Rihanna on the cover of Fader wearing a Rolex (photo: Fader)

The singer was named creative director for Puma's womenswear in 2014 and recently debuted her FENTY X PUMA collection, featuring an interesting take on women's athletic clothing. The Trainer, shown in the photo below, fuses modern comfort, an urban aesthetic and a flare that can only be achieved by a tastemaker like Rihanna. They are sold out at the Puma online store along with the fuzzy sandals.

Aside from her fashion endeavors, the singer released the number one album, Anti, and broke records with her chart topping hit Work featuring Drake. She is now on a world tour supporting the album, her most critically acclaimed and stylistically unique musically offering to date.  She wore her Lady Datejust in one of the scenes of her steamy new music video for the song Needed Me, the latest single off the double platinum album.

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#THETRAINER #FENTYxPUMA

A photo posted by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Mar 4, 2016 at 8:08am PST

Rolex Daytona with Paul Newman Dial (photo: ©Rolex/Jean-Daniel Meyer)

Newman married actress and costar in the film 'The Long, Hot Summer' Joanne Woodward in 1958. It is speculated that she gifted him with his Rolex Daytona when he took up auto racing in the early 1970s.

What people refer to as a 'Paul Newman Daytona' is a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona model that was fitted with a unique dial by the watchmaker on a limited number of models. The reason there are so few of them is that they were not popular when they hit the market. They became popular decades after their release, with the help of Newman acting as an unofficial ambassador of the rare chronographs.

There are a few different dial configurations for what collectors consider Paul Newman Daytonas. The model shown above features an inverted color scheme, with a white dial and black sub-dials. The seconds sub-dial has different markings than the original Daytona, with numbers 15, 30, 45 and 60, displayed instead of the customary 20, 40 and 60.

The reason for the inverted colors is to improve visibility while keeping time during a race. This dial features a seconds track printed on the dial in a contrasting black ring, making it easier to use the chronograph functions at high speeds.

In November of 2013, a Paul Newman Daytona sold for a record $1.1 Million at a Christie's auction in Geneva, Switzerland. The buyer chose to remain anonymous.

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Neil and Mayim, from StarTalk Libve at BAM. Photo credit: Elliot Severn

A photo posted by StarTalk Radio 🌠 (@startalkradio) on Feb 28, 2014 at 6:00pm PST

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wearing Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (photo: bestcelebritystyle.com)

The stunning beauty has appeared on magazine covers and been named the sexiest woman alive. She is currently working on a line of cosmetics and lingerie with British retailer Marks and Spencer. This seems like a logical career move, as Huntington-Whiteley is known best for her role as an Angel and covergirl. She has also appeared in a few films, most recently Mad Max: Fury Road.

Rosie recently walked in Balmain's A/W 2016 show in Paris Fashion Week donning a jet black wig. She and Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing were photographed below celebrating the designer's 30th birthday party. The photo appears on the model's Instagram account.

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See you tonight birthday boy @olivier_rousteing!! 🎂🎉🍾🍸#Party #TheBig30

A photo posted by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (@rosiehw) on Oct 23, 2015 at 7:34am PDT

Rolex 904L Stainless Steel (photo: Rolex)

904L stainless steel is customarily used in chemical and aerospace applications. It is highly resistant to corrosion from acids, which makes it ideal for handling chemicals. However, a wristwatch would rarely be exposed to corrosive acids to such a degree. After all, if the watch on your wrist is exposed to these acids, you would likely lose your arm in the incident, making the watch's resistance to chemicals irrelevant as you will no longer have a wrist to wear it on.

In terms of chemical composition, 904L stainless steel has a lower amount of carbon and a higher concentration of nickel and chromium and copper added in comparison to 316L. Rolex melts this stainless steel alloy twice to purify it and ensure that it will polish well.

The polish and the resistance to scratching are the selling points that Rolex uses to promote 904L stainless steel alloy that they manufacture in-house. Although the process is more rigorous and expensive, the watchmaker insists that it is superior to 316L.

Some claim that higher amounts of nickel in 904L steel could lead to allergies on contact, but anyone with a nickel allergy would have a similar reaction when coming into contact with 316L as well.

