A Short Biography of Hans Wildorf

As watch lovers, if our focus ever strays from the watches, it’s usually towards the brands themselves. As such, apart from brands founded by watchmakers, the businessmen behind them are often reduced to being mere footnotes. Accordingly, we decided to dedicate some time to none other than Hans Wildorf. Arguably the foremost watch entrepreneur, as his brand is the most recognized in the world of horology today.

Wildorf was born in Kulmbach, Bavaria, in 1881 to parents who ran a medium-sized iron toolmaker (which is still in operation today). As his parents died at an early age, his family business was sold and Wildorf was sent to boarding school, where he decided to pursue watchmaking and moved to La Chaux de Fonds at the age of 19, in 1900. Hans got a job working at a pocket watch company that exported products globally, gaining first-hand experience in the the global watch trade of that era.

After a few years, he moved to London to work for Aegler, importing watches to the English market. After noticing the discrepancy in terms of quality and price in the market (remember, we’ve discussed how the English market’s Achilles heel at the time was their lake of specialist watchmakers), Hans decided to go into business with Alfred Davis, an English casemaker, and launch Wildorf & Davis in 1905, seeking to produce high-quality timepieces for affordable prices (much like many of the new brands of today). Their company originally got movements from Aegler, the Swiss manufacturer Hans had originally worked for (Rolex bought them out nearly a century later in 2004). Then, in 1908, Hans finally came up with the name of the company that we recognize today, Rolex, registering the name that same year. Due to high taxation at the outset of WWI, Rolex moved its headquarters from London to Bienne, and, in 1919, moved again to Geneva, where the company remains to this day.

Hans’ memory lives on today in his descendants, who, through the Hans Wildorf Foundation, maintain ownership and control over Rolex and Tudor.

By: Montres Publiques