Watch Fact of the Day: The First Waterproof Watch Wasn’t Rolex, But a Pocket Watch!

While Rolex popularized the waterproof wristwatch with the Oyster in 1926, the very first truly waterproof watch was actually a pocket watch. It was patented in

Watch History: Tuesday, June 30, 2026

πŸ“… Tuesday, June 30, 2026

While Rolex popularized the waterproof wristwatch with the Oyster in 1926, the very first truly waterproof watch was actually a pocket watch. It was patented in 1891 by FranΓ§ois Borgel, a Genevan watch case maker, featuring a screw-down bezel and case back, a design principle still used today. This innovation predated Rolex’s famous Oyster case by 35 years, proving that water resistance was a horological pursuit long before wristwatches became dominant.


Category: Watch History

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Watch Fact of the Day: The ‘Waterproof’ Watch That Wasn’t: Early Dive Watch Struggles

Before Rolex perfected the Oyster case in 1926, many early attempts at waterproof watches were far from reliable. One notable example was the ‘Submarine’ watch

Watch History: Monday, June 29, 2026

πŸ“… Monday, June 29, 2026

Before Rolex perfected the Oyster case in 1926, many early attempts at waterproof watches were far from reliable. One notable example was the ‘Submarine’ watch from the early 1900s, which often relied on screw-down bezels and casebacks that were prone to leaking under pressure. It wasn’t until Mercedes Gleitze swam the English Channel in 1927 with a Rolex Oyster that the public truly saw a dependable waterproof wristwatch in action.


Category: Watch History

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