Perpetuating excellence
For over a century, we have drawn on unrivalled expertise and exceptional human capital. Today, with the help of all our employees, we continue to foster a unique corporate culture that puts people first and is committed to the values of excellence, a passion for quality and a drive for innovation, as well as to the development and sharing of skills. As part of our commitment to supporting the next generation, we launched an ambitious project in 2022 aimed, in particular, at doubling the number of apprentices within our group.
As a visionary entrepreneur, Hans Wilsdorf was convinced that the secret to a company’s success and longevity lay in its leaders’ ability to surround themselves with exceptional talent. Over the years, the founder of Rolex set about persuading the finest watchmakers and engineers to come and work alongside him.
A symbol of excellence throughout the world, Rolex has adopted a business model based on independence, underpinned by an unwavering commitment to developing skills and passing on expertise. Over time, this approach has enabled us to incorporate more than a hundred different trades into our business.
At the same time, we have set up a comprehensive training programme for all our staff, both in Switzerland and abroad.
Since 2018, our Rolex Training Centre (Geneva, Bienne and Fribourg) has been responsible for all initiatives relating to staff training in Switzerland. This comprehensive, bespoke resource was designed to develop and enhance the skills at every level, from trainees to senior managers.
Our training centre covers the areas of continuing professional development, support for managers, and training for the next generation (apprentices and interns from Swiss universities).
Through this centre, we offer all our staff a unique opportunity to develop their skills throughout their careers.
Launched in 2021, the Perpetual Learning (PERLE) tool also enables all our employees to benefit from blended learning programmes that combine face-to-face and digital learning.
To support the company effectively, the Rolex Training Centre works closely with the production lines, where practices are evolving in real time. It also adapts quickly to societal and technological changes in order to offer coherent and effective modules.
Finally, it ensures that people from all divisions of the company are invited to participate in order to encourage discussion and the sharing of experiences.
Every year, more than 900 different training courses are provided for the company’s 10,000+ employees.
Alongside our commitment to training in Switzerland, we are building a global network of experts trained to uphold our standards of excellence.
In keeping with the values passed down from our founder, Hans Wilsdorf, we have been committed for over four decades to training and integrating the younger generations into the world of work. In 1984, Rolex became the first employer in Geneva to provide in-house training for apprentices in the watchmaking industry. Today, our ambition is to become a leading provider of professional training.
We train apprentices aged between 15 and 25 in a wide range of professions within watchmaking, manufacturing and the service sector, each of which plays a vital role in the production of our watches. In 2025, we offered future professionals 26 apprenticeship programmes, ranging from watchmaker CFC (Certificat fédéral de capacité - Federal Certificate of Proficiency), gem-setter (CFC), metalworker (CFC), commercial worker (CFC), IT specialist (CFC), mechanical technician AFP (Attestation fédérale de formation professionnelle - Federal Attestation of Professional Training), to photographer (CFC), to name just a few.
We offer our apprentices a ‘dual’ training programme. This type of training, which is very common in Switzerland, offers young people the opportunity to combine theoretical lessons at a state vocational school with practical training within a company. Depending on the chosen career path, the course can last two, three or even four years.
For over 40 years, we have trained hundreds of young people in the canton of Geneva, as well as in Bienne and Fribourg, and have continually refined our apprenticeship programme.
