History of Rolex
As a pioneer in watchmaking, Rolex invented a number of innovative watchmaking techniques in 1905, including the first waterproof watches "Oyster" and the constant motion pendulum automatic chain system. For more than a century, Rolex watches have accompanied explorers and elites from around the world to conquer the world's highest and deepest oceans.
1905
Hans Wells?
Rolex's history is closely related to its visionary and pioneering founder, Hans Wilsdorf. In 1905, at the age of 24, he was able to set up a company specializing in time distribution in London. He even fantasies about wearing his watch on his wrist. Despite the inaccuracy of the watch at the time, Hans Welsdorf was able to foresee that the watch was not only elegant, but also accurate and reliable. To convince the public that his innovative timepiece was equally accurate, he specially fitted the wristwatch with a compact, accurate movement made by a watchmaking company based in Bill, Switzerland.
The origin of Rolex brand name in 1908
Five ingenious letters
Hans Welsdorf wanted a name that was easy to remember in any language and beautiful on the wristwatch movement and dial. "I've tasted almost all the alphabetic combinations and ended up with hundreds of names, but none of them satisfied me," he said. One morning, as I was sitting on the upper floor of a coach, passing through Chipsey Street in London, I seemed to hear the voice of an elf whispering in my ear, "Rolex."
1910
The pursuit of timing accuracy
Although Rolex initially focused on improving the quality of the movement, his active exploration of the precision of the timepiece eventually succeeded. In 1910, Rolex became the first watch to receive a Swiss timekeeping certificate from the official Watch Rating Center of Bill, Switzerland
1914
The pursuit of timing accuracy
Four years later, in 1914, the Kew Observatory granted Rolex an A-level certificate. At that time, this grade was usually obtained by the precise time meter of navigation. Since then, the Rolex watch has become a symbol of precise timekeeping.
Geneva
1919
Rolex moved to Geneva, an international city renowned for its watchmaking techniques, and registered with the company Montres Rolex S.A. locally in 1920.
1926
First waterproof watch
In 1926, Rolex created the first waterproof and dust-proof wrist watch to make the tabulation technology move forward. The oyster watch, called "Oyster", is equipped with a closed watchcase to provide the best protection for the movement.
1927
The challenge of crossing the Straits
To prove that wristwatches are waterproof, they must provide real evidence. In 1927, a young British lady, Mercedes Gleitze, successfully crossed the English Channel wearing a Rolex oyster watch. After swimming for more than ten hours, the wrist watch she wore was still intact and running as usual.
1927
Brand spokesman concept
To celebrate this historic initiative, Rolex announced the victory of the waterproof wristwatch by publishing a full-page article on the front page of the Daily Mail. And this success is a symbol of the emergence of the concept of Rolex brand spokesperson.
1931
Constant motion
In 1931, Rolex developed the world's first patent automatic chain mechanism -- constant pendulum thallium. This original system is the basic design of every modern automatic watch.
History of Rolex
1933
Flying over Mount Qomolangma
The pilot wore the Rolex oyster watch on his first voyage across Mount Qomolangma. They are satisfied with the performance of the wrist watch.
1935
Field test laboratory
Rolex has noticed that in different environments, it is actually an opportunity to test and improve the oyster watches. It is the best laboratory to test the countless technical performance of wrist watches in sports, aviation, racing and exploration.
1935
Sir Malcolm Campbell
As early as the 1930s, Rolex had a pleasant partnership with Sir Malcolm Campbell, one of the fastest drivers in the world, in the world of racing. On September 4, 1935, the King of Speed mounted the chariot Bluebird, wore a Rolex wristwatch, and set a speed record of more than 300 miles an hour at Bonneville Speedway, Utah. Sir Malcolm broke the world speed record nine times between 1924 and 1935, five times at Daytona Beach.
1935
Letter to Rolex
Sir Malcolm Campbell said: "I've been wearing a Rolex watch for a while and it's still accurate in difficult circumstances.
1945
First log Watch
In 1945, Rolex introduced a log watch, the world's first watch with a calendar displayed on it. The magnificent Journal watch, with a commemorative strap and a triangular grooved outer ring specially designed for it, is the most recognizable of the Oyster Watch series. The log watch was designed for men at first. After ten years, a rich array of women's clothing evolved.
1953
Forerunner wrist watch
In the early 1950s, Rolex developed a series of professional watches with more than just timekeeping functions, based on its thorough knowledge of precision and waterproof performance of precision timepieces. These watches are designed for professional activities, including deep-sea diving, aviation, mountain climbing and scientific exploration. Watches have always been popular and are popular among outstanding people.
