About Rolex
In 1905, Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf and Davis in
1910 Rolex obtained the first official chronometer certification awarded to a wristwatch.
1926 Invention and patent of the Oyster, the first truly waterproof watch case. When Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel in 1927, she wore a Rolex Oyster.
1929 Launch of the Prince model.
1931 Invention and patent of the first rotor-wound water-resistant wristwatch, precursor of today’s self-winding wristwatches, and launch of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual.
1945 Creation of the Date Just, the first ever self-winding, water-resistant wrist-chronometer to show the date.
1953 Creation of the Submariner, the first wristwatch to guarantee water-resistance to 100 metres.
1954 Creation of the GMT Master, the first self-winding, water-resistant wristwatch to display time simultaneously in any two time zones.
1956 Creation of the Day-Date, the first ever wrist-chronometer to display the date and spell out the day in full, in 26 languages.
1960 A specially-developed Rolex Oyster, attached to the outside of the
1961 Launch of the Cosmograph Daytona, the first Oyster chronographs.
1971 Creation of the Sea-Dweller 2000 (2,000 feet), the first diving watch with guaranteed water-resistance to 610 metres. Its helium valve meant the watch would decompress as quickly as the diver when resurfacing.
1975 The first Rolex Oyster Chronometer Daytona with water-resistant, screw-down pushbuttons.
1980 Creation of the Sea-Dweller 4000 (4,000 feet), the first diving watch with guaranteed water-resistance to 1,220 metres.
1988 Unveiling of the self-winding Cosmograph Daytona.
1991 Launch of the Oyster Perpetual Date Yacht-Master chronometer.
2005 Launch of the Prince model, inspired by the 1929 original.
