In 1915, arguably the biggest name in watch making today was first born. Rolex SA is one of the most recognizable brand names on the planet and was recently named as the 71st most valuable brand names in the world. Although initially Rolex watches were relatively inexpensive when they were first introduced, in the modern day they are a symbol of wealth and fashion, instantly recognizable by experts and some models achieving cult status.
Throughout the last ninety-six years, Rolex have introduced and redesigned many different watches, some lines of which have been manufactured for over fifty years. Though it could be argued that the full lineup of Rolex watches are great time-pieces, for the purpose of this article only the best are good enough.
The Explorer I And II - Originally designed and created in 1953, possibly in prototype form to accompany Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay to the summit of Mount Everest, the Oyster Perpetual Explorer is one of the favorites of Rolexs creations. The Explorer 2 is one of the most popular models today and is a favorite of Rolex enthusiasts and fashion victims alike. The standout features of the Explorer 2 which make it so popular are the simple, easily readable fascia, the elegance of the brushed bezel and the precision and durability of its internal construction.
The Daytona - The Rolex Daytona gained its name from the famous 24 Hours of Daytona race due to Rolex being a sponsor now as it was when the Daytona was first introduced in the 1960s. There are two series of Daytona watches, the first of which was produced from the 1960s up to the 1980s and by the early 1990s becoming iconic and extremely collectable. This led to short supply and the eventual introduction of a second series which initially incorporated the famous Zenith El Primero movements. Rolex purchased the Zenith movements to install into their Daytona watches and then modified the movement slightly. This edition, manufactured during 1988 to 2000 has become the most popular due to its limited production and supply, its accuracy and its reliability.
The GMT Master I And II - In the mid 1950s, Rolex began working on a watch with Pan-Am Airways for the airline to issue to its pilots and navigators. The idea was to make traveling across international datelines and adjusting to time differences that little bit easier and so the Oyster Perpetual Date GMT Master was born. When the Master II was released in the early 1980s, the popularity of the line was already solidified, though this newer incarnation is able to display three separate time zones, compared to the two for the GMT Master I.
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Posted under Watches
This post was written by Mark Walters on February 7, 2011

