Explanation of the history and chronology of Rolex products

History

We will explain the history and timeline of Rolex products. We will explain the products in an easy-to-understand manner even for first-time visitors.

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Rolex product history and timeline explained

2025	The Land-Dweller is here, powered by the caliber 7135.
2024	Released the YG Deepsea, Perpetual 1908 Platinum, and GMT-Master II with a black and gray bezel.
2023	A full model change of the Daytona, a titanium model of the Yacht-Master, and the Explorer 40 were announced. A minor change to the Sky-Dweller, the Perpetual 1908, was born.
2022	The 950 platinum Day-Date 40 is the first model to feature a fluted bezel with guilloché patterning.
2020	Launch of the caliber 2232 and 3230 movements. The caliber 2232 featured an escape wheel made from a paramagnetic nickel-phosphorus alloy, while the caliber 3230 featured the patented Chronergy escapement.
2017	The Cellini Moon Phase is patented. The subdial at 12 o'clock allows the wearer to read the phases of the moon. It remains astronomically accurate for 122 years.
2015	The Caliber 3255 is introduced for the Day-Date 40. The power reserve is extended to three days (approximately 70 hours), 24 hours (50%) longer than its predecessor.
2014	The company announced the new Caliber 2236 for women's models, which uses a silicon Syloxi hairspring developed in-house.
2013	Official timekeeper and official watch of Formula 1. The Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II is introduced, featuring a Cerachrom insert in blue and black ceramic.
2012	New models Sky-Dweller and Deep Sea Challenge are now available.
2008	The Deepsea was introduced, developed for deeper ocean exploration than the Submariner and Sea-Dweller.
2007	The Yacht-Master II is introduced: the world's first watch with a programmable countdown function and mechanical memory.
2005	The Cerachrom bezel is developed for some professional models. Made from extremely hard ceramic, it is extremely scratch-resistant and resists fading due to UV rays. It is patented the same year.
2000	Caliber 4130 was developed for the Cosmograph Daytona.
1992	The Pearlmaster brings a fresh twist to the Lady-Datejust, while the Yacht-Master brings the watch even closer to the world of sailing.
1985	The 904L steel alloy, known as Oystersteel, is commonly used in the high-tech, aerospace, and chemical industries and has excellent corrosion resistance comparable to precious metals. Rolex uses this type of steel for the cases of all its steel models.
1983	The GMT-Master II is introduced.
1978	The Sea-Dweller 4000 was introduced, guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 1,220 m (4,000 ft).
1971	The Explorer II is introduced. With its distinctive 24-hour hand, it proved indispensable for explorers in environments where day and night cannot be distinguished, such as the polar regions and underground.
1970	The Cosmograph Daytona is introduced. With its exceptional durability, water resistance, and chronograph with a tachymeter, the Daytona is the ultimate tool for endurance racers.
1967	The Sea-Dweller is introduced. To meet the needs of professional deep-sea divers, the case is equipped with a helium escape valve and is water resistant to 610 meters.
1960	The Trieste, a deep-sea submersible equipped with a Deep Sea Special, successfully dives into the Mariana Trench, the deepest known part of the ocean, dramatically raising the bar for deep-sea exploration.
1958	Air King appears.
1957	The Lady-Datejust, Rolex's first women's chronometer with a date display, is introduced.
1956	The Day-Date is here.
1955	Introducing the GMT Master .
1954	Introducing the Turn-O-Graph: the world's first Oyster Perpetual Chronometer for ladies. The Milgauss was released, capable of withstanding magnetic fields of up to 1,000 gauss.
1953	The Explorer I is introduced. Worn by the British Himalayan Expedition on their ascent of Everest, it quickly attains iconic status as an ultra-precise watch for extreme conditions. The Submariner is introduced, Rolex's first diver's watch, water resistant to 100 metres (330 feet).
1945	The Datejust is introduced, the world's first watch with a date function and a calendar. It is fitted with a specially designed Jubilee bracelet.
1939	The Oyster Chronograph is introduced.
1933	Perpetual movement patented.
1931	Developed the world's first self-winding mechanism, the Perpetual Rotor, which became the origin of all self-winding watches. The first Oyster Perpetual model is released.
1928	The screw-down crown is patented in the UK. The predecessor of Cellini appears.
1927	The rectangular caliber receives an "A" rating from Kew Observatory, achieving a rating of "Specially Good" or higher, the highest rating given for excellent accuracy.
1926	The Oyster case is patented in Switzerland.
1919	Headquarters moved from London to Geneva, Switzerland.
1914	It was the first wristwatch to receive an A-class certificate from the Royal Observatory, Kew, which was given only to marine chronometers at the time, proving the precision of Rolex.
1905	The first wristwatch to receive official chronometer certification
1908	The company's brand name "ROLEX" is registered as a trademark in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
1905	The company's predecessor, watch specialist trading company Wilsdorf & Davis, was founded at 83 Hatton Garden, London.

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