Tuesday, April 27, 2010

COLLECTOR'S ITEM - KING SEIKO SPECIAL VANAC S GENTS WRISTWATCH (SOLD)








BRAND/JENAMA : KING SEIKO SPECIAL VANAC GENTS WRISTWATCH
MODEL : SPECIAL VANAC
MOVEMENT/ENJIN :SUPERB 5256-5000 25 Jewels Automatic Movement
ORIGIN/BUATAN : JAPAN
NO. SIRI/SERIAL NO. : 412086
CIRCA/TAHUN : 1978
CASING/KEMASAN : SOLID STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT/PERGERAKAN : AUTOMATIC
DIAL: SHINNING BLACK WITH DAY (KANJI)DATE WINDOW AT 3:00
MARKER: RAISED GOLD TONE BATON MARKERS
BEZEL: -
MARKINGS/TANDA JENAMA : DIAL,BACK CASING, CROWN
BAND/TALI : GENUINE BLACK LEATHER BAND FIT 8" WRIST
LUGS SIZE: 18mm
BAND WIDTH: 18mm
LENS/CERMIN : HARDLEX MINERAL
MEASUREMENT/UKURAN : 35mm WITH CROWN X 41mm LUG TO LUG
WATER RESISTANT: YES BUT NOT TESTED
CONDITION/KONDISI : EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION
PRICE/HARGA: (SOLD TO TN SAIFUL FROM PJ)
LISTRM900 SOLDRM700

HISTORY OF SEIKO WATCH

In 1924, the first watch under the name Seiko was produced. Seiko also has the honour of producing the first quartz watch in the world under the name Astron. Thus by this fact only, one can get a basic idea of the rank of Seiko watches in the world of wristwatches. When this watch was first introduced, its cost was more than that of a medium sized car. However, this watch was a breakthrough in technology and set a new standard, which is being followed to this day
.

Seiko brand watches were originally produced by two different Seiko Corp. subsidiaries. One was Daini Seikosha Co, Ltd (Kameido,Koto-ku, Tokyo) and the other was Suwa Seikosha Co (Suwa-shi, Nagano). Two different companies produced one brand in order to improve technology through severe competition and to hedge the risk. Splendid watches were produced at both companies because of this tough competitionand this system proved efficient at hedging the risk.. If either company experienced production problems the other company could compensate by increasing production. Eventually Daini Seikosha Co, Ltd. changed it its company name to Seiko Instruments Inc. and Suwa Seikosha Co, to Seiko Epson Corporation.

In 1985 Seiko and orient watches set up a joint factory, which produces millions of watches each year. Seiko watches are known for their reliability and accuracy in time keeping, which is why their watches have been used for official time keeping in major sports events and the Olympic Games, which is also an honourable rank for the company.

The company produces different lines of watches of which, the most famous are Seiko 5, Grand Seiko, King Seiko and Credor. Collectors, due to their high esteem and unique features, treasure these watches as prized possessions. Seiko mechanical watches are especially considered as prized possession by collectors. When it comes to Seiko classic watches, the older a watch, the more precious it is.

Prior to 1960 most people believed Swiss watches were the highest quality and Japanese watches were inferior. Seiko believed they were capable of producing watches of the same quality as the Swiss. In fact, they had already made two high-quality examples, Crown and Chronos . The Grand Seiko and King Seiko is the result of their beliefs. Who made it? Daini Seikosha and Suwa began discussions under the suggestion of their parent company, Seiko. It was decided that Suwa would produce the first Grand Seiko (GS) and King Seiko (KS) by Daini. The birth of GS and KS was followed by the success of the Tokyo Olympics and Seiko's victory at the astronomical observatory Concours.

Seiko wristwatches range from 50$ to 100,000$, which is certainly a price tag for luxury and high esteem. The Seiko kinetic watches being produced these days take the major portion of their sales in the modern era as they combine the self-energising feature of automatic watches with the high accuracy of quartz in time keeping.


