Rolex
Rolex gives the wristwatch a language of its own: the Oyster case, readable dials and bracelets designed as part of the watch. Its story begins in London in 1905 and continues in Geneva, where the company moved in 1919.
Get to know Rolex.
Before the crown became a familiar signature, Hans Wilsdorf was working on a practical question: could a wristwatch be precise enough to earn people’s trust? He founded his watch-distribution company in London in 1905, using Swiss movements from Bienne. The Rolex name followed in 1908 and the move to Geneva in 1919. That early connection between an English commercial beginning and Swiss watchmaking is worth keeping visible. The Oyster case and self-winding movements later helped shape the house’s vocabulary. Today, the Submariner places that thinking in a particularly clear form: a rotating dive bezel, bold hour markers and a bracelet with an adjustable clasp. Rolex belongs to the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, which describes itself as owner of the group.
Read the official history ↗︎- Country of origin
- London · United Kingdom ↗︎
- History
- 1905
- Founder / documented history
- Hans Wilsdorf
- Current owner
- The Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, established in 1945, identifies itself as the owner of the Rolex group. Company information ↗︎
- Product world
- Watches ↗︎
Discover the Rolex selection.
A few pieces tell the story in their own way, through a shape, a material or a familiar gesture.
A closer look.
What catches our eye.
A Rolex is interesting to read through its details: how a bezel is gripped, how the hour markers stand apart, how a bracelet adjusts at the wrist. The Submariner brings those decisions into a recognisable silhouette whose visual identity follows its original underwater use.
Where does Rolex come from?
Rolex is a brand of United Kingdom origin. This describes where the brand began; individual products may be made elsewhere.
Discover more brands from United Kingdom →Where can I buy Rolex?
Where to find Rolex.
Official website ↗︎Delivery and store links checked 2026-10-23. Check the official site for subsequent changes.
Sources & image credits
Editorial product selection, not a bestseller ranking.
Editorial reviewed 2026-10-23. Design perspectives express the Selezio editorial view.
Official brand imagery · Rolex