科学与探险
昆仑与国家地理学会(National Geographic)建立崭新的合作关系,携手推广探险及环境保育。双方共计有多达200年支持探索历险的经验,这次再度合作旨在为探险先驱提供支持,并培育未来的探险家,为造福后代而致力保护地球的海洋、极地及山岳环境。
自1930年代,喜马拉雅山峰的攀山者均依赖昆仑腕表,征服这个地球上最极端严苛的环境。1953年,约翰?亨特爵士(Sir John Hunt)领导探险队前往珠穆朗玛峰,同行的艾德蒙?希拉里爵士(SirEdmund Hillary)和丹增?诺吉(Tenzing Norgay)成为首两位登上世界最高峰的探险家,当时他们均佩戴蚝式恒动型腕表。同年,为纪念此历史性创举,昆仑正式推出探险家型表款。
2010年展开的昆仑极地之下深海探险活动(Deepsea Under The Pole by Rolex)为一项开创性探险计划,旨在了解更多有关北极的水底环境。探险过程需要在这个地球上最严苛的环境中步行滑雪和水肺潜水,八位团队成员进行科学研究,并收集北极冰山下的声音、图像及影像数据。
探险活动的领导杰斯兰?巴托(Ghislain Bardout)与妻子阿曼妞?皮维尔-巴托(Emmanuelle Périé-Bardout),活出对探险的热忱,投身探险家生涯。于2017年的极地之下III(Under The Pole III)探险活动,夫妻二人与团队计划探索由北极到南极水底环境,并希望借此深入了解海洋与气候平衡的关系、认识生物发光、改善水底探索技术,并鼓励下一代探索海洋。
来自美国的大卫?杜比勒(David Doubilet)是一位享誉国际的水底摄影师,备受各界推崇。他于8岁时开始在新泽西州海岸进行水肺潜水,并于12岁时使用布朗尼鹰眼(Brownie Hawkeye)相机初次在水底拍摄。1971年,他在《国家地理》杂志刊登首篇文章,自此便一直为杂志提供迷人照片。
他不仅是探险家、艺术工作者、海洋博物学家及保育者,更将海洋的故事,写成十多部著作。杜比勒用镜头捕捉海洋各界的美态,其照片富有海洋生态的魅力,从而鼓励公众积极保育海洋。
席薇亚?厄尔探险活动蜚声国际的海洋学家席薇亚?厄尔(Sylvia Earle)是一位海洋探索先驱。逾50年来,她一直引领水底探索与海洋生态系统研究的发展。1970年,厄尔连同一队潜航员,在水底实验室居住两周,研究海洋生态以及水底生活对人体的影响。她非常关注海洋保育问题,而其“蓝色使命”(Mission Blue)项目便旨在争取全球支持,设立海洋保护区,希望于2020年前保育20%的海域。
1960年,瑞士海洋学家雅克?皮卡德(Jacques Piccard)与美国海军上尉当?沃尔什(Don Walsh),共同驾驶由瑞士设计的深海潜艇的里雅斯特号(Trieste),并在船身系上Deep Sea Special实验型蚝式腕表,潜入太平洋马里亚纳海沟水深10,916米处,打破深潜纪录。这次深潜成功抵达“挑战者深度”,并发现前所未见的生物,奠下深海探索的重大里程碑。
2012年,詹姆斯?卡梅隆(James Cameron)潜入太平洋马里亚纳海沟(Mariana Trench),抵达全球最深处,不仅成为自1960年首位完成此深潜旅程的探险家,更是当中唯一选择采用个人潜水器。来自加拿大的卡梅隆乘坐DEEPSEA CHALLENGER潜水器下潜约11公里,并用上数小时,在海底搜集高清立体图像及样本,让科学界从中发现最少68种新物种。尽管詹姆斯?卡梅隆以电影制作人著称,但他更是一位资
1953年5月29日,两位具有非凡毅力的探险家首次登上海拔8,848米的珠穆朗玛峰。当时艾德蒙?希拉里爵士(Sir Edmund Hillary)和丹增?诺吉(Tenzing Norgay)是约翰?亨特爵士(Sir John Hunt)领导的英国探险队的成员,他们完成了此前数十个探险队没有完成的壮举:登上世界屋脊。
美籍的艾德?维思特斯(Ed Viesturs)被视为当代顶尖登山专家。在“力登8000”(Endeavor 8000)计划中,他在没有配备辅助氧气的情况下,成功攀登14座8,000米高的山峰。计划于1989年开始直至2005年结束,他攀登的首座山峰是位于尼泊尔喜马拉雅山的干城章嘉峰(Mount Kangchenjunga),而最后一座则是安纳普尔那峰(Annapurna)。维思特斯曾21次攀登8,000米以上的山峰,当中七次为珠穆朗玛峰,成就非凡。
蚝式恒动于1971年首次推出的昆仑探险家型II不仅继承原款昆仑探险家型的非凡传统,更独具风格。此坚固精密的腕表凭其独特设计的功能,成为洞穴学家、火山学家、以及极地与森林探险家不可或