VERY RARE OVERSIZED RUSSIAN MOLIJNA REGULATEUR COMPLICATION WRISTWATCH (SOLD)



REGULATEUR COMPLICATIONS MOVEMENT CAL. 443 (LANDERON BASED MOVEMENT) WITH BLACK MILITARY WITH INDIVIDUAL DIAL FOR HOUR, MINUTE AND SECOND



SOLD TO TUAN SHEIKH SAIFUL FROM KG. TUNGKU, PJ

Sunday, April 25, 2010

AUTHENTIC VINTAGE SWISS OMAX CRYSTAL DIASTAR STYLED GENTS WRISTWATCH






BRAND/JENAMA: VINTAGE SWISS OMAX CRYSTAL GENTS WRISTWATCH

MADE IN/BUATAN: SWISS

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1980's

MODEL: CRYTAL

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: MINERAL GLASS CLEAN / KACA MINERAL

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: SWISS OMAX ETA BASED 25 JEWELS AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT

DIAL COLOR: TWO TONE RED/BLACK/DUAL WARNA MERAH/HITAM METALIK

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: HOUR, MINUTE, SECONDS & DAYDATE WINDOW AT 6:00

HANDS/JARUM: LUMINOUS SILVER TONE/ PERAK LIMUNASI

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU: SHINNING AND CLEAR SWAROZSKY CRYSTAL

CASING : SOLID STAINLESS STEEL / KELULI SEPENUHNYA

LUGS: 19mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 38mm DIAMETER WITH CROWN and 40mm LUG TO LUG

DITANDA/ENGARVED BACK CASING: -

CROWN: SS/ KELULI

STRAP/TALI: STAINLESS STEEL BRACELET / RANTAI KELULI

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5"

DISCONTINUED MODEL & HARD TO FIND

PRICE/HARGA: RM550.00 (NEGOTIABLE/BOLEH DIRUNDING)


BRIEF INFORMATION ON OMAX WATCHES

Montres Omax S.A. was formed in 1946 with the aim of becoming one of the leading watch companies in the world. The company initially focused on mechanical timepieces, automatic and self-winding, with its own brand "Omax" in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Market. At one time "Omax" was the largest exported watch by volume from Switzerland.

Over the years "Omax" has grown successfully and expanded our market, so that now "Omax" has sales in North America, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Turkey, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, Asia, C.I.S. States and the Far East.

"Omax" is a high Quality Watch with High Volume of sales at a low budget price for the mass market. "Omax" is a registered trademark. which has been sold worldwide for over 40 years, with present sales of one million units a month.

"Omax" now concentrate on Quartz watches manufactured in the Far East, "Omax" watches are waterproof and come with a four year battery life using the Seiko Y- 121 movement.

"Omax" has a range of several thousand models with 50 new models added every month to keep up waith the changing tastes and trends in the watch market.

"Omax" is a family company with high values, which believes in Integrity, Honesty, Service, and to develop a special relationship with all its clients, all of whom to us are like family, and we work together with that worldwide family to provide the Best Possible Product at the Best Possible Price without Compromising on Quality.


VERY RARE - AUTHENTIC VINTAGE 14K GOLD FILLED UNVERSAL GENEVE AUTOMATIC BUMPER GENTS WRISTWATCH










BRAND/JENAMA: AUTHENTIC VINTAGE 14K GOLD FILLED UNIVERSAL GENEVE AUTOMATIC BUMPER GENTS WRISTWATCH

MADE IN/BUATAN: SWISS

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1960's

MODEL: DRESS WATCH - 677-330

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: ACCRYLIC

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: UNIVERSAL GENEVE 17 JEWELS AUTOMATIC BUMPER MOVEMENT CAL. 138 SS

DIAL COLOR: CHAMPAGNE GOLD/KEEMASAN

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: DRESS/CASUAL WATCH

HANDS/JARUM: GOLD TONE/ KEEMASAN

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU: GOLD TONE RAISED STICK & ARABIC

CASING: 14K GOLD FILLED/ EMAS TAMPALAN 14K

LUGS: 18mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 35mm DIAMETER INCLUDING CROWN and 41mm LUG TO LUG

DITANDA/ENGARVED BACK CASING: 14K GOLD FILLED

CROWN: GP/ SADUR EMAS

STRAP/TALI: JB WIRE MESH GP BAND

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5"

EXCELLENT CONDITION, WORKING, KEEPING TIME, DISCONTINUED MODEL

PRICE/HARGA : RM900.00 (NEGOTIABLE/BOLEH DIRUNDING)

LISTING: RM900.00 SOLD: RM COST:


