Rolex watches are known all over the world today. Here are some facts about the history of the brand, which dates back to the beginning of the 20th century between Switzerland and England. This brand arouses so much interest that one wonders who has not hoped to own one? 

The beginnings of the Rolex brand in the 1920s

In the book "Rolex Classics A History in 50 Watches 1927-1987" published by ETAI in 2012, author Constantin Parvulesco describes the milestones. 

"In 1908, the name Rolex, a contraction of the words watchmaking and exquisite, was registered in Switzerland...

The first wrist watches for men appeared in England. It should be noted that women had them since the end of the 19th century. 

The Oyester system 

• In 1925, Rolex's Oyester system was based on a technological innovation.
  Like an oyster that closes, the "Oyester" case aims at a better waterproofness between the case and the crown. 
• This is what defines the first models of "officer's wrist watches". The names "Submariner", "Aqua" and "diver" are sold internationally, especially in India. 

Rolex plays the continuity of the models until today 

• Notice to collectors who should not discard these first references very different from contemporary models.
• Technical progress was made with the Perpetual movement and various internal precision mechanisms. The brand aims to stay ahead of all other manufactures by purchasing or registering patents

The birth of the chronograph in the 1930s 

With the development of sport and vehicles in the 1930s seeking to push back speed records, the chronograph became more and more an attractive option. Thus equipped with a push button, the passionate amateur can measure the seconds.

The Daytona

• The iconic Daytona watch takes off from the 1990s. In 2017, Paul Newman's Daytona 6239 was awarded $17.8 million, at auction in New York. His wife had offered him in 1969 $300 with the engraving "Drive Carefully. Me".
• The popularity of the brand's vintage watch models continues to grow, as evidenced by the continuous rise in price. Here you can get an overview of our models in our online store.

In 2022, the models become more and more tech pieces. Precious and rare materials such as titanium and gold are still used in combination with increasingly sophisticated mechanisms.

We're not done with the Rolex brand's surprises! Tell us about your favorite models at the next Rivera Fine Art Collectors' Circle meeting in Monaco.