Rolex Watches

Read Part I

The Rolex History (Part II)

In 1974, the Rolex Oyster Quartz was presented, with an 11-ruby quartz movement and, in 1978, Reinhold Messner, whilst wearing this model, peaked Everest with no oxygen mask.
The end of the 1970s records the first use of sapphire glass in a Rolex watch, which initiated the production of the “Oyster Quartz”.
In 1983, Rolex launched the “GMT Master II” , with a rotating 24-hour bezel, a 24-hour hand and an independently-adjustable 12-hour hand that facilitated time reading in two time zones.
The year1988 marked the launch of  the “Rolex Cosmograph Chronometer Daytona”, (ref. 16520 made of steel, ref. 16523 steel and gold, and ref. 16528 if only gold). This brand was marked with the “Zenith El Primero” movement, the first integrated self-winding chronograph movement which could measure time to a tenth of a second.
In 1992, two years after it had celebrated the production of its 10 millionth chronometer,  Rolex presented the “Oyster Perpetual Date Yacht-Master” (ref. 16628); an 18CT yellow gold chronometer with an Oysterlock bracelet and safety clasp. In 1994, the “Yacht-Master” series was created in a female equivalent (ref. 69628), which, in 1996, was presented in a gold and steel version. In 1999, the “Rolex Yacht-Master Rolesium” was launched, made of steel and platinum.     
In 2005, the Prince model was launched, inspired by the 1929 original.

The Rolex catalogue is divided into three collections: “Oyster Perpetual”, “Oyster Professional” and “Cellini”.

The Oyster Perpetual collection includes various models, distinctive in their design, material, dial, and finer detailing. These include: Rolex Datejust, Rolex Turn-O-Graph, Rolex Perpetual, Rolex Day-Date, Rolex Pearlmaster, Rolex Air-King.
The Professional collection, linking sport with elegance, includes: Rolex Explorer, Rolex GMT-Master II, Rolex Daytona, Rolex Milgauss, Rolex Sea-Dweller, Rolex Yacht-Master, Rolex Submariner.
Finally, there is the Cellini collection, considered the most prestigious and luxurious: Rolex Cellinium, Rolex Quartz, Rolex Cellissima, Rolex Prince, Rolex Danaos, Rolex Cestello, Rolex Orchid.
In addition to these three main collections, you can also find the special collections and the limited-edition Rolex watches, such as:  Rolex Oyster 31mm, Rolex New Datejust Rolesor and the Rolex Submariner, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the “green ring nut” Submariner model.

Among the most recent Rolex models the company has produced there is the “Yacht Master II”, created specifically for yachtsmen, equipped with an innovative system to countdown the minutes that  precede the starting of a yacht race. This model is also the display for the main page of the Official Rolex  website.

The Rolex website includes videos, photo galleries and a brief summary of the company’s  philosophy.
The “Sport and Culture” section is fascinating, showing Rolex’s participation in the world of art and sport (golf, horse-riding, explorations, car racing, skiing, tennis and sailing) In total, Rolex is the sponsor of more than 150 cultural and sport events throughout the world.
Rolex is also the founder of the “Rolex Institute”, which supports the world of science, culture, education and the arts. This includes the “Rolex Awards for Enterprise”. Founded in 1976, the project encourages a better handling of the Earth, as well as the “Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts” Initiative, founded in order to support emerging artists.
This memorable brand has also founded watchmaking schools in Switzerland, Japan, and the United States. A school committed to perpetuating excellence in watchmaking through carefully selected apprentices. The website reads “Graduates are not obliged to work for Rolex…”.