Quite possibly the most talented NFL quarterback in 2019, Lamar Jackson, is getting reamed by al letter to the Baltimore Sun.  The author, a writer named Karen, offers criticism that Lamar Jackson is buying his Offensive Line Rolex watches this year. 

The Sun contributor bases her criticism on the luxury of Rolex and finds the gift obscenely ostentatious.  She argues that the O-line are all rich fellows and can afford their own Rolex timepieces.  She continues by saying that Jackson should instead donate that money to charity. 

Jackson Has Earned His Right To Spend His Money However He Wants

Lamar Jackson has worked his entire life to become one of the greatest QB's in the game today.  He won the Heisman trophy in 2016 and nearly won it again the year after.  He declared for the draft in 2018 - a young man.  He was told he might not make it as a QB and many thought he should try out as a running back or wide receiver. 

This year he will break Michael Vick's single-season rushing record, and he did well as a pure passer too.  He is a shoe in for MVP this year - bringing his Raven football team deep into the playoffs - falling last week to the red hot Tennessee Titans. 

The bottom line is that it is his money.  He has more than earned the right to spend it the way he wants.  He knows that his O-Line is part of his success.  When they succeed, he succeeds.  He is not the highest paid QB in the NFL.  For him to spend a fortune to give back to the big boys that protect him from being blind-sided by giant men that want to take him down - that is a gift worth giving.  And, to her point that O-Linemen can afford their own Rolex - let's just say that they are the blue-collar workers of the NFL and will never make the kind of coin that a QB makes. 

Other QB's Give Extravagant Gifts

Famed quarterback Dan Marino gave extravagant gifts to his offensive linemen each year.  This was commemorated in the funny film Ace Ventura Pet Detective - in which Dan Marino played a cameo part.  It comes with the territory.  A QB is the leader of the team.   However, the line is where the game is won and lost.  The QB gets the fame and the criticism of wins and losses. 

Jackson Is Already Charitable and Young

Lamar Jackson is not only one of the youngest NFL players - and playing outrageously well.  He is also charitable.  He helped raise 30k for charity - dressing himself up as Harry Potter for an anti-bullying campaign.  He also holds an event each year giving kids the opportunity to play ball with him.  Give him some time and he will likely prove to be even more charitable in the future. 

I would be curious if Karen was so charitable herself.  Or anyone else at such a young age.  Seriously, how many charitable things did we do in our early 20's?  Charity is something that people think about later in life.  And we put so much pressure on young athletes.  They have to speak like a pro, play like a pro, and now be charitable like a Bill and Melinda Gates too?

Let's Not Overlook Lamar Jackson's Excellent Taste in Rolex

Of course my blog is about Rolex.  However, the fact that Lamar Jackson chose to give his O-Line Rolex timepieces rather than AP, or Panerai, a Tesla car, or a trip to Tahiti, shows his great sense of style and taste. 

Consider all of the options a 1 million dollar expenditure would buy.  He could have done anything with that money.  He could have hoarded it.  He could have spent it on something personally himself.  Instead, he shared it with his co-workers. 

Imagine if your boss or office mate came into a boatload of cash and shared it with you by buying a $40,000+ piece of jewelry for you.  Wouldn't that be amazing?  We should be honoring LJ's generosity, and his brilliant choice of settling on buying his teammates Rolex timepieces.  Lamar Jackson, I have to tell you I am a bigger fan of yours today than I was before.  You just gained one more fan.  I look forward to watching your career develop and wish you luck on next year's season. 

Picture of Basel Switzerland by Etienne Ehret

Rolex seems to come to Baselworld with new watch designs every single year.  Each year, they tweak their awesome timepiece lineup and make perfection even more perfect.  We could only guess at what this year might bring - well that is what this article is about.  In part we will be guessing what we think Rolex might bring to the forefront.  Also, in some ways we will be hoping these are some of the items that will be on the agenda for Rolex's 2020 unveiling.  No matter what comes of this year's event, we expect big things and will be eagerly anticipating what they reveal.

New Submariner and Sea-Dweller

The Submariner and Sea-Dweller from Rolex are two timepieces that seem to have been overlooked in the past few years.  These timepieces are hugely popular as they are, with or without changes to them.  Rolex has added some tweaks to the Submariner over the years and had a major rework about 10 years ago.  However, now the new higher power reserve caliber that is being sported by most other Rolex timepieces, is starting to make the Submariner look like the Cinderella scrubbing floors in the evil step sister's basement. 

The Submariner is nearly a perfect timepiece.  However, the new caliber will give the Sub an equal standing with the GMT- Master II and the DateJust which got such beautiful reworks last year. 

Besides an enhanced caliber, I expect there to be some new designs that will enhance the look of the Submariner.  Although I would probably holding my breath to see a platinum version of the Submariner, it would be interesting to see some gemology added to the diving timepiece. 

Another enhancement I fully expect to see in the new Sub and Sea-Dweller is the use of Oysterflex bands. We have seen that Rolex has adopted a similar approach to Vulcanized rubber bands as the premier maker of Rolex rubberized straps - Rubber B.  Rubber B straps have always had a unique T design at the curved end link between the lugs, which compliments Rolex watch models nicely. 

