Realizing the unique connection between Rolex and Royalty, Zara Phillips, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II of England, has signed a contract to be the new face of Rolex watches. The Rolex watch chosen for Zara Phillips to endorse is the classic Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust. An elite equestrian who attained the title of Eventing World Champion in 2006, Phillips will receive £100,000 pounds and three free watches to appear in advertising for the Swiss watchmakers. The first Rolex advertisement-featuring Phillips appeared in Vanity Fair, which is a further display of the great value placed by Rolex in the acquisition of such a high profile representative in the United Kingdom and beyond. The advertisement shows Zara Phillips with her horse Toytown who carried her to victory in the Eventing World Championships.
In order to illuminate the Rolex watches that Phillips has been chosen to endorse, here is a more in-depth examination. A description of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust is as follows: Stainless steel case and bracelet. White dial. Date displays at 3 o’clock position. 18kt white gold bezel. Synthetic sapphire crystal. Hidden deployment clasp. Case diameter 26mm. 31-jewel chronometer automatic movement. Water resistant at 30 meters (100 feet). A description of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust Pearlmaster is as follows: Stainless steel case. 18kt yellow gold and stainless steel bracelet. Gold dial. Date displays at 3 o’clock position. 18kt yellow gold bezel. Synthetic sapphire crystal. Hidden deployment clasp. 31 jewel chronometer automatic movement.
Rolex has supported excellence in human endeavors for over eighty years, and many of their spokespeople have been champions in their respective sports. Zara Phillips provides a unique combination of Royal blood and athletic excellence to the Rolex stable. Zara was voted 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year by the British viewing public. What is truly fascinating in the story line is that Zara’s mother, Princess Anne, was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1971. Clearly, like the lineage of one great Rolex watch design to the next, Zara Phillips follows in her mother’s footsteps of athletic excellence. Zara was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2007 New Years Honours List for her services to equestrianism. Married to England rugby player Mike Tindall, Phillips has expanded her commercial activity since becoming a professional eventer to help meet the £500,000-a-year cost of maintaining seven horses. She receives no money from the civil list, but her mother, Princess Anne, gives her free accommodation. Imagine how proud the Queen must be to have her Granddaughter chosen to be the new face of Rolex watches.
Watches not only tell time, they also send messages. Not the ubiquitous e-mail or text messages, but personal statements about their owners. For example, a Rolex reveals a certain class and style, not to mention an appreciation of quality and precision.Just as astute observers draw different conclusions about people from cars they drive— whether they’re luxury models, hybrids, SUVs, or minivans—so, too, do they discern meanings in someone’s choice of a watch.
Ever since Shakespeare’s time, a watch’s function has been secondary to its form, and today, its form is determined by its intended use: for sports, business, or formal occasions. This is why many people own three or more watches.
The first timepieces dates back to the 16th century, when Peter Henlein, a German locksmith, invented the first pocket watch. This invention was made possible by the development of mainspring and escapement mechanisms, which worked together, along with the balance wheel, to measure time. (“Escapement” refers to the unwinding of the watch, causing the ticking sound.) Henlein’s pocket watch—called the Nuremberg Egg because it was oval and bulky— only measured hours.
In the mid-17th century, the balance spring, or hairspring, was added to the balance wheel, dramatically improving its accuracy. Although Queen Elizabeth inspired the use of wrist watches among women in the late 1500s, men continued to use pocket watches because they were considered more masculine. In 1780, the self-winding pocket watch was developed in France that eliminated the need for manual winding. In 1922, the self-winding, or automatic, wristwatch was patented. Timepieces that use mainsprings and escapements have what is known as mechanical movements, with an analog display—a numbered dial with moving hands. These watches—the more expensive, the better—are the favorites of collectors and watch aficionados because of their fine craftsmanship and intricate design. Of these watches, the Rolex is without question the finest example of quality, craftsmanship, and elegance.
