Photos: Image courtesy of Rolex, official press kit · Image courtesy of Rolex press kit, official product photography · Photo by Provo rossi (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons · Image courtesy of Rolex, official press kit · Photo courtesy of watch community (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

RolexIn-house manufacture

Founded1905OriginGeneva, SwitzerlandCatalog refs37Families12

Brand history

Founded in London by Hans Wilsdorf, relocated to Geneva in 1919 to be inside the Swiss watchmaking trade and closer to its movement suppliers.

Founded by Hans Wilsdorf in London in 1905, registered as 'Rolex' in 1908, relocated to Geneva in 1919. Rolex's modern identity is built on three pillars: precision (the 1910 Bienne precision certificate and the 1914 Class A certificate from Kew Observatory, both predecessors of the modern COSC, which itself dates to 1973), reliability (Oyster case, 1926), and the in-house manufacturing capability that allows the brand to produce nearly every component itself. The Submariner, GMT-Master, Daytona, and Datejust are the most-collected sport-watch families of the 20th century; the modern product catalog is sub-1M units per year across all references.

Collections

Submariner Date · 126610LN
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3235 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, paramagnetic Parachrom hairspring, Superlative Chronometer41mm2020–presenteditorial
Open
Submariner (no-date) · 14060M
luxuryneo-vintageRolex Cal. 3130 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; Parachrom hairspring, Glucydur balance; predecessor to 313540mm1999–2012editorial
Open
Cosmograph Daytona (Zenith-era) · 16520
luxuryvintageRolex Cal. 4030 -- base Zenith El Primero, modified to 28,800bph (down from 36,000bph), 50h PR, 31j; column-wheel; Rolex replaced El Primero escapement40mm1988–2000editorial
Open
Datejust · 16234
luxuryvintageRolex Cal. 3135 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; Parachrom hairspring, Glucydur balance; long-running COSC-certified movement36mm1988–2006editorial
Open
GMT-Master II (pre-ceramic, aluminium bezel) · 16710
luxuryvintageRolex Cal. 3185 -- in-house automatic GMT, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; bidirectional rotor, Parachrom hairspring; predecessor to current 328540mm1989–2007editorial
Open
Explorer II (Polar) · 16570
luxuryvintageRolex Cal. 3185 -- in-house automatic GMT, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; bidirectional rotor, Parachrom hairspring; predecessor to current 328540mm1989–2011editorial
Open
Explorer (vintage, "the 1016") · 1016
luxuryvintageRolex Cal. 1570 -- in-house automatic, 19,800bph, 44h PR, 26j; Glucydur balance, self-compensating Microstella regulator; COSC-certified36mm1963–1989editorial
Open
Cosmograph Daytona (manual-wind, pre-Zenith) · 6263
luxuryvintageValjoux Cal. 727 -- manual-wind column-wheel chronograph, 18,000bph, 45h PR, 17j; lateral clutch; used in Rolex Daytona 6263 and 626537mm1971–1988editorial
Open
Sea-Dweller (4000) · 16600
luxuryvintageRolex Cal. 3135 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; Parachrom hairspring, Glucydur balance; long-running COSC-certified movement40mm1989–2008editorial
Open
GMT-Master II "Root Beer" (two-tone) · 16713
luxuryvintageRolex Cal. 3185 -- in-house automatic GMT, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; bidirectional rotor, Parachrom hairspring; predecessor to current 328540mm1988–2007editorial
Open
Datejust 36 · 126200
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3235 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, paramagnetic Parachrom hairspring, Superlative Chronometer36mm2018–presenteditorial
Open
Datejust 41 (Fluted Bezel, Jubilee) · 126334
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3235 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, paramagnetic Parachrom hairspring, Superlative Chronometer41mm2016–presenteditorial
Open
GMT-Master II "Pepsi" (Cerachrom) · 126710BLRO
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3285 -- in-house automatic GMT, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring; successor to 3185 with increased PR40mm2018–presenteditorial
Open
Cosmograph Daytona (Ceramic Bezel, White) · 116500LN
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 4130 -- in-house automatic chronograph, 28,800bph, 72h PR, 44j; column-wheel, vertical clutch, integrated construction; no cam-and-lever system40mm2016–2023editorial
Open
Cosmograph Daytona (Everose, Oysterflex) · 116515LN
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 4130 -- in-house automatic chronograph, 28,800bph, 72h PR, 44j; column-wheel, vertical clutch, integrated construction; no cam-and-lever system40mm2011–2023editorial
Open
Explorer II (Modern 42mm) · 226570
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3285 -- in-house automatic GMT, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring; successor to 3185 with increased PR42mm2021–presenteditorial
Open
Sea-Dweller (43mm Modern) · 126600