Rubber B is known for their T shaped design since they first came onto the market. It took me a while to get used to rubber visually, but the design really does work and eventually it won me over. We have seen that it also won over Rolex, and last year we saw that Oysterflex was added to the Daytona. 

Rubber B makes watchbands for all kinds of Rolex timepieces, Panerai, AP, and even Rolex's sister company Tudor.  They have always features this cool looking T-design.  Rolex can't afford to ignore this tremendous trend of rubberized bands - especially when designing this new Submariner. 

The T shape is easily recognizable. I’ve see it on all kinds of celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Prince Andrew and most recently Kevin O’Leary who absolutely loves them.

Besides the "T" design, the comfort of a rubberized band makes it a timepiece open for a much larger audience - watch owners that not only want to own the luxury of Rolex, but also the comfort and ease of use of a rubberized band. 

One of the biggest benefits of getting a http://rubberb.com band is adding color to the timepiece.  A green submariner would look even better with a green band.  A blue sub with a blue band.  Why not swap out with a red or white band, depending on the season or where your whim takes you.  Even Rolex has only released a black Oysterflex band thus far.  I expect that to change in the future.

The Showpiece Daytona

Every single year, Rolex comes to Baselworld with a fantastic new design of the latest Daytona.  Two years ago there was a rainbow colored Rolex with different colored gems around the bezel.  Last year the gold Daytona with Oysterflex band became the timepiece that dominated billboards the world over in 2019.  I don't know what this year has in store for the Daytona-Rolex's most popular timepiece today.  But it will sure to be big.

Milgauss, Air King and Explorer Reworks?

It is largely doubtful that Rolex will rework all of these timepieces in one year.  Rolex loves to spread things out over time and release new versions slowly.  However, with the new caliber available and the Oysterflex bands, as well as Rolex's gemologists starting to tinker with adding their artistry to standard Rolex timepieces, I fully expect one of these timepieces to get some love. 

If I were a betting man, the Rolex Explorer II will get the first rework of the three.  However, I would love to see the Milgauss and the Air King to get a revision or two themselves. 

The Rolex Cellini

This timepiece seems to not fit in with the rest of Rolex's lineup.  It rarely gets any love from the Rolex expert designers.  However, the classic watch needs some classic Rolex redesign.  Not only should it have a new calibre added with a better power reserve, but the classic design needs to have some new enhancements to add interest.  Perhaps adding a tapestry design or a skeleton dial to create interest.  Adding some of the gemology magic from Rolex's highly touted sapphire and diamond cutters, could add some bling to a rather ho-hum timepiece. 

And of course the band itself.  The leather strap is so 1940's.  Today, going with a vulcanized rubber band is more ethically sound, but also has the ability to adapt to multiple color offerings.  Rather than being limited to just a brown or black leather band, Cellini owners could go with white, red, yellow, orange, green or blue.  Whatever suits their tastes at the moment.  Plus the rubber bands can have better wear and tear and offer the owner the ability to use their Cellini in the pool or in sporting activities without damaging their band. 

The Cellini itself should also be certified to go deeper with waterproofness that matches other Rolex Oyster cases.  Otherwise, why buy a Rolex Cellini?

Baselworld is the most iconic Watch show every single year.  It has been around for over 100 years, but it has fallen out of favor and in the past two years - it has actually lost money.  Over 1000 watchmakers and jewelry companies have dropped out of Baselworld, largely due to the high costs that attending a Baselworld event entails.  Even Breitling pulled the plug on this year's event.

So, this year marks the first in a series of changes that will catapult Baselworld back into a more profitable position. 

Live Streamed

It is amazing that although Baselworld puts on a tremendous showing of new technology in timepieces, the show itself is pretty low tech.  That changes this year.  Baselworld will be adding live streaming technology so that people that can't attend the live event, will be able to partake in all of the festivities, announcements, speaking opportunities, and more. 

Besides this, a redesigned App for visitors of the event will help visitors experience the show with more organization, direction, and technological support. 

Year-Long Baselworld

The streaming features will allow Baselworld to play and replay video captured at the show year round.  More than this, Baselworld is opening a new digital innovation center that will be available for visitors all year long.  This will extend the reach to a yearlong event rather than the 6 day event which has been constricting (becoming shorter) in recent years.  This pushes against the grain and allows promoters to offer more marketing value to exhibitors, and opens the doors to more potential revenue from web-only advertisers.

New Sponsors

For years, Baselworld has been primarily a place for jewelry makers, timepiece makers and has shunned the likes of other luxury brands.  That is changing.  Baselworld is opening its doors to fine automotive companies, and other opportunities.  Luxury real estate, aircraft, and other industries that might want to market to the same clientelle that would purchase an AP or Rolex timepiece, will get their chance starting this year.

Going Small

Although huge brands such as Rolex keep adding to their Baselworld footprint, small brands couldn't afford the prices of Baselworld past.  The new Baselworld will open the doors to the previously closed hall 2.  Here they will add small sponsors.  They will adopt smartwatches and digital watch brands, and entice them to come with a price slash of 30% off of last year's booth prices. 

Expanding Out

Baselworld is going to the city.  They want to make the new Baselworld bigger as it takes clients to the city for off-site demonstrations, viewings, and one-on-one treatment.  New events, parades, and other enticements will make Baselworld more enjoyable and allow for a more unique experience for attendees year after year.