The other best-known type of timepiece has an electronic movement. Electronic movements have few, if any, moving parts and rely on batteries. They use tiny quartz crystals that oscillate at very stable frequencies to ensure considerably more accuracy than mechanical movements. These watches, frequently called quartz watches, also have analog displays. Quartz watches were first produced commercially by a Japanese watchmaker 1969; at the time they reportedly cost as much as a car.
Most consumers are familiar with digital watches; they were first produced in the ‘70s and are inexpensive because they can be mass-produced. Digital watches have electronic movements; what sets them apart is their liquid crystal displays, or LCDs, which present the time as blocks of numerals. Digital watches are appropriate for children and teenagers, and for people whose occupations make it impractical to wear a more costly timepiece.
Chronograph watches, first patented in the early 19th century, are preferred by athletes because of their stopwatch capabilities. In addition to the main dial that displays the time, chronograph watches can have one or more smaller dials, each with its own function: for example, to display day and date, register a specified quantity of hours, register a quantity of minutes, or show lunar phases. An example of the chronograph is the Rolex Daytona. Chronographic watches can have mechanical or electronic movements.
The choice of a particular watch is most often based on one’s lifestyle, place in the pecking order, discretionary income and personal preference. One can find a watch in the drugstore that tells time just as accurately as a fine Swiss watch with a six-figure price tag. The real difference? Each carries a different message. One’s decision of which watch to wear will tell more than just the time.
Actress & Rolex enthusiast Jennifer Garner along with husband, actor Ben Affleck, welcomed a beautiful little girl named Seraphina Rose into the world at the beginning of the New Year. Joining big sister Violet, age 3, in the Garner-Affleck household; Seraphina was named after an order of angels in the Hebrew Bible known as the seraph or seraphim. Perceived in later Jewish imagery as a class of celestial beings with human form, the seraph evolved into the highest rank of Christian angels.
The parents did not reveal their personal reasons for selecting Seraphina, but the name has come into style in recent years. “It kind of follows from Angelina, which has gotten super popular because of Angelina Jolie, as a spiritual, heavenly name,” says Pamela Redmond Satran, who runs nameberry.com, “Ben and Jen really put Violet on the map,” Satran says. “They transformed it from what people saw as a dowdy, old lady name to a really cute, modern choice.” Serafina (alternate spelling) is also a Marvel Comics villain who first appeared in an X-Men story line in 2006. Although, it is unlikely that mom and dad considered the Marvel villain as inspiration; Garner and Affleck have played Elektra and Daredevil respectively, two Marvel Comics characters, on the big screen.
For years, Jennifer Garner has been known as a true Rolex enthusiast, seen publicly wearing a multitude of Rolex styles. Garner has favored the versatility of the two-toned Ladies Datejust with a blue dial and a fluted bezel, and the classic opulence of the Ladies Rolex President in yellow gold. With the arrival of their second child, will Ben Affleck treat his beautiful wife to the quintessential indulgence of a new Rolex? In the past, while dating Jennifer Lopez, “Affleck dropped $50,000 on a Rolex for his beloved and another for her mother” according to People Magazine. Today, as a husband and father, it seems that Affleck’s taste has moved from trendy flash to long term commitment and more refined luxury. Even the names of his children reflect a profound respect for history and sophistication.
The perfect gift for Jennifer Garner is one that complements her elegant taste and pledges continued happiness with Affleck and their children. Nothing but the most enduring timepiece would be suitable for Garner and so the Ladies Rolex Super President in lustrous 18k yellow gold with custom diamond lugs is the ideal choice. Such a beautiful watch is nothing less than remarkable, and perfectly reflects qualities that are embodied in the names of Garner and Affleck’s daughters. Ideally suited for an angel in human form, only Rolex could produce a watch that is so classic and so symbolic of Jennifer Garner and the values that are conveyed in every aspect of her life.
