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Rolex

Rolex is one of the world’s largest luxury watch brands. Rolex was founded in 1905 in London by Hans Wilsdorf, eventually Rolex moved to Switzerland in 1919. The Tudor watch brand is a subsidiary of Rolex. In 1914 Rolex obtained a chronometer certificate (Class A precision certificate) and thus became the first manufacturer of a chronometer wristwatch.

By obtaining the first chronometer certificate, Rolex demonstrated that, in terms of precision, a small wristwatch could rival that of the best timepieces, including pocketwatches, which were the norm at the time. This proof of performance would contribute significantly to the rise of the wristwatch in popularity. On the strength of this achievement, Rolex would eventually become the world’s largest manufacturer of chronometer-certified wristwatches. The Geneva-based brand perfected the concept of the modern watch in 1926 by inventing the waterproof “Oyster” case to protect the movement inside and then, in 1931, by developing the self-winding “Perpetual” rotor movement. Today, all Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches are officially certified chronometers, carrying on the heritage of the pioneering role the brand played in bringing precision to the wristwatch. That milestone feat of miniaturized precision. Rolex went on to innovate constantly and several times brought new technologies to the market that eventually set standards for the whole industry; among them are (according to Wikipedia) the first waterproof wristwatch Rolex “Oyster”, 1926; the first wristwatch with an automatically changing date on the dial (Rolex Datejust ref.4467, 1945); the first wristwatch case waterproof to 100 m (330 ft) (Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner ref.6204, 1953); the first wristwatch to show two time zones at once (Rolex GMT Master ref.6542, 1954); the first wristwatch with an automatically changing day and date on the dial (Rolex Day-Date, 1956). Rolex uses only in-house calibers and many automatic movements but also deployed Quartz movements in the 1970s. Notable models today are Rolex Air-King, Rolex Date, Rolex Oyster Perpetual, Rolex Datejust, Rolex Datejust II, Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph, Rolex Lady Datejust Pearlmaster, Rolex Daytona, Rolex Paul Newman Daytona, Rolex Day-Date, Rolex Day-Date II, Rolex Day-Date Oyster Perpetual, Rolex Explorer, Rolex Explorer II, Rolex GMT Master II, Rolex Masterpiece, Rolex Milgauss, Rolex Oysterquartz, Rolex Sea Dweller, Rolex Sea Dweller DeepSea, Rolex Sky-Dweller, Rolex Submariner, Rolex Turn-O-Graph, Rolex Yacht-Master, Rolex Yacht-Master II. Rolex is the timekeeper of Wimbledon and many other prestigious sports events. Explorers, aviators, military groups, celebrities and royals regularly purchase Rolex watches. Fake Rolex watches and Rolex replica watches are sought after by bargain hunters but can easily identified by Rolex serial numbers and by comparing the fake prices with the original Rolex prices on the internet and the Rolex price list in every brand boutique.

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Buy Watches Securely, Directly from Collectors with Grailzee

Grailzee, a premier online auction house and marketplace specializing in luxury watches, is establishing itself as the international benchmark for trust and authenticity in the industry. Offering a curated selection of over 50 prestigious watch brands, including Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Richard Mille, and Patek Philippe, Grailzee has overseen more than 10,000 successful watch transactions in...

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May 7, 2024 by WatchTime

It’s Time – WatchTime New York 2024 Tickets On Sale Now!

After an incredible show in 2023, WatchTime New York, the premier collector’s event in North America, is set to return to Manhattan from October 18th to 20th, 2024. WatchTime New York 2024 promises to be even more spectacular, with the show marking the 25th anniversary of WatchTime and bringing together the world’s finest watchmakers, timepieces,...

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Jun 20, 2024 by WatchTime

And Action:

Time for the Movies: 10 Times a Watch Stole the Spotlight from the Actors

This article is from the WatchTime Archives. (Warning: Spoilers ahead.) Watches in movies have fascinated watch fans since collecting timepieces became (at least) as interesting as getting an autograph from your favorite actor. From Steve McQueen’s Monaco in Le Mans (1971), Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) Seiko Giugario in Aliens (1986), Christian Bale’s Datejust in American Psycho...

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May 5, 2024 by Roger Ruegger

A Brief History of the Mechanical Watch’s Fight Against Magnetism

In our latest visit to the global WatchTime archives, a look at how watchmaking has countered the threat of magnetism over the years, from using metals like palladium in 1915 to silicon in 2015. Magnetism has been the mechanical timekeeping’s nemesis through the years. It is to the mechanical watch what Prof. Moriarty is to Sherlock...

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Apr 29, 2024 by WatchTime

EXPERT ADVICE:

Buying a Chronograph? Here Are 10 Things You Should Know

10 factors to consider when selecting a chronograph watch, to help make sure it suits your wants and your needs. We take a look at chronographs from brands like Jaeger LeCoultre, Omega, Baume & Mercier, Longines, Montblanc, Tag Heuer and others.

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Apr 24, 2024 by WatchTime

Back in Platinum and Blue, Meet the Latest Rolex Perpetual 1908

Last year, Rolex first introduced its Perpetual 1908 collection, working to revitalize its formal-focused segment from a slightly different angle after discontinuing its Cellini collection. This year, the brand grew the series once more— unveiling a new platinum-clad, time-only edition at Watches & Wonders 2024. On the wrist, the new Rolex Perpetual 1908 wears 39mm...

