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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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Off to New Heights: Rolex Explorer II

This article was originally published in the January/February 2022 Issue of the WatchTime print magazine. Photos by Marcus Krüger. To mark the model’s 50th anniversary, Rolex has updated the Explorer II with a new movement and subtle design modifications. We look at what the most recent version can offer collectors, explorers and adventurers. Before last year’s Watches...

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Aug 9, 2024 by Jens Koch

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

Reaching New Depths: A History of the Dive Watch

This article was originally published in the January/February 2022 Issue of the WatchTime print magazine.  For many collectors, the history of the dive watch starts in 1953 with the introduction of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and Rolex Submariner. Divers, however, already had to rely on water-resistant watches, decades before the commercialization of two of the...

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Aug 8, 2024 by Roger Ruegger

FEATURE

Tools for the Depths: The Dive Watches of Rolex

Dive watches from Rolex are highly sought after. And it’s no wonder with such an exciting history, a number of noteworthy collaborations, unique designs and robust, accurate in-house movements. We explore the various models in this feature from the WatchTime archives. Rolex currently produces four different dive watch models: the Submariner and Submariner Date, the...

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Aug 4, 2024 by Jens Koch

Competition in the Sea: Rolex vs. Omega Dive Watches

This article is from the WatchTime Archives and was originally digitally published in July 2022. Rolex and Omega are renowned and admired for their dive watches. In direct comparison, which one of the two leading brands dives deeper, offers more value for the money and performs better? The Submariner divers’ watch has been one of...

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Aug 3, 2024 by Jens Koch

Turned to the Left: The Rolex GMT-Master II Destro

The newest version of the Rolex GMT-Master II has a black-and-green bezel and wears its crown and date on the left. It offers some major advantages, especially for left-handers.

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Jul 26, 2024 by Jens Koch

Green Rambles: The Magic of a Movement

This article is from the WatchTime Archives and was originally published in June 2022. While there are, without a doubt, collectors that focus on a single type of movement, I have learned to love them all. There is an almost intimate feeling when you turn the crown to wind the mainspring with a hand wound...

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Jul 6, 2024 by Martin Green

FEATURE

Dive Watches in Depth: A Dive Watch FAQ

"How water-resistant does it need to be?" "How does a depth gauge work?" We answer your FAQs about dive watches: learn about water resistance, diving bezels, depth gauges, and more in this feature from the WatchTime archives.

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Jul 2, 2024 by WatchTime

FEATURE

Touching the Past: Six Modern “Retro” Watches and the Historical Pieces That Inspired Them

When retro-inspired watches are modeled after specific predecessors, fans of mechanical timekeeping can “grasp” design history. In this feature from the WatchTime archives, we take a look at six watches that awaken a longing for the past.

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Jun 23, 2024 by Alexander Krupp

One of a Kind: Six Watches Made From Proprietary Gold Alloys

What’s even more exclusive than yellow, white or rose gold? A gold alloy that’s only available from a single brand. Here are six watches made of unique gold alloys from the WatchTime Archives. Lime Gold (Montblanc)Montblanc relies on its own gold color, which has a green shimmer and is therefore named “Lime Gold.” It debuted...

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Jun 16, 2024 by Ruediger Bucher

Green Rambles: For the Love of Talking Nonsense

One of my favorite things to do is get together with my friends in watches. Sometimes, it is for a simple cup of coffee, and other times, we meet for elaborate dinners or a nice drink later in the evening. We make the atmosphere matter, as I have noticed that many people who are passionate about watches share an equal interest in...

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Jun 6, 2024 by Martin Green

Green Rambles: Make All Watches Unisex

This article was originally published in April 2022. One of the things that have always struck me as very weird is watch brands telling us for which gender, specific models are. While this very well may help the marketing department target its efforts, why would you voluntarily limit to who you are selling your product...

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Jun 2, 2024 by Martin Green

Green Rambles: Are You Already Part Of A Tribe?

This article is from the WatchTime Archives and was originally published in 2022. It is no secret that there are brands in the watch industry where the demand for their timepieces is far greater than the supply. Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Richard Mille are often the ones mentioned in relation to this. The focus was...

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May 28, 2024 by Martin Green

Rolex Turns to Precious Metal for Latest Deepsea Dweller Yellow Gold (with Live Images)

If the launch of the latest GMT-Master II by Rolex— with its quiet new colorway and small green details— was a demonstration of the brand’s subtlety, then the release of the Deepsea Dweller in yellow gold is an act of ostentatious balance. Presented at Watches & Wonders 2024 as the reference M136668LB, the new “professional”...

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May 28, 2024 by Caleb Anderson

The Rolex Oyster Case: Everything You Need to Know

Pegged as one of the most innovative and historical updates to the wristwatch, the Rolex Oyster case has enjoyed its day in the sun and for good reason. In this in-depth article courtesy of our colleagues at WatchTime India, we take you through the different parts of this piece of horological history and help you...

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May 27, 2024 by WatchTime

PORTFOLIO

Stopwatches at the Top: 7 Chronographs with In-House Movements

Looking for a chronograph with a completely in-house-manufactured movement? In this feature from WatchTime's June 2017 issue, we showcase some of the industry’s top picks, from seven power brands, from Breitling to Rolex to Zenith.

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May 25, 2024 by Alexander Krupp

TIMEPIECE TIMELINE

The Evolution of the Men’s Wristwatch: A Decade-by-Decade Guide

World War I coincided with the breakthrough of the wristwatch. New and trailblazing designs followed in each subsequent decade. From the WatchTime archives, here are our highlights, from the beginning of the 20th Century to the present day.

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May 22, 2024 by Ruediger Bucher

No Date, No Problem: Six Watches Without Date Displays

While a date display is usually regarded as one of the most popular complications, some purists are opting more and more for harmony and symmetry on their dials by choosing a watch without a date window. Here are six notable examples in our latest story from the WatchTime Archives. Back to the Forties: IWC Big...

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May 16, 2024 by Alexander Krupp

TIMEPIECE TIMELINE

10 Highlights in the History of the Dive Watch

In the beginning, dive watches were pure tools that helped keep divers on time and alive. Today they’re something else: fashion statements, conversation pieces, rugged companions for a trip to the beach or pool. Our Timeline: "Dive Watches Through the Decades," traces the history of the dive watch from its start in the 1920s, with the invention of the first truly water-resistant cases, to 2014.

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May 12, 2024 by WatchTime

FEATURE

Field Ready: The Complicated Story of the Simple Field Watch

How the field watch journeyed from saving lives in the hellish trenches of World War I to decorating the wrists of fashionably rugged-looking civilians a century later is a rather befuddling tale. In this feature from the WatchTime archives, correspondent Allen Farmelo takes us through it.

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May 10, 2024 by Allen Farmelo

What Makes Rolex so Successful? Here Are Nine Reasons

Rolex is viewed by many as the Number One among major Swiss watch manufacturers. Why? Rüdiger Bucher, Editorial Director at WatchTime's German sister magazine, Chronos, lists nine reasons for the success of Rolex.

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May 9, 2024 by Ruediger Bucher
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