Rolex: a brand that has become essential

The Rolex brand has become an essential watch brand. Over time, a Rolex watch has even become a luxury jewel in its own right, thanks above all to its quality and reliability.

Indeed, Rolex has managed to develop over the years with watch models that have become essential.

If you want to buy a Rolex watch, you will have to spend a significant amount of money to afford this little gem. So, find out here the reasons why Rolex has become the most famous watch brand.

The history of Rolex

The famous Rolex brand was invented in 1908 by the German Hans Wilsdorf. In 1905, Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis both moved to London to found Wilsdorf & Davis, a company that produced Swiss pocket watches.

We can therefore say that Wilsdorf & Davis is the ancestor of Rolex.

During this period, most manufacturing was done in Switzerland because the craftsmen of this country were the only ones capable of building mechanical movements small enough to make a pocket watch.

From the beginning, Hans Wilsdorf constantly tried to improve his products by specializing in luxury, in particular by asking his suppliers for increasingly smaller and more reliable pieces. He then turned to the Aegler company who agreed to supply him with the pieces he wanted, a collaboration that will never cease to exist.

In 1906, Wilsdorf & Davis filed a patent for its extendable bracelet with which most models were equipped. Two years later, the Rolex brand was created to gradually replace the Wilsdorf & Davis brand.

When it was created, Rolex sparked numerous debates over the choice of its name. In fact, this name was officially chosen because it is easy to pronounce in all languages ​​and thanks to its small size it allows the name to be easily integrated into the dials. But according to other sources Rolex is the contraction of “Exquisite Watchmaking”. A mystery forever unsolved!

In 1910, Rolex certified its watches through the Swiss Chronometry Society to prove that they were accurate and reliable. In 1924 Rolex decided to settle in Geneva due to high taxes in the United Kingdom. A unique story for this luxury watchmaking giant.

An international reputation

You probably also know Rolex thanks to its successful marketing campaigns.

In fact, whatever the era, the luxury brand has always managed to reinvent itself to conquer the market. Its first marketing campaign dates back to 1927, when swimmer Mercedes Gleitze crossed her sleeve with the Rolex Oyster on her wrist. The crossing lasted 10 hours and the watch remained in perfect working order. Enough to demonstrate to the entire world the effectiveness of the watch’s waterproofness.

But Rolex’s marketing success story doesn’t stop there.

In 1953, during the expedition led by Sir John Hunt, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed the summit of Everest equipped with the Rolex Oyster Pertual watch.

Rolex was already a sponsor of important or sporting events back then, and it still is today.

Which model to choose?

If you are a fan of luxury watches, several Rolex models are available to you. First of all, you can select your model from old watches whose effectiveness is no longer to be proven:

● The oyster: in 1926 Rolex created the world’s first waterproof watch. To promote this new model, jewelry stores equipped themselves with aquariums in which to store the watches to demonstrate their effectiveness. An unbeatable business argument!

● Rolex Prince: in 1928 the Rolex Prince was marketed and had enormous commercial success, above all thanks to its double dial, very innovative for the time.

● Rolex Datejust: with this model created in 1945, the brand launched the first automatic wrist chronometer that indicated the date in a window on the dial. This watch model was an incredible commercial success.

● Rolex Explorer: In 1953, the Rolex Explorer was launched. This model, dedicated to adventure enthusiasts, embodies exploration.

● Rolex GMT-Master: This model appeared in 1955 to meet the needs of airline pilots who regularly change time zones. It will also become the official brand of several airlines.

If, however, you want to treat yourself to the best of current watches, with the brand new Rolex models you will have something to enjoy. In fact, Rolex launched a new collection of watches in 2019 and here are the main models:

● The yacht-master 42: This watch comes with a flexible metal bracelet that combines comfort and aesthetics.

● The SEA Dweller: is an ultra-durable diving watch for exploring the depths of the ocean with complete peace of mind. It is waterproof up to 1220 meters deep.

● The GMT Master II: As previously explained, the GMT Master was designed specifically for airline pilots. However, building on its success, Rolex launched a second range of products with a more modern design.

Buy a second-hand Rolex watch

You probably know that Rolex is a luxury brand that offers watches at expensive prices. Even this type of watch, which we could almost define as jewellery, is not within everyone’s reach.

To remedy this, there are jewelers who specialize in selling used luxury watches and this is particularly the case with Miller Jewelry.

This jewelry store has the specificity of repurchasing watches from customers who are tired of them and returning them to good condition. As a result, the watches are more accessible in terms of price while remaining fully functional. Think about it!

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