History of Rolex
How the biggest watch brand ever became what it is
The founders and the Rolex name
Most watch lovers will probably not remember a period of time, in which Rolex was not the watch giant it is now. For as long as I can remember, Rolex was always the name that would come to mind once I heard the word “watch”. In 2018, Forbes has ranked Rolex as the 71st most valuable brand in the world. As of June 2019, three of the top ten most expensive watches ever sold in an auction were Rolex watches. To date, Rolex still holds the record for the most certified chronometer movements in the category of wristwatches.
But it was not always this way. Like all other companies, Rolex was started as a small young company by two men named Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis. The Brand did not start as Rolex, but it was simply named “Wilsdorf and Davies” after the two people who started it. In 1908, the founders decided to register their watches under the now well-known name that is “Rolex”.
Country of origin and the shift to Switzerland
Nowadays, Switzerland is of course known by many as the watch capital of the world. It is considered by many to be the country, where all of the great watch companies are located. However, contrary to popular belief, Rolex…