BRIEF HISTORY OF UNIVERSAL GENEVE WATCHES


In Locle, one of the most important watch centers in Switzerland, located in the mountains of the Jura on the 18th of January 1894, 8 o'clock in the morning on a Thursday, the company "Universal Watch" was founded. The two watch manufacturers Numa-Emile Descombes (born at Locle in 1863) and Ulysse Georges Perret (born at Locle in 1868) registered the name "Universal Watch" at the rue du Collège for the "production of watch-cases, domes, watch dials, movement, fitted boxes and packaging for watches". This was a classical formula at that time, which enabled the protection of the make and all related promotional material. In the same year they patented a 24 hour indication watch. Just three years later Numa-Emile Descombes died at the early age of 34. Consequently on the 22nd July 1897, all makes were transferred to the names of Ulysse Georges Perret and Louis-Edouard Berthoud.

Universal Watch was amongst the first to recognize the enormous potential of wrist-watches and chronographs in particular. In 1898 superior quality wrist-watches with chronograph and 30 minutes recorder were introduced. During the following years the brand "Universal Watch" profitted from rapidly growing reputation in Europe and the two Americas. The company decided to move the headquarter to Geneva, rue de l'Arquebuse in 1919. Research on self-winding systems for wrist-watches was undertaken. In 1925 Universal created the model "Auto-Rem", a self-winding system with an oscillating weight mechanism with spring-buffers, similar to the system of John Harwood. On the 12th of August 1933 Georges Perret died. The management of the company was taken by his son Raoul. Supported by new investors the company changed to "Universal Watch Co Ltd. Genève" in 1934. During the same year the first chronograph wrist-watch with two push-buttons was presented. In 1935 the company moved to 43, Rue du Rhône with an entrance at the famous Grand Quai, next to Patek Philippe. The name "Universal" was registered. Parallel to this, a chronograph with an additional 12 hour register was presented as a world premiere.

With the registration of the brand "Universal Genève" a new logo was introduced in 1937. Despite of the world-wide economic depression, the models "Compur" and "Compax" were such a great success, that the factory in Geneva could no longer meet the demand. As a result a chronograph factory was opened in Pont-de-Martel in 1941. The famous "Tri-Compax" model was presented in 1944. Selling watches all around the world, Universal was getting a synonym for quality, reliability and good taste. Louis-Edouard Berthoud died on the 3rd March of 1947 just before the introduction of the new precision automatic calibre 138 with an oscillating mass with single direction winding. Shortly after the inauguration of the new factory in Geneva on the 28th of April 1954 the model "Polarouter", later on renamed to "Polerouter", was presented. The watch, fitted with above mentioned movement, was used by the SAS crews during their polar flights. On the 2nd of March 1955 Universal Genève patented the calibre 215 "Microtor", a new form of an automatic calibre with the rotor mass incorporated in the movement.

Since the first chronograph wrist watches, Universal's endeavour was to combine quality with good classic taste. The make had many admirer, from Harry Truman to Juan Peron. The artist Jean Cocteaux composed the dedication "Les temps lui-meme regarde l'heure à la montre Universal", which can be found on the dials of the new tourbillons. Various sheiks and arabic ministers ordered luxurious custom made watches. Golden watches with exquisite enamel dials are still very sought after. Gerald Genta, considered to be one of the most famous watch designers of the twentieth century, contributed to the success of this make by, designing two models which have subsequently become world-famous: the "Polerouter" in 1954 and the "Golden Shadow" in 1966. These two watches gained Universal the "New York Diamond Award", the "Golden Rose" in Baden-Baden, the Grand Prix of the "Ville de Genève", the "Città di Basilea" prize and the 1st price in the "Exposition Nationale Suisse" in 1964.
After the company was managed by the heirs of the founders for generations, in 1986 Lennard Oldman was appointed as new President of Universal Genève. In 1988 the headquarter moved to 29, Rue de Jussy in Geneva-Thônex. In the same year the logo changed to its present design. After a prolonged crisis which had struck the Swiss watch industry, Universal was acquired by the Stelux holding group, Hong Kong on the 1st of April 1989. A new production unit was open at Bienne in 1993. After several relocations the head office is now located in Geneva-Acacias. Today Universal Genève is focusing on its qualities and tradition. The actual collection includes several watches in a very attractive "retro-design" with reference to some of the most fascinating models of the company history. The objective is to create new models, derived from the famous Calibre 66, which will become the new generation of Universal Genève watches. Recent highlights besides the revolving Janus models with two dials include complications like Solar-Equation and Tourbillon.

