In what year did Rolex relocate its headquarters to Geneva? Rolex relocated its headquarters to Geneva in 1919.
Rolex began in London in 1905 as Wilsdorf and Davis, founded by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis. The company imported Swiss movements and placed them in watch cases for the British market. After the First World War, Wilsdorf moved the company’s base from England to Geneva.
The move was driven partly by economic pressure. Heavy post-war taxes on luxury imports and high export duties on the precious metals used in watch cases made England a less attractive base for the business. Geneva also placed Rolex closer to Switzerland’s established watchmaking infrastructure and suppliers.
The relocation year can be confused with 1915, when the company became Rolex Watch Co. Ltd., or 1920, when Montres Rolex SA was registered in Geneva. Those were important corporate milestones, but the physical move to Geneva is generally dated to 1919. Rolex remains headquartered in Geneva today.