10 things you need to know about Rolex

　Rolex is a world-renowned watch brand. Its fame isn't just due to its appearances in films with James Bond, Paul Newman, and other famous faces, but also due to its wide range of watches, from simple timekeeping models to those incorporating world-first mechanisms. Here are 10 things you should know about Rolex.

1.The dawn of time

　In 1905, Hans Wilsdorf and his business partner, Alfred James Davis, founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London. Wilsdorf registered the "Rolex" trademark and opened an office in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. In 1915, the company officially changed its name to "Rolex Watch Company." While not explicitly stated by Wilsdorf himself, there are various theories about the origin of the name Rolex. One suggests that he followed the example of George Eastman, who named his company "Kodak." Eastman's inspiration for the brand name was immediate success. Another theory suggests that the name Rolex is a play on words, derived from the French phrase "horlogerie exquise" (excellence in watchmaking). Whatever the origin, the name is memorable.

2. Patents and world firsts

　In 1910, Rolex was the first in the world to receive an official watch rate certificate from the Bienne Watchmaking School, which later became the Official Watch Rating Center, and in 1926 it patented the first waterproof watch, the Oyster.

　The Datejust, released in 1945, introduced the automatic wristwatch with a date display on the dial, and in 1947, pilot Chuck Yeager wore an Oyster Perpetual, which became the first watch to break the sound barrier.

　The Submariner, released in 1953, became a diver's watch with a water resistance of 100 meters. In the same year, Rolex watches were used by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on the first ascent of Mount Everest.

　In 1960, Rolex became the first company to supply watches for deep-sea dives into the Mariana Trench, in 1967 the company patented the helium escape valve, and in 1988 it became the first watch company to use 904L stainless steel.

　Rolex is also known for the numerous patents it has earned for its innovative mechanisms, including screw-down crown mechanisms such as Twinlock and Triplock. Parachrom is a material developed, patented, and manufactured by Rolex and is used in the balance spring. Everose gold is an alloy developed, patented, and manufactured in-house by Rolex. The Paraflex shock absorber protects the balance wheel, the heart of the movement, from shocks.

3. Certified "A" by Kew Observatory

　In the past, ships at sea relied on marine chronometers to guide their course, and the accuracy of timekeeping was of paramount importance not only to sailors but to entire nations.
　Watchmakers would bring their delicate, hand-crafted and hand-adjusted marine chronometers to observatories in Neuchâtel, Geneva, Besançon, and Kew for testing. Each observatory had its own standards, with the Kew Observatory in England being the most stringent. Its testing procedures were far more stringent than those of today's COSC. For decades, only marine chronometers with hand-adjusted detent escapements passed the tests. Only those with particularly good records were eligible for an "A" official rate certificate.

　In 1914, Rolex became the first watch manufacturer to receive an A-class rating from Kew Observatory. In the 1940s, Rolex sent 145 watch movements to Kew Observatory for testing. To the surprise of everyone (except perhaps Hans Wilsdorf and his associates), 136 of them received an A-class rating. The movements Rolex tested were 10.5" Hunter movements, among the most affordable Rolex movements they produced. Each "Kew A" movement was equipped with a balance and escapement originally produced for general-purpose movements. These movements were specially hand-finished and individually adjusted by master watchmaker Jean Matil. Most were fitted to the 32mm stainless steel Oyster Speed ​​King, while 24 were sold as the 34mm gold Ref. 6210. Needless to say, these watches remain highly coveted by collectors today.

4. James Bond

　While Rolex has been associated with many real-life celebrities, perhaps its most famous connection is with the fictional James Bond. Rolex collectors speculate extensively about which models were worn in which films, but Rolex is the only brand Ian Fleming explicitly stated "007" wore in all 14 of his novels. Naturally, Rolex has also made an appearance in the movies. While there are differing theories about which models were used in the films, it's safe to say that Rolex has been seen in the following films: "Dr. No," "From Russia with Love," "Goldfinger," "Thunderball," "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," "Live and Let Die," "The Man with the Golden Gun," and "License to Kill."

It's these connections that have led to 007's watches becoming known as the "James Bond Submariner." This is especially true of the Ref. 6538, produced between 1954 and 1959. Some even cite the early Submariners without crown guards as the "James Bond Submariner." The legend is already born, so how you define it is up to you.