WHAT MAKES A ROLEX?

Every Rolex watch is designed, produced and tested with constant attention to the tiniest of details. This ‘superlative’ approach is expressed through three horological challenges that characterise every Rolex watch and have been part of the marque’s identity for several decades

Since 1905, Rolex has maintained the founding vision of its creator, Hans Wilsdorf, who saw the wristwatch as an object of the future, emblematic of the modern era. At a time when standard timepieces were pocket watches, which by their very nature always remain in the same position, he decided to develop a wristwatch capable of keeping up with the movements of individual wearers and the vagaries of their increasingly active daily life.

The result is a legacy of some of the greatest timepieces ever made, from the iconic Submariner to the Cosmograph Daytona, Explorer, and more. Each of these time-tested marvels of horology imbibes Rolex's core principles - precision, waterproofness, autonomy, robustness, simplicity, craftsmanship, comfort and durability. While this eight-pronged approach to perfection is now well-known across the world, it took some hurdles back in the early 20th century for the British-founded Swiss watchmaker to reach the lofty heights it has today: