Mercedes Gleitze and the Rolex Oyster "Canal Swimmer"
Swimming across the English Channel? The Rolex Oyster easily endured it in 1927. Today, more than 90 years later, the watch continues to impress – not only watchmakers but also its competitors.
It's summer. People are at the pool or the beach. There are many waterproof watches available, but one model stands out from all the facts. It begins with its story: In October 1927, 26-year-old London secretary Mercedes Gleitze attempted to swim across the English Channel , wearing a watch. Due to high waves, Gleitze had to abandon the race shortly before the finish, but her watch held up: after more than ten hours in the water, it still kept time. It was a Rolex Oyster.
Shortly thereafter, company founder Hans Wilsdorf (1881–1960) bought the front page of London's Daily Mail for an advertisement. Its slogan: "The miracle watch that defies the elements." And indeed, the ad ensured that from then on, wristwatches were considered at least as robust as pocket watches.
Source: Welt.de
Rolex itself writes on its homepage:
1926
The first waterproof wristwatch
Rolex's introduction of the first water- and dust-resistant wristwatch in 1926 was a significant advance. The watch, called the "Oyster," featured a hermetically sealed case that provided optimal protection for the movement.
Crossing the English Channel
Claiming that a wristwatch is waterproof is one thing. Proving it is quite another. In 1927, the young Englishwoman Mercedes Gleitze wore a Rolex Oyster while swimming across the English Channel. Mercedes Gleitze swam for more than ten hours, and the wristwatch survived unscathed.