KLAUSE KOBEC CHARISMA DIAMONDS WATCH FOR ANGAH GRADUATION




THIS WATCH - BEAUTIFUL KLAUS KOBEC 0.40 CRT GENUINE DIAMONDS LADIES WATCH FOR MY BELOVED YOUNGEST DAUGHTER SYARIFAH NORFATIHAH, JUST GOT HER ACTUARAL SCIENCE DIPLOMA WITH 4.00 FLAT EVERY SEMESTER (0.40 CARATS FOR STRAIGHT 4.0's HEHEHE).

WILL PERSUE HER DEGREE AT EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY, SCOTLAND THIS COMING SEPTEMBER. CONGRATULATION ANGAH.. I'M PROUD OF YOU

COLLECTIBLE VINTAGE SWISS ELGIN ART DECO MEN'S DRESS WRISTWATCH






CIRCA 1920's

METALLIC CHAMPAGNE DIAL WITH SUB SECOND AT 6:00

CRYSTAL IS CLEAN WITH NO CRACK OR SCRATCHES

THE 17 JEWEL ELGIN SWISS MANUAL WINDING MOVEMENT

GOLD TONE HANDS

RAISED GOLD TONE ARABIC MARKERS

10K SOLID GOLD SQUARE CASE WITH ENGRAVED ART DECO MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 40mm EXCLUDING THE CROWN AND 40mm LUG TO LUG

UNSIGNED CROWN

NEW GENUINE LIZARD LEATHER BAND FITS 8.5" WRIST

DISCONTINUED MODEL... RARE FIND!

EXCELLENT CONDITION, KEEPING TIME AND RECENTLY SERVICED

SOLD TO MR WILLIAM LEWIS FROM UNITED KINGDOM

BRIEF HISTORY OF ELGIN WATCHES

The Elgin Watch Company (also known as the Elgin National Watch Company) was the largest US watch company in terms of production. In fact, Elgin produced approximately one-half of the total number of higher-quality pocket watches manufactured in the United States. Total production over their 100 years of operation reached 60 million watches!

The clock tower at the Elgin National Watch Company

The clock tower at the Elgin National

Watch Company

The company was founded in 1864 in Elgin, Illinois as the National Watch Company, and some of the organizers were J. C. Adams, P. S. Bartlett, D. G. Currier, Otis Hoyt, and Charles H. Mason, with financial backing from former Chicago Mayor Benjamin W. Raymond. The factory for the National watch company was completed in 1866, and the first movement produced was an 18-size B. W. Raymond which sold in April of 1867 for the astounding price of $115. This identical watch, serial number 101, was sold at auction in New York in 1988 for $12,000. In 1874, the company officially changed their name to the Elgin National Watch Company, and that name remained until they stopped producing watches in the early '60's.

Elgin was not known for making the highest quality watches, though some of their higher grades were exquisitely made timepieces. Together with Waltham Watch Company, they dominated the huge market for mid-grade watches. Elgin watches remain extremely popular with collectors today because they are plentiful, can be obtained at reasonable prices, and can be relatively easily repaired due to the large number of watches and parts available.

Elgin shipped their first wristwatch in 1910, and later manufactured the first wrist watch to be qualified for railroad service, the grade 730A B. W. Raymond. Throughout their history, the Elgin National Watch Company was known for horological innovations. In 1958, they introduced the "DuraBalance," an ingenious design for a free-sprung balance (no regulator pins) which used spiral balance arms and small weights to govern the moment of inertia of the balance. They also produced the only American-made automatic wristwatch movements: grades 607, 618, 760, and 761. These movements featured bi-directional, full-rotor winding, and had two automatic winding gear ratios, which were automatically engaged as the mainspring tension increased.

The contributions of the Elgin National Watch Company to American Horological industry cannot be overstated. Many Elgin watches that were made over 100 years ago are still providing reliable and accurate daily service to their proud owners.

