%20(1).png)
1. Rolex Was Founded in London, Not Switzerland
Did you know? Rolex was not originally a Swiss company.
Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, established the company in London in 1905
under the name "Wilsdorf & Davis." At the time, England was a major hub for watch
distribution, and Wilsdorf saw an opportunity to import Swiss movements and
assemble them into high-quality timepieces.
However, due to high taxes on luxury goods in Britain after World War I and the
difficulty of sourcing skilled labor, Wilsdorf moved the company to Geneva,
Switzerland, in 1919. Switzerland’s watchmaking expertise and favorable economic
conditions made it the perfect home for Rolex.
2. The Name "Rolex" Was Chosen for Its Universality
Did you know? The name "Rolex" was invented because it was easy to pronounce in any language.
Hans Wilsdorf wanted a brand name that was:
Short and memorable
Easy to pronounce in multiple languages
Visually appealing on a watch dial
Legend has it that Wilsdorf came up with the name while riding a horse-drawn bus
in London. He whispered "Rolex" to himself and liked how it sounded. Another
theory suggests that "Rolex" is derived from the French phrase "horlogerie exquise"
(exquisite watchmaking).
The name was officially registered in 1908, and by 1920, the company was renamed
"Montres Rolex S.A."
3. Rolex Was the First Wristwatch to Receive a Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision
Did you know? Before Rolex, wristwatches were considered inferior to pocket
watches.
In the early 20th century, pocket watches were the standard for accuracy, while
wristwatches were seen as unreliable fashion accessories—mostly worn by women.
Hans Wilsdorf believed wristwatches could be just as precise and durable, and he
set out to prove it.
In 1910, a Rolex wristwatch became the first ever to receive the Swiss Certificate of
Chronometric Precision from the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne. This
certification was a game-changer, proving that wristwatches could match (or
exceed) the accuracy of pocket watches.
4. Rolex Invented the First Waterproof Wristwatch—The Oyster
Did you know? The Rolex Oyster (1926) was the world’s first waterproof wristwatch.
Before the Oyster, moisture and dust easily damaged wristwatches. Rolex
revolutionized watchmaking by introducing a hermetically sealed case that
protected the movement from water and dirt.
To prove its durability, Rolex arranged a publicity stunt in 1927 when British
swimmer Mercedes Gleitze swam the English Channel wearing an Oyster. After 10
hours in the water, the watch remained in perfect working condition. This event
marked the birth of the modern dive watch and cemented Rolex’s reputation for
durability.
5. The Rolex Crown Logo Was Inspired by a Five-Shilling Coin
Did you know? The iconic Rolex crown logo was designed in 1908 but wasn’t
trademarked until 1925.
Hans Wilsdorf wanted a regal symbol to represent precision and excellence. The
five-pointed crown was inspired by the British five-shilling coin, which featured a
crown on one side.
The logo evolved over time, with Rolex adding dots between the crown’s points in
the 1950s to symbolize the brand’s five key pillars:
Precision
Durability
Elegance
Innovation
Prestige
6. Rolex Developed the First Self-Winding (Automatic) Wristwatch
Did you know? Rolex created the first practical self-winding watch in 1931.
Before automatic movements, wristwatches had to be manually wound daily.
Rolex’s Perpetual rotor mechanism changed that. The system used a semi-circular
weight that rotated with the wearer’s movements, winding the mainspring
automatically.
This invention became the foundation for all modern automatic watches and was a
major milestone in horology.
7. Rolex Supplied Watches to British POWs During World War II
Did you know? During World War II, Rolex secretly sent watches to British prisoners
of war (POWs).
When British officers were captured, their possessions—including watches—were
confiscated. Rolex offered to replace their lost timepieces on credit, allowing them
to pay after the war. This act of goodwill boosted Rolex’s reputation and loyalty
among soldiers.
One famous story involves Clive James Nutting, a British POW who wrote to Hans
Wilsdorf requesting a Rolex. Wilsdorf sent him a watch, which Nutting used to help
plan a daring escape from Colditz Castle.
8. Rolex Was the First Watch on Mount Everest
Did you know? A Rolex Oyster Perpetual was the first wristwatch to reach the
summit of Mount Everest.
During the 1953 British Everest Expedition, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay
wore Rolex Oyster Perpetuals. While the exact model is debated, Rolex used this
achievement to market the Explorer, designed for adventurers and mountaineers.
This historic climb reinforced Rolex’s image as the ultimate tool watch for extreme
conditions.
9. Hans Wilsdorf’s Wife Played a Key Role in Rolex’s Success
Did you know? Hans Wilsdorf’s wife, Florence Frances May Wilsdorf (née Crotty),
was instrumental in Rolex’s early days.
After Wilsdorf’s first wife died young, he married May Crotty, who became his
business partner. She helped manage finances and operations, ensuring the
company’s stability. When Wilsdorf established the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation in
1945, he ensured that Rolex would never be sold and that its profits would fund
charitable causes—a legacy that continues today.
10. Rolex Never Made Quartz Watches for the Public (Almost)
Did you know? Rolex experimented with quartz but never mass-produced them for
consumers.
During the 1970s Quartz Crisis, many Swiss watch brands nearly collapsed due to
cheap, accurate Japanese quartz watches. Rolex secretly developed the Rolex
Quartz Date 5100 with a Beta 21 movement, but only about 1,000 were made.
Instead of embracing quartz, Rolex doubled down on mechanical excellence,
reinforcing its identity as a luxury mechanical watchmaker.
The Legacy of Rolex’s Founding
From a small London workshop to the pinnacle of Swiss watchmaking, Rolex’s
founding story is filled with innovation, bold marketing, and unwavering
dedication to precision. These 10 little-known facts reveal how Hans Wilsdorf’s
vision shaped the most iconic watch brand in history.
Whether it was inventing the first waterproof watch, supporting WWII POWs, or
conquering Everest, Rolex’s early years set the foundation for its enduring legacy.
Today, every Rolex timepiece carries the DNA of these groundbreaking
achievements.
