Rolex watches – is there anything that epitomizes grace, elegance and style more? The prestige that comes with clasping one of their stunning watches across your wrist is a feeling that people dream about. The durability that comes with them means that they might be a hefty investment but a worthwhile one, as they last the decades. With the added charm of fine craftsmanship, you get to see watch design at its very best.

This article aims to shed a short history of the Rolex watches, outline how its materials and make exude reliability and finesse and then look at a few excellent examples of stunning Rolex watch options. Time is cutting short – it's time to dive in!

A Brief History of Rolex Watches

Even someone who isn't clued up on the most elite watches knows about Rolex. This brand has stood the test of time and, through every trial and tribulation, still manages to somehow come out with success. This is likely based on its excellent reputation, style and elegance, however, that's a point which will be outlined further below. For now, it's time to understand where this brand came from, so that you might better understand where it's going.

The brand was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis, initially as Wilsdorf & Davis in London. The company registered the Rolex name in 1908 and became Rolex Watch Co. Ltd. in 1915. Since then, it has been creating excellence after excellence, starting with the first waterproof watch, the Oyster. A good century later, it's clear to see that this company shows no signs of slowing down. They have entered the digital age and managed to keep up with changes, such as being available on digital shops. You can discover Rolex watches now on Chrono24, where you can browse through some of their most eloquent and yet reliable designs yet – in all different colors and materials.

This touches well on the next point, which is looking at some of the materials that Rolex can turn into works of art.

The Essence of Rolex

Right at the root of its success are the materials it uses. Rolex watches stand the test of time but somehow, they also do so fashionably, which is not the easiest balance to find.

One of the most common metals you’ll find in their watches is a special kind of stainless steel called Oystersteel. What you need to understand about this material is that it is a super-tough 904L stainless steel that resists corrosion and when you swipe a cloth over it, it looks shiny and brand new in no time (no pun intended). It’s especially common in their sportier models like the Submariner and Daytona, which are two key watches in the luxury watch line of Rolex. This colour is usually silver, which may not be everyone's cup of tea. This is why they also use 18K gold.

What Rolex does is they use solid 18k gold, which, like any amazing craftsman, they make in-house. This means that they can control the quality of each of their elements with ease. There are three different types of gold that they have:

  • Classic yellow gold – for a deep and warm tone
  • Elegant white gold – for shiny and yet warmer tones
  • Unique Everose gold – for a slightly pink undertone

Depending on the look you're going for, you can pick a different tone of gold. Some come across as cooler and others as warmer. The best is to try them on and see which matches your aesthetic and, honestly, skin tone best.

Of course, they also use platinum, which is mostly on their high-end models like the Day-Date and some versions of the Daytona. Platinum is heavier than gold and incredibly resistant to wear, giving these watches a very solid, luxurious feel and it means that this is the one you will truly have for many decades. People who purchase these luxury watches from Rolex are often able to pass them on to their next generation like a stock or investment – that's how robust they are.

These are arguably the three most common materials used within Rolex watches, however, they have come up with others to diversify their portfolio more. This is not only to attract new customers but also because existing ones don't just want to have three platinum Rolex watches, they want to have different watch looks to suit different occasions. Examples of these are cerachrom bezels, sapphire crystal, chromalight, mother-of-pearl, diamonds and other precious stones.

Icons in the Luxury Watch Business

It's time to take a minute to appreciate what Rolex has done. Not only did they start in the early 1900s and manage to stay relevant, a century and a bit later, at every step, they've been able to craft more suitable watches for their customers.

This is where you can tell that what they have on offer is something truly magical, namely, customer-centric design. They craft to create beauty but they also craft to create a watch that works for all their clients. Adding waterproof options, sport versions or more glitzy watches has revolutionized how they manage to stay relevant as a brand.

Owning a Rolex watch is something truly special and the nice thing about them is that you know you're getting reliability, durability, prestige, design and finesse with every tick of the escapement.