 This began a long-standing partnership between Aegler and Rolex, until Rolex bought out Aegler a century later.In 1914, a decade after Wilsdorf moved to London, World War I broke out, at which time Wilsdorf changed the name of Wilsdorf & Davis to The Rolex Watch Company Ltd. Fourteen days before World War I began, On July 14, 1914, Rolex was the first wristwatch in history to be awarded a Class "A" certificate from the famous Kew Observatory.Rolex had grown quickly; in 1914 they had more than 40 employees on their payroll.