For more information on 904L stainless steel, check out my post in the Tech section.

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Georgina Bloomberg at Central Park Celebration of the Horse, 2014 (photo: Rolex)

One of the most prestigious horse shows in Europe, the CHIO (Concours Hippique International Official) Aachen takes place in Aachen, Germany every summer. Competitions are held in five categories: show jumping, dressage, eventing, four-in-hand driving and vaulting. Past winners include Nelson Pessoa, his son Rodrigo Pessoa, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Eric Lamaze.

Every year in the fall, the CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament takes place in Calgary, Canada. Rolex became affiliated with the equestrian show jumping event in 1989. From 2001-2004, it was named the number one international show jumping event in the world.

Rolex has been presenting sponsor for the CHI Geneva since 1996. Taking place in Geneva, Switzerland in December, it is the longest running indoor indoor equestrian show in history. It takes place at the Palexpo, the largest indoor arena in the world.

Rolex also sponsors the World Equestrian Games, which takes place every four years at a different venue. They are title sponsor of the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final and Kentucky Three Day Event, they partnered with the Palm Beach International Center in 2012 and since 2014 they have partnered with Indoor Brabant in the Netherlands. They are also the official timepiece for the Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials.

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First Rolex Sky-Dweller Model, 2012 (photo: Rolex)

The 9001 movement that was designed for this model uses a Saros annual calendar to differentiate between the longer or shorter months. It is one of the most complex mechanical watch movements manufactured by Rolex, responsible for telling the time in two locations at once and allowing the wearer to jump from hour to hour to set it without affecting the minute or second hands.

Aside from the technical innovations, the Sky-Dweller offers an interesting design aesthetic that incorporates the fluted bezel of the original Day-Date, a large 42 mm case, a Cyclops magnifying lens and a unique off-center rotating 24 hour disc.

The functionality of this timepiece is accessible to most after a quick study of the crown and bezel. Its size is just large enough to compete with other large luxury watches that dominate the market but small enough to look sophisticated on the wrist.

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First Rolex Yacht-Master II Model from 2007 (photo: Rolex)

This massive watch, one of Rolex's largest, was equipped with a 4161 movement that interacted with the Ring Command Bezel to operate the regatta timer and programmable countdown. Based on the 4130 movement, it featured the blue Parachrom hairspring and a power reserve of 72 hours.

Though there couldn't have been much of a demand for a timepiece with a regatta timer on the luxury watch market at the time, the Yacht-Master II provided a nautical alternative to other large professional watches like Rolex's Cosmograph Daytona. From the functionality perspective, the regatta timer isn't anymore esoteric than the tachymetric scale on the Daytona.

More so than the Yacht-Master model, the Yacht-Master II solidified Rolex's commitment to the yachting world. They have sponsored a multitude of yachting events throughout their history, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in Australia.

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Rolex Tech Innovations of the Early 2000s (photo: Rolex/Christophe Lauffenburger)

In 2000, Rolex fitted the Cosmograph Daytona with their 4130 movement. Completely manufactured by the watchmaker, this movement replaced the Zenith El Primero movement in the Daytona model. Both the 4130 and the El Primero are still considered the top of the line in terms of mechanical watch movements.

The 2000 version of the 4130 movement contained a Prachrom hairspring that was developed by Rolex. By 2005, they achieved the characteristic blue color on what is now known as the blue Parachrom hairspring. They also patented the Paraflex shock absorber, a shock absorption system also manufactured completely in-house by the watchmaker. In that year they also patented their proprietary Cerachrom ceramic used for the bezel.

Finally, they also improved upon the escapement of their movements, developing the Chronergy escapement used today in their 3235 and 3255 movements. With their movements and most components therein now manufactured in-house, Rolex has more control over the quality of their products than ever. It will be interesting to see how this autonomy will impact what they do next.

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First Rolex Yacht-Master Model Released in 1992 (photo: Rolex)

Many claim that the Yacht-Master model released in 1992 was meant to be an upgraded version of the Submariner model, but Rolex decided to keep the Submariner as is and release this model as a boating watch, as opposed to a dive watch.

