The mother of all Rolex brand ambassadors
Is there any better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than by highlighting a mother who is rooted in Rolex history itself? She is Mercedes Gleitze, mother of three, accomplished professional swimmer, and Rolex’s first brand ambassador. Gleitze’s many accolades include being the first person to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar, the first person to swim from Cape Town to Robben Island and back, and an amazing endurance record of 46 hours. Mercedes Glaze has received many endorsements as well as celebrity status throughout her swimming career. However, no relationship has endured as long as her partnership with replica Rolex, as she aims to be the first British woman to swim the English Channel.
However, Mercedes Glaze’s determination and endurance in the face of the icy waters proved to those who doubted her ability and convinced everyone that her original record should stand. It was then unanimously agreed that her original record was valid and that she could retain the title of the first British woman to swim across the English Channel.
Rolex named the “Oyster” case after its reliable watertight seal. Its design concept was based on Rolex’s first attempt to develop a water-resistant case in 1922, which relied on a second outer case that had to be opened each time the watch was wound. This design ultimately proved impractical, but it set the course for Rolex’s quest for a reliable water-resistant case.
By then, however, Rolex had already developed four versions of the Oyster, with gold or silver surfaces, Arabic or Roman numerals on the dial, and a cushion-shaped or octagonal case. Each included the newly invented screw-down crown and was driven by a 15-jewel hand-wound movement manufactured by the Swiss company Aegler.
The release of the Oyster case in 1926 was just the beginning of Rolex’s many innovations. Rolex is celebrated throughout the industry for being a pioneer and innovator. Among the brand’s various revolutionary inventions, the waterproof Oyster case is widely considered to be one of the most important.
As a company known for producing rugged and reliable tool replica watches, Rolex needed a rugged case that could venture almost anywhere on the planet. From high above the clouds to the depths of the ocean, Rolex’s Oyster case was up to the challenge.