The Esoteric World of Rolex Memorabilia

Rolex Memorabilia

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  Golden Age of Advertising

  A large advertising poster, circa 1952, promoting Rolex Oyster-Perpetual watch models. Rolex is famous for having created the most stylish advertising campaigns, featuring not only the watchmaker's technical achievements but also the adventure-seeking, cosmopolitan character of Rolex's intended wearer. This poster depicts of the Oyster-Perpetual watch interlinked with a band of international flags, together suggesting the rings of a modern astrolabe .

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  Time to the Second

  A gilt brass and painted desk clock with stop feature and original wooden box, circa 1960, reads "Sekundengenauf zeit" which means "time to the second." These unusual hoof-shaped display Rolex desk clocks were not intended for sale and were instead given to entrusted Rolex dealers to promote the brand.

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  The Trident Fish Bowl

  Many of the Rolex promotional stands, such as this Trident Fish Bowl, circa 1960, were often scrapped after retailers changed their window displays. They are now difficult to find and are highly sought-after by collectors today. This fish bowl stand with its trident and marine motifs would demonstrate a nifty feature of the water-resistant Rolex Submariner.

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  A Watch for the World Traveller

  This gilt brass and green enamel retailer's window stand, circa 1960, was used to display one of history’s most iconic timepieces: the Rolex GMT-Master. The watch, equipped to display two time-zones, was designed for pilots or world travellers. Hence, the stand suggests the swoosh of the airplane as it flies across the globe.

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  The Diver's Friend

  Described as “The Diver’s Friend,” the Rolex Submariner was designed for deepsea diving and is water resistant to at least 100 meters. Any professional diver should be in possession of a great watch as well as a Comex wet suit and diving gear. Here is a very rare set of Comex deepsea diving equipment, consisting of a diving wet suit with integrated hood, an injection molded diving mask with improved face seal, a heavy chrome metal diving flashlight, and a yellow safety light.

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  On the Move

  This vintage yellow painted and wooden trunk, circa 1960, is for the person who is always on the go. Accessories, such as this trunk, were given to select dealers to promote Rolex, and are now prized by enthusiasts.

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  Fit For a King

  Herbert Leupin, an internationally renowned Swiss graphic designer, was commissioned by Rolex to promote the brand. This large advertising poster, circa 1959, is an example from an iconic advertising campaign, showing a king's ermine-sleeved arm, bearing a Rolex watch and pointing the trademark five-pointed coronet insignia.

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  Under Pressure

  This iron vacuum tank, circa 1970, has an important function in the production of Rolexes. The watchmaker made its reputation by exploring the limits of water resistance and pressure. Its innovations could only come about with rigorous testing of the famous Oyster Case using such equipment as this vacuum tank – which checked water resistance not only for Rolex dive watches but Oyster Perpetual models.

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