Instead of promoting her own line of expensive wristwatches, Paris Hilton chooses to wear a Rolex wristwatch from her extensive Rolex collection. Together with watchmaker Pascal Savoy, Paris Hilton introduced a jeweled watch line at the Baselwood 2007 fair. Although she took initial photos wearing her watches, Paris refuses to wear the wristwatches out on the town. Whether the town is Hollywood or New York, Paris announced that she prefers wearing a classic timepiece like a Rolex. She would never abandon her Ladies’ Rolex.
To avoid being tacky, Paris Hilton chooses to wear a Rolex and not her own line of wristwatches and diamond jewelry. After all, Paris understands that Rolex and class practically are synonymous in High Society. As the Kern Valley Sun recently wrote: “Who are these “Rolex Cowboys”? According to the Animal Welfare Institute, among them are Paris Hilton . . . and other Forbes 400 trillionaires” (November 23, 2008). For a century, Rolex wristwatches have represented the height of quality and precision. As a socialite, Paris Hilton does her best to maintain a certain image. While she was dating Good Charlotte lead guitarist Benji Madden, Paris often was photographed with a Rolex Daydate on her wrist. She clearly was influenced by Benji’s passion for Rolex. In picture after picture, Benji could be seen wearing a Rolex wristwatch, including a Rolex Datejust and a Rolex Day Date Presidential.
Called a “marketing genius” by Hayden Panettiere (the star of Heroes), Paris has always understood the key role in fashion of diamond jewelery and expensive watches, and she knows Rolex is the height of fashion. Even in a tough economy, Paris refuses to let down her Rolex standards. In the Paris Hilton Biography on TV.com, the writer describes her laissez-faire attitude at the Baselwood Fair: “Paris was in town to promote her new line of watches. As well as forgetting where she was, she also admitted she snubs her own line of watches in favor of watches by Rolex”. Paris Hilton is a marketing and fashion force only to a certain point: No matter what is at stake, she rolls with her Rolex.
British pop sensation Lily Allen does not need British rap star Riley to ask her who has been wearing her Rolex because she is recording with him. The Sunday Mirror reported that Lily Allen wears multiple deluxe versions of the luxury watch, including a $95,000 dollar (Euro 75,000) Rolex Submariner that was given to her by New Look in 2007. Thanks to the success of the clothing line she designed for them, New Look presented Lily Allen with the super duper bling Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner in 18k gold and studded with diamonds. Single-handedly Lily Allen brought British pop music to its knees in 2007 with such catchy songs as “Smile” and “Alfie”. Her style and her songs are as spunky as Lily, who is noted for getting kicked out of 13 schools in her short 21 years of life. Accused of cultivating a gangster image, Allen seems to live her life by her own rules. Keeping with her gangster image, Lily also sports a gold Rolex Presidential watch.
Even more exciting, Lily Allen has collaborated with Wiley on the ‘Wearing My Rolex‘ man’s new album. “I always wanted to work with Lily since I heard ‘Alright, Still’,” Wiley told the paper. “It was weird ‘cos when I listened to it I used to sit there giggling thinking ‘this girl’s cool’. But then I realized she wasn’t just cool, she’d sold a million records. I respected her even more after that. The track we’ve done is a scorcher. This is the way I want to go. I want to push boundaries but I want to stay in the charts by making tunes that connect with people. It’s pop all the way from here.” Lily Allen has blamed her record company, EMI, for the delay of the release of her forthcoming second album, which is tentatively titled ‘Stuck On The Naughty Step’ which is now scheduled for a February release. The British like to think of her as Cindy Lauper 2.0, but in truth, she is a creation all her own, as precise and original as the Rolex watches she chooses to wear. Not only can the girl sing, but she has taste as well.
Wiley may still be wondering who is wearing his Rolex, but Lily Allen certainly knows her collection of Rolex watches is safe, and she might just let Wiley wear one for a while. Then again, Wiley certainly has his own problems lately. On November 2 2008, a fake BBC News Report was created and spread around the net claiming that Wiley had died. This rumor turned out to be false as on November 3 2008, Wiley’s My Space display name was ‘I AM NOT DEAD’. Luckily, Wiley is still kicking it and hanging with Lily Allen because they both make great music and they both love the bling of their luxury Rolex watches.
