Learning From Rolex’s Example How To Market Luxury Goods

Authenticity and Essentialism are Innate Desires
The world is filled with duplicity. Knock-off has become a term that means the same, but different in terms of quality and price. By nature humans want to be original since every human is an original creation that can not be duplicated in terms of thoughts, beliefs, and energy.

Consumers want to buy original products that present an image of uniqueness as well as quality and value and theres no better example than Rolex watches when it comes to proving that humans innately want to express their own quality, value, and uniqueness through the goods and services they purchase.

Rolex Watches entered the world of Horology in 1905 when Alfred James Davis and Hans Wilhelm Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf and Davis Ltd. Wilsdorf created three watches that passed rigorous accuracy tests before the company was formed so it was a natural step to start a watch company with his English partner Davis who was his brother-in-law. The company became a family affair and they registered the name Rolex in Switzerland in 1908 even though that name had no real meaning other than it was easy to spell, easy to say in various languages, and easy to remember in all of them.

In 1915 the company was officially renamed the Rolex Watch Company and it finally became Rolex SA which is the driving force behind today’s successful marketing program.

By 1945 Rolex Had Established Its Manufacturing Prowess
During the 1920s and 1930s Rolex carved a luxury name for itself by receiving several awards for precision and quality from four renowned observatories: Geneva, Kew, Besancon and Neuchatel. A chain of internal events took place before the Second World War and they also had a significant impact on the evolution of luxury Rolex Watches.

The famous Crown or Coronet logo was trademarked in 1925 and the name Rolex began to appear on the dial in 1926. The company also changed the design of its case and began using hermetically sealed cases designed by the Swiss craftsman Francis Baumgartner. These new cases made Rolex Watches almost waterproof.

Wilsdorf also bought the patent for a new moisture-proof winding system in 1926, and that addition produced the Oyster, which was the first watch with a waterproof case. The oyster was worn by an English swimmer who swam the English Channel in 1927, and the impetus from that marketing campaign set the stage for future luxury marketing tactics.

Rolex watches were marketed and advertised as wonder watches. The company made improvements in the Oyster which increased its status. It was the first watch to be called waterproof at 100 feet under water. That feat made it a watch rock star almost overnight.

The pricey Prince was introduced in 1928 and it is still a popular style today for men who want to express their innate uniqueness and material success. New adjustable six position balances were also introduced in 1928 and in 1932 the company introduced the self-winding feature. In 1935 the Super Balance was introduced to improve the design of its Auto Rotor.

In 1935 Rolex acquired the exclusive rights to Aeglers movements and that was a strategic move that allowed the company to focus on the US market. In 1937 Rolex introduced the first chronograph wristwatch. British pilots wore the Rolex Oyster during the war to signify their excellence and success. After the war the company gave every British prisoner of war a new Rolex since they lost their originals to their captors. Those replacement watches didnt have to be paid for until after the war and that move turned out to be an incredible marketing tool.

Rolex Still Sets a High Marketing Bar
Rolex is still launching new watches and unique marketing campaigns that emphasize quality, prestige, and individuality. The company produces over 2,000 watches a day and is ranked in the top 100 global companies by Business Week Magazine. It holds the top spot for among all watch makers in terms of product recognition, perceived quality, and creative design features and functions.

Tradition meets innovation and Rolex uses that philosophy to create a luxury watch marketing campaign that continues to break price barriers. Their marketing campaign is rooted in authenticity and essentialism as well as the rich heritage of quality timepiece manufacturing.