For more than a century, Rolex stands apart as the most coveted and most legendary brand of watches in the world. A Rolex connotes many things: the quintessence of the luxury timepiece, a tool of power for movers and shakers, the symbol of passage into adulthood. New labels pop up, styles come and go, but the brand at the top never changes. Ever the record setter—the Daytona that had belonged to Paul Newman was auctioned by Phillips in New York in October 2017 for $17.8 million—it comes as no surprise that Rolex is the most collected watch label in the world.
The history of Rolex is rooted in the visionary spirit of its founder, Hans Wilsdorf. In 1905, young Wilsdorf founded a company in London for the distribution of timepieces, but his true dream was to produce wristwatches—in their infancy at the time, and not very precise—that would be technically durable and reliable, and supremely elegant. The company first concentrated on producing the highest quality movements, and this quest for precision rapidly led to the first wristwatch in the world to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, granted by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne in 1910. Four years later, Kew Observatory in Great Britain awarded a Rolex watch a class A certificate, a distinction that had been previously reserved exclusively for marine chronometers.
From that date forward, the Rolex wristwatch has been synonymous with precision. Over the last 100 years, Rolex milestones include: the first waterproof watch, the first self-winding mechanism, the first wristwatch to fly over Mt. Everest, the first diver’s watch waterproof to 100 meters, the first to withstand magnetic fields of 1,000 gauss, the first to descend the Mariana Trench.
Selected by specialist Fabienne Reybaud, each of the exceptional Rolex watch models in this beautiful handcrafted Ultimate Collection volume showcase the most valuable and technically innovative models the luxury watchmaker has produced, including watches never seen in print before: From the first wristwatch dating to the early 1900s and the first Oyster Perpetual from 1931, to an Explorer worn during Sir Edmund Hillary’s expedition to the summit of Mt. Everest in 1953 and the Submariner worn by actor George Lazenby in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, they are sure to astonish collectors the world over.
Complimentary white gloves and signature canvas tote bag are included with each purchase from Assouline's Ultimate Collection
Coming Soon - July 2021
If the content of your order arrives damaged, or is incorrect, you are eligible for a refund or replacement delivery (pending availability). If you received a damaged item, please email orders@assouline.com with your order number, details of the damage and photos if possible.
If you wish to return your order for any other reason, we allow returns for exchange or merchandise credit only within 14 days of delivery. No refunds. Please note you will be responsible for the return shipping cost. Please email orders@assouline.com to begin the return process. Items must be returned in the same condition in which they were received and within 14 days of the delivery date. Exchanges and credit are applicable only at the original point of purchase.
Assouline is a true luxury brand for culture; their books combine intellect and emotion in an unforgettable world of timeless beauty and sophistication. With unwavering respect for the product and artisanship, their limited editions bring haute couture to the coffee-table as fashion brands bring their designs to our closets. Assouline pledges to plant one tree for every book sold, nurturing the environment through every sale.
For more than a century, Rolex stands apart as the most coveted and most legendary brand of watches in the world. A Rolex connotes many things: the quintessence of the luxury timepiece, a tool of power for movers and shakers, the symbol of passage into adulthood. New labels pop up, styles come and go, but the brand at the top never changes. Ever the record setter—the Daytona that had belonged to Paul Newman was auctioned by Phillips in New York in October 2017 for $17.8 million—it comes as no surprise that Rolex is the most collected watch label in the world.
The history of Rolex is rooted in the visionary spirit of its founder, Hans Wilsdorf. In 1905, young Wilsdorf founded a company in London for the distribution of timepieces, but his true dream was to produce wristwatches—in their infancy at the time, and not very precise—that would be technically durable and reliable, and supremely elegant. The company first concentrated on producing the highest quality movements, and this quest for precision rapidly led to the first wristwatch in the world to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, granted by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne in 1910. Four years later, Kew Observatory in Great Britain awarded a Rolex watch a class A certificate, a distinction that had been previously reserved exclusively for marine chronometers.
From that date forward, the Rolex wristwatch has been synonymous with precision. Over the last 100 years, Rolex milestones include: the first waterproof watch, the first self-winding mechanism, the first wristwatch to fly over Mt. Everest, the first diver’s watch waterproof to 100 meters, the first to withstand magnetic fields of 1,000 gauss, the first to descend the Mariana Trench.
Selected by specialist Fabienne Reybaud, each of the exceptional Rolex watch models in this beautiful handcrafted Ultimate Collection volume showcase the most valuable and technically innovative models the luxury watchmaker has produced, including watches never seen in print before: From the first wristwatch dating to the early 1900s and the first Oyster Perpetual from 1931, to an Explorer worn during Sir Edmund Hillary’s expedition to the summit of Mt. Everest in 1953 and the Submariner worn by actor George Lazenby in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, they are sure to astonish collectors the world over.
Complimentary white gloves and signature canvas tote bag are included with each purchase from Assouline's Ultimate Collection
Coming Soon - July 2021
If the content of your order arrives damaged, or is incorrect, you are eligible for a refund or replacement delivery (pending availability). If you received a damaged item, please email orders@assouline.com with your order number, details of the damage and photos if possible.
If you wish to return your order for any other reason, we allow returns for exchange or merchandise credit only within 14 days of delivery. No refunds. Please note you will be responsible for the return shipping cost. Please email orders@assouline.com to begin the return process. Items must be returned in the same condition in which they were received and within 14 days of the delivery date. Exchanges and credit are applicable only at the original point of purchase.
Assouline is a true luxury brand for culture; their books combine intellect and emotion in an unforgettable world of timeless beauty and sophistication. With unwavering respect for the product and artisanship, their limited editions bring haute couture to the coffee-table as fashion brands bring their designs to our closets. Assouline pledges to plant one tree for every book sold, nurturing the environment through every sale.