Before their divorce in October, Guy Ritchie celebrated the 50th birthday of his wife Madonna by giving her a $100,00 vintage Rolex Masterpiece watch. At the huge party Guy Ritchie threw for Madonna in August, nobody knew the couple was on the verge of separating. In fact, they might not even have known that their marriage rapidly was coming to a close. As Central Park Gossip reported: “Superstar Madonna’s hubby Guy Ritchie has made sure his wife is on time for all her birthday appointments, he’s bought her a $100,000 Rolex watch to celebrate the day. The movie maker has reportedly bought the Material Girl an 18-karat gold and diamond-studded Rolex Masterpiece as a 50th birthday gift. A pal tells In Touch magazine, ‘She (Madonna) wanted it for a while, but she couldn’t bring herself to spend that much money on a watch.’ “
At the celebration, Guy Ritchie gushed about his wife in front of nearly a hundred well-wishers: “She looks better now that she ever had done. I’m so proud. I love her so much.” The party included cases of champagne and mounds of caviar with illusionist David Blaine performing card tricks for the guests. In Touch magazine had a different take on the party at the time, believing, “Guy picked up a $100,000 diamond-covered Rolex for Madonna, because nothing says “I love you” quite like marking a major age milestone with a device that measures the passage of time.”
Although the Rolex Masterpiece given to Madonna was not caught on camera, a similar piece pictured above recently was put up for sale at a major estate auction and described as follows: “The centerpiece item in the estate jewelry group is an original factory Rolex Masterpiece 18k white gold ladies’ watch, brand new in the box with papers, with factory diamond bracelet, factory diamond bezel and factory mother of pearl and diamond dial. It is the finest ladies’ watch Rolex makes. Very few are produced, and anyone lucky enough to find one would probably pay around $100,000.”
Madonna reportedly was thrilled by her beautiful Rolex Masterpiece, but the high of the party quickly sank into the depths of divorce. By the end of October 2008, the marriage of these two high profile celebrities was over and officially ended at a short proceeding in a London courtroom. Although Ritchie spent lavishly on his wife for her 50th birthday, including the $100,000 Rolex Masterpiece and a half million-dollar Bulgari necklace, he walked away from the marriage with a hefty seventy million dollar settlement. The remaining question is whether Madonna will wear her beautiful Rolex Masterpiece, or will she place it in a safe deposit box in order not to be reminded of her lost love?
In October of 2005, a gold Rolex Day-Date, commonly known as a Rolex President, sold at the Alexander Auction House in Greenwich, Connecticut for $120,000 dollars, breaking the house record. A stunning watch indeed, it was the historical ambiguity of the watch’s origins that drove up the selling price.
Purportedly, the gold Rolex President was given to John F. Kennedy by the iconic Marilyn Monroe on the evening the actress famously serenaded him, singing a sultry rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” on May 19, 1962, at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Inscribed with the words, “Jack, with love as always from Marilyn, May 29th 1962”, the watch was sold with a poem entitled: “A heartfelt plea on your birthday,” typed in black on a paper disc placed at the bottom of the gold case containing the gift. The date on the inscription corresponds with Kennedy’s birthday. However, even after garnering an exorbitant price at auction, many experts still question whether the watch is a real piece of history or an elaborate fake.
According to the story, Marilyn Monroe gave the watch to Kenneth O’Donnell, Kennedy’s aid, on the night of the celebration. Widely accepted to be having an affair, the watch was a gift from Monroe to President Kennedy. When Kenneth O’Donnell passed the watch on to J.F.K., Kennedy told him to “get rid of it,” according to a note that was sold with the watch.
The Rolex was put up for auction in 2005 and was expected to sell for between $40,000 and $60,000, a gross underestimate considering the final selling price of $120,000. Bill Panagopulos, founder of the auction house, explained the huge discrepancy: “It’s the hardest thing I ever had to estimate, historic relics, especially when there is a hint of scandal attached, defy any attempt by an auctioneer to estimate their selling price.”
