Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Rolex sues Bijoux Medusa over customized watches
Lawsuit filed
Rolex has sued Quebec-based jewellery store Bijoux Medusa and its owner Julien Duguay, alleging the sale and modification of watches bearing Rolex trademarks without authorisation amounts to unfair competition and trademark infringement. Rolex seeks damages of more than $50,000. Bijoux Medusa has rejected the claims, saying all Rolex watches it sells are genuine and that customizing authentic watches is a legitimate commercial practice. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Company response
Denial — Bijoux Medusa
Denial — La Californienne
La Californienne tells JCK it is “aware” of the suit and disagrees with Rolex’s claims.
Source excerpt
The company is seeking damages of more than $50,000, arguing that the alleged conduct has harmed the value associated with its trademarks and business.
Rolex has sued a Canadian jewellery store and its owner over the sale and modification of watches bearing Rolex trademarks, alleging the customized products could be mistaken for watches made or authorised by the company.
The suit charges counterfeiting, trademark dilution, among other counts, and seeks an injunction against the company selling “infringing” products.
2011
Limited disclosure concerning foundation donations
A Rolex spokesperson declined to provide evidence about the amount of charitable donations made by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. The response generated criticism because the foundation privately owns Rolex while operating as a Swiss charitable foundation. Public discussion focused on transparency rather than an established finding of unlawful conduct.
Historical wartime associations and Wilsdorf security inquiry
Historical accounts discuss Rolex’s production and distribution of watches connected with military and prisoner-of-war contexts during the Second World War. Hans Wilsdorf was also investigated by Swiss authorities after British concerns about his political sympathies; the cited inquiry did not establish a criminal conviction or suspicious activity. These events remain part of the contested historical context surrounding the company’s wartime record.