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 UK
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 Datejust Oysterquartz 17000 Tropical Purple Dial Steel Wristwatch $ 6,950.00 |
 | Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 16713, complete set with 1993 papers $ 10,000.00 |
 | Rolex Air-King 5500 Stainless Steel 34mm Men's Watch $ 3,100.00 |
 | 2024 Rolex Submariner No Date 124060 Black Bezel 41mm COMPLETE FULL SET $ 11,650.00 |
 | Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Stainless Steel Silver Dial 34mm Watch $ 3,995.00 |
 | Men's Rolex 34mm Date 18K Gold / Steel Watch with Gold Dial and Fluted Bezel. $ 5,995.00 |
 | ROLEX PRESIDENT DAY DATE WRISTWATCH $ 7,000.00 |
 | Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 Full Set Box and Papers $ 8,000.00 |
 | LADIES ROLEX DATE DIAMOND SAPPHIRE 18K WHITE GOLD & STEEL BLUE DIAL WATCH $ 4,040.00 |
 | Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 Silver Oyster Bracelet with Black Bezel $ 10,900.00 |
 | Rolex Airking 40mm Stainless Steel Bracelet 126900 Box & Papers 2022 $ 8,445.00 |
 | Rolex 18k Gold 16018 Datejust Vintage 36 mm Watch Automatic Date 1979-80 $ 8,495.00 |
 | Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller steel 116660 Black Dial Mens 41-mm Automatic Watch $ 10,800.00 |
 | 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 |
 | Rolex Submariner Date Black Dial Steel Mens Watch 116610 $ 12,430.00 |
 | Complete- 2022 Rolex 40mm Milgauss Blue Dial Anniversary Green Steel 116400GV $ 12,200.00 |
 | ROLEX MENS DATEJUST BLUE DIAL 18K WHITE GOLD & STAINLESS STEEL QUICKSET WATCH $ 4,999.95 |
 | 2020 Rolex Submariner 114060 No Date 40mm Full Set Excellent Condition $ 10,800.00 |
 | Rolex Deepsea 44mm Black Dial Stainless Steel Bracelet 136660 Box & Papers 2022 $ 12,925.00 |
 | Rolex 124300GNSO Oyster Perpetual Green 41mm Complete $ 9,000.00 |
 | Rolex Sea Dweller 40mm Black Dial Watch 16600 $ 9,000.00 |
 | UNIQUE ROLEX RING VINTAGE WATCH WITH BOX, WORKING. $ 3,999.00 |
 | Rolex Milgauss 40mm Black Dial Green Crystal Stainless Steel 116400GV B&P 2022 $ 10,995.00 |
 | Rolex SS/18K Submariner Date matte blue ceramic bezel 116613 116613LB "V" $ 13,895.00 |
 | Rolex Deep Sea-Dweller Date 44mm 'James Cameron' Blue Steel Oyster Watch 116660 $ 13,499.00 |
 | Vintage 1992 Tudor Submariner ref. 75090 “Mid-Size 36mm, Black Dial" $ 4,000.00 |
 | ROLEX Submariner Date 40mm Steel 18K Yellow Gold Blue Dial 16613 $ 11,540.00 |
 | Rolex Explorer 39mm MK1 Dial Stainless Steel Bracelet 214270 Box & Papers 2012 $ 6,845.00 |
 | ROLEX MENS DATEJUST 16233 18K YELLOW GOLD STEEL TWO TONE WHITE ROMAN WATCH $ 6,599.00 |
 | ROLEX MENS DATEJUST 1601 STAINLESS STEEL WATCH ICE BLUE DIAL DIAMOND BEZEL 36MM $ 5,976.00 |
 | Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea D-Blue James Cameron Blue Black Dial Watch 126660 $ 13,250.00 |
 | ROLEX Air king 14010 Finely Engine Turned Bezel Automatic Men's Watch M#133898 $ 4,199.00 |
 | ROLEX Precision Oyster Date 6694 Cal.1225 gray Dial Hand Winding Men's_830799 $ 2,909.20 |
 | Rolex Datejust 41mm Silver Index Dial Two Tone Oyster Bracelet 126333 B&P 2024 $ 13,995.00 |