The biggest question, when considering the watch’s valuation, is whether it is actually authentic. Rather than being sold by the O’Donnell family, Panagopulos said the Rolex President had been brought to him by an English citizen, “who describes his family as being prominent pawnbrokers for the upper classes.” According to Panagopulos, the watch’s serial number and engraving are appropriate for the time, and the history of the watch was confirmed by a family member of Kennedy’s former aide.
An ornate design on the top lid of the round gold case containing the Rolex shows two doves “kissing.” In the bottom of the case, there is a round piece of paper printed with the poem from Marilyn to her alleged lover. Titled “A heartfelt plea on your birthday,” the poem reads, “Let lovers breathe their sighs/And roses bloom and music sound/Let passion burn on lips and eyes/And pleasures merry world go round/Let golden sunshine flood the sky/ and let me love/ or let me die!”
Overall, the Rolex and its accompanying notes represent a dramatic course of events that will always be shrouded in speculation. Marilyn Monroe’s death, by a mysterious drug overdose in August 1962, and President Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963, means that the truth may never be known. The aide, Kenneth O’Donnell, who was given the watch in the story, passed away in 1977, and his family refuses to comment on the gold Rolex and its historical validity. It seems that whether or not the tale is true, the anonymous buyer of this Rolex President will never regret the timeless sophistication of this watch and the intrigue of its origins.
In October of 2005, a gold Rolex Day-Date, commonly known as a Rolex President, sold at the Alexander Auction House in Greenwich, Connecticut for $120,000 dollars, breaking the house record. A stunning watch indeed, it was the historical ambiguity of the watch’s origins that drove up the selling price.
Purportedly, the gold Rolex President was given to John F. Kennedy by the iconic Marilyn Monroe on the evening the actress famously serenaded him, singing a sultry rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” on May 19, 1962, at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Inscribed with the words, “Jack, with love as always from Marilyn, May 29th 1962”, the watch was sold with a poem entitled: “A heartfelt plea on your birthday,” typed in black on a paper disc placed at the bottom of the gold case containing the gift. The date on the inscription corresponds with Kennedy’s birthday. However, even after garnering an exorbitant price at auction, many experts still question whether the watch is a real piece of history or an elaborate fake.
According to the story, Marilyn Monroe gave the watch to Kenneth O’Donnell, Kennedy’s aid, on the night of the celebration. Widely accepted to be having an affair, the watch was a gift from Monroe to President Kennedy. When Kenneth O’Donnell passed the watch on to J.F.K., Kennedy told him to “get rid of it,” according to a note that was sold with the watch.
The Rolex was put up for auction in 2005 and was expected to sell for between $40,000 and $60,000, a gross underestimate considering the final selling price of $120,000. Bill Panagopulos, founder of the auction house, explained the huge discrepancy: “It’s the hardest thing I ever had to estimate, historic relics, especially when there is a hint of scandal attached, defy any attempt by an auctioneer to estimate their selling price.”
The biggest question, when considering the watch’s valuation, is whether it is actually authentic. Rather than being sold by the O’Donnell family, Panagopulos said the Rolex President had been brought to him by an English citizen, “who describes his family as being prominent pawnbrokers for the upper classes.” According to Panagopulos, the watch’s serial number and engraving are appropriate for the time, and the history of the watch was confirmed by a family member of Kennedy’s former aide.
An ornate design on the top lid of the round gold case containing the Rolex shows two doves “kissing.” In the bottom of the case, there is a round piece of paper printed with the poem from Marilyn to her alleged lover. Titled “A heartfelt plea on your birthday,” the poem reads, “Let lovers breathe their sighs/And roses bloom and music sound/Let passion burn on lips and eyes/And pleasures merry world go round/Let golden sunshine flood the sky/ and let me love/ or let me die!”
