NEW SERIES: TIME PIECES

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Rolex

1. What does Rolex mean?

Most watch brands have been named after their founders, such as Patek Philippe and TAG Heuer, but not Rolex.

Because the founder hasn’t gone into too much detail about what Rolex means and how it came about, it has given birth to a number of theories.

The most common story about the Rolex name is the fact that the founder was looking for a name that could be pronounced in any language, looked good on a watch face, is short, and memorable. This seems to be the most accurate theory as it is one that has been admitted by one of the founders. 

Another story is that the name derives from the French for exquisite clockwork (horlogerie exquise, where the H is silent- “hoROLogical EXcellence”). This is, however, not something that the founders have confirmed nor denied. Another theory about the Rolex name is that, according to the founder, the word rolex sounds like the sound of a watch being wound.

There are misconceptions that ”Rolex” is a word in some language, but there is actually no language which has the world Rolex in its lexicon. In Spanish, however, reloj, means clock and both Rolex and reloj sound similar. Since Spanish is the most spoken language in the world, it’s possible but unlikely.

2. Rolex started using 904L stainless steel in 1985

From 1985 and onwards, all Rolex watches are made of this alloy.

Most watch companies make their steel watches in a type of stainless steel called 316L.

Rolex calls its alloy ”corrosion-resistant superalloy”, and corrosion is a problem with stainless steel watches. The reason is that the watch is attached to the wrist, and this combined with moisture and other corrosive substances, such as salt water can make the watch rust and corrode. 

The 904L steel is more expensive than the 316L and much more complicated to make. There are other steels that are harder and more resistant to scratches and marks than the 904L steel, but for a tool watch, especially when it comes to Rolex’s dive watches, it’s crucial that the cases are waterproof, and corrosion can compromise this if the threads that hold the crown and the case back corrode.

That Rolex uses 904L steel is just one of many facts about Rolex that sets the brand apart from its competitors.

3. All Rolex watches are handmade

Even in the industrial era we live in where machines that can do most tasks, Rolex’s watches are still handmade. Rolex watches are meticulously and carefully crafted and put together to make sure they meet the high standards that Rolex is looking to keep.

Essentially everything for the Rolex watches is made in-house. The most complicated and lengthy process is for a watchmaker to assemble the advanced movements that are fitted inside of a Rolex watch. To make sure they meet the high demands, they are lastly independently tested.

4. All movements by Rolex are assembled by hand

The skilled watchmakers of Rolex assemble each of their movements by hand. Back in the days, Rolex bought movements externally for some of its models, but today, they are all made in-house, which means that all movements used in Rolex’s modern watches are made by Rolex themselves.

Considering the high volume of watches that Rolex produces, it’s hard to believe that each of the movements is assembled by hand, but it is certainly a proof of the immense quality and attention to detail that goes into making these watches.

5. Rolex makes about 800,000 to 1 million watches a year

It is estimated that Rolex makes about 2000 watches a day, but Rolex doesn’t release information about how many watches produced yearly, and this is why the numbers are estimates.

6. All Rolex watches are photographed with at the time 10 past 10

If you look at all the Rolex watches photographed, you’ll notice that all of them are set to 10 past 10 and with the second hand at 31 seconds. This is known as the official ”Rolex time”. If the watch has a date function, the date is always set to the 28th, and if it has a day function, such as in the Day-Date, the day is always set to Monday.

The reasons for this is simple. First off, it becomes a trademark and iconic trait of Rolex’s watches, but most important is the aesthetic look that it gives. The hands are set to a position where they are symmetrical and at the same time perfectly frame the logo which can always be found at 12 o’ clock.

7. It takes about a year to make a Rolex watch

This is according to a Rolex advert. With that in mind, the cost of a Rolex doesn’t seem too high at all. This fact is only partly true, though, because it takes one year to manufacture all the various components that go into a Rolex, but once that they are manufactured it takes 4 hours to put them together.

8. Rolex was founded by Alfred Davis and Hans Wilsdorf

Hans Wilsdorf was the brother-in-law of Alfred Davis.

9. Rolex was founded in London, England in 1905

The company didn’t start out as Rolex, though. The company first started out as Wilsdorf and Davis.

10. Rolex started out as a company which assembled watches

At first, Rolex didn’t make watches, they merely assembled them. The company purchased movements Hermann Aegler’s Swiss movements and put the movement into cases which were made by Dennison as well as other manufacturers. The watches were then sold to jewelers.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking