Rolex Chronology
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