Rolex Tops Reputation Institute's 2016 Global RepTrak 100 List

.History.
Founded in 1997 by Dr. Charles Fombrun and Dr. Cees van Riel, the Reputation Institute measures the reputations of the top companies around the world. The 2016 Global RepTrak 100 List is the largest global reputation study that ranks companies based on several metrics and across all geographic locations.  

Reputation Institute's 2016 Global RepTrak 100 List (source: reputationinstitute.com)
Rolex tops the 2016 global list, receiving excellent scores in Australia, Russia, the UK and the US. The company edged out titans like The Walt Disney Company and Google due to their high ratings for products and services, a key driver in the ranking. Rolex also received a high score in the areas of performance and leadership.

It comes as no surprise that those surveyed indicated that the quality of products and reliability of service offered by Rolex is top tier. The lowest rating attributed to the watchmaker is in citizenship, referring to the perception of the company contributing to charity and protecting the environment. Fortunately for Rolex, the products and services category carries the most weight in the ranking.

It has been speculated that the rise of the smartwatch will have a negative effect on the mechanical watch industry. Baselworld 2016 featured several smartwatch innovations that received  media attention. I think it's interesting to note that Apple was ranked 10th in the 2016 Global RepTrak 100 List, making it difficult to conceive that their Apple watch sales would have a significant effect on Rolex's bottom line.

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Sir Malcolm Campbell Breaks World Land-Speed Record in 1935

.History.
Sir Malcolm Campbell was a British pilot during World War I who later went on to break 9 world land-speed records before taking to the sea to break several water-speed records. One of his most notable world records was breaking 300 miles per hour in his Bluebird in 1935 at the Boneville Salt Flats of Utah. 

Sir Malcolm Campbell (photo: Rolex)
His preference for Rolex wristwatches made him a fixture in Rolex advertisements of the 1930's, though he never accepted payment for an endorsement of the company.

"Rolex watch worn during record attempt and still going splendidly notwithstanding rough usage received," Campbell was quoted as saying in the Rolex ad below. This ad bears resemblance to the ad taken out by the company after Mercedes Gleitze's crossing of the English Channel in 1927.

Based on the historical references on their current website and vintage ads, it would seem that Rolex has always associated their brand with world record breakers. This makes logical sense, as the company has itself broken records with their innovations in wristwatch manufacturing.

Vintage Rolex Ad featuring Sir Malcolm Campbell (photo: rolexencyclopedie.nl)
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