Watch Terminology Dictionary

A watch manufacturer founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf. Rolex's inventions, such as the Oyster case and the Perpetual (automatic winding mechanism), greatly expanded the possibilities of wristwatches. The company is currently headquartered in Geneva, with a production plant in Biel/Bienne. In 1908, Rolex was registered as a trademark. In 1910, it became the first wristwatch to receive an official chronometer certificate. In 1926, it released the world's first waterproof case, the Oyster, in 1933 the Perpetual with a fully rotating rotor automatic winding mechanism, and in 1945 the Datejust. The Datejust, which instantly changes the date at midnight, remains the company's signature work to this day.