In addition to the famous James Bond Submariner, an early version of the GMT was worn by US flying ace Chuck Yeager as well as several astronauts. The Milgauss was introduced in the Fifties as an anti-magnetic watch for people who worked in power plants, medical facilities and early nuclear research labs, where strong electromagnetic fields were present.Ĭollectors are particularly passionate about Rolex sports models, which have long been associated with explorers, adventures and athletes. The GMT-Master, for example, was created for Pan-Am's pilots, then experiencing a new phenomenon called jet-lag - they wanted a watch that showed two time zones simultaneously. We love the fact that so many of the classic Rolex models were made not just to look good, but for specific, adventurous purposes. Ask 100 people to name a luxury watch and most of them will say Rolex.īut this reputation is not mere marketing – Rolex is Rolex because it makes peerless products. It is frequently ranked first in surveys of super-brands in the UK and is resident in Forbes' list of the world's most powerful brands. Its enormous brand equity is partly because Rolex gives so little away, a key to its mystique. Above all, Rolex has engineered some of the highest caliber wristwatches for enthusiasts and collectors to pass down for generations to come.Rolex’s founder, Hans Wilsdorf, was onto something when he made his company logo a crown – it has remained the king of watch brands for more than a century. Today, the Rolex crown serves as an iconic symbol associated with unprecedented quality, innovation, and prestige. With such a wide variety of distinct watches, Rolex has established a distinct reputation as of the most well-known and sought-after watch brands in the world. As part of this relationship, Rolex has also been able to make an impact in the areas of art and science. For decades, Rolex has been present at some of the most significant moments in tennis, golf, motor sport, sailing, and at equestrian races, serving as a sponsor and a strong supporter and partner to these industries. Over the years, Rolex has carved its place in sports and pop culture by cultivating countless high-profile relationships across an array of industries. They patented the world’s first perpetual self-winding mechanism in 1931, a groundbreaking system found in each and every modern automatic watch. From that moment forward, Rolex established a reputation for its achievements in precision and accuracy.
A Rolex timepiece became the first wristwatch in the world to receive chronometer certification in 1910, and, just four years later, they were awarded a Class A precision certificate. In 1908, the company officially took on the name Rolex and, soon after, they relocated to Switzerland to begin designing their own watches. Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, started their business by importing Swiss movements and putting them inside quality watch cases.