Some Rolex History – a Look at When Major Changes in Rolex Watches Happened

Everest Horology studies when certain changes to the Rolex case, movement, bracelet and other features changed. Amazingly, Rolex created such a perfect set of parts that over 100 years the watch(es) have evolved very slowly – most notably the oyster case design. One thing that has always made us here at Everest so intrigued is when Rolex makes a change to their watches, it is usually a huge change. For example, the change of the previous aluminum bezel inert to a ceramic version. This change was an enormous undertaking by Rolex. Rolex did not look for a good substitute; it went for the absolute best!

At Everest, we strive to follow in Rolex’s footsteps and be a trailblazer in our own right. Below, you will see a timeline over the last ninety years of Rolex’s history: When were changes and brilliant Rolex innovations Introduced?

• 1926 Oyster Case
• 1927 Serial Number On Oyster Case
• 1931 Oyster Perpetual
• 1938 Bubble Back
• 1938 Oyster Bracelet
• 1945 Jubilee Bracelet
• 1945 Datejust
• 1950 “Mercedes” Hands
• 1953 Submariner 100m/330ft
• 1953 Explorer 1954 GMT-Master
• 1954 Submariner 200m / 660ft
• 1954 Cyclops (aka Magnifying bump on Crystal)
• 1954 Lady’s Oyster Perpetual
• 1956 Day-Date
• 1956 President Bracelet
• 1959 Submariner gets Crown Guards and 40mm Case
• 1960 DeepSea Special
• 1961 Oyster Cosmograph
• 1962 Cosmograph Daytona
• 1965 Submariner Date
• 1965 Submariner Date 18 k YG
• 1967 Sea-Dweller
• 1971 Explorer II
• 1972 Hacking Movement
• 1974 Sapphire Crystal
• 1976 Oysterquartz
• 1977 Oysterquartz Day-Date
• 1977 Quick Set Date Feature
• 1978 Sea-Dweller 4000
• 1979 Submariner 300m/1000ft with Sapphire Crystal
• 1983 GMT-Master II
• 1983 Submariner Rolesor (aka Sub TT)
• 1988 Cosmograph Daytona (Zenith Movement aka Cal. 4030)
• 1992 Yachtmaster
• 1994 Yachtmaster Lady & Mid-Sized aka Boys Size
• 2000 Cosmograph Daytona with new in-house Mvt (Cal. 4130)
• 2001 Laser Etched Hologram In Crystal
• 2003 “Green” Submariner Date (aka Anniversary Model with Maxi Dial)
• 2002 end of Y series
• early 2003 Non lugs holes started to make there appearence on most models
• 2004 Serial F/D on some models the Rolex Rolex Rolex On the Rehaut ring
• 2004 New Datejust Case
• 2005 New GMT-Master YG (Cal. 3186)
• 2006 New GMT-Master Rolesor (Cal. 3186)
• 2008 Ceramic Bezel on GMT
• 2008 Change the entire Sea-Dweller to the Deepsea, and the release of the Glidelock Clasp
• 2010 New Submariner Case
• 2011 New Explorer II Case
• 2011 Re-release of a new Space Dweller Rolex
• 2012 Case change to Submariner No-date and Yachtmaster

Obviously we are excited to see what happens to Rolex in 2013 at Baselworld. There are rumors of Rolex coming out with a Thermoplastic Rubber watch strap….hmmm….obviously we may have given them a few good ideas!