14 Feb Rolex Buyers – San Diego Watch Dealers
Carl Blackburn, owner of C. Blackburn Jewelers, is one of La Jolla’s most recognized vintage watch dealers. As a San Diego watch buyer of expensive used timepieces, Carl’s most frequently bought items are collectable Rolex watches, including vintage Submariner, Datejust, GMT, and Daytona models.
Over the past decade, Carl has bought and sold hundreds of previously-owned Rolex watches. He has a reputation as a San Diego Rolex buyer who is knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and who always pays a fair price. To chat with Carl about the Rolex watch that you would like to sell, call us at: 858-251-3006.
The reason that Rolex watches are so valuable is not only because they are precision timepieces, but because of their rich history that has become indelibly entwined with popular culture and the luxury lifestyle.
Rolex was founded in1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis. Wilsdorf was born in Germany in 1881 and began his career in the watch industry at the age of 19, working for a company that imported Swiss movements into England. In 1905, he partnered with his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, to create a new watch company that would focus on producing high-quality timepieces.
The company was originally called Wilsdorf & Davis, and its first watches were produced under the brand name “Rolex.” The name was chosen because it was short, easy to pronounce in any language, and memorable. Wilsdorf believed that a brand name that was easy to remember would be more likely to succeed.
In the early years, Rolex was not yet the luxury brand it is today. Instead, the company focused on producing reliable, high-quality watches that were affordable for the average person. This strategy proved successful, and by the 1920s, Rolex had become one of the most respected watch brands in the world.
One of the key factors in Rolex’s success was the company’s commitment to innovation. In 1910, Rolex became the first watch company to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, which was awarded to watches that demonstrated exceptional accuracy. In 1914, Rolex was awarded a Class A precision certificate from the Kew Observatory in Great Britain, which was the highest award ever given to a wristwatch at the time.
During World War I, Rolex began to produce watches for the British military, and in the 1920s, the company began to focus more on producing luxury timepieces. In 1926, Rolex introduced the Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch. The watch was named after the oyster, which was a symbol of strength and durability, and it featured a hermetically sealed case that kept out dust, moisture, and other contaminants.
The success of the Oyster watch helped cement Rolex’s reputation as a leader in watch innovation. In the years that followed, Rolex continued to introduce new features and technologies that set its watches apart from the competition. In 1931, the company introduced the Perpetual rotor, which was the first self-winding mechanism for wristwatches. The Perpetual rotor used the natural motion of the wearer’s arm to wind the watch, eliminating the need for manual winding.
During World War II, Rolex once again began producing watches for the military, this time for both the British and American forces. The company also introduced several new watch models, including the Datejust, which featured a date display on the dial, and the Submariner, which was the first watch designed specifically for diving.
In the years that followed, Rolex continued to expand its product line, introducing new models like the GMT-Master, which was designed for pilots and travelers, and the Cosmograph Daytona, which was designed for racing drivers. The company also continued to innovate, introducing new materials and technologies that improved the performance and durability of its watches.
Today, Rolex is one of the most respected and recognizable luxury watch brands in the world, with a reputation for quality, precision, and innovation. The company’s watches are prized by collectors and enthusiasts, and are often considered a symbol of success and achievement.
Would you like to sell a Rolex watch in San Diego? Call C. Blackburn Jewelers at 858-251-3006 or send a message below. Our La Jolla jewelry store is easy to get to, regardless of where you live in San Diego County. As vintage watch dealers, buy timepieces made by Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and other luxury watch makers.
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