Overall, the Rolex and its accompanying notes represent a dramatic course of events that will always be shrouded in speculation. Marilyn Monroe’s death, by a mysterious drug overdose in August 1962, and President Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963, means that the truth may never be known. The aide, Kenneth O’Donnell, who was given the watch in the story, passed away in 1977, and his family refuses to comment on the gold Rolex and its historical validity. It seems that whether or not the tale is true, the anonymous buyer of this Rolex President will never regret the timeless sophistication of this watch and the intrigue of its origins.
Joining tennis icons Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, beautiful French Open Champion Ana Ivanovic signs a worldwide endorsement contract with Rolex, the leading Swiss watchmaker. As the only female tennis player chosen by the Geneva-based watchmaker, Rolex will employ Ana in their advertising and as an ambassador of their philanthropic and sporting ventures. Ranked No. 1 in the world by the WTA for nine consecutive weeks in 2008, Ana Ivanovic displayed her mettle as a top tennis player in 2008. Beyond tennis, Rolex respected Ana Ivanovic’s appointment by the United Nations as the Unicef National Ambassador for Serbia in September of 2007. Ivanovic visited a primary school in Serbia during her inauguration and said: “I’m also looking forward to going into the classroom and meeting many kids.”
In the French Open shot, Ana Ivanovic is wearing a men’s Rolex Daytona, which is somewhat surprising. At this time, her endorsement deal barely was off the ground, and Rolex had not chosen her signature brand. What is remarkable is how well she wears the Paul Newman Rolex, and how the watch becomes both powerful and captivating. Later, Rolex decided Ana Ivanovic needed a watch to match her style and chose the gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust as her signature model. In interviews, Ivanovic expressed her delighted surprise that such a reputable brand as Rolex would pick her for their team: “I’m very happy to be partnering with Rolex,” said Ana. “It’s one of the most prestigious companies in the world and it feels good that they have shown confidence in me by offering me this contract. I will enjoy wearing Rolex watches on and off the court.”
The official watch sponsor of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, Rolex was thrilled by Ana Ivanovic’s tremendous comeback in 2008’s Australian Open semifinal. Against Daniela Hantuchova, Ivanovic trailed 6-0, 2-0 in a match that quite simply appeared to be over. Appearances can be deceiving, and Ivanovic stormed back to win the match, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4. Even though she lost in the finals, her semifinal comeback was a career defining moment. Such a moment created the momentum that led to her exciting victory in the French Open final and her first grand slam title. Afterwards, she vaulted to the No. 1 ranking and remained at the top for nine consecutive weeks.
Here is an image from Ana’s visit to the Rolex display suite at the China Open in Beijing. During the visit, Ana met the regional director of Rolex in China and signed autographs for a throng of Chinese supporters. It is no wonder that Rolex would pick such a stylish and popular champion to join its team of champions. The leading name in luxury watches, Rolex has been the pre-eminent symbol of performance and prestige for over a century, and Rolex men’s and ladies’ watches combine elegance with precision.
Guys, a famous saying "blessing in disguise" is really wise. An amazing story happened in London where police maintained an operation to check up some jewelry stores activity. They have found a great number of stolen things there. Basically watches. And an interesting thing happened. In order to return everything found police placed pictures of the stolen things on a special site. Interesting, isn't it?
Soon after it first "victims" appeared. Have you already guessed that this is the end of the story? It turned out that those thieves passed their loot to light-fingered jewelers and those jewelers incrusted watches with the precious stones. Yes, they killed two birds with one stone: they made watches more expensive and at the same time watches lost their similarity with their description.
Oh, of course it's a great idea...but Great Britain police works great as well. They gradually returned stolen things to their owners; moreover a very pleasant surprise was waiting for them.
For instance, a woman that bought a watch for 10000 pounds got the same watch but its present price with precious stones was 32 000 pounds.
But the greatest bonus got a golden Rolex owner. From the very beginning his watch wasn't cheap 40000 pounds, but after theft its price became 200000. Wonderful, isn't it?
