Initially founded in London in 1904 as Wilsdorf and Davis, Rolex has become a staple of quality watchmaking in its 112 years of existence. Started by German watchmaker Hans Wilsdorf with the help of his brother-in-law, Alfred James Davis, Rolex and the Rolex logo are unlikely to be forgotten by our civilization any time soon.

Rolex Logo Design Elements

The Rolex logo itself has two main design elements – the crown insignia and the Rolex text logo. Each of the Rolex logo’s design elements stands for a different aspect of the company’s image. The logo has been perfectly designed to emulate the brand as it is. The golden brown crown in the Rolex logo stands for exclusivity and refinement. The Serif font used for “Rolex” is clean and neat, in a deep green shade that is elegant and timeless.

Changes and Evolution

While the Rolex logo has changed a couple of times over its more than 110 years of existence, the changes have been minor.

Some sources place the first logo as being designed in 1908, while others claim it was 1925. However, it’s most likely that 1925 is merely the year when the Rolex was trademarked by Davis and Wilsdorf. Regardless, it’s unanimously acknowledged that the Rolex logo only changed twice – in 1965 and in 2002.

In its first incarnation, the Rolex logo had a golden crown and a green text with a golden outline. In 1965, the crown was made more bronze-ish, the text was made a grayish blue, and the green outline was fully removed. The current version of the Rolex stems from 2002. The crown was changed back to gold, and the font was made the same shade of green as the one in the first logo.

Shape

The shape of the Rolex logo consists of a coronet insignia with five points, meant to symbolize excellence, quality, and exclusivity. There have been many theories over the years as to the origination of the Rolex emblem. Some imply that the logo resembles either a human hand or five tree branches topped with pearls. However, Rolex never even mentioned these origin stories, so they are merely fan theories.

The Rolex crown logo perfectly represents the company’s values – honor, excellence, and prestige – but it also stands to compliment the brand’s slogan – A Crown for Every Achievement. The Rolex symbol is as famous as some other iconic logos, such as Mercedes, Apple, IBM, or Marvel.

Color

The gold and green colors in the Rolex logo represent the watchmaking company’s values. The golden color of the crown in the Rolex logo is generally used for its precious metal qualities. It is meant to represent passion, wisdom, and illumination, as well as wealth, prosperity, glamor, and grandeur. These are all qualities associated with the Rolex brand.

While green is most often used to suggest a connection with nature, in this case, the color is used in a somewhat different manner. Green is also the color of money, so it is frequently used in association with Wall Street and greed. However, in the case of Rolex, green is used to stand for ambition, richness, uniqueness, and prosperity.

Font

Featuring a somewhat modified version of the Garamond typeface, the font in which the Rolex watches logo is written has gone through a few minor changes. These are mostly related to the serifs present in the font, as they have undergone several very minor changes over the course of logo’s existence.

It’s a very elegant, yet minimalistic font. Despite being very highly serifed, the font still keeps a strongly professional look. It may not be as instantly recognizable as the crown part of the Rolex logo, but it’s just as important to the company.

Inspiration and Trivia

While the Rolex name has been believed for quite some time to come from the French expression “houloguorie exquise”, that theory has been denied. The real story behind the Rolex name is that the watchmakers wanted a name that was easy to pronounce in most languages, as well as one which was hard to misspell thanks to its phonetic nature. This is how Rolex came to be in 1915.

Other false theories had the Rolex name come from the sound of a watch winding, and even from the combination of Timex and Rolls Royce. However, those are as untrue as the “houloguorie exquise” theory.

Products sporting the Rolex logo have also been involved in a number of impressive international events, such as the escape of a number of prisoners of war during the famous Great Escape, as well as in solving the famous Albert Johnson Walker series of crimes which culminated in the murder of Ronald Platt.

Conclusion

Belonging to one of the most iconic and recognizable brands in the world, the Rolex logo is designed perfectly to evoke and complement the image and prestige of the company. It is unlikely, even if the company were to go out of business, that the Rolex logo, brand and name will be forgotten anytime soon.