VERY RARE - AUTHENTIC VINTAGE OMEGA CONSTELLATION CHRONOMETER PIE PAN GENTS WRISTWATCH







BRAND/JENAMA: HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER! AUTHENTIC OMEGA CONSTELLATION 18K GOLD CAPPED PIEPAN CHRONOMETER GENTS WRISTWATCH

MADE IN/BUATAN: SWISS

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1960 (SERIAL NO. 17554711)

MODEL: PIEPAN CHRONOMETER

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: ACRYLIC

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: OMEGA 24 JEWELS AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT CAL 561 - VERY RARE

DIAL COLOR: SILVER TONE PIEPAN/PIEPAN KEPERAKAN

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: CASUAL

HANDS/JARUM: GOLD TONE DAUPHANE

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU: GOLD TONE BATON/BATON

CASING : SOLID STAINLESS STEEL WITH GOLD SHIELD OBERVATORY LOGO

HINGING LUGS: 18mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 38mm DIAMETER INCLUDING CROWN and 41mm LUG TO LUG

DITANDA/ENGARVED BACK CASING: -

CROWN: ORIGINAL OMEGA SS CROWN

STRAP/TALI: GENUINE BROWN CROCO LEATHER STRAP WITH OMEGA SS BUCKLE FITS 8.5" WRIST

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5"

EXCELLENT CONDITION, WORKING, KEEPING TIME, DISCONTINUED MODEL & VERY RARE AND VERY HARD TO FIND

SPRICE/HARGA: RM2,800 SOLD: RM1,800

(SOLD TO REGULAR BUYER MR W FROM PJ)


History of Omega Watch Co

The History of a Successful Company Omega was founded by Louis Brandt at La Chaux – de – Fonds, Switzerland in 1848 as a assembly workshop. In 1879, after his death, his two sons Louis Paul and César started the in-house manufacturing so they started having total production control. One year later, Omega moved into a small factory that became a huge one when 12 months later they bought the entire building. In 1903, they both died leaving the company in 24 years old, Paul Emile Brandt’s hands. Because of the crisis that the Second World War left, he had to work really hard in order to face the economic difficulties. He merged Omega with Tissot calling the new company SSIH. The SSIH group continued to grow and multiply under his leadership and, by the seventies, it had become Switzerland’s number one producer of finished watches and number three in the world.

In 1985, the holding company was taken over by a group of private investors under Nicolas Hayek leadership. It was immediately renamed SMH (Société suisse de Microélectronique et d'Horlogerie). SMH had a rapid growth and success becoming today's top watch producer in the world. Named Swatch Group in 1998, it now includes Blancpain and Breguet.

VERY RARE - AUTHENTIC VINTAGE 14K GOLD FILLED OMEGA BUMPER SUB DIAL GENEVE AUTOMATIC BUMPER GENTS WRISTWATCH (SOLD)







BRAND/JENAMA: AUTHENTIC VINTAGE OMEGA BUMPER GENTS WRISTWATCH

MADE IN/BUATAN: SWISS

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1952

MODEL: HAMMER/BUMPER

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: ACRYLIC

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: OMEGA 17 JEWELS AUTOMATIC BUMPER MOVEMENT CAL . 351

DIAL COLOR: GOLD

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: SUB-DIAL AT 6:00

HANDS/JARUM: GOLD TONE DAUPHINE/ KEEMASAN

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU:GOLD TONE ARROW HEAD MARKERS

CASING : 14K GOLD FILLED

HINGING LUGS: 18mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 34mm DIAMETER INCLUDING CROWN and 40mm LUG TO LUG

DITANDA/ENGARVED BACK CASING: -

CROWN: ORIGINAL SS OMEGA CROWN

STRAP/TALI: GENUINE BLACK LEATHER STRAP FITS 8.5" WRIST

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5"

EXCELLENT CONDITION, WORKING, KEEPING TIME, DISCONTINUED MODEL & VERY RARE AND VERY HARD TO FIND

PRICE/HARGA: RM1700.00 (SOLD TO TUAN SUHAIMI FROM GOMBAK)

LISTING:RM1700

History of Omega Watch Co

The History of a Successful Company Omega was founded by Louis Brandt at La Chaux – de – Fonds, Switzerland in 1848 as a assembly workshop. In 1879, after his death, his two sons Louis Paul and César started the in-house manufacturing so they started having total production control. One year later, Omega moved into a small factory that became a huge one when 12 months later they bought the entire building. In 1903, they both died leaving the company in 24 years old, Paul Emile Brandt’s hands. Because of the crisis that the Second World War left, he had to work really hard in order to face the economic difficulties. He merged Omega with Tissot calling the new company SSIH. The SSIH group continued to grow and multiply under his leadership and, by the seventies, it had become Switzerland’s number one producer of finished watches and number three in the world.

