Hans WilsdorfHans Wilsdorf Hans Wilsdorf was a German-born British watchmaker and businessman who co-founded the luxury Swiss watch brand Rolex in 1905. Wilsdorf was born in Germany in 1881 and moved to Switzerland in 1905, where he established a company with his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, to import high-quality Swiss timepieces. In 1908, Wilsdorf registered the trademark "Rolex" and began producing his own line of wristwatches. was a German-born British watchmaker and businessman who co-founded the luxury Swiss watch brand Rolex in 1905. Wilsdorf was born in Germany in 1881 and moved to Switzerland in 1905, where he established a company with his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, to import high-quality Swiss timepieces. In 1908, Wilsdorf registered the trademark “Rolex” and began producing his own line of wristwatches.