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3235 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, paramagnetic Parachrom hairspring, Superlative Chronometer43mm2017–presenteditorial
Open
Air-King (2016 generation) · 116900
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3131 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; soft iron inner cage anti-magnetic; used in Milgauss 116400; paramagnetic Parachrom hairspring40mm2016–2022editorial
Open
Yacht-Master 42 (White Gold) · 226659
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3235 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, paramagnetic Parachrom hairspring, Superlative Chronometer42mm2019–presenteditorial
Open
Day-Date 40 · 228238
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3255 -- in-house automatic with day and date, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring; used in Day-Date 4040mm2015–presenteditorial
Open
Sky-Dweller (Rolesor, Steel + White Gold) · 326934
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 9001 -- in-house automatic with annual calendar and second time zone, 28,800bph, 72h PR, 34j; Saros annual calendar; used in Sky-Dweller42mm2017–presenteditorial
Open
Cellini Time · 50505
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3132 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; Parachrom hairspring, Glucydur balance; used in Cellini Time and Milgauss; simple time-only39mm2014–2023editorial
Open
Lady-Datejust 28 · 279174
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 2236 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 55h PR, 31j; silicon Syloxi hairspring; used in Lady-Datejust 28; Rolex first silicon hairspring caliber28mm2015–presenteditorial
Open
Milgauss (Green Sapphire) · 116400GV
luxuryneo-vintageRolex Cal. 3131 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; soft iron inner cage anti-magnetic; used in Milgauss 116400; paramagnetic Parachrom hairspring40mm2007–2023editorial
Open
Submariner (no-date, 41mm modern) · 124060
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3230 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring; no-date variant used in Submariner 12406041mm2020–presenteditorial
Open
Datejust 36 (Steel Predecessor) · 116200
luxuryneo-vintageRolex Cal. 3135 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; Parachrom hairspring, Glucydur balance; long-running COSC-certified movement36mm2009–2018editorial
Open
Day-Date 36 · 128238
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3255 -- in-house automatic with day and date, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring; used in Day-Date 4036mm2019–presenteditorial
Open
Datejust 41 Jubilee · 126300
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3235 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, paramagnetic Parachrom hairspring, Superlative Chronometer41mm2020–presenteditorial
Open
Day-Date 36 (Vintage White Gold) · 1803
luxuryvintageRolex Cal. 1556 -- in-house automatic, 18,000bph, 44h PR, 25j; used in Day-Date 1803 from 1970s; quickset date predecessor; Rolex gilt movement era36mm1957–1977editorial
Open
Submariner 40 "Non-Serif" (Vintage) · 1680
luxuryvintageRolex Cal. 1575 -- in-house automatic, 19,800bph, 44h PR, 26j; used in Submariner 1680; non-quickset date; Rolex workhorse caliber from 1960s-70s40mm1966–1980editorial
Open
Yacht-Master 37 Rolesor · 268622
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3235 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, paramagnetic Parachrom hairspring, Superlative Chronometer37mm2022–presenteditorial
Open
Datejust Perpetual (Vintage Steel) · 1601
luxuryvintageRolex Cal. 1570 -- in-house automatic, 19,800bph, 44h PR, 26j; used in vintage Datejust 1601; non-quickset date; COSC-certified Superlative Chronometer36mm1960–1977editorial
Open
GMT-Master II "Coke" (Vintage Steel) · 16700
luxuryvintageRolex Cal. 3085 -- in-house automatic GMT, 19,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; used in GMT-Master 16700; predecessor to 3185; 24-hour hand independently set40mm1988–2000editorial
Open
Air-King 40 (2022) · 126900
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3230 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring; no-date variant used in Submariner 12406040mm2022–presenteditorial
Open
Sky-Dweller (Yellow Gold) · 326938
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 9001 -- in-house automatic with annual calendar and second time zone, 28,800bph, 72h PR, 34j; Saros annual calendar; used in Sky-Dweller42mm2014–presenteditorial
Open
GMT-Master II "Batman" (Cerachrom) · 126710BLNR
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3285 -- in-house automatic GMT, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring; black/blue bicolor Cerachrom bezel insert (the "Batman" colorway)40mm2019–present
Open
Explorer I (2021) · 124270
luxurymodernRolex Cal. 3230 -- in-house automatic, 28,800bph, 70h PR, 31j; Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring; no date — the purist Explorer configuration; 36mm re-set to original dimensions36mm2021–present
Open

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