We Buy & Sell Second Hand Watches

Introduction to Rolex Watches

On this website you can view all models of Rolex watches that we buy and sell. These include the popular Rolex Submariner, Cosmograph Daytona, Sea-dweller, Explorer & Explorer II, GMT & GMT2, Datejust, Date, Lady Date, Air King and more. The models that we have currently in stock can be seen by visiting our Rolex Catalogue.

Watch Facilities on Website

We offer the facility for you to buy Rolex Watches and also to sell or upgrade watches you currently own. Complete one of our online contact forms for a same day valuation. You can then either send the watch into us or call us to make an appointment. We also have a Rolex serial number guide where you can date your rolex watch by its serial number. This is useful if you are looking to buy a pre-owned Rolex Watch or looking to sell your own, as we will be able to give you a closer valuation if we know the exact age of the watch. Our Serial Number Guide goes back as far as 1925 so this tool is useful to date Vintage Rolex Watches too!

Rolex Dateline

• 1881 - Hans Wilsdorf was born in Kulmbach, Germany
• 1900 - Wilsdorf apprentices at a watch exporting firm in La Chaux De Fonds
• 1905 - Hans Wildorf establishes a London firm specialising in the distribution of watches and soon manufactures watches
• 1908 - Wildorf coins a brand name in which to sign his creations: Rolex. which is believed to be a derivation from the words "Horlogerie Exquise" chronometer in Switzerland.
• 1910 - In Switzerland, Rolex obtains the first official chronometer certification ever awarded to a wristwatch.
• 1914 Rolex wristwatch gets Class A precision certificate from the Kew Observatory in Great Britain, previously only awarded to marine chronometers
• 1925 - Wilsdorf spends large sums of money advertising the quality of his watches.
• 1926 - Rolex develops and patents the first airtight, dustproof and waterproof watch - named the Oyster.
• 1927 - Mercedes Gleitze swims the English Channel with a Rolex Oyster, unscathed.
• 1931 - Birth of the Perpetual Rotor, a self winding mechanism later found in every modern automatic watch.
• 1945 - The Oyster Datejust is invented. The first watch to display the date automatically.
• 1953 Rolex develops the Submariner that is waterproof to a depth of 100 Meters.
• 1954 - The Oyster Perpetual Ladydate is introduced.
• 1955 - The Oyster GMT Master is designed making it possible to read the time in any two time zones.
• 1956 - Oyster Day-Date developed which displays the day of the week ( and the date).
• 1960 - The so-called Bathyscaphe is created and plunges 35,787 feet into the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.
• 1960 Hans Wilsdorf passes away
• 1967 - The Oyster Sea-Dweller is invented - waterproof to a depth of 610 m / 2001 ft.
• 1971 - The Oyster Explorer II is designed.
• 1978 - The Oyster Perpetual Date Sea-Dweller is tested waterproof to a depth of 1220 m / 4003 ft.
• 1988 - The first Cosmograph Daytona is fitted with a perpetual rotor.
• 1992 - A new model is added to the Professional range - the Yacht-Master.
• 2004 - Submariner celebrates its 50th Anniversary. Rolex celebrates with a special commemorative model with a green bezel and unique black dial.

A History of Rolex Watches

Rolex is a word Invented by Hans Wilsdorf, the founder member of 'Montres Rolex S.A.' Wilsdorf, born on 22 March 1881 in Kulmbach, Franconia. His parent died in 1893 and was placed in a boarding school by his uncle. With a keen interest in foreign countries, he landed himself an apprenticeship in an exporting firm. He moved in 1900 to the city of 'La Chaux De Fonds', for a wage of 80 Francs per annum he discovered his life's course, wristwatches. His employer exported watches although very few were actually made by the company itself. With his sights set on greater things, Wilsdorf proceeded to obtain one pocket watch from each of the top three Swiss watchmakers and applied for official certificates from the Nuenburg observatory. Wilsdorf later left this company and worked for a firm based in London importing watches. Hans Wilsdorf founded the company we now know as Rolex in 1905. Wilsdorf & Davies, was based in London.

In 1905, Wilsdorf came to two important conclusions, that the wristwatch was definitely the way forward and that a quality timepiece would succeed on the English market. He utilised his inheritance to set up his own company 'Wilsdorf & Davis' again based in London importing watches. Later that year he introduced the leather 'briefcase' watch. This particular model sold in large quantities in a variety of styles. At this time, it wasn't deemed 'manly' by the major watchmakers of the world to wear a watch on ones arm, many questions were also raised as the size of any such movements would have to be so small, they wouldn't survive under such vigor caused by normal human activity. Even if the movement was crafted well, dust and moisture would permeate it and cause it to run unprecisely. Wilsdorf set about contacting 'Hermann Aegler', based in Bienne, he had the chance to obtain movements with lever escapement at a low cost.

Movements were renowned for they're precise running and the availability of parts and materials was good. Wilsdorf set about employing watchmakers who themselves tested the movements before they were offered to the public from the London office. Hundreds of different models followed this process and it wasn't long before it was the fashion to be seen wearing a 'wristwatch'. Early models were produced, mainly silver with leather straps though it wasn't long before the gold models followed along with the birth of the flexible bracelet in 1906.