Founded by Ralph Lauren in 1967, the Ralph Lauren Corporation produces many different items. There are many different clothing brands and products that use the Ralph Lauren name. They are all unified by quality workmanship, classic cuts, a slightly sporty look and the monochromatic Ralph Lauren logo.

Ralph Lauren creates a variety of products, but their logo is a reference to the very first clothing line that Ralph Lauren produced. The iconic polo player on the Ralph Lauren logo shows up on a variety of clothing. This helps to make the brand very recognizable even to people who do not follow fashion trends.

Ralph Lauren Logo Design Elements

The logo at Ralph Lauren has a very simple color scheme. It is typically a black image on a white background. Occasionally, the colors will change to fit another design scheme. However, the logo is always monochromatic. The logo contains the brand name “Ralph Lauren.” The text is all capitalized, but the first letter of each word is larger. The serif font consists of both thick and thin strokes. In between the two words of the brand name is the classic Ralph Lauren icon. This icon is not very detailed or dimensional. It is a basic silhouette with a few extra details created from the white lines of the background. It shows a polo player riding a prancing horse. The polo player’s club is lifted into an upswing before a stroke.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

Technically, Ralph Lauren has always had the same logo. However, all design elements of the logo are not always used at the same time. In more formal items like suits, the company removes the shape of the polo player from the logo. In more sporty items like polo shirts, the company does not include the lettering from the logo. The versatile shape of the logo allows the company to use different variations for different products.

2. Color

Throughout Ralph Lauren logo history, the logo has always officially been black. This color conveys simplicity and power just like Ralph Lauren wanted his clothes to convey. When it becomes a design element on clothes, the company sometimes changes the color. You can often find green, blue, or red versions of the logo on various apparel items.

3. Font

The custom font in the Ralph Lauren logo has always been a Roman style typeface. This type of font looks traditional, classic, and elegant. It helps the brand to appear more established even though it is a relatively new brand.

Influences/Inspiration

The current version of the Ralph Lauren logo design was created in 1974. The logo features a polo player because Ralph Lauren’s first clothing line was called Polo Ralph Lauren. The company intended for the logo to encompass the ideals of their brand. The Polo Ralph Lauren line was intended to reference a Dominican playboy named Porfirio Rubirosa. Rubirosa was an internationally known polo player and a popular playboy. Ralph Lauren wanted his brand to feature clothes that Rubirosa and other wealthy, cultured, athletic men would enjoy wearing.

Many of his shirts feature the polo player insignia over the chest. The Lacoste polo shirts that have a crocodile emblem inspired the logo placement. Eventually, Ralph Lauren expanded the company to also feature womenswear, suits, and other types of products. Though the company now has many clothing lines, they have kept the polo player logo throughout Ralph Lauren logo history as an homage to the clothing line that started the company.

Trivia

Ralph Lauren had never even seen a polo game when he named his line of menswear Polo Ralph Lauren. Lauren wanted to reference some type of sports in his brand name, and he admired the swagger of famous polo players. Lauren felt that the sport combined the ideal mix of wealth, elitism, and athleticism. Unfortunately for Lauren, someone else was able to copy his idea. South Africa has very lax copyright laws, so a South African company was able to trademark the Polo brand there before Ralph Lauren could. Modern consumers are regularly confused by the copycat brand that has the same name and a very similar logo.

Conclusion

Ralph Lauren’s designs brought a fresh, sporty appeal to luxury fashion. His brands appeal to a wide range of consumers because they convey quality and wealth without appearing snobby. The logo that Ralph Lauren chose for his brand is a great representation of what he wanted to achieve. The iconic polo player image in the Ralph Lauren logo projects the confidence and strength associated with the brand.

The fashion house of Dior had its beginnings in 1946 France, just after World War II ended. Designer Christian Dior shot to popularity with his “New Look” that the company developed in the late 40s. The hourglass silhouette with full skirts was a breath of fresh air after all the wartime rationing, and it became the signature style of the 1950s. In modern times, Dior continues to innovate and have a massive influence on popular fashion. The logo boldly declares Dior’s legacy. In this article, we will explain how the Dior logo has contributed to the brand’s success.

