Getty/Astrid Stawiarz
- For much of its history, Rolex was focused on making timepieces that could survive anything.
- Precision and quality are now higher than ever, but that's not why fans pay a premium for the brand.
- Here's how Rolex transformed from a tool watch for professionals into the symbol of luxury.
Rolex reportedly makes close to a million watches per year, and advertisements for the brand are almost everywhere, but actually finding one to buy can prove to be an exercise in futility.
With their precision manufacturing, specially sourced materials, and exceptional craftsmanship, Rolex watches have never come cheap, but neither were they out of financial reach for 1960s working professionals in search of perfect timekeeping and technical innovation.