Only 1% of the world's population knows the design details of Rolex

The Rolex brand logo differs from the Rolex text on the watch dial—a unique detail I haven’t seen in other brands. The main differences lie in the letter’s balance and the design style of the “R.”

1.There are a total of 14 Rolex logos that can be seen on the Rolex Submariner series watches (dial, inner ring, back case, strap) and 3 different fonts are used.

2.Wilsdorf & Davis was founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905 in the UK. The founder was neither Swiss nor a watchmaker. The initial business was to sell Swiss watches to the UK. The earliest logo was an engraving of copperplate font (1905). After the end of World War I, it moved to Geneva, Switzerland in 1919.

3.From 1952 to 2003, the Rolex logo font was closer to Clarendon (1845), not Garamond as rumored on the Internet. The Rolex logo has not been adjusted much since its birth. In 2003, the logo was upgraded, which is reflected in the color matching and the serifs of the letters.

4.Not all models have a concave crown engraved on the 6 o'clock mirror. The inner ring at 6 o'clock will have a unique code that is consistent with the warranty card.

5.Before 2015, Rolex’s anti-counterfeiting laser wax seal was red, offering a 2-year warranty with a tolerance of ±5 seconds. After 2015, it changed to green, extending the warranty to 5 years with a tighter tolerance of ±2 seconds (a change influenced by Omega). The font on the wax seal differs from other Rolex fonts.

6.Rolex uses various fonts across different models, many based on traditional lead type, which may not exist as digital fonts—for example, the numbers on the outer ring dial.

7.Notable Rolex fans include Castro and Che Guevara. Interestingly, the Vatican holds partial ownership of Rolex.

8.Both Hermès and Rolex logos use Slab Serif fonts.

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Clarendon (1845)
A bold serif font from early 19th-century England, originally designed for posters and commercial printing.

Engravers MT (1899)
An all-uppercase copperplate-style font with a distinct engraved feel.

RolexFont
A custom sans-serif font created by Rolex in three weights for brand promotion.