Rolex pilots watches WW2

[spoilsofwar01]

I just read this and found very moving, I thought it may be of interest to others.....

Royal Air Force pilots began buying Rolex watches at the start of World War II, replacing their standard issue watches. However, if these airmen were captured and sent to POW camps, they had their watches confiscated. The German soldiers stated the watches could be hiding a secret compass or other tool to aid with escape.

Hans Wilsdorf, upon hearing of this, offered to replace the watches and not require payment until the end of the war. An estimated 3,000 Rolex watches were ordered to one prison camp for officers alone. To order a watch, an officer only needed to write and explain their circumstances of the loss of the original watch, and where they were being held.

Wilsdorf, himself, took responsibility for making sure the officers received their watches. He corresponded with the officers, and even sent multiple watches if he found out they were never received.

A true gent in my humble opinion.

[breitlings]

Both Rolex and breitling were very pro allied USA/UK forces. Rolex gave watches to people who had theirs taken in prison camps. Leon Breitling would supply airline instruments to the allies. He would fly out have secret meetings to exchange the goods. Then pretend he was drunk and get in fights at bars to have an alibi.

[sensui]

Cool to know thanks for sharing.

[1rolexowner]

In focus 114200.jpg

All of the Rolex stuff is, of course, connected to the Air-King story

[AlexFrank]

Thanks for sharing a very interesting story.

[Brandon(phila)]

Originally Posted by breitlings

Both Rolex and breitling were very pro allied USA/UK forces. Rolex gave watches to people who had theirs taken in prison camps. Leon Breitling would supply airline instruments to the allies. He would fly out have secret meetings to exchange the goods. Then pretend he was drunk and get in fights at bars to have an alibi.

Didn't they supply the Panerai as well......Hmmmmm

[lord91]

Yes, they did.

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by Brandon(phila)

Didn't they supply the Panerai as well......Hmmmmm

I think that is true but Rolex was very worried about the Nazi's. I think Leon Breitling choose their side more forcefully than Rolex, directly supplying allies.



http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2010/07...and-rolex.html

"After General Eisenhower came over and freed Europe from Nazi tyranny, Rolex started moving forward and regaining their amazing pre-war momentum. In 1946, Rolex manufactured their 50,000th Officially Certified Swiss Chronometer and Hans Wilsdorf decided he wanted to give it to somebody special. Hans Wilsdorf offered this milestone Rolex to General Guisan and Guisan accepted.


This is interesting from a strategic marketing perspective, particularly, when you think about the mindset of Rolex in 1946, and contrast that with today's Rolex mindset. You see, in 1946, Hans Wilsdorf and company, had something to prove to themselves–and the world.


By accepting the 50,000th Officially Certified Rolex Chronometer, Rolex began an strong, ambitious, perpetual, uphill climb that would set a ferocious pace that would continue to place Rolex watches on the wrist of many high and low-profile leaders and achievers.


It took Hans Wilsdorf approximately 40 years to make 50,000 Officially Certified Rolex Swiss Chronometers and profoundly, only an additional year to reach their 100,000th Chronometer!!!! Hans Wilsdorf ambitiously decided that for the 100,000 th Rolex Chronometer, he wanted to aim even higher, so he turned to his friend, General Guisan and asked him to offer it his friend, Sir Winston Churchill. Guisan agreed, and approached Sir Winston Churchill who accepted."

"Less than a year later, Rolex had already produced their 150,000th Chronometer and Wilsdorf again decided to aim even higher, and offer it to the man who was the architect of the D-Day landing of the American's and Allied Forces, which freed Europe–5 Star General, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower accepted, the yellow-gold Datejust, which at the time was Rolex's most state-of-the-art watch.

It is unlikely that Wilsdorf or Rolex realized at the time, that Eisenhower would go on to become the next President Of The United States. The fact that Eisenhower became the President, created a superb showcase marketing opportunity for Rolex which no amount of money could ever buy.


Eisenhower is pictured below with Churchill, ironically next to U.S. General Gunther (far right) who became the recipient of the 200,000th Rolex Chronometer which was also a yellow-gold Datejust.
"