Biography of Hans Wilsdorf

Hans Wilsdorf (March 22, 1881 - July 6, 1960) was a German watchmaker, and the founder of Rolex and Tudor.

Born in Kulmbach, Bavaria and orphaned as a child, Wilsdorf worked for a Swiss watch manufacturer in La Chaux-de-Fonds. In 1905, he moved to London and set up his own business, wanting to provide quality timepieces at affordable prices. With his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, he founded a watch importing firm called Wilsdorf & Davis, and he partnered with Hermann Aegler, a watch manufacturer in Bienne to import wristwatches.

In 1908, he created the Rolex brand to sell his watches under, and during World War I, he left England for Switzerland due to wartime tax increases levied on luxury imports. In 1920, he established Montres Rolex S.A. in Bienne. The name ROLEX was invented by Hans Wilsdorf. It is easily pronounceable in many languages and, as all letters have the same size, allows to be written symmetrically. He also established the high quality, lower priced, watch brand, Tudor, a subsidiary company of Rolex in 1946. Upon the death of his wife in 1944, he established the Hans Wildorf Foundation in which he left all of his shares in Rolex, making sure that an amount of the company's income would go to charity. The company remains a foundation to the present day. Wilsdorf died in Geneva on July 6, 1960.

PVD Rolex Daytona Chronograph

Bamford PVD Cosmograph Daytona Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified, Cosmograph Daytona," case No. F243778, Ref. 116520. Made in 2004. Very fine, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel PVD coated wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers and tachometer and a stainless steel deployant Rolex Oysterlock bracelet. Accompanied by a warranty (now void) and fitted box. C. Three-body, PVD coated, screwed-down case back, push-buttons and crown, Triplock winding crown protected by the Crown Guard, tachometer graduation on the bezel to 400 units per hour, sapphire crystal. D. Black with luminous steel indexes, subsidiary silver ring dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers. Luminous white gold baton hands. M. Cal. 4130, rhodium-plated, 44 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 6 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 12.5 mm. Approx. overall length 175 mm.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer 1969

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer, 1969.
Black matte dial.
Lightly, and evenly aged off-white luminous material.
Screw down crown.
Solid link Oyster bracelet.
36 mm strong steel case.

Though it had later become a classic watch, its origin was that of a "tool" type watch. It actually was developed for explorers, and was used by members of the successful 1953 Everest expedition as well as other expeditions before and after.
(The Rolex Milgauss, a very rare watch, is another tool watch, developed for a rather narrowly defined scientist, needing to work in areas of high magnetic field strength. The Milgauss could handle it. I'd love a Milgauss, but they're very rare and very expensive.)

Dial is easily readable, with large luminous triangle at 12, Arabic numerals and markers. Mercedes style hands, like the Submariner. Earlier models had variations on dial signage, and hands, but the 1016, I believe, always had this appearance. Tritiated luminous material is no longer active.
The watch has a bezel as a separate piece from the rest of the case, to which the crystal is fitted.
You can barely see the Rolex Explorer model 6350 showing on the left wrist of Tenzing Norgay, left, in this picture taken after he and Hillary summitted Mt. Everest in May of 1953.
Ad from National Geographic, June 1958. List price, $165. The appearance has not changed much, but I think this 6350 might have had a gilt dial. The links on the bracelet were rivet. Chronometer certified.

Rolex Yacht-Master II Regatta Chrono

Finally Rolex has come out with something that does not look like their original design from 20 years ago. The majority of their watches look plain and have stayed basically the same for many years, which is good and bad. We like the bold new design and we think this type of watch might help attract other buyers that would not normally buy a Rolex because of the old school look. On the other hand we are sure buyers that do purchase a Rolex because of the traditional look will probably not like this particular model as much. Either way here is a nice shot of the new Rolex Yacht-Master II Regetta Chrono that was just introduced at BaselWorld.

White Gold Rolex Daytona Full Diamond MSRP

This Daytona is Extremely Rare! 100% Authentic and 100% original Rolex Daytona, "Full Diamond" Crown Collection 2006 Model 116599. This is as good as it gets, this is the rare 18kt white gold Rolex Daytona with the Rolex factory original Pave Diamond dial and bold Roman numeral markers, full Rolex factory bezel set 36 baguette diamonds, and 48 diamonds between the lugs, all 100% authentic Rolex .

