Hans Wilsdorf was firmly convinced of a person’s capacity to innovate to achieve excellence. More than one hundred years after the creation of Rolex, the founder’s spirit is more present than ever. We invite you to accompany us on this voyage to the center of the Rolex universe.
At the turn of the 20th century, Hans Wilsdorf, a visionary entrepreneur then residing in London, is about to show the world how far one can go with perseverance and will. His commitment was to make the watchmaking world of the era aware of a firm that in a few decades would become the world’s most famous watch brand: Rolex.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual, Hans Wilsdorf’s Revolutionary Invention
The Rolex universe is inconceivable without its founder’s deep imprint. “At first glance, the difficulties appeared insurmountable,” Wilsdorf recalled in his memoirs. And that wasn’t the least of it, since he had given himself a major challenge: create the first waterproof, self-winding wristwatch. Innovations that he would finally present in 1926 with the first totally waterproof Rolex Oyster, and in 1931 with the introduction of the self-winding Perpetual rotor.
A legend was born: the Rolex Oyster Perpetual.
Of humble origin (he was orphaned at the age of 12) and with nothing to fall back on except his will and his desire to excel, Hans Wilsdorf achieved the unthinkable. The road was not easy. By the standards of Edwardian England, his idea was something “too complicated, too fragile and too out of place.” However, Wilsdorf was undeterred by criticism and worked even harder to establish the Rolex Oyster Perpetual as what it still is today: the archetype of the waterproof, robust, precise watch, able to withstand any conditions.
Not to be like the rest. Think and act differently. Create beautiful pieces. Iron will to overcome difficulties. Wilsdorf himself, in the many preserved letters that he wrote, expressed these ideas as fundamental to the success of Rolex, the brand he created and which today is the undisputed leader of world watchmaking. Ideas that, today more than ever, are the foundations of the Rolex universe.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches have accompanied people during the 20th century’s great age of exploration, from the top of the world on Mount Everest to the deepest depths of the ocean, 11 kilometers below the surface in the Mariana Trench. Over and over again, they have demonstrated that they can withstand the most extreme conditions, while remaining loyal to the brilliant concepts invented by the founder, which still have not been surpassed today.
Rolex Universe: The sum of great talents and savoir-faire
Today, Rolex is a company that vertically integrates all its watch manufacturing steps so that all essential components are under its strict quality control. This involves everything from the casting of gold alloys to the assembly of the movement, case, dial and bracelet elements, to the machining, finishing and setting of each piece.
To achieve something like this, Rolex has an industrial apparatus that brings together unquantifiable savoir-faire, in many cases the product of expertise handed down over generations. Watchmakers, engineers, designers and other specialists work closely together to create and then craft the watches. The company’s culture is first of all, based on the human values that put savoir-faire and social relationships in the center of different activities. This is the Rolex universe.
Thanks to the brand’s expertise and desire to keep improving, today, the Oyster Perpetual collection has been gradually incorporating new functionalities and innovative technologies. The fundamentals of this watchmaking archetype are found in all models, which share a visual identity.
The collection has twelve ranges, divided into two categories: classic watches such as the Datejust and the Day-Date, and professional watches such as the Explorer and the GMT Master II.
It’s impossible to talk about the Rolex universe without mentioning its maintenance service. The Rolex philosophy, its obsession for perfection down to the smallest detail is also seen in the service the Swiss brand provides to its clients around the world. Only the most qualified watchmakers can care for your Rolex so it always looks brand new.
Hans Wilsdorf’s principles are still alive and inspire every new innovation without sacrificing authenticity. Welcome to the Rolex Universe.