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 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 |
 | Rolex Datejust Silver/Grey Men's Roman Numerals Dial Watch - 16200 £ 4,280.00 |
 | Rolex Explorer 224270 - (2023) 40mm Black Face Automatic Watch - Oyster Strap £ 6,350.00 |
 | Rolex Air-King 116900 Automatic 40mm Black Dial Steel Oyster Perpetual. £ 4,845.00 |
 | Rolex GMT Master II 2 Mens Watch 116710BLNR Batman FULL SET Complete BOTH tags £ 10,895.00 |
 | Rolex Oyster Perpetual 14203M Diamond Bezel. Steel & Yellow Gold 34mm £ 4,750.00 |
 | ROLEX Submariner 'No-date' - 124060 - 2024 *NEW & UNWORN + BOX + PAPERS* £ 9,590.00 |
 | Rolex Oyster Date Precision 6466 30mm Manual Winding Men’s Watch - Late 1960’s £ 1,750.00 |
 | Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6549 Stainless Steel 31mm Black Gilt Dial Unisex Watch £ 2,000.00 |
 | Rolex 1500 Date With Rare Long Minute Marker Blue Dial £ 2,699.00 |
 | ROLEX Air-King "New model" - ref. 126900 *NEW + UNWORN + FULL-SET* £ 6,690.00 |
 | Rolex Day Date 18038 36mm 18ct SOLID Yellow Gold Champagne Dial PurchaseInvoice £ 11,000.00 |
 | Rolex 16613 submariner 1988 First Series With Incredible Purple Dial. Stunning. £ 6,699.00 |
 | Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 | Blue Dial | UNWORN November 2024 |Full Set | 124300 £ 6,900.00 |
 | Rolex Chronograph Antique Vintage Watch 1189 £ 2,400.00 |
 | Rolex 16710 GMT Master II Coke 1997 Watch £ 8,250.00 |
 | Rolex 2024 Brand New Unworn Full Set Oyster Perpetual 41m Green 124300 £ 6,750.00 |
 | Rolex Datejust Vintage Watch ref 16030 Tapestry dial £ 3,655.00 |
 | Rolex Day Date 36mm 18K Gold Vintage Ref 1803 Champagne Dial Box Vintage Watch £ 9,995.00 |
 | ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL DATEJUST 18CT GOLD W/ BOX & PAPERS REF. 69278 1998 £ 6,495.00 |
 | Rolex Oyster Perpetual Air-King 14000M (Blue 3,6,9 dial) £ 3,450.00 |
