Hans Wilsdorf
1881 - 1960

Un digne représentant de la tradition horlogère genevoise

After having spent his childhood in Bavaria, he began his watchmaking career at the age of 19 in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

In 1905 he took up residence in London where he set up his own business and began producing high-precision wristwatches.

It was in 1908 that he devised a name of world renown today: Rolex.

And Geneva?

In 1920, Wilsdorf came to live in Geneva, at Rue du Marché 18. This is where he invented the Rolex "Oyster", the first truly waterproof watch, and the automatic rewinding Rolex "Perpetual".

At the death of his wife in 1944, he decided to bequeath all his shares to an institution: the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. Although the funds were above all allocated to technical research, the major part was to go to charity.

Having shown his faithfulness to Geneva during his lifetime, he expired on July 5, 1960 in his Genevan summer residence, "l’Escale Fleurie".

To see:

• Fondation Hans Wilsdorf (private)
• Participation in the restoration of the Arditi-Wilsdorf Auditorium, avenue du Mail 1

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