The Rolex Legacy

The history of Rolex through 120 seminal and rare watches

James Dowling

$115

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Cassell
16 October 2025

History of Art & Design Styles; Fashion & textiles: design; Antiques & collectables; Antique clocks, watches, musical boxes & automata; Fashion & style guides

In celebration of 120 years, this book offers a unique decade-by-decade journey through the legacy of Rolex, featuring 12 chapters that tell the story of the brand and the exceptional watches that cemented its fame and prestige.

Explore 120 stunning Rolex timepieces, which showcase the diversity of the models, cases, movements, dials and bracelets. From the iconic Oyster, Datejust, Submariner and Daytona series, to the opulence of the Cellini and Masterpiece strands. Each era enhanced Rolex's reputation for innovation and quality. Their evolution is vividly and expertly described by James Dowling ('Mr Rolex').

With hundreds of images, archive material, ephemera and specially commissioned photography, this is the comprehensive story of the world's most recognized watch brand.

By: James Dowling
Imprint: Cassell
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 296mm, Width: 240mm, Spine: 40mm
Weight: 2.400kg
ISBN: 9781788405966
ISBN 10: 178840596X
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 16 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

James is an avid collector with a passion for horology, his fascination with watches began more than four decades ago, sparking a journey that led him into the world of timepiece collecting and trading, earning him the sobriquet 'Mr Rolex'.? Over the years, his interest in watches evolved from a mere curiosity into an active involvement in buying, selling and collecting these horological treasures.? This deep dive into the intricacies of timepieces not only honed his discerning eye for quality and craftsmanship, but also fostered a profound appreciation for the creativity and innovation inherent in watchmaking and in its history. With each acquisition and transaction, James's knowledge and expertise in the realm of watches grew, solidifying his reputation as a seasoned collector and connoisseur in the horological community, with a passion for research and a dedication to spreading the results of his research as widely as possible. His areas of interest are vintage and military timepieces and he is acknowledged as an authority on Rolex within the industry. He has been a moderator of several online watch forums and has written on watches and collecting for magazines and newspapers on every continent except South America and Antarctica.?He gave the 1999 Dingwall Beloe, Worshipful Company of Clockmakers Lecture at the British Museum, he is a Member of the Academy of the?Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve and a member of the committee of the 2023/24 Louis Vuitton Prize for Independent Watchmaking.