Rolex uses the most expensive stainless steel in the world, also known as 904L.

Other high-end brands use a stainless steel grade (known as 316L) in their designs, but 904L is exclusive to Rolex. The steel is much more expensive, and said to be resistant to rust, corrosion, and pitting — a real problem for salt water divers.

An in-house foundry makes all the gold for Rolex watches. 

Rolex makes their own gold. Because they control the production and machining of their gold, they are able to strictly ensure not only quality, but look of these extraordinary materials. Rolex is the only watchmaker that makes their own gold or even has a real foundry in-house.

Nobody knows what Rolex actually means. 

Watchmakers assume the name comes from the French term horlogerie exquise, meaning exquisite clockwork. But Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf admitted the name Rolex was picked because he wanted a word that was short and looked good on a watch face, and could be pronounced in any language. He also thought that the name sounded like the noise a watch made when it was being wound.