For all intents and purposes, it looks like the same watch. However, the Yacht-Master was the first professional Rolex model available in three sizes - 29 mm, 35 mm and 40 mm. Rolex used 18 karat gold on the Yacht-Master, including on the bezel, which featured raised numerals. The 40 mm version uses the same movement as the Sub, adding to their similarities.

First Rolex Pearlmaster Model from 1992 (photo: Rolex)

The Pearlmaster was also introduced that year as an amped up version of the classic Lady Datejust model. The fist model, shown in the photo above, featured a diamond bezel and a brand new Pearlmaster bracelet, a smoother, more elegant version of the Oyster bracelet. In subsequent models, the links of the bracelet are lined with diamonds as well.

While both models adhere to Rolex design standards for the most part, they each offer variations on popular models that appeal to a wealthier demographic. While the Yacht-Master bears similarities to the Submariner, the name and materials used suggest that this model is designed for the captain of the vessel, not the divers onboard.

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First GMT-Master II Model, 1982 (photo: Rolex)

In 1982, Rolex released the GMT-Master II model, which would go on to replace the GMT-Master years later. The GMT-Master II featured a thicker, synthetic sapphire crystal and a thicker case than its predecessor. It also allowed the wearer to jump from one hour to another when adjusting the hour hand without affecting the minute or second hands.

The 1980s also saw the beginning of Rolex's use of 904l stainless steel, which they used in place of the 316l stainless steel which is still the industry standard. This stainless steel alloy is normally used in industrial applications due to its resistance to corrosion and scratching in extreme conditions; it also polished better than 316l stainless steel.

While the advent of quartz watch movements may have altered the landscape of the Swiss watchmaking industry, it would seem to have only reinforced Rolex's vertically integrated business model.

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First Rolex Sea-Dweller, 1967 (photo: Rolex)

While Rolex had already introduced the Submariner model for professional divers, COMEX divers required a wristwatch with an improved depth rating. In 1967 Rolex introduced a small amount of Sea-Dwellers to meet these needs. The 1665 model, shown above, featured a helium escape valve that allowed helium to escape the case of the watch during decompression without damaging it. The 'Sea-Dweller' and 'Submariner 2000' lines on the dial were colored red, giving them the nickname 'Double Red' by collectors.

In 1978, they introduced reference 16660 equipped with a 3035 movement and a depth rating of 4,000 feet. They also improved the vibrational speed of the Sea-Dweller, increasing it from 19,800 bph to 28,800 bph. The next set of improvements to this model didn't come until 2008 when the Deepsea was introduced.

The legacies of the Submariner and Sea-Dweller live on today in the current models. While some changes have been made throughout the years, the spirit of oceanic exploration and innovation remains an integral part of their popularity.

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Rolex Cellini Dual Time (photo: Rolex)

The design of the Cellini Time, shown above in 18 karat white gold with a black alligator leather strap, is clean and sophisticated. The case measures 39 mm in diameter and features a double bezel that is both domed and fluted with a guilloche dial. Cellini models only come in 18 karat white, yellow or rose gold with gold appliqué hour markers.

Which Rolex Model is Right for Me? (photo: Leandro Puca)

Rolex Bienne, Switzerland (photo: Rolex/Rémy Lidereau)

What set Rolex apart for me when I was on the market for a luxury watch was a combination of design aesthetic, legacy and technical innovation. When compared to the interesting new designs that have a appeared on the market recently - from skeleton watches to smart watches - Rolex watches may appear a bit traditional or even simple. However, it is their adherence to classical style and elegance that made me go with a Rolex in the end.

While smart watches are trendy, there's just something about having another digital screen to look at every day that turned me off from them. And I love the artistic look of skeleton watches, but the legibility is an issue for me - and why wear a watch if you can't tell the time on it? If I had a budget for multiple luxury timepieces I would buy one of each for different occasions. But I don't, so I went with what made the most sense for me.

Rolex Workshop (photo: Rolex/Jean-Daniel Meyer)

Another factor that helped me decide on a Rolex for my first luxury watch purchase was the company's history. Learning about Rolex's founder, Hans Wilsdorf, and his obsession with reliability, innovation and excellence was compelling to me. I had always seen Rolex watches as a status symbol, but I never really asked myself why this brand was associated with success more so than any other.

