Something different A Bit of Rolex History

[padi56]

Now old Hans Wilsdorf was a clever man,and wanted to increase sales worldwide and especially in tropical climates.So he tried to make a watch that was waterproof,now the evolution of the first oyster case was started.His idea was very simple,he would fit a case inside a case,and he called it the Submarine watch.Now this worked,but had certain drawbacks you had to open the case to wind it,and the outer case had a threaded screw on bezel to protect the watch.This was not very user owner friendly and caused wear on the hinges and bezel threads.So he started to look for a new idea for a truely waterproof wrist watch.

So later in 1925 he heard that two watchmakers one was Paul Perregaux other Georg Perrolet they had taken out a Swiss patent for the first twin lock screwed stem system crown.Now Hans Wilsdorf of Rolex grasped that a hermetically sealed case, together with careful fitting of the crystal and a special stem mechanism, would produce a better water proof wristwatch.He quickly negotiated to have the Perregaux patent assigned to him. Wilsdorf then obtained a British patent on October 18 1926.And then soon after the Rolex Oyster was born and became a commercial success..
Then in 1927, a stenographer, Mercedes Gleitze, swam the English Channel with the unheard of accompaniment of a wristwatch –the Rolex Oyster— on her person for the entire 15 hour, 15 minute,swim and the rest is Rolex history and a great first big advertising first for Rolex a fully waterproof watch,and then we had to wait 30 odd years for the rebirth from Submarine, to the first Submariner as we know it today.

First Rolex Submarine.



Paul Perregaux patent screwed stem system 1925,which Hans Wilsdorf of Rolex acquired,to make the first oyster cased Rolex.

[tifosi]

...and here I was thinking the Deepsea Challenge was the first water resistant watch...

[Dan Pierce]

Great info, as usual, Peter!
dP

[Stan Cooper]

Thanks for the history lesson, Peter. I always learn something from your posts.

73,

[HiBoost]

Peter, I know for whatever reason you dislike me so doubtful you will take this as intended, but is there a chance of making a single thread, something like "Padi's guide to Rolex" and consolidating your posts such as this one to a single spot? Maybe it could even be stickied at the top. I personally would enjoy being able to read through all of this in a single location. Sort of like a Rolex wiki, if you will. Surely, posting the same content one, two, three, four and now five times can't be the most efficient way to organize this interesting information.

Just a thought, and thank you for your contributions!

[RolexDave68]

Thank you Peter, my favorite reference, cheers to the journey

[dnd2984]

Thanks for sharing Padi!

[skipstar]

Thanks for the info….
Very cool stuff

[waterking]

Damn spiffy story Peter! Thanks for the Monday info.....

[brandrea]

Thank you Peter, really great information to have in the context of Rolex and their beginnings.

I always appreciate your wealth of knowledge

[Robf52]

Thank you, Peter. You always provide great, knowledge-expanding content.

[Dr.Stu]

Awesome! Love the history, Padi! Could have called the thread “Incoming: Knowledge”!)

[B2 Stealth]

Most informative threads on TRF! Thanks for sharing Peter! Your threads are "must read."

[enjoythemusic]

Thanks Peter for keeping it fun and educational

[douglasf13]

So cool. Oddly, it reminds me a little bit of Kikuo Ibe and the G-Shock watch, and, like Rolex in the ‘70s, G-Shock is starting to go upmarket with some models.

[Bladeshot]

Cheers, Peter!


Just another WIS who loves to trade.
IG @bladeandwatch1

[00Seven]

Good stuff.

[Watchsprings]

Thanks for the well documented information.

[burnthesehills]

Love this! Thank you for sharing.

[soho]

Thank you Peter, highly informative and much appreciated .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[rolexjackson]

I love watch history!

[Moondoggy]

I wonder how much Hans paid for the patent, or I hope the two watchmakers went royalties.

[Coronation]

It wasn't the waterproof watch that was the real coup here. It was Wilsdorf's marketing which he would repeat across mountain climbing and the dubious claim that it was first to the top of Everest.

Wilsdorf approached Gleitze who likely had not heard of Rolex and agreed to wear it around her neckt. That the watch survived the swim is interesting but this was ultimately a PR accomplishment not one centred purely around engineering. Gleitze got a sponsor and Wilsdorf got the quote:

“You will like to hear that the Rolex Oyster watch I carried on my Channel swim proved itself a reliable and accurate timekeeping companion even though it was subjected to complete immersion for hours in seawater at a temp of not more than 58 and often as low as 51. This is to say nothing about the sustained buffeting it must have received. Not even the quick change to the high temp of the boat cabin when I was lifted from the water seemed to affect the even tenour of its movement. The newspaper man was astonished and I, of course, am delighted with it…”

Nobody knows much about Mona McLennan who possibly did it in a better time just a few days after Gleitze's successful 8th attempt. They are more likely to know Gleitze because the marketing was so successful.

[George58]

thanks for the post Peter

[Watchdog]

Fantastic read. Thanks for the interesting information and unique posts.

[Gerry62]

The story of the Submariner is a wonderful journey through time. THanks Peter

[Little machines]

Thank you Peter! The interesting read and how Rolex started their campaigning for their brand!

[93 Turbo]

Big thanks Peter, for the rare piece of clarity amongst all the fluff.

One of the reasons I joined this site many years ago... J

[duquephart]

Rolex had their dealers display Submariners submerged in a bowl of fish.

[travisb]

Thanks Peter! Great information as always.