If you’ve ever closely examined a Rolex watch with Roman numerals, you might have noticed something unusual—the number “4” is written as IIII instead of IV. This design choice isn’t unique to Rolex; many luxury watchmakers follow the same convention. But why? In this article, we’ll explore the historical, aesthetic, and technical reasons why Rolex uses IIII instead of IV, and how this choice enhances the overall design of their clean factory Rolex watches. A Brief History of Roman Numerals in Watchmaking Before diving into Rolex’s design philosophy, it’s essential to understand how Roman numerals evolved in watchmaking. Traditionally, the…