1905
Wilsdorf and Davis Limited, the company that became Rolex, was founded in London in 1905.
“And thus in 1905, Wilsdorf and Davis Limited, the world famous merchant watch trading firm is born.”
Topic
Rolex
19 facts from 1 episode, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
1914
In July 1914 a Rolex wristwatch received the first Class A precision certificate ever awarded to a wristwatch, from the Kew observatory in England.
“It is passed, and it receives the first Class A precision certificate, known as the QA, K-E-W-A certification, ever awarded to a wristwatch.”
1915
In 1915 Wilsdorf and Davis was renamed the Rolex Watch Company Limited.
“So, in 1915, they renamed the whole company after the brand name Rolex, and the Rolex Watch Company Limited is founded.”
1916
In 1916 Rolex moved watch assembly to Bienne, Switzerland, near the Aegler workshop.
“in 1916, Rolex first moves the assembly of the watches to Bien in the Swiss mountainside near where Aegler is.”
1925
Two Swiss casemakers filed a patent for a moisture-proof winding stem and button in October 1925, which Rolex bought and made exclusive.
“In October 1925, two Swiss casemakers file a patent for a moisture-proof winding stem and button.”
1927
Mercedes Gleitz's 1927 vindication swim in a Rolex Oyster lasted about 10 of the planned 15 hours, and the watch was worn on a chain around her neck.
“I think it was an especially cold day or especially choppy or something. She makes it 10 of the 15 hours.”
1929
John Harwood's self-winding watch company went bankrupt in 1929, which opened the way for Rolex to develop its own system.
“in 1929, Harwood's company goes bankrupt, probably aided along by the stock market crash of 1929”
1930s
In the early 1930s Rolex patented its own rotor-based self-winding system, which became the industry's main self-winding method.
“Rolex finally cracks it and patents their own rotor, quote unquote, self-winding system.”
1934
Rolex launched the full Oyster Perpetual chronometer in 1934, known to collectors as the bubble back.
“So in 1934, they launched the full system, the Oyster Perpetual chronometer, the bubble backs known by collectors.”
1940s
During World War II, Rolex made dive watches for its Italian retail partner Panerai, which had a contract with the Italian Navy.
“Their retail partner in Italy gets a contract from the Italian Navy to supply watches to their divers.”
1945
Rolex launched the Datejust in 1945 for its 40th anniversary.
“Rolex launches their finest model yet, the Datejust. And this is the first modern Rolex.”
1952
Dwight Eisenhower, who had been given a Rolex Datejust, became U.S. president in 1952 and wore it constantly.
“And then a few short years later, in 1952, Eisenhower becomes president of the United States of America with his iconic gold Rolex date just on his wrist at almost all times.”
1978
A 1978 Gallup study found that eight in ten Americans had not heard of Rolex, versus about eight in ten who had by the late 1990s.
“in a study conducted by Gallup in 1978, they asked the question, have you heard of Rolex?”
2004
Aegler supplied movements to Rolex for about 99 years until Rolex bought the company in 2004.
“This carries through this relationship for the next 99 years until Rolex finally buys Aegler in 2004, where Aegler is making the movements for Rolex watches.”
2004
Rolex acquired Aegler in 2004 for a rumored billion Swiss francs under CEO Patrick Heiniger.
“He presided over, most importantly, the Aegler acquisition in 2004 for rumored roughly a billion Swiss francs.”
2019
An Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional reached about 20 meters deeper than Rolex's 2012 Deep Sea Challenge dive.
“in 2019, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional went 20 meters deeper.”
2023
Rolex bought the jeweler Bucherer in 2023 for a rumored $5 billion.
“So why buy Boucher? 2023, they spend a rumored $5 billion.”
Undated
Patrick Heiniger consolidated Rolex's production from about 30 locations in Switzerland down to four large sites.
“he consolidated all the factories, every physical location where parts that went into Rolex watches were made, whether those were in-house Rolex made or a third-party supplier, from, call it, 30 different locations throughout Switzerland down to four.”
Undated
Morgan Stanley and LuxConsult estimate Rolex holds about 30.3% of Swiss watch industry revenue.
“The share of the Swiss watch market that Rolex has by revenue is completely insane. Morgan Stanley and Lux consult estimate it at 30.3%.”
Episodes