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 |
 | Vintage Rolex Airking Mickey Mouse Dial Automatic Mens Watch £ 1,350.00 |
 | 2005 Rolex Submariner 16610 Automatic 40mm £ 6,495.00 |
 | Rolex Submariner Men's Black Watch 40mm - 16610 1997 Full Set £ 6,650.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust 1601 Steel 36mm Silver Dial Watch Patina £ 2,798.98 |
 | Rolex Submariner Men's Black Watch - 126610LN £ 10,500.00 |
 | 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 |
 | Rolex 16610 Submariner Watch 1991 Box Papers £ 6,995.00 |
 | ROLEX EXPLORER 14270 TRITIUM DRILLED LUGS BOX & PAPERS NEAR NOS & MAGNIFICENT! £ 5,495.00 |
 | 1969 Rolex Datejust Oyster Perpetual 1603 Fluted Bezel Vintage Watch £ 2,995.00 |
 | 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 |
 | 9ct gold Rolex mens watch - very good vintage condition £ 1,725.00 |
 | 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 |
 | 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 |
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 |
| Vintage Rolex Airking Mickey Mouse Dial Automatic Mens Watch $ 1,350.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust 16013 Solid Gold & Steel 36mm Jubilee Bracelet Men's Watch $ 4,499.99 |
 | Rolex Mens Datejust Oyster Gold Stainless Steel Diamond Dial Bezel Watch $ 6,388.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust 36mm Turnograph Black Dial Oyster Bracelet 116264 - 2008 $ 6,445.00 |
 | Rolex Submariner Blue Dial 16613 40mm 18K Yellow Gold Stainless Steel $ 9,195.00 |
 | Rolex Two Tone Explorer 36mm 124273 2023 $ 9,500.00 |
 | Rolex Air-King 5500 Stainless Steel 34mm Men's Watch $ 3,100.00 |
 | ROLEX PRESIDENT DAY DATE WRISTWATCH $ 7,000.00 |
 | 2024 Rolex Submariner No Date 124060 Black Bezel 41mm COMPLETE FULL SET $ 11,650.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust 116233 Gold and Silver Jubilee Bracelet with Gold Bezel $ 4,000.00 |
 | ROLEX DAY DATE 228239 OLIVE ROMAN DIAL 18K WHITE GOLD PRESIDENT 4OMM B&P $ 41,597.00 |
 | Mens Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Stainless Steel Silver Dial 34mm Watch $ 3,495.00 |
 | Rolex Day-Date 40 NEW 2024 Olive Green Roman Dial Fluted Platinum President $ 79,995.00 |
 | UNPOLISHED Rolex Submariner No-Date 4-LINE REHAUT Steel Black 40mm 14060M Watch $ 8,693.68 |
 | LADIES ROLEX DATE DIAMOND SAPPHIRE 18K WHITE GOLD & STEEL BLUE DIAL WATCH $ 4,040.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust 41mm White Roman Dial Oyster Bracelet 126334 Box & Papers 2021 $ 11,975.00 |
 | NEW 2024 Rolex Daytona 40mm 18K Yellow Gold Oysterflex Black Dial♛ $ 2,699.00 |
 | 2018 Rolex Datejust 116200 Black Dial SS Domed Oyster With Papers 36mm $ 6,250.00 |
