You probably know Rolex as one of the biggest watchmakers on the planet. They are well-known for their luxury approach to the craft, helping to make some of the most stunning timepieces for sale. When you buy a Rolex, you know you’re investing in high quality watchmaking! Take a look below for 15 interesting and fun facts about Rolex watches.
1. Rolex watches are famously luxurious and are often expensive, but the priciest timepiece takes the cake. The most expensive Rolex ever sold went for a cool $17.75 million at auction in 2017.
2. The watch in question was Paul Newman’s 1968 Daytona (Reference 6239) – a popular model with many Rolex fans.
3. Rolex don’t use the Roman numeral ‘IV’ on their watches. They use ‘IIII’ instead – and no one is quite sure why. However, it’s assumed to be an aesthetic or design choice.
4. The manufacturing time for one average Rolex watch is a year.
5. Even more mind-boggling, given the above, is the fact that around 2,000 timepieces are said to roll off the production line each day.
6. Let’s add another mind-blowing fact to this pile – every single Rolex watch, right down to their smallest movements, is made by hand.
7. You can buy Rolex watches from authorized dealers in over 100 different territories worldwide.
8. The story behind the name ‘Rolex’ has never been officially confirmed. However, founders have previously suggested they chose a short name that speaks the same in all modern languages.
9. Rolex actually started life as a watch assembly company in London, in 1905. They built watches from European movements.
10. Rolex has charity links. Hans Wildorf, one of the brand’s founders, set up a foundation in 1944. However, due to Swiss law surrounding private charities, it is never clear who benefits from the charity, and who makes donations.
11. ‘Titanic’ and ‘Avatar’ director James Cameron once took a Rolex watch to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. The watch he wore, a Deepsea Challenge, is supposedly able to function up to 12,000m underwater. It’s the deepest a Rolex has ever travelled.
12. Cameron proved the guarantee’s worth, as the watch not only survived the journey, it kept the time throughout the trip!
13. Rolex state that if you leave your watch face-up when you go to bed at night, it can gain extra seconds. Leave it face down, and it will supposedly get slower. Anyone out there want to test this theory?
14. Rolex’s steel manufacture is pretty unique. Their watches craft from 904L steel, which is reportedly very hard to manufacture. Most other luxury watches use 316L steel, setting Rolex apart from the pack.
15. Notice something familiar about Rolex’s watch adverts? Their photo marketing always makes sure to show the time at 10:10. This is known in the industry as ‘Rolex Time’, and it’s said to be another trademark aesthetic choice of the luxury brand.
