Rolex

History

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Timeline

Rolex's recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.

1. 1905 · Career

   Founded in 1905 in London as Wilsdorf & Davis by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis, the company initially imported Swiss movements for the British market.

   Profile text · see Sources

2. circa 1910 · Catalogued piece

   Rolex full hunter pocket watch with box, c. 1910

   Provenance: Antiques Boutique

3. 1920 · Career

   The company became known as Montres Rolex SA in 1920 and has been owned by the private Hans Wilsdorf Foundation since 1960.

   Profile text · see Sources

4. circa 1923 · Catalogued piece

   Rolex double hunter pocket watch

   Provenance: Musée international d'horlogerie

5. 1926 · Career

   The Oyster case was introduced in 1926 as a hermetically sealed, water-resistant wristwatch housing.

   Profile text · see Sources

6. circa 1930 · Catalogued piece

   Rolex 'Doctor's Chronograph' Pocket Watch, Ref. 6372

   Provenance: Antiquorum

7. 1931 · Career

   The Perpetual rotor, patented in 1931, provided a practical solution for automatic self-winding wristwatches.

   Profile text · see Sources

8. 1940s · Catalogued piece

   Rolex 'Cioccolatone' Reference 4645, 'Perpetual, Chronometer Officially Certified'

   Provenance: Antiquorum

9. circa 1950s · Catalogued piece

   Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 6542

   Provenance: Oliver & Clarke

10. 1960 · Career

    Since 1960, the company has been owned and controlled by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a private family trust.

    Profile text · see Sources

11. Circa 1960 · Catalogued piece

    Rolex Oyster Chronograph 'Pre-Daytona', Ref: 6234

    Provenance: Bonhams

12. Made in January 1972 · Catalogued piece

    Rolex Comex Submariner Ref: 5514/5513 Automatic Diver's Wristwatch

    Provenance: Bonhams

Current watchmaking & later fate

• Since 1960, the company has been owned and controlled by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a private family trust.
• The brand produces mechanical wristwatches and continues to expand its physical presence, including the 2024 construction of a new affiliate in New York City.

As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-10-27. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.

Key models

Rolex Oyster

Introduced in 1926, this model was the first Rolex wristwatch designed to be waterproof and dustproof.

Oyster Perpetual

This watch incorporated a self-winding mechanism patented by Rolex in 1931 called a Perpetual rotor.

Submariner

Launched in 1953, the Submariner was the brand's first professional diver's watch rated for depths of 100 meters.

Major innovations

• Screw-down Oyster case for water resistance
• Perpetual self-winding rotor with bidirectional winding in series production
• The Oyster case was introduced in 1926 as a hermetically sealed, water-resistant wristwatch housing.
• The Perpetual rotor, patented in 1931, provided a practical solution for automatic self-winding wristwatches.
• Cerachrom, a patented ceramic material, was created by the company for use in scratch-resistant bezels.

Known markings

• 'Rolex' on dial and movement
• Reference number between the lugs on older cases
• Case-maker marks inside the back
• The 'Rolex' trademark was registered in 1908.
• Early timepieces from the company were hallmarked with 'W&D' inside the caseback.

Serial numbers

Case serial and reference numbers are the primary identifiers; published approximate serial-to-year ranges are collector-compiled rather than published by the manufacturer.

Collecting significance

One of the most heavily counterfeited and heavily 'improved' names in the field; dial, hands, bezel and movement must each be assessed for period correctness.

Identification and dating notes

• Watches marked Wilsdorf & Davis date from the company's early period in London prior to the full adoption of the Rolex brand name.
• The name change to Montres Rolex SA in 1920 reflects the firm's formal establishment in Geneva.

In the object catalogue

221 catalogued objects are recorded under Rolex. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

• 1956 Rolex Pre-Explorer "Ovettone" Ref. 6298Automatic wristwatch · 1956
• 1968 Rolex Daytona Ref. 6241 Paul NewmanChronograph · 1968
• 1970 Rolex Submariner Ref. 1680 'Mk. IV'Diver's watch · 1970
• 1972 Rolex Datejust 18K Rose Gold (Ref. 1601)Calendar & moon-phase watch · 1972
• 1972 Rolex Datejust Ref. 1603Automatic wristwatch · 1972
• 1976 Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601 with Onyx Stone DialAutomatic wristwatch · 1976
• 1977 Rolex Sea-Dweller Ref. 1665 "Rail" DialDiver's watch · 1977
• 1979 Rolex Submariner Ref. 1680Diver's watch · 1979
• 1981 Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18039Calendar & moon-phase watch · 1981
• 1981 Rolex Ladies Datejust 18K Yellow Gold Lapis Lazuli DialJewellery & cocktail watch · 1981
• 1984 Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 16750GMT & world-time watch · 1984
• 1984 Rolex Sea-Dweller (Ref. 16660)Diver's watch · 1984

Browse all 221 in the object catalogue

Provenance

Where the 221 catalogued pieces by Rolex were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.

Collectors, owners and donors

• Gift from King Saud ben Abdelaziz Al Saud to Rachid KaraméProvenance · Rolex Day-Date "The Eastern Arabic" Reference 6613B
• Mondani CollectionProvenance · Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Yacht-Master Reference 16622

Auction history

Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.