Rolex: when any of us hear the word we think of precision, status, quality, and a sense of accomplishment. How did a watch come to be synonymous with such adjectives? Many people know the brand, maybe some of their products, but to know the story is worth the read. Rolex was created by Hans Wilsdorf in 1908, after he had already been in the watch distribution business for a few years. Hans had a vision of a wristwatch with unmatched timekeeping ability with an equally unmatched style, and set out to make his vision a reality. Over the next 100 years, Rolex never let Hans’ vision down. Here is a short narrative of why a Rolex is a Rolex; conquering land, air, and sea. Rolex was the first wristwatch in the world to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, granted by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne. The creation by Rolex of the first waterproof and dustproof wristwatch marked a major step forward and was given the name “Oyster.” To gain publicity, a Rolex Oyster was worn by a swimmer crossing the English Channel, arriving on the other side in perfect running order. Rolex invented and patented the world’s first self-winding mechanism with a perpetual rotor, creating the automatic watch. The first expedition to fly over Everest was equipped with Rolex Oysters. The Datejust was the first self-winding wrist chronometer to indicate the date in a window on the dial. Rolex was the first watch to reach the top of Mt. Everest. The Submariner was the first divers watch waterproof to a depth of 100 meters. The GMT-Master was developed to meet the specific needs of airline pilots, assisting with time differences. The Oyster Perpetual Day-Date was the first wristwatch to display not only the date but also the day of the week spelled out in a window on the dial. To assist laboratory scientists, Rolex created the Milgauss, which resists magnetic fields up to 1000 gauss. The third Deep Sea Special was created to withstand the most extreme conditions underwater, achieving a 10,916 meter dive into the Mariana Trench and returning undamaged. A new-generation chronograph, the Cosmograph, soon gained the name that became the mark of an icon: Daytona, designed as the ultimate tool for endurance racing drivers. The Sea-Dweller 4000 is waterproof to a depth of 1,220 meters. Rolex has never stopped innovating, and doesn’t look like it ever will. The truly special part of this story is you. You can be a part of the past, present, and future of this amazing company by owning a piece of it: a Rolex timepiece. When you wear a Rolex watch, you can observe the precision, feel the status, see the quality, and be ready for your next accomplishment. Leo Hamel and the watches that Rolex creates have a long history together going back over 35 years. If you are looking to buy a Rolex, sell a Rolex, or repair a Rolex, Leo Hamel’s is your best choice for outstanding service and quality craftsmanship. Leo and his team help our customers to celebrate their accomplishments daily; whether you’re looking for an engagement ring, celebrating an anniversary, or another of life’s significant events, you’ll find it at Leo’s.