Crowning Glory

For over a century, Rolex has represented the pinnacle of fine watchmaking with near-unparalleled desirability among collectors. Here's how the brand has done it.

- CHARMIAN LEONG

Rolex did not become the most well-known watch brand in the world by happy accident. It was the work and vision of its founder Hans Wilsdorf — tirelessly and ceaselessly upheld through the decades — that have made the company the titan of its industry today.

Wilsdorf’s goal started simply enough: to create a high-quality wristwatch with small movements that would be as precise as marine chronometers (the gold standard during his time), housed in waterproof cases to withstand the rigours of daily wear, and self-winding for greater convenience. In 1931, Rolex successfully invented and patented the world's first self-winding mechanism with the Perpetual rotor, which became the standard adopted by the entire watch industry.