US alpine ski champion Lindsay Vonn wearing Rolex - Image from Rolex.com

Lindsay Caroline Vonn is the most successful American ski racers, and one of the greatest female skiers in alpine skiing history.  She won four World Cup championships between 2008 and 2012, five Super-G championships and a gold medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics.  She has won races in all five disciplines of alpine skiing - downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and super combined. 

Besides being a fierce competitor, Vonn has won multiple awards for sportswoman of the year.  She became a correspondent for NBC to cover the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia as she was recovering from injury.  She has shown grace in the face of adversity and a determined spirit and drive that is rarely seen in any sport. 

Rolex Presidential Day-Date, worn by Vonn.  Image: Rolex.com

Lindsay purchased her Presidential Day-Date as she was recovering from her second knee surgery.  She said, "I wear it as a reminder to never give up."  The Rolex Day Date is exquisitely crafted and takes nothing for granted. 

The Day-Date made its debut in 1956 as the first waterproof and self-winding chronometer wristwatch to offer a modern calendar with an instantaneous day display spelt out at the top of the dial between 11 and 1 o'clock, and the date appearing on the right side at 3 o'clock. 

The new Day-Date 40 has a brand new calibre 3255 developed and manufactured by Rolex.  It has a wateproofness system to 330 feet due to its Twinlock double waterproofness system and screw-down winding crown.  The case and bracelet are made from 18 carat gold, carved from a solid block of Rolex gold.  The President Bracelet is designed with impeccable beauty - combining semi-circular three piece links and a mixture of polished and brushed gold metal for an eye-catching display. 

The power reserve on the 3255 is an impressive 70 hours.  More importantly for Vonn, the high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers and precise time setting will provide powerful performance even during the rigors of downhill racing.  The sapphire crystal provides scratch resistance at the highest level. 

Vonn's timepiece is set with baguette diamonds around the bezel with diamond hour markers except at the 6 and 9 o'clock positions where pink baguettes add some uniqueness to the piece. 

Vonn has chosen the champaigne dial which compliments the overall 18 carat gold timepiece perfectly.  The 40 mm timepiece is larger than some of the women's timepieces offered by Rolex.  However, it seems to fit Vonn's athletic wrist to perfection.

I have often said the President's Day-Date is one of my favorite Rolex timepieces.  Its lineage and horological history is only one reason to admire this timepiece.  One look at this watch and you know it is a Rolex.  The Oyster case and beautiful yellow gold screams out luxury, while the day and date functions and extensive features announce its durability and practicality for anyone - including top athletes like Vonn.