Who Founded Rolex?

Rolex holds a distinct place among the world’s most luxurious and well-known watch brands. While many other luxury brands are only known by a specific audience that closely follows the watch market, Rolex is one of the brands whose name is certainly heard by everyone—men and women, rich and poor. Furthermore, although its history is not as old as Vacheron Constantin, it extends quite far back. In this article, we will touch upon the history of Rolex and discuss its founders, the stages it has passed through, and its development.

Who are the Founders of Rolex?

Although its headquarters is in Switzerland today, Rolex is originally a British brand. It was founded by brothers-in-law Alfred Davis and Hans Wilsdorf. The Rolex brand was established in 1905 in London by Alfred Davis and Hans Wilsdorf under the name “Wilsdorf and Davis.” Starting its activities as a modest shop working on the production, repair, and maintenance of wristwatches, this shop eventually shifted its production to the luxury category and became one of the world’s classiest manufacturers.

The Birth of the “Rolex” Name

Contrary to what many believe, the name “Rolex” was not registered in Switzerland but in London in 1908. Hans Wilsdorf chose this name because it was easy to pronounce in every language, short, and looked elegant on the watch dial. Wilsdorf even mythologized the story of the name by stating that a “genie” whispered it into his ear while he was riding on the upper deck of a horse-drawn bus in London one morning.

Who Owns Rolex?

The most important turning point for the brand was undoubtedly moving its headquarters from London to the city of Geneva, Switzerland. Due to high taxes in post-WWI England, the duo decided to continue their business in Switzerland—the heart of the watch world—in 1919 and brought the brand to its peak there.

What made Rolex world-famous is not only its luxury design but its technological firsts. In 1926, the brand produced the world’s first waterproof wristwatch, the “Oyster,” and in 1931, the first self-winding mechanism, the “Perpetual.” These watches reached the summit of Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary and descended to the deepest points of the Mariana Trench, proving their durability.

Today, Rolex is owned by the “Hans Wilsdorf Foundation,” which traces back to its founder Wilsdorf. Being part of a foundation ensures that a large portion of the brand’s profits is allocated to charity, education, and environmental protection projects. With nearly 10,000 employees worldwide and an annual production capacity of over 1 million units, the CEO of the brand is Jean-Frederic Dufour.

A Timeless Evolution

The reason Rolex has become a symbol of distinction today lies in its “evolutionary development” approach, which focuses on constantly perfecting its existing iconic models rather than radically changing its designs. Rolex is not just a tool for telling time; it is a timeless legacy where engineering meets art.