Yes, it is true. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, wears a Rolex watch, and he has worn a Rolex ever since he was a boy. The challenging question to answer is what kind of Rolex watch the Dalai Lama has worn and maintained for so many years. In the pictures of the Dalai Lama wearing the Rolex watch, only the back of the bracelet is evident.
According to the accepted tale, the American President Franklin Roosevelt gave the Rolex watch to the Dalai Lama. It is a known fact that Franklin Roosevelt wore a Rolex Day-Date. At the time, the Rolex Day-Date was not known as the Rolex Day-Date Presidential. The latter designation was assumed only after Rolex gave a Day-Date to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Before the Day-Date officially became presidential, Franklin Roosevelt wore the Rolex watch in the White House. Putting two and two together, it makes sense that the President would give the young Dalai Lama a Rolex Day-Date. Since Roosevelt died in 1945 and the Dalai Lama was born in 1935, the Rolex watch was given to a mere boy. The Dalai Lama has maintained the Rolex watch in excellent condition for over half a century. How has he been able to perform such a remarkable feat?
According to the accepted tale, the American President Franklin Roosevelt gave the Rolex watch to the Dalai Lama. It is a known fact that Franklin Roosevelt wore a Rolex Day-Date. At the time, the Rolex Day-Date was not known as the Rolex Day-Date Presidential. The latter designation was assumed only after Rolex gave a Day-Date to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Before the Day-Date officially became presidential, Franklin Roosevelt wore the Rolex watch in the White House. Putting two and two together, it makes sense that the President would give the young Dalai Lama a Rolex Day-Date. Since Roosevelt died in 1945 and the Dalai Lama was born in 1935, the Rolex watch was given to a mere boy. The Dalai Lama has maintained the Rolex watch in excellent condition for over half a century. How has he been able to perform such a remarkable feat?
As historian Ron Gluckman writes: “Since childhood, the Dalai Lama has been an incorrigible tinkerer. He still has a Rolex watch given to him by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt — a credit to his do-it-yourself skills.” Being a lover of fine machinery, the Dalai Lama naturally fell in love with his Rolex watch. Since the beginning, Rolex has been at the forefront of watchmaking in terms of artistry and precision. Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf recognized two major requirements for watches: 1) To keep accurate time, and 2) To be reliable for which Rolex has been recognized for almost as long as watches have been worn. Such quality clearly was recognized by the Dalai Lama at a young age when he already showed signs of the spiritual leader he would become.
In 1990, Teresa Watanabe observed in the Los Angeles Times, “The Dalai Lama is motivated by kindness and love, and his broad appeal hardly seems more complex than that. He seems caring, people say. He seems genuine. He lives simply, wearing a maroon and saffron robe every day. His one apparent luxury, a Rolex watch, was a gift from Franklin Roosevelt. He actually seems to practice what he preaches, the rare leader who has managed to stay untarnished by any hint of personal scandal.” Like how the Rolex watches, which he loves, have come to represent the very best in luxury watches, the Dalai Lama has come to represent the very best in humanity. In a strange way, it makes perfect sense that such a man would choose to wear a Rolex watch. Still, we wish to know without any question or doubt, what model of Rolex is on the wrist of the Dalai Lama? Is his watch a Rolex Day-Date, or is it another one of the stunning Rolex watch models?
- Rolex Luxury Watch Blog
- Rolex Luxury Watch Blog
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