It’s no surprise that Rolex ranks as the most recognisable watch brand in the world today. For more than a hundred years, Rolex has produced models that have often become genre-defining timepieces . Founded as Wilsdorf and Davis in London in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis, the company registered Rolex as the brand name in 1908. At the end of World War I, the company moved out of London and registered itself as Montres Rolex SA in Geneva. It has been owned by a private family trust, the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, since 1960.
Some of the most important milestones in watchmaking are attributed to Rolex. In 1926, Rolex introduced the Oyster case, the first waterproof wristwatch case that was fitted with a screw-down crown to keep moisture and dust from damaging the movement. Five years later in 1931, the brand introduced the first self-winding rotor on its Perpetual line, which ensured that the mainspring barrel was consistently wound. In 1945, the Datejust became the first chronometer wristwatch with an automatically changing date function.
However, it’s the ‘tool watches’ Rolex produced (purpose-built watches for diving, motorsport or tracking different time zones) in the 1950s that have helped forge its reputation among the watch cognoscenti. It all began with the Oyster Perpetual Submariner Ref. 6204 in 1953, a wristwatch water-resistant up to 100 metres and aimed at helping divers measure elapsed dive time via a rotatable bezel. Rolex then introduced what is arguably the most famous dual time wristwatch in the world, the Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 6542 in 1954, and an anti-magnetic wristwatch made for scientists and engineers, the Ref. 6451 Milgauss, in 1956.
Eight years later in 1963, Rolex introduced a chronograph intended for use by the motorsport community capable of measuring elapsed time and calculating average speed. The Daytona , as this chronograph was eventually christened, is today among the most desirable sports watches. Early examples in gold regularly breach the million dollar mark at auction.
ROLEX, STEEL DAYTONA, REF. 116520
CASE NO. Z923470
ROLEX, STEEL DAYTONA, REF. 116520
CASE NO. F086228
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE AND FINE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET, SWEEP CENTER SECOND, DATE, ORIGINAL WARRANTY AND BOX
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, SUBMARINER MODEL, REF. 116610LN, CASE NO. A79273Q9, CIRCA 2014
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE AND FINE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET, SWEEP CENTER SECOND, DATE, ORIGINAL WARRANTY AND BOX
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, SUBMARINER MODEL, REF. 116610LN, CASE NO. A79273Q9, CIRCA 2014
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE AND FINE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET, SWEEP CENTER SECOND, DATE, ORIGINAL WARRANTY AND BOX
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, SUBMARINER MODEL, REF. 116610LN, CASE NO. A79273Q9, CIRCA 2014
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE AND FINE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET, SWEEP CENTER SECOND, DATE, ORIGINAL WARRANTY AND BOX
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, SUBMARINER MODEL, REF. 116610LN, CASE NO. A79273Q9, CIRCA 2014
ROLEX. A STICKERED AND 'UNWORN' STAINLESS STEEL WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTER SECONDS, DATE AND BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, SEA-DWELLER DEEPSEA MODEL, REF. 116660, CASE NO. M915463, CIRCA 2008
ROLEX. A STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE AND BRACELET
SEA-DWELLER MODEL, REF. 1665 “DOUBLE RED” MK 3, CASE NO. 3’761’521
ROLEX. A STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE AND BRACELET
SEA-DWELLER MODEL, REF. 126600, CASE NO. 20U850G5, CIRCA 2019
ROLEX. AN 18K WHITE GOLD AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS AND DATE
YACHT-MASTER MODEL, REF. 226659, CASE NO. L01447T7, CIRCA 2019
ROLEX. A STAINLESS STEEL AND WHITE GOLD ANNUAL CALENDAR AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DUAL TIME, BRACELET AND BLUE DIAL
SKY-DWELLER MODEL, REF. 326934, CASE NO. QW901996, CIRCA 2018
ROLEX. A STAINLESS STEEL AND WHITE GOLD AUTOMATIC ANNUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DUAL TIME, BRACELET AND BLACK DIAL
SKY-DWELLER MODEL, REF. 326934, CASE NO. 1908V658, CIRCA 2018
ROLEX. A STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
DAYTONA MODEL, REF. 116520, CASE NO. F427156
ROLEX. A STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
DAYTONA MODEL, REF. 116520, CASE NO. 883650H3, CIRCA 2018
ROLEX. A STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
DAYTONA MODEL, REF. 116500LN, CASE NO. Y6477246, CIRCA 2019
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE AND FINE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET, SWEEP CENTER SECOND, DATE, ORIGINAL WARRANTY AND BOX
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, SUBMARINER MODEL, REF. 116610LN, CASE NO. A79273Q9, CIRCA 2014
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE AND FINE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET, SWEEP CENTER SECOND, DATE, ORIGINAL WARRANTY AND BOX
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, SUBMARINER MODEL, REF. 116610LN, CASE NO. A79273Q9, CIRCA 2014
ROLEX, STEEL DAYTONA, REF. 116520
CASE NO. Z923470
ROLEX, STEEL DAYTONA, REF. 116520
CASE NO. F086228
ROLEX, STEEL DAYTONA, REF. 116520
CASE NO. Z923470
ROLEX, STEEL DAYTONA, REF. 116520
CASE NO. F086228
Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd
A Rolex ladies stainless steel and gold automatic wristwatch, gifted to Pattie Boyd by Eric Clapton, circa 1981
ROLEX. A FAMED AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC DUAL-TIME WRISTWATCH WITH DATE, THE CASEBACK HAND-ENGRAVED ‘M. BRANDO’ BY MARLON BRANDO HIMSELF
SIGNED ROLEX, GMT-MASTER MODEL, REF.1675, CASE NO. 3’245’836, CIRCA 1972
ROLEX. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH EARLY 'LEMON PAUL NEWMAN' DIAL WITH WHITE SUBSIDIARY GRAPHICS AND BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, DAYTONA PAUL NEWMAN MODEL, REF. 6263, CASE NO. 2'330'402, CIRCA 1969
ROLEX. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE AND OUTSTANDINGLY WELL PRESERVED 18K PINK GOLD AUTOMATIC TRIPLE CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES AND STAR HOUR MARKERS
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, 'STELLINE' MODEL, REF. 6062, CASE NO. 788’629, CIRCA 1952