When the Rolex watch owner saw his renewed watch for the first time he was shocked. And we can easily understand his reaction - just imagine: his watch was beautiful till the theft took place, but this beauty was later adorned with precious stones. Oh, guys, who want to steal my watch, decorate it with precious stones and then give it back to me? Nobody? Why?
Ok, it was a joke but let's be serious. So, I don't know your opinion but as for me, it's a great compensation for all the bypast troubles, agree?
The new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Special Edition and the Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II successfully combines daring compositions and well-maintained traditional craftsmanship. The cases of the both timepieces are crafted in 18k white gold.
The Datejust Special Edition features an eye-catching bezel paved with black sapphires or diamond baguettes. The originally designed watch's dial reveals 'straps' composed of white diamonds that distinctively contrast with the black background. The white diamonds have replaced the hour-markers. There is a big date window at 3 o'clock. As for the watch's strap, it sports the combination of stingray leather and rubber. The strap is embellished with sparkling diamonds and equipped with a folding clasp.
The Rolex GMT-Master II features a 24-hour rotatable bezel set with jewels. The watch's case lugs and protective shoulders are paved with brilliants. The solid Oyster bracelet is provided with the new Oysterlock security clasp with Easylink comfort extension link. White mother-of-pearl hour markers provide great readability on the black dial. The GMT function is featured by the additional central hand with a triangular tip. the timepiece also provides the date function with a window placed at 3 o'clock.
The new Rolex jeweled watches are the reflection of the company's exclusive art of watchmaking and gem encrusting.
It is difficult to say which Rolex model is the best, because individual tastes can't be defined with as much accuracy and precision as these Swiss watches.
From a purely personal point of view, I think the DateJust collection offers the most versatility, at least as far as the combination of classic elegance and functionality is concerned. Historically, too, the DateJust was a milestone setter for Rolex, as it was the first watch to feature the date display through a clearly visible magnifying Cyclops lens.
A brief lesson in Rolex nomenclature:
Launched in 1945, the DateJust was the culmination of all Rolex's virtues: chronometer-certified, water-resistant (up to 330 feet / 100 metres), with an automatic winding. And, of course, the most important feature in a watch - punctuality. The "just" in the name stands for "just in time" because the date display advances to show the next day's date at precisely midnight.
While the DateJust's basic design did not dramatically change since its inception, some aesthetic touches have been added over the years, such as Rolesor, for example.
For those who don't know, Rolesor is Rolex's term for the combination of stainless steel with the yellow, white or pink 18-carat gold, a look that jazzes up either all-steel or all-gold models. It derives from the terms Rolex (naturally), and Or, the French word for gold.
DateJust features:
Many of the DateJust Rolesor models also boast refined details, such as smooth and domed bezels in addition to the traditional fluted ones, as well as better visibility thanks to larger dials and hands. Also, the gold central link of the Oyster bracelet is offset by narrower links of solid steel for a snugger fit.
The ideal wearer:
If you like functional, sturdy and no-frill watches that will withstand a lot of wear and tear, a sports model like the Explorer might be a better choice than the DateJust.
But for those who like dressy elegance and the two-tone combination of Rolesor, this DateJust model is, wrists down, a great choice.
Rejuvenation of the style:
DateJust has been a timeless classic since its introduction, and celebrities took to immediately. Still favoured in recent decades, Kurt Russell was seen wearing one in "Tequila Sunrise," (1988, if you didn't remember) and Matt Dillon even resorts to stealing a Rolesor watch in "One Night at McCool's" (although the real prize he was after was the DVD player...)
Recently, Rolex caused a bit of a stir with some flashy adverts of DateJust models in Rolesor, adorning the wrists of attractive, fun-loving younger people "out on the town". Although an instantly recognisable brand the world over, Rolex's long history demands that the brand's image take an occasional dip in the Fountain of Youth.
Some adverts from the Far East don't reach us in the West, although they'd certainly have an audience here as well. Below, Brad Pitt (an American) models Rolex watches (Swiss) for an advertising campaign in Japan.