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Apr 24, 2024 by Caleb Anderson

Speaking Softly, Rolex Updates its GMT-Master II at Watches & Wonders 2024

Watches & Wonders 2024 is off to the races, and any first day of the world of horology’s biggest week would be remiss without a first stop by Rolex. Leading a slate of notable releases from the manufacture is the brand’s latest update to its famed GMT-Master II line, with the latest model joining the...

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Apr 9, 2024 by Caleb Anderson

FEATURE

Double Time: Eight GMT Watches For Travelers at Work and Play

A second time zone can be shown in many ways, offering a wide range of options for watch designers. As the summer travel season winds down, we showcase some notable timepieces with second-time-zone (GMT) displays in this article from our 2019 Special Design Issue.

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Mar 31, 2024 by Jens Koch

Downsizing: Six Watches Under 40-mm from Top Brands

In this article from the WatchTime Archives, we revisit six watches released in recent times capitalizing upon the growing interest in smaller diameter watches, including timepieces from Tudor, Panerai, Omega, and more. Enjoy! Over the past several years, we’ve seen an influx of modestly-sized timepieces from the dominant industry players. Even the leaders of the “wrist-saucer”...

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Mar 24, 2024 by WatchTime

At the Peak of Daily Life: The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer 2021

This article was originally published in the July/August 2022 Issue of the WatchTime print magazine. Photos by Olaf Köster and Rolex. When you think about a watch for explorers, the first model from Rolex that comes to mind might be the Explorer II or the Submariner, rather than a 36-mm, almost noble-looking, two-tone watch like the...

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Mar 22, 2024 by WatchTime

PORTFOLIO

Splash! A Plunge Into the Colorful World of Watersports Watches

Take the plunge with us into the colorful world of water sports in our latest dip into the WatchTime Archives! Here you can find professional instruments with appealing technologies, styles, and prices. In this article, we present divers’ watches without complex additional functions (e.g., chronographs) because the watches listed here are designed to focus your...

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Mar 20, 2024 by Alexander Krupp

The Great Watch Climb: Mountaineering Watches

This article was originally written by watch journalist Roberta Naas and published in the May/June 2022 Issue of the WatchTime print magazine. In the past decade, we have witnessed more and more professional climbers and explorers tackle the world’s tallest and most treacherous mountains wearing rugged timepieces designed to withstand unfathomable extremes. It is a phenomenon, though,...

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Mar 10, 2024 by WatchTime

The Traditionalist: Hands-On With the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner

This article is from the WatchTime Archives and was originally published in 2021. As of 2020, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner with no date display, which many view as the archetypal dive watch, is slightly larger and has an updated movement yet remains true to its original design. This is our first encounter with the...

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Nov 17, 2023 by Martina Richter

WATCH REVIEW

Into the Blue: Reviewing the Rolex Deepsea D-Blue

When writer, director, and adventurer James Cameron reached the beginning of the “deep sea” at a depth of 1,000 meters on March 26, 2012, safely inside his submersible craft Deepsea Challenger, all the remaining light disappeared. But at that point, he hadn’t yet completed one-tenth of his journey. At 10,908 meters, he landed softly on...

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Nov 13, 2023 by Jens Koch

Green Rambles: The Trouble with Trends

Trends can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. In the world of watches, it surprisingly pays off when you are slightly conservative. Yet— as in any industry— only a select few have the privilege to march to the beat of their own drum, which means that trends need to be followed...

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Nov 10, 2023 by Martin Green

PORTFOLIO

Time Tools: 8 Tool Watches From Luxury Brands

In this article from the WatchTime archives, we present eight "tool watches" that emphasize functionality and are robust, accurate, legible, and — importantly — not excessively expensive.

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Oct 15, 2023 by Jens Koch

WATCH TEST

Batman on Tour: Testing the Rolex GMT-Master II

Rolex has updated its popular travel watch, the GMT-Master II, in steel with its blue-and-black “Batman” bezel. We tested one of the first pieces available with a Jubilee bracelet and a new movement in this feature from the WatchTime archives (original photos by Marcus Krüger).

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Oct 14, 2023 by Jens Koch

Rare Oyster: Testing the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date LV

Rolex revised its Submariner collection in 2020 and unleashed an extraordinary demand for its Oyster model with a green bezel. Our test from the WatchTime Archives looks at this newest edition, with its modified case and new movement, to see if it lives up to the hype. Spend any time at all at a Rolex...

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Sep 24, 2023 by Jens Koch

PORTFOLIO

Time Machines: 7 Automotive-Inspired Retro Watches

A classic car is a time machine into the past. But what about the smaller machines that measure time’s passage? Which watches would harmonize best with a vintage car’s styling? Fortunately, the retro trend in watches is bigger than ever. Here are seven suggestions, photographed by our own Nik Schölzel.

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Sep 10, 2023 by Jens Koch

WATCH TEST

Hands-On Review: Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” Ref. 126710 BLRO

This article is from the WatchTime Archives and was originally published in 2021.  Coke or Pepsi? It’s a matter of taste, some say, and individual tastes always differ. But there’s only one right answer if you’re talking about the Rolex GMT-Master. Although the manufacturer made a version that had a GMT bezel in red and...

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Aug 27, 2023 by Jens Koch

Industry News: Rolex Acquires Bucherer

Rolex today announced today that it acquires Bucherer, one of the largest luxury watch retailers worldwide and a partner of the brand since 1924. According to the press release, the Swiss jewelry house with headquarters in Lucerne will continue to operate independently and maintain its name. However, the final integration into the Rolex group awaits...

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Aug 24, 2023 by Sabine Zwettler
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