In 1985, the holding company was taken over by a group of private investors under Nicolas Hayek leadership. It was immediately renamed SMH (Société suisse de Microélectronique et d'Horlogerie). SMH had a rapid growth and success becoming today's top watch producer in the world. Named Swatch Group in 1998, it now includes Blancpain and Breguet.

VERY RARE - AUTHENTIC VINTAGE ROLEX OYSTERDATE GENTS WRISTWATCH (SOLD)






BRAND/JENAMA: AUTHENTIC VINTAGE ROLEX OYSTERDATE RED DATE GENTS WRISTWATCH

MADE IN/BUATAN: SWISS

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1930 (ONE OF THE EALIERST OYSTER, THE FIRST OYTER WAS INRODUCED IN 1926)

MODEL: OYSTERDATE MODEL 3066

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: ACRYLIC

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: ROLEX SA 17 JEWELS MANUAL WINDING MOVEMENT CAL. 10 1/2/17

DIAL COLOR: BLACK DIAL

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: DATE AT 3:00

HANDS/JARUM: DAPHNE GOLD TONE HANDS

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU: GOLD TONE ARROW HEAD MARKERS

CASING : SOLID STAINLESS STEEL/ KELULI SEPENUHNYA

LUGS: 18mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 34mm DIAMETER INCLUDING CROWN and 41mm LUG TO LUG

BEZEL: 14K SOLID WHITE GOLD BEZEL

DITANDA/ENGARVED BACK CASING: -

CROWN: ORIGINAL ROLEX 1 STEPS SS CROWN

STRAP/TALI: REPLACED AFTER MARKET BLACK LEATHER BAND WITH ROLEX BUCKLE

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5" FULL LENGHT

DISCONTINUED ROLEX MODEL... RAREST!

EXCELLENT CONDITION, KEEPING GOODTIME AND RECENTLY SERVICED

PRICE: SOLD RM6,500 (MR J.DIZON, DAVOA PHILLIPINES)


A History of Rolex Watches

Hans Wilsdorf founded the company we now know as Rolex in 1905. Born in Kulmbach, Germany in 1881, the company, Wilsdorf & Davies, was based in London. By 1908 it had become one of the leading watch companies in the UK. It was in this year that he coined the name Rolex.

Official Chronometer Certification was awarded to Rolex in 1910 from the "Bureau Officiel" in Switzerland, the first time this had ever been given to a wristwatch. This was to be the first of many accolades awarded to the watch, including the Class A Precision from the Kew Observatory in 1914.

In 1926 the Rolex Oyster was released. It was the first wristwatch to be considered waterproof, proven a year later when the watch was worn by the swimmer Mercedes Gleitze in his successful bid to cross the English Channel. This was beneficial to Wilsdorf whom had sponsored the event and gained considerable exposure for his new Oyster Watch. Wilsdorf recognized the importance of advertising and marketing his creation in order to gain publicity and prestige. 1931 saw the creation of the Perpetual Rotor, a mechanism now seen as the basis for self-winding movements. In the following years Rolex released the first Oyster Perpetual Lady-date (1954) the GMT Master with dual time zone function (1955) and the first Day-Date (1956).

Andre Heiniger took over the company following the death of Hans Wildorf on 06 July 1960. 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.

Rolex Dateline

  • 1905 - Hans Wildorf establishes a London firm specialising in the distribution of watches.
  • 1908 - Wildorf coins a brand name in which to sign his creations: Rolex.
  • 1910 - In Switzerland, Rolex obtains the first official chronometer certification ever awarded to a wristwatch.
  • 1914 - The Kew Observatory in Great Britain awards the Rolex wristwatch a CLASS A precision certificate.
  • 1926 - Rolex develops and patents the first airtight, dustproof and waterproof watch - named the Oyster.
  • 1927 - The Rolex Oyster crosses the English Channel 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 has created the diving watch of reference - the Submariner.
  • 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 - The Oyster Day-Date is created.
  • 1960 - The so called Bathyscaphe is created and plunges 35,787 feet into the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.
  • 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 Professioanl 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.