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.
Browse Rolex Daytona watches, gold watches
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE AND SPORTY 18K PINK GOLD AND CERAMIC AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS AND DATE
SIGNED ROLEX, YACHT-MASTER MODEL, REF. 116655, CASE NO. 2Y8302Q9, CIRCA 2015
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE 18K GOLD AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE AND BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, SUBMARINER MODEL, REF. 16808, CASE NO. 6'412'142, CIRCA 1979
ROLEX. A VERY RARE 18K GOLD AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH 'PORCELAIN' 'FLOATING' COSMOGRAPH DIAL AND BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, DAYTONA MODEL, REF. 16528, CASE NO. R985778, CIRCA 1988
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, DAYTONA MODEL, REF. 6265, CASE NO. 6'123'297, CIRCA 1979
ROLEX. A HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT AND HEAVY 18K GOLD QUARTZ TONNEAU-SHAPED WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE AND BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, QUARTZ, REF. 5100, MOVEMENT NO. 0000'6989, CASE NO. 001, CIRCA 1970
ROLEX. A RARE AND ICONIC STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, DAYTONA 'BIG RED' MODEL, REF. 6263, CASE NO. 3'731'564, CIRCA 1974
ROLEX. A HISTORICALLY NOTABLE AND EXTREMELY RARE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH S WEEP CENTRE SECONDS, 'RED DEPTH' BLACK 'GILT' DIAL AND BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, EXPLORER 'RED DEPTH' MODEL, REF. 6610, CASE NO. 114'312, CIRCA 1955
ROLEX. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND MAGNIFICENT 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH
SIGNED ROLEX, DAYTONA MODEL, REF. 116599TBR, CASE NO. D806778, CIRCA 2007
ROLEX. A VERY RARE AND MAGNIFICENT 18K PINK GOLD, DIAMOND AND MULTI-COLORED SAPPHIRE-SET AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, DAYTONA 'RAINBOW' MODEL, REF. 116595RBOW, CASE NO. L86407Z6, CIRCA 2019
ASPREY. AN ATTRACTIVE AND SPORTY STAINLESS STEEL LIMITED EDITION AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
SIGNED ASPREY, REF. 116500, CASE NO. 9279G7J6, NO. 6⁄25, CIRCA 2024
ASPREY. A UNIQUE AND SPORTY 18K WHITE GOLD AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH
SIGNED ASPREY, REF. 116519, CASE NO. OR98K006, ASPREY NO. 1⁄1, CIRCA 2024
ROLEX. AN EXTREMELY RARE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS AND BRACELET, MADE FOR COMEX
SIGNED ROLEX, SUBMARINER 'COMEX' MODEL, REF. 5514, CASE NO. 4'092'961, COMEX ISSUE NO. 701, CIRCA 1974
ROLEX. A HISTORICALLY NOTABLE AND WELL-PRESERVED STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, BLACK 'GILT' DIAL AND BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, EXPLORER MODEL, REF. 6610, MOVEMENT NO. 814'532, CASE NO. 360'339, CIRCA 1958
ROLEX. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS
SIGNED ROLEX, SUBMARINER MODEL, REF. 5513, CASE NO. R545892, CIRCA 1987
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, DAYTONA MODEL, REF. 116520, CASE NO. F296934, CIRCA 2004
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE 18K GOLD AUTOMATIC DUAL TIME WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS AND DATE
SIGNED ROLEX, GMT-MASTER MODEL, REF. 1675⁄8, CASE NO. 2'812'580, CIRCA 1970
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE 18K GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE AND BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, DATEJUST MODEL, REF. 16018, CASE NO. 5'264'165, CIRCA 1978
ROLEX. AN ATTRACTIVE STAINLESS STEEL DUAL TIME WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE AND BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, GMT-MASTER II MODEL, REF. 16710, CASE NO. A687913, CIRCA 1999
ROLEX. A VERY EARLY STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH FANCY LUGS
SIGNED ROLEX, ANTI-MAGNETIC CHRONOGRAPH MODEL, REF. 4099, CASE NO. 583'074, CIRCA 1947