! £ 4,999.99 |
 | Gents Rolex Datejust watch. 18ct white gold fluted bezel. Jubilee bracelet. £ 4,299.00 |
 | Rolex Submariner 40mm 2006 14060M Stainless Steel Non-Date £ 7,500.00 |
 | 18K GOLD ROLEX 36mm DATEJUST CHAMPAGNE DIAL Jubilee Bracelet Vintage Mens Watch £ 4,000.00 |
 | Rolex Oyster Date 6694, Rolex Serviced. 1969 SN. £ 2,500.00 |
 | 9ct gold Rolex mens watch - very good vintage condition £ 1,725.00 |
 | Gents Rolex Tudor Prince Oysterdate 74000 Steel Automatic Watch £ 1,250.00 |
 | Stunning 1970 Rolex Oyster GMT 1675 Pepsi Gents Vintage Watch £ 8,000.00 |
 | Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 15000 Quick Set Auto Cal. 3035 Men's Watch £ 3,500.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust Silver/Grey Men's Roman Numerals Dial Watch - 16200 £ 4,280.00 |
On eBay USA: | ROLEX MENS DATEJUST BLUE DIAL 18K WHITE GOLD & STAINLESS STEEL WATCH $ 4,199.95 |
 | ROLEX MENS DATEJUST GREEN DIAL 18K WHITE GOLD STEEL WATCH w/ JUBILEE BRACELET $ 4,199.95 |
 | NEW 2024 Rolex Daytona 40mm 18K Yellow Gold Oysterflex Black Dial♛ $ 2,699.00 |
 | Rolex 18k Gold 16018 Datejust Vintage 36 mm Watch Automatic Date 1979-80 $ 8,495.00 |
 | Rolex Air-King Stainless Steel Green Black Dial 40mm Oyster Watch 116900 $ 6,795.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust Oysterquartz 17000 Tropical Purple Dial Steel Wristwatch $ 6,950.00 |
 | 2024 Rolex Submariner No Date 124060 Black Bezel 41mm COMPLETE FULL SET $ 11,650.00 |
 | Rolex Air-King 5500 Stainless Steel 34mm Men's Watch $ 3,100.00 |
 | ROLEX PRESIDENT DAY DATE WRISTWATCH $ 7,000.00 |
 | Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 16713, complete set with 1993 papers $ 10,000.00 |
 | Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Stainless Steel Silver Dial 34mm Watch $ 3,995.00 |
 | 1961 Vintage ROLEX ROYAL Ref. 6426 Stainless Watch 35mm Patina Original Dial $ 1,949.99 |
 | LADIES ROLEX DATE DIAMOND SAPPHIRE 18K WHITE GOLD & STEEL BLUE DIAL WATCH $ 4,040.00 |
 | Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 Full Set Box and Papers $ 8,000.00 |
 | Rolex Airking 40mm Stainless Steel Bracelet 126900 Box & Papers 2022 $ 8,445.00 |
 | Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 Silver Oyster Bracelet with Black Bezel $ 10,900.00 |
 | Marriage Watch Skeleton Rolex wristWatch Men Vintage Antique 48mm Custom Used $ 2,099.99 |
 | Rolex Men’s Watch 18K Gold Cellini. $ 4,499.00 |
 | Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34mm Red Grape 114200 70190 Watch Full Set $ 6,999.99 |
 | Rolex Submariner #14060 #Y Serial 2 liner 40mm Super Mint Condition 14060 M $ 8,400.00 |
