When Was Rolex Founded? Discover the Birth of an Iconic Brand

Rolex could quite possibly be the most well-known watch brand on the planet, with its ability to seemingly only produce icons it has a rich history to back it up. But, just like the saying ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’, nor was Rolex and the beginnings of Rolex go way back in time. All Swiss watchmakers these days seem to become increasingly more well known throughout the watch world but whilst many of us can name multiple different models from each brand, specifically Rolex, very few of us know the origins and the timeline of Rolex. So today, we are going back in time to show walk you through the history of Rolex and when it the brand was first born

Rolex DateJust - WHEN WAS ROLEX FOUNDED?

Almost all the major watch brands you can name all come from Switzerland to some degree, and you can even ask a random person what they think about when you say the word “watches” and it won’t take them long before they mention ‘Switzerland”. Switzerland definitely bears a certain weight when it comes to a watch brand being associated with luxury watchmaking and high-quality. It’s no secret that many if not most Swiss watch brands are indeed created by a Swiss person, however this was not the case at all for Rolex. Rolex started it off, perhaps even to what people think, slightly different with its origins lying outside of the beloved watchmaking country of Switzerland. We need to go back to the start of the 20th century to London in the UK to see when Rolex was founded.

The history of Rolex started in London, England, in 1905 when Hans Wilsdorf, a young watchmaker, and Alfred Davis, his brother-in-law, co-founded the business. Wilsdorf's goal was to make timepieces that were attractive, precise, and dependable from the start. His steadfast dedication to innovation and quality set the stage for Rolex's future growth. In addition to being the first to create the first waterproof watch and the first watch with a date, Rolex truly pioneered the future of wrist watches. They also achieved many other amazing advancements. Hans Wilsdorf realised he had to find a method to preserve the brand and carry on the tradition in order to make sure it continues that way

The influence of Hans Wilsdorf on Rolex was felt long after his death. He founded the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation in 1944 as a non-profit organisation with the goals of furthering education, charity, and scientific research. To ensure the durability and independence of the brand, Wilsdorf gave the foundation the majority of his interests in Rolex. Even now, the foundation retains a majority stake in Rolex, preserving its principles and enabling it to make choices centred around long-term goals as opposed to immediate profits.

One of the few watch companies that isn't controlled by capitalist shareholders looking to line their own wallets is Rolex. Although it was founded by the family, even though it is not legally family held, it is a non-profit organisation and does not have to worry about appeasing shareholders. Rather, Rolex can concentrate entirely on making the best clocks it can. Maintaining a portion of the family name within the company also contributes to the added warmth and trust that come with doing business with family members.

Rolex has been around for well over one hundred years and you could also argue, it clearly shows. Few watch brands have created the icons Rolex has with all the horological milestones that Rolex have accomplished. No one can ever be the first to create a dive watch again, these are all the result of Rolex being founded way back in 1905 and taking the time to master the art of horology.

Of course, Rolex was not the only watch brand to have ever existed but because it is one of the most well-known, it is always good to know when the brand you love was founded. You could even make the case that Rolex has had a somewhat perfect and idyllic history for the date it was founded to now. With no major buyouts, mergers or high turnover for CEO’s, the company Hans Wilsdorf first created was spot on the first-time round, all he would need is the passing of time to achieve everything he has.

Rolex GMT-Master II 126710 with black and grey bezel on an Oyster bracelet, worn on the wrist.

So, there you have it, Rolex has been around for quite some time and there is no denying they have accomplished an awful lot given the timeframe they have been producing watches for. And whilst it may not be Hans Wilsdorf himself leading the watch brand forward today, his legacy has definitely left a lasting impact on the new owners as they carry forward the vision of Hans Wilsdorf and his commitment to excellence.

This same thought process has been used at ZEALANDE to develop the perfect rubber strap for your Rolex watch. Especially now in Winter with the weather being colder, allowing your wrist to breathe and your watch to be worn during winter sports like skiing, a ZEALANDE rubber strap for Rolex gives you the ability to do that and with a pop of colour too! Not to mention, a metal bracelet is freezing cold to put on your wrist first thing in the morning compared to a perfectly soft yet durable ZEALANDE rubber strap.