Rolex

Rolex is the largest single luxury watch brand with estimated revenues of around £1.75 billion. The company was founded by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, England in 1905 as Wilsdorf and Davis.

Rolex began trading under that name on November 15, 1915. The name Rolex is a contradiction of 'horological excellence', the 'rol' taken from the first word, and the 'ex' from the second.

The company moved its base of operations to Geneva, Switzerland in 1919 due to English wartime taxes levied on luxury imports as well as to export duties on the silver and gold used for the watch cases driving costs too high.

Rolex created the first ever waterproof and dustproof wristwatch, the Oyster, in 1926. The watch featured a hermetically sealed case which provided optimal protection for the movement.

Rolex replaced (for free) all watches seized by the Germans from shot down allied pilots in World War 2. It was also Rolex's policy to give watches to British prisoners during the war and allow them to pay for them after they had been released. One of these watches was sold for more than $65,000 in Sydney, Australia in 2006.

The Rolex Datejust was introduced in 1945. It was the first watch with an automatically changing date on the dial.

Rolex Datejust on Jubilee bracelet with Turn-o-graph bezel. By Mike - Μολὼν λαβέ 

The GMT Master was launched in 1954. Designed in collaboration with Pan American Airways for use by their pilots and navigators, it was the first watch to show time zones.

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay wore Rolex Oysters during their 1953 Everest expedition.

On July 28, 1996, a man’s body washed up on a trawler in the UK seas. There was no identification on the body except a 25-year-old Rolex Oyster on his wrist. As Rolex maintains such meticulous service records, they were able to ID the victim and ultimately the murderer.

The most expensive Rolex ever produced by the company's factory was the GMT Ice reference 116769TBR with a retail price of US$485,350.

Rolex has three watch lines: Oyster Perpetual, Professional and Cellini.

Rolex watches are frequently counterfeited, often illegally sold on the street and online.  O. J. Simpson wore a counterfeit watch during his murder trial.

Counterfeit Rolex watches displayed in Arlington, Virginia, USA (2008)

Dominos Pizza - the world’s second-largest pizza chain - awards all store managers who achieve $25,000 in sales a week for four consecutive weeks with a customized Rolex watch, in a contest called "The Rolex Challenge".

Source Daily Mail