This New Book Might Be the Closest You'll Ever Get to Owning a Rolex

Rolex will release a new book that takes a retrospective look at the origins of the brand and how it evolved into the status symbol it is today.

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Complex Original

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When it comes to luxury timepieces, no brand has been able to acquire a reputation as respected as Rolex. Since its inception in the early 1900s, the brand has consistently put emphasis on quality craftsmanship and materials for a product that is synonymous with refinement and precision.

But how did Rolex become the status symbol that we know today? Sure, we’re familiar with its envy-inducing qualities through countless rap lyrics, but very few of us know the history behind the brand and its watches. Well, thanks to a new book titled “Rolex: History, Icons, and Record-Breaking Models,” we’ll soon have some insight.

Written by watch experts Mara Cappelletti and Osvaldo Patrizzi, the publication takes a retrospective look at Rolex’s century-long influence in fashion. From the first steps of founder Hans Wilsdorf to celebrity collectors to outrageous watch auctions, almost every aspect of the brand is chronicled through photographs, in-depth descriptions, and essays with a historical and technical slant.

This book is a must-have for watch collectors and anyone who appreciates storied and celebrated brands. “Rolex: History, Icons, and Record-Breaking Models” will officially drop in March 2015.

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