How Rolex Started

[RossInIllinois]

Interesting read.

http://www.thewatchquote.com/Rolex-Saga-No_91.htm

[Alcan]

Its early history is sketchy, there are much more complete on the 'net, such as this one:

http://www.watchmasters.net/the-role...-wilsdorf.html

It also doesn't mention that Wilsdorf registered the Rolex Tradename in 1908, which, coincidentally, is the same as the verified 1908 hallmark on my old beater W&D pendant watch. It's currently at the spa, overdue for a facelift.

[entropydave]

This ain't Wilsdorf! I have seen this pic before but I can't place it or who he is!

[padi56]

Rolex the early years a previous TRF post

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...ht=early+years

And a few more history facts.

Well Perrelet invented the first self winding mechanism around 1770.Later Breguet improved it and called his winding system perpetuelles.Now perhaps this is where Rolex got the idea to call there automatics Perpetual.But John Harwood from the Isle of Man UK around 1923 took out a UK patent for the first automatic winding wrist watch.Now he went on with backing to produce many thousands of these watches.But mainly owing to the depression in the mid 1920s to 1930s in the UK he went bust.Now old Hans of Rolex being a very clever but very shrewd man bought and took up this John Harwood auto-wind patent for the Rolex Watch Company. And in the very late 1920s oyster case was born and early 1930s incorporated auto wind into the oyster design case with another one of Hans acquired patents,and also with the newly acquired waterproof screw down crown patent from Paul Perregaux and Georges Peret. They first registered a Swiss patent in 1925 for the twin lock screw stem watertight system .Now with the Oyster case and this acquired patent auto wind mechanism but at this time it only wound around 300 degrees.But Rolex improved the design by the help of Hans brother in-law.Who made it more efficient by winding a full 360 degrees,and a power reserve then of around 36 hours.After the auto watch and the oyster case Rolex really took off the rest is just pure marketing genius by Hans.