2005 18kt Gold & SS Rolex Submariner Blue

This Rolex is perfect in everyway. It has all factory seals, plastic protectors, and comes with all original Rolex boxes, books, tags, Rolex certificate, papers, everything etc.

Originally purchased from an authorized Rolex dealer. This is a Rolex serial "F" 2005 model 16613, an all time classic, and one of the finest looking timepieces in the world. With the brilliant blue dial, gold markers and blue bezel insert, the perfect combination. Everytime you look at your watch, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you have the finest timepiece in the world. 100% original 18k gold and stainless Rolex Submariner, Model 16613, quick set with a sapphire crystal, and Oyster bracelet and flip lock clasp. Comes with all boxes, books, tags, Rolex factory seals and plastic attachments...
This Rolex is 100% authentic, 100% original and flawless. This Rolex will be shipped FEDEX (overnight) after funds/check clear the bank. This perfect timepiece is unconditionally guaranteed to be 100% authentic, factory warranty attached.

Item Specifics
Brand: Rolex
Age/Year: 2005
Gender: Mens Fullsize 40mm
Condition: Pre-owned, "As New", Perfect in everyway
Features: 18kt Gold & Stainless, Brilliant Blue Dial

Model Number: 16613
Style: Rolex Submariner

2004 Men's Rolex President Pearl Roman

Serial "Z" 2007 Rolex model 118238 with the brilliant Mother Of Pearl Dial and bold Roman numeral markers, 100% authentic Rolex.

100% Authentic Rolex gold President with the fluted bezel. It does not get any better than this! Pictures do not reveal the radiant beauty of this timepiece. 100% Authentic the "Flagship" of Rolex, the men's President, this is the 36mm fullsize, "Day-Date", 100% authentic Rolex! No timepiece commands the respect given to the Rolex President. Everytime you look at your watch, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you have the finest timepiece in the world. This is the model 118238, the latest series available. This model has impressive changes, and is the heaviest Rolex President ever made or offered, by Rolex, over 30% heavier. Purchased new from an authorized Rolex dealer, it is absolute perfection. 100% authentic men's Rolex President, Model 118338, double quick set with a sapphire crystal, and hidden clasp. It comes with the large Rolex box, outer box, booklet, Rolex hang tag, COSC, leather wallet, etc, etc...This Rolex is 100% authentic, and flawless. This Rolex will be shipped (overnight) after funds/check clear the bank. Unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic and original. If you demand the newest and finest timepiece, this is it.

Item Specifics
Brand: Rolex
Age/Year: 2004
Gender: Mens Fullsize 36mm
Condition: Perfect in everyway
Features: Mother Of Pearl

Model Number: 118238
Style: Rolex President

History of Rolex

Rolex SA was founded in 1905 by the German Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis. Contrary to popular belief, Hans Wilsdorf was neither Swiss, nor a watchmaker. Wilsdorf & Davis was the original name of what later became the Rolex Watch Company. They originally imported Hermann Aegler's Swiss movements to England and placed them in quality cases made by Dennison and others. These early wristwatches were then sold to jewellers, who then put their own names on the dial. The earliest watches from the firm of Wilsdorf and Davis are usually marked "W&D" – inside the caseback only.
Hans Wilsdorf registered the trademark name "Rolex" in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 1908. The word was made up, and its origin is obscure. One story, which was never confirmed by Wilsdorf, is that the word "Rolex" came from the French phrase horlogerie exquise, meaning exquisite watch industry. Another is that the name was chosen to indicate movement when spoken in English.
The Wilsdorf & Davis company moved out of the United Kingdom in 1912. Wilsdorf wanted his watches to be affordable, but taxes and export duties on the case metals (silver and gold) were driving costs up. From that time to the present, Rolex has been headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, though the company owns facilities in other cities (Bienne, etc) and continents (North America, Asia, Australia, etc).
The company name Rolex was officially registered on November 15, 1915. It is thought this change was part of a drive to popularize wristwatches, which at the time were still considered a novelty largely for women (pocket watches were more common). Wilsdorf was said to desire his watch brand's name to be easily pronounceable in any language. The company name was officially changed to the Rolex Watch Company during 1919. It was later changed to Montres Rolex, SA and finally Rolex, SA.
Rolex SA is a foundation initiated and originally funded by Hans Wilsdorf and the Aegler family. According to foundation documentation, the Rolex SA company can never be sold, nor traded on any stock market.