Dior Logo Design Elements

The logo for Dior is incredibly simple. No fancy fonts or elaborate emblems show up in the logo’s design. The background for the logo is either white or transparent, depending on the situation. The main focus is the brand name, “Dior.” The first D is capitalized while the rest of the letters are lowercase. The text is written in a deep black color. This shade is elegant and versatile, just like Dior’s clothing. The font used in Dior’s choice of a logo is a modified version of the Nicolas Cochin typeface. It features serifs that slant slightly downwards. The curves of the letters contain both thinner and thicker strokes. The font style chosen for the logo looks traditional and sophisticated without drawing attention to itself.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

The shape of the logo at Dior has not changed much throughout Dior logo history. Originally, the company used Christian Dior’s full name in the logo. It was eventually shortened to just Dior but otherwise remained the same. This devotion to continuity has maintained the brand’s reputation through all of the changes it has faced.

2. Color

Dior logo history typically features a black text on a white background. A few exceptions occur when the logo is used in advertising. Occasionally, it appears in a white or gold shade. However, the logo is always a monochromatic color that contrasts sharply with the background. This is a reference to Christian Dior’s most iconic outfit, the Bar suit, which was black and white.

3. Font

Dior continues to use their recognizable font in their logo. Over the years, it has been ever so slightly tweaked to appear more modern and stylized. The differences are so slight that only typography experts will even notice the change.

Influences/Inspiration

The Dior logo design takes its inspiration from many other popular fashion brands’ logos. Competitors’ symbols, such as the Prada or the Gucci logo, also have extremely simple, monochromatic logos that just display the brand’s name. This type of simplistic logo allows the clothing of the brand to speak for itself. Dior’s reason for choosing this type of logo is also that a brand name logo is very versatile. It looks equally well on a discreet clothing tag or a large storefront window. Dior chose to go with an unembellished logo that changes to fit the brands’ needs while still maintaining continuity.

Trivia

Many people make the mistake of assuming the official logo for Dior is the “CD” monogram that appears on the monogram print of Dior bags. However, this is just a design element and is not the official logo. Dior only used this monogram because there was a demand for monogrammed handbags similar to Louis Vuitton’s classic bag. Dior was one of the first haute couture designers to license the use of his logo out to other companies. If another luxury fashion company met Dior’s standards and paid a licensing fee, they were allowed to use the trademarked logo on the item.

Conclusion

In modern times, Dior boutiques and advertisements all proudly display the Dior logo. After Christian Dior’s death, other famous designers like John Galliano and Raf Simons have successfully guided the company. Though Christian may no longer lead the company, the Dior logo still features the name of the man who founded the brand.

Prada Logo Design Elements

The logo used by Prada is just as understated and elegant as the company’s clothing and accessories. It is a simple black logo that references designer Miuccia Prada’s preference for minimalist neutrals. The logo for Prada simply says, “PRADA” in bold, black, capitalized letters. Though it might seem plain, a closer look reveals that the company’s logo is actually very complex . The font chosen for the logo has contrastingly thin and thick strokes. Most of the letters have a serif decor, but the “R” stands out. It has a unique curving, notched line where the leg of the “R” joins to the loop of the letter. The “A’s” also look a little unusual due to the upward flourish at the top of the letter.

Changes and Evolution

1. Shape

2. Color

All versions of Prada logo history have only had a plain, black color. This helps the logo to remain versatile in a variety of settings. Though it is generally black, the logo sometimes appears in white or gold.

3. Font

The signature Prada font used in the original logo has remained the same throughout the many logo alterations. Every Prada variation contains the custom designed Prada typeface.

Influences/Inspiration

Most of Prada logo history consists of removing superfluous design elements from the original logo. A lot of the design for the original logo at Prada comes from an Italian Royal House. In 1919, Prada received the honor of being the “Official Supplier to the Italian Royal Household.” This honor gave the company the right to use the House of Savoy’s traditional heraldry. Both the coat of arms and the knotted rope in the logo are official designs of the House of Savoy. Prada’s main competitor at the time, Gucci, did not have any sort of royal patronage. Including the royal symbols in the logo helped Prada to further establish a reputation for quality and high-class designs.

