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Rolex

In 1905,  young Hans Wilsdorf had a vision, Rolex, or at the time Wilsdorf And Davis, set out on a mission to revolutionize timekeeping and to create wristwatches that combined precision and elegance. In 1910, Rolex achieved a critical milestone by producing the first wristwatch to earn a Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, this established the brand as a leader in accuracy.

In 1926, Rolex managed to revolutionize the game again with the introduction of the Oyster, at this time, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch. Rolex demonstrated this by letting  swimmer Mercedes Gleitze wear it during her groundbreaking 10-hour swim across the English Channel, and it emerged fully functional after the mission. This move was bold and solidified Rolex’s reputation for performance and durability.

Other innovations include the Perpetual rotor, the very first self-winding mechanism, helping shape the future of automatic watches. Rolex watches were often created as tools and the brand later became synonymous with adventure and exploration—creating iconic models like the Explorer (1953), commemorating the first ascent of Mount Everest, and the Daytona (1963), beloved by racing people like Paul Newman.

Because of Rolex’s blend of craftsmanship, innovation, and reliability they have made it as a symbol of luxury and life achievement. Today, the Crown produces somewhere around 1 million watches each year, continuing to stand the test of time, both in watchmaking and as a brand.