Rolex Chronology

1905 - Hans Wilsdorf establishes a Lond-based firm and creates timepieces of technical ingenuity and advancement.

1908 - Wilsdorf coins the name Rolex for his timepieces.

1910 - Rolex obtains the first official chronometer certification ever awarded to a wristwatch.

1914 - The Kew Observatory in Great Britain awards Rolex wristwatch a Class A prescision certificate, a distinction previously reserved for marine Chronometers.

1920 - Montres Rolex S.A. (later to be shortened to Rolex S.A)is established in Bienne.

1926 - Rolex develops and patents the Oyster watch, deemed to be the first truly water-resistant, airtight timepiece.

1927 - The Rolex Oyster crosses the English Channel of the wrist of swimmer Mercedes Gleitze. This event Marks the first of a long list of testimonials to the superior quality of Rolex timepieces.

1931 - This the year of Rolex's Perpetual Rotor, a self winding mechanism that runs continuously with the flick of a wrist.

1945 - The company invents the Oyster Datejust, the first watch to display the date automatically via an aperture at 3:00.

1947 - Rolex is on the wirst of Chuck Yeager when he defies the speed of sound.

1953 - Sir Edmund Hillary wears a Rolex to the top of Mt Everest. Rolex also unveil's the Submariner, the first diving watch water-resistant up to 100 meters.

1954 - The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady date goes on sale.

1955 - The Rolex Oyster GMT Master is released, reads time in any two time zones.

1956 - The Rolex Oyster Day-Date goes on sale.

1960 - The bathyscaphe is created with reinforced build, crystal and winding crown. It plunges 35, 787 feet into the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean in the outer hull of the Trieste Bathyscaphe.

1967 - The Rolex Oyster Sea-Dweller is released - waterproof to a depth of 611 m/ 2,000 ft. The Submariner (ref: 1680 ) is released with a date verision called the Rolex Submariner Date. It is now commonly referred to as the "Red writing. "

1971 - The Oyster Explorer 2 is launched, with an orange hand that indicates day/night orientation.

1978 - The Rolex Oyster Perptual Date Sea-Dweller is tested waterproof to a depth of 1,222m / 4,000 ft.

1988 - The Oyster Cosmograph Daytona chronometer with perpetual rotor is launched.

1992 - The professional range of Rolex watch gains another superb wristwatch - the Rolex Yacht-Master.

2000 - Rolex begin to produce the Rolex Daytona with a Rolex movement. The Model becomes known as the 116520.

2001 - Rolex unveils the Oyster Lady-Dayjust in 18ct yellow, pink or white gold on the Oyster bracelet an housing the newest self winding mechanisms.

2002 - Rolex puts renewed emphasis on its Cellini collection of classic, elegant timepieces. Top among them is Cellinium. Crafted in platinum, this exclusive timepiece is fitted with a black crocodile strap and a mother of pearl guilloch dial with small seconds at 6:00.

2004 - The Rolex Submariner celebrates its 50th Anniversary. Rolex celebrates with a special commemorative model - the Green Bezel 16610 LV with "maxi-dial."

2007 - The Rolex Milgauss is re-launced with patented anti-magnetic mechanism to much aplomb with 3 different models. The Green Crystal 116400GV instantly became collectors classic.

2008 - The Rolex Deep Sea is introduced as world first. It enjoys a massive depth rating and it is a technical masterpiece. The jury however, remains out on this watch.

Tudor

Serial Numbers by Date of Manufacture

"Round Number" Serial Number List

Serial #...............................................................Date

240000 ...............................................................1956

250000 ...............................................................1957

260000 ...............................................................1958

270000 ...............................................................1959

280000 ...............................................................1960

340000 ...............................................................1961-1962

390000 ...............................................................1963

430000 ...............................................................1964-1965

560000 ...............................................................1966

590000 ...............................................................1967

620000 ...............................................................1968

680000 ...............................................................1969

740000 ...............................................................1970

750000 ...............................................................1971

770000 ...............................................................1972

790000 ...............................................................1973

810000 ...............................................................1974

830000 ...............................................................1975

840000 ...............................................................1976

850000 ...............................................................1977

880000 ...............................................................1978

900000 ...............................................................1979

930000 ...............................................................1980

950000 ...............................................................1981

970000 ...............................................................1982

980000 ...............................................................1983

990000 ...............................................................1984

140000 ...............................................................1985

170000 ...............................................................1986

190000 ...............................................................1987

210000 ...............................................................1988

260000 ...............................................................1989

B330000 .............................................................1990

B360000 .............................................................1991

B500000 .............................................................1992

B560000 .............................................................1993

B590000 .............................................................1994

B790000 .............................................................1995

B850000 .............................................................1996

B990000 .............................................................1997

H130000 .............................................................1998

H170000 .............................................................1999

H240000 .............................................................2001

H300000 .............................................................2002