Trivia

The founder of Prada, Mario Prada, did not think that women should be allowed to run businesses. However, none of his sons wanted to work for the family company. Eventually, the business was passed down to the founder’s daughter and then his granddaughter. Mario Prada may not have trusted women’s judgement, but his granddaughter, Miuccia, made the successful decision to update the logo and expand Prada’s designs.Before running the international fashion conglomerate, Miuccia was a mime artist. The inexperienced young woman managed to turn Prada from a struggling leather manufacturer into one of the premier fashion brands.

Conclusion

The logo for Prada references the company’s proud past as an Italian leather supplier for royalty. Its updated, more streamlined version also manages to uphold the brand’s reputation for simple, elegant, quality. This logo looks equally well posted over a storefront or discretely engraved on a purse clasp. The understated Prada logo is a well designed, versatile representation for this minimalistic fashion house.

Though they are best known for their elegant scarves, Hermes produces a variety of luxury goods. The French company started out as a harness workshop in 1837. Over time, it gradually expanded to offer everything from high-quality home furnishings to designer clothing. In modern times, the Hermes Paris Logo is attached to many high-quality goods made from natural materials.

As the company grew, they realized that they would need to create a unified brand design to appeal to modern customers. Read this article to discover how Hermes developed a logo that was able to encompass their many different products.

Hermes Paris Logo Design Elements

Hermes Paris has been using the same Hermes logo since the early 1950s. This logo is a rather detailed logo that contains several design elements. At the top of the logo you can see an image of a light carriage pulled by a horse, and a man wearing a tophat and tails stands to the right, looking up at the horse. The carriage, horse, and man are all standing on a double line. The brand name, “Hermes” is below the double line in large, capitalized, serif letters. Below “Hermes,” the logo says “Paris” in smaller, lower case, sans serif letters below. Interstingly, the logo avoids being excessively busy by sticking to just two colors. The image and words are a deep orange shade that matches the iconic Hermes delivery boxes. In addition, the text and picture from the logo stands out on a white background.

Changes and Evolution

Shape

Originally, Hermes had no logo because it was a small shop serving European nobility. In 1919, two of the grandsons of the original shop owner opened a retail store. They advertised their products with a logo that said “Hermes Freres Selliery” in a curling script. The company did not rebrand its logo until another Hermes descendant succeeded the Hermes brothers in 1951. The new Hermes leader started producing more non-leather items and using the now iconic Hermes horse and carriage logo.

Color

Most of the Hermes Paris logo history just contains simple, black text. The decision to change to a bright orange logo was rather revolutionary. However, it definitely helped with brand awareness. Color psychology theory finds that most people see orange as a cheerful, warm, and cozy color. This logo color helps to make sellers feel happy and confident with their purchases.

Font

For several years, Hermes logos used antique handwriting scripts. The Hermes logo update in 1951 switched to a more modern typeface. It is a slightly altered version of a Memphis font created by Rudolf Wolf in 1929.

Influences/Inspiration

The Hermes logo takes its inspiration directly from a painting by Alfred de Dreux that was titled “Le Duc Attele, Groom a L’Attente”. In English, that title means “Hitched Carriage, Waiting Groom”. It was chosen because the image references Hermes’ origins as a harness maker in the 1800s. Moreover, the image also contains a combination of a horse and a finely clothed groom, so it alludes to Hermes’ expansion to creating fine clothing and leather accessories in addition to equestrian gear.

Trivia

The orange color associated with the Hermes Paris logo history is a happy accident. During World War II, the company’s paperboard supplier ran out of their usual cream and gold shades, so Hermes had to use bright orange cardboard to create all of their delivery boxes. This quickly became Hermes signature color because the orange was so bright, cheerful, and noticeable. Moreover, you can often identify Hermes fakes by looking at the logo. Only the second “E” in the Hermes Paris logo design is accented, but many counterfeiters make the mistake of accenting the word in the wrong place.

Conclusion

Hermes has managed to survive far longer than other luxury good brands because of its devotion to quality production and natural materials. Though the Hermes Paris logo is not as old as the company itself, it creates a sense of tradition and elegance that promotes the company’s chosen reputation. The logo manages to allude to the variety of products offered by Hermes while creating a united brand image.