That enduring success is also largely due to the technical innovations that Rolex has developed over the years. While Rolex models don't seem to change dramatically over the years, the movements inside have seen many improvements. Rolex is a vertically integrated company and they manufacture most of their movements, precious metals, steel bracelets and cases in house.

These are the main reasons that I decided to purchase a Rolex watch, but I would be remiss not to mention the fact that I inherited a Rolex from my grandfather and wore it for years before deciding to purchase one for myself. I ultimately chose a different model, but that experience certainly informed my purchase decision.

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Another common reason to buy a Rolex is to mark the passage of time. Anniversaries and birthdays are great times to show loved ones how much you care. Receiving a gift in the form of a luxury watch is always appreciated and creates a beautiful memory. It's also really nice to soften to blow of growing older by gifting yourself with one after reaching a certain age - a fortieth birthday, for example.

Finally, such a gift is an ideal way to honor an accomplishment. To receive or purchase a timepiece after a graduation or promotion imbues it with meaning and honors the tradition of excellence that is the hallmark of the Rolex brand.

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Pablo Picasso Wearing a Rolex GMT-Master and Native American War Bonnet it the 1960s (photo: Rolex)

He is photographed above wearing a Rolex GMT-Master and a Native American war bonnet in the 1960s. By this time, Picasso has already gone through many artistic periods, from the blue period that produced works like his Blue Nude to the cubist movement that would eventually influence perhaps his most important work, La Guernica, which shed light on the bombing of the the Basque country village during the Spanish Civil War.

Many don't associate Picasso with sculpture, however, he dedicated time to producing sculptures later in his life, including the 'Chicago Picasso' as it is now known. Shown below, the towering sculpture was designed by Picasso in 1965 and built by the US Bridge Company, a division of the US Steel Corporation, for its dedication in 1967.

Picasso was offered $100,000 for the commission, which he donated to the people of Chicago. The abstract cubist sculpture was met with some resistance by some Chicagoans, who compared it to a large insect. Others, including Picasso's grandson, posit that Frenchwoman Sylvette David served as inspiration for this piece.

'Chicago Picasso' Sculpture by Pablo Picasso Dedicated to the People of Chicago in 1967 (source: J. Crocker)

While we may never know what the Chicago Picasso represents, we can appreciate it as a monolith of modern art and a tribute to early 20th century design and ingenuity. It also serves as the perfect foil for the symmetry and adherence to classical design represented by Rolex wristwatches.

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Tudor Museum Display at Baselworld 2016

The current Heritage Black Bay model synthesizes the featured of Tudor's historical dive watches, including the Snowflake hour hand that was introduced in 1969 and became a signature design feature. The photo below shows the current Heritage Black Bay model with a burgundy disc and aged leather strap.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay with Burgundy Disc and Aged Leather Strap

Rolex released the Explorer II model in 1971, almost twenty years after its predecessor. Although it shared a name with the Explorer, this wristwatch resembled the GMT-Master much more in terms of function and style - it actually used the same movement as the GMT-Master, either a calibre 1570 or 1575.

First Rolex Explorer Model, 1971 (photo: Rolex)

This professional wristwatch was originally marketed for scientists and explorers, such as speleologists, who easily lost track of day and night while performing research in caves. The original Explorer II had a 40mm case with a 24 hour fixed bezel and an orange 24 hour hand, as shown in the photo above.

For its 40th anniversary in 2011, the Explorer II was reintroduced with a 42mm case and a new 3187 movement. However, this model has changed very little through the years. The current model, shown below, is made with Rolex's 904l stainless steel alloy with a satin finish. It is available with a black dial and orange 24 hour hand, just like the original and the famed Steve McQueen version of the Explorer II.

Rolex Explorer II (photo: Rolex)

The Explorer II is often overlooked amidst the fanfare that surrounds the more popular Rolex models, such as the Submariner and Daytona. However, its longevity on the market and consistent design and functionality makes it a classic.

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The Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2016 began on April 9, 2016 at the red clay courts of the Monte-Carlo Country Club in the Principality of Monaco. Part of the ATP World Tour, the tournament will welcome the top ranked mens singles players including Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Rolex Submariner Date (left) and Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller (right)