IN PERPETUITY

‘There is a reason why Rolex watches stand the test of time and it all harks back to more than 90 years of perpetual innovation.

- DANIEL GOH

In January of 1927, Hans Wilsdorf made perhaps the boldest claim one could make in the watchmaking industry. In front of gathered watch retailers he proclaimed "Gentlemen, we make the best wristwatch in the world." And even if there was a sceptic amongst the crowd then in 1927, the statement would undoubtedly turn out to be prophetic, because today, Rolex still sits at the top of the industry, both in terms of profitability and market share.

So how did they become the brand that wears the crown? In an industry that seems to be pushing the boundaries of ostentatiousness in every way, the key to success it would seem, is consistency. For nearly a full century, Rolex has steadily improved upon its creations with a perpetual focus on innovation.

Its foundation, however, was based, on three key areas - precision, water resistance and the ability to self-wind.

IN THE WORDS OF HANS WILSDORF

Long before the first Oyster case ever touched a drop of water, Hans Wilsdorf had prioritised precision. In 1910 the sentiment was that no wristwatch would ever be able to match the precision of a pocket watch as they were too small. A smaller form would mean smaller movements and it would also indicate that these timekeepers would simply be too delicate to serve as a daily tool.

Unbeknownst to most, Hans Wilsdorf had already solved the problem of precision, but his challenge was to convince the rest of the world that he had.