This Article Contains Collection of Videos on History of Rolex and its Public Background Facts
Public Facts about Rolex
Rolex SA is a British-founded Swiss watch designer and manufacturer based in Geneva, Switzerland.Founded in 1905 as Wilsdorf and Davis by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, England, the company registered the word Rolex as the brand name of its watches in 1908, and it became Rolex Watch Co. Ltd. in 1915. After World War I, the company moved its base of operations to Geneva because of the unfavourable economy in the United Kingdom.
In 1920, Hans Wilsdorf registered Montres Rolex SA in Geneva as the new company name, it later became Rolex SA. Since 1960, the company has been owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a private family trust.Rolex SA and its subsidiary Montres TUDOR SA design, make, distribute, and service wristwatches sold under the Rolex and Tudor brands.
The Rolex Story Video 1 on its History and its Worldwide Popularity
Content of the Video
- The Secret of Watches
- Introducing Rolex
- Hans Wilsdorf
- Early Life
- First Experience with Watches
- Wilsdorf and Davis
- An Idea to Produce Wristwatches
- First W&D Wristwatch
- Choosing the Name
- First World War
- Moving to Switzerland
- First Innovative Model
- Rolex Records
- Following Innovative Models
- Historical Record in Mariana Trench
- Their Own Steel – 904L
- Recent Watches and News
- Short Facts about Rolex
- Final
This is a Video story, how Hans Wilsdorf found a company, which became worldwide famous and maybe the most popular watchmaking brand. Hans Wilsdorf was the first man, who could change the whole watchmaking industry by creating innovative wristwatches. At that time wristwatches were more associated with women and they were not so precise, because of small watch pieces. Hans Wilsdorf was the man, who could create the first wristwatches, which were very durable and precise.
Start Right Now
History of Rolex – Public Facts
Alfred Davis and his brother-in-law Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf and Davis, the company that would eventually become Rolex S.A., in London, England, in 1905. Wilsdorf and Davis’ main commercial activity at the time involved importing Hermann Aegler’s Swiss movements to England and placing them in watch cases made by Dennison and others. These early wristwatches were sold to many jewellers, who then put their own names on the dial.
The earliest watches from Wilsdorf and Davis were usually hallmarked “W&D” inside the caseback. In 1908, Wilsdorf registered the trademark “Rolex”, which became the brand name of watches from Wilsdorf and Davis. He opened an office in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Wilsdorf wanted the brand name to be easily pronounceable in any language, and short enough to fit on the face of a watch. He also thought that the name “Rolex” was onomatopoeic, sounding like a watch being wound.
Company’s Change of Name
In November 1915, the company changed its name to Rolex Watch Co. Ltd. In 1919, Hans Wilsdorf moved the company from England to Geneva, Switzerland because of heavy post-war taxes levied on luxury imports and high export duties on the silver and gold used for the watch cases.In 1920 the company’s name was officially changed to Montres Rolex S.A. and later to Rolex S.A.
Marketing Challenge, Patent and Production of OYSTER
With administrative worries attended to, Wilsdorf turned the company’s attention to a marketing challenge: the infiltration of dust and moisture under the dial and crown, which damaged the movement.
Production of Oyster
To address this problem, in 1926 third-party Casemaker produced a waterproof and dustproof wristwatch for Rolex, giving it the name “Oyster”.
About Rolex Patent
The original patent attributed to Paul Perregaux and Georges Peret, that allowed the watch to be adjusted while maintaining protection from water ingress was purchased – not invented – by Rolex and heavily marketed. The watch featured a hermetically sealed case which provided optimal protection for the movement.
Oyster Watch Promotions & Advertisement
As a demonstration, Rolex submerged Oyster models in aquariums, which it displayed in the windows of its main points of sale. In 1927, British swimmer Mercedes Gleitze swam the English Channel with an Oyster on her necklace, becoming the first Rolex ambassador.
To celebrate the feat, Rolex published a full-page advertisement on the front page of the Daily Mail for every issue for a whole month proclaiming the watch’s success during the ten hour plus swim. In 1931, Rolex patented a self-winding mechanism called a Perpetual rotor, a semi-circular plate that relies on gravity to move freely. In turn, the Oyster watch became known as the Oyster Perpetual.
The Rolex Story Video 2 on The Orphan Boy who Created Rolex
Rolex is one of the most Luxury Brands in the World, valued today at around $8 Billion Dollars. Its history dates back a century ago and began with an orphan teenager whose inheritance was stolen away from him. After a few years working his way out, he decided to follow his passion and opened a watchmaking business. Little did he know that this business venture would lead him to pioneer modern wristwatches, changing its whole industry and creating a Billion-Dollar Empire. This is the story of Hans Wilsdorf.
Big Company
Upon the death of his wife in 1944, Wilsdorf established the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a private trust, in which he left all of his Rolex shares, ensuring that some of the company’s income would go to charity. Wilsdorf died in 1960, and since then the trust has owned and run Rolex S.A
Content and Timestamps of the Video
- Intro
- A Series of Misfortunes
- On His Own
- Wilsdorf and Davis
- Rolex
- The Genius Mind of Marketing
- New Models
Learn More : The Branding and Marketing Strategy of Rolex
View, Read and Learn More Here:
- Retail Failure Stories
- Supply Chain
- Energy
- Artificial Intelligence
- E-Commerce
- Retail Shipping
- Rags to Riches Stories
- Retail Success Stories
- Travel Food Culture