In 1908, the firm was amongst the leading watch merchants in the United Kingdom. Wilsdorf had dreamt of creating a brand for his watches, something that you could look at and see immediately what it was, but rather than immortalizing his own name on the watch face as many of other Swiss greats had done he chose the name 'ROLEX'. He drew this name from the wording 'Horlogerie Exquise', (but this isn't confirmed) it was short, catchy and pronounced the same no matter you were in the world. Little did he know that it was going to grow to become one of the most recognised brands of all time. In 1910, official recognition was gained from the 'Bureau Officiel' in Bienne, further recognizing the excellence of Wilsdorf's timepieces. It wasn't until four years later, on July 15 1914 that the first 'Kew A Chronometer Certificate' was awarded after 45 days of rigorous testing at the Kew Observatory in London. These consisted of various testing positions of the watch as well as three temperatures, inside a refrigerator, air temperature and inside a conventional oven. Wilsdorf now insisted that all his watched must undergo and pass these tests before being sold.

On June 14 1925, the first 'Kew A certificate' was awarded to a ladies model, being much smaller in diameter, just some (13mm) as opposed to the gents model (25mm). Also in 1925, Wilsdorf succumbed to the fact that the way to get ahead was in advertising, he proceeded to channel 100,000 Francs into adverts based in UK news periodicals that would assist him in strengthening the Rolex brand. Back in 1915, due to the First World War, the British government levied a heavy import duty on the importing which amounted to approximately one third of the watch's value. This decision basically forced Wilsdorf to transfer the export of his watches to his office in Bienne that was opened in 1912. Wilsdorf now had the challenge of creating a wide variety of watches for men and women alike in a choice of sizes and styles. Recognition would be required from the observatories and as well as ensuring the highest precision, the lasting protection from dust, dirt and moisture would be paramount. The last point being the hardest to overcome, he had been offering a range of men and women's models in a variety of sizes for some time now and with the issue of the 'Kew A Certificates' in 1914 and 1925 (ladies model) he ensured the precision of the movements. His prayers were answered, as in 1926 the 'Rolex Oyster' was born. This was a watch that would be totally watertight whilst still continuing to offer precision. The Oyster was put through it's paces on 7 October 1927 when Mercedes Gleitze, an English typist swam the channel wearing an 'Oyster'. She emerged from her fifteen-hour ordeal with the watch functioning perfectly (much to the amazement of the public).

On 24 November 1927, Wilsdorf spent 40000 Francs on a title page advert for the Daily Mail newspaper, making the 'Oyster' famous overnight. These were advertised in jewellers shop windows, inside a fish tank totally submersed in water. Rolex had invented a new type of unbreakable synthetic material which would be used in place of glass on the watch face 
and with it's new sealing method, provide a watertight seal on the case itself. Later in 1926, the invention of a watertight winding mechanism was introduced, acting like a 'mini submarine hatch' it allowed the wearer to manually wind or adjusts their watch when opened and when closed it would be 100% water resistant. When the crown was tightened, two smooth metal surfaces would come together causing the connection between winder and movement to completely close.

Wilsdorf's next triumph came about in 1931, the invention of a self winding watch that powered itself on the movement of the wearers arm commonly known nowadays as the 'Perpetual', this was manufactured in three sizes, men's, women's and midsize. The 'Rotor' that sat on the movement swung in either direction, charging the watch at only the slightest movement. A mechanism was also introduced to ensure that over winding became a thing of the past. So, in the space of 30 years, Wilsdorf had invented not only the first truly waterproof wristwatch but also one that relied on just the simple movement of the watch to power itself. In 1945, Rolex received their 50,000th certificate from the official testing office in Bienne. Later this year saw the birth of the 'Datejust' the first wristwatch to show the date, magnified two and a half times by a cyclops lens.
 Rolex were now employing over 1100 staff in both their Geneva and Biel offices and were spread amongst five buildings in Geneva alone.

1954 saw the introduction of the first ladies 'Oyster Perpetual' whilst two years later in 1956, the gents 'Day-Date' model was born, this allowed the wearer to view both the day and date whilst still enjoying every other promise Rolex had given. The 'Day-Date' is now available in 26 languages worldwide. Sadly Hans Wilsdorf passed away on 6 July 1960 leaving the running of the company to the various appointees that were stated in the 'Hans Wilsdorf Foundation'. Andre Heiniger took over the company following the death of Hans Wildorf. Rolex continued to invent and innovate in terms of technical skill and style throughout the 2nd half of the century. The Sea-dweller (1967) was certified as reaching depths of up to 1,220 meters making it the choice for Professional Divers - a point that was quickly adopted in advertising the model. The Explorer II (1978) and Cosmograph Daytona (1988) were also released to international waiting lists securing Rolex as one of the worlds most prestigious watch brands. This foundation also funded various educational projects such as a watch making school based in Geneva.

In 1971 the 'Oyster Perpetual Sea Dweller 2000' was brought about. This watch was water resistant to 610m (2000f). It was the first watch of it's kind to incorporate a helium gas release valve, this was used to dispense helium during decompression. 1980 saw the introduction of the 'Sea Dweller 4000', allowing divers more freedom of depth, up to 1220m (4000f).

In April 1985, more than 4.1 million movements had been awarded the official 'Chronometer' title, though Rolex watches only make up about 1% of the total Swiss watch production. As I write this, Rolex are undoubtedly coming up with new ideas and initiatives ready to unleash them upon us in the 21st century. If only Hans Wilsdorf had still been alive to see how his empire had grown from one of humble beginnings to one of the most well known brands that has so far and will no doubt continue to stand the test of time.

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