Lindsay Vonn's Rolex Presidential Day Date 40

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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.


Every Rolex Tells a Story: Sylvia Earle

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Every Rolex Tells a Story: Sylvia Earle (photo: Rolex)
Sylvia Earle is a marine biologist on a mission to save the ocean. She has been exploring the ocean and advocating for its protection for decades. Her Rolex-sponsored global initiative, Mission Blue, works to engage the public to support the protection of Hope Spots around the world. Hope Spots are areas of the ocean that are critical to the health of the ocean.

Rolex recently added Earle to their Every Rolex Tells a Story section. She made her first Rolex purchase after seeing one on a fellow diver while in the Florida Keys. The underwater capability combined with the watch's classic elegance made it ideal for an ocean explorer that also attends formal events. Earle is also supportive of Rolex's involvement with exploration and excellence.

In the TED Talk below, the marine biologist expresses her wish that we protect Earth's blue heart, the ocean. In it she expresses the importance of exploring the Mariana Trench, something that fellow Rolex owner James Cameron did a few years later, taking the Rolex Deepsea Challenge along for the ride. Rolex is also a partner of TED, helping them develop features on their "Surprise Me" app.

Visit rolex.com to check out Sylvia Earle's story and Rolex timepiece. To support Mission Blue with a donation or to learn more about how they are working to protect the ocean, visit mission-blue.org.

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Bruno Mars Wearing a Gold Rolex Day-Date on 60 Minutes

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Bruno Mars on 60 Minutes Wearing a Rolex (photo: CBS News)
Bruno Mars dominated the headlines proceeding the Grammys last night after performing a spectacular tribute to Prince, rated the number one performance of the night according to Billboard. He is no stranger to performing for a large audience, having performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show twice in the past few years. 60 Minutes caught up with the singer before the Grammys for an interview and look back at where the Hawaiian artist grew up.

Born to a large family of musical performers in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mars grew up in a household of modest means. His ascent to stardom began with a record contract with Motown that fell through, leaving the performer to start over as a songwriter and producer. After writing and singing the hook for a few top singles, he signed a solo contract with Atlantic records and released Doo-Wops & Hooligans, the first of several hit albums for the artist.

Mars has a unique sense of style, as shown in the screenshot above from the 60 minutes interview. The recording artist paired a colorful button-down shirt with a yellow gold pinky ring and Rolex Day-Date. While many question whether a yellow gold watch looks too gaudy, Mars wears it well. It is also fitting that a performer of his caliber choose the President's watch. Some may think that yellow gold is a material set aside for Baby Boomers with classic taste, but this Millennial is proof that the Day-Date lives on as a symbol of success across many generations.

Check out his music video for the 24k Magic single, in which he wears the yellow gold Rolex along with a flamboyant Versace shirt, embedded below. To watch clips from his 60 Minutes interview, visit cbsnews.com.

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The Explorer 2 is an Interesting Watch Choice for a Prince

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Prince Harry of Wales Wearing a Rolex Explorer II 
While most international publications have been focused on Prince Harry of Wales' current romantic relationship with American actress Meghan Markle, what I find interesting is his choice of watch. Shown in the photo above during his service in the British Army, he wears a Rolex Explorer II with a white dial (Reference # 216570). I dubbed this model the watchmaker's most underrated model in a previous post, as it is often found at a discount online as compared to other models.

Someone who can wear any watch in the world, Prince Harry's choice of Rolex is surprising considering that it retails for less that $10,000 US. If you want to steal his look, you can even find used versions of this stainless steel professional model or its smaller predecessor (Reference # 16570) for lower than $7k. The photo below shows a close up of the Explorer II, a legible and understated tool watch with a GMT function.

Rolex Explorer II Reference 216570 (photo: Rolex)
After having come across Rich Kids of London, an London-based Instragram troll account dedicated to obnoxious displays of wealth, it is refreshing to find that Britain's Royal Family opts for a more subdued approach to wealth. For more information on the Explorer II model, check out my profile on the reference or visit rolex.com.

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DJ Khaled Gives Rapper Future a Rolex Sky-Dweller For His Birthday

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Rapper Future Receiving a Rolex Sky-Dweller from DJ Khaled (photo: DJ Khaled Instagram)
DJ and record producer DJ Khaled, known for offering major key alerts to his popular Snapchat account, gifted rapper and collaborator Future with a Rolex Sky-Dweller for his thirty-third birthday last weekend. Video of the presentation of the luxury timepiece, embedded below, appear on Khaled's Instagram feed.

It looks like the configuration Khaled chose is the Everose gold on Oyster bracelet with what looks like a chocolate dial. Future has been photographed wearing many luxury watches, but I have yet to see him sport a rose gold Rolex, so it seems that it was a good choice. Khaled has an extensive watch collection of his own, including a Sky-Dweller which he has worn on other occasions.

Giving a Rolex to a friend and colleague as a birthday gift is something that not everyone has the opportunity to experience. This tradition only further ingrains the watchmaker's legacy of excellence in the minds of yet another generation. Check out the rose gold Sky-Dweller in my previous post about the watchmaker's top Everose gold models.

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Every Rolex Tells a Story: Sir Jackie Stewart

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Every Rolex Tells a Story: Sir Jackie Stewart (photo: Rolex)
Sir Jackie Stewart, or the "Flying Scot" as he is also known, is a legendary Formula 1 race car driver that has been a Rolex Testimonee for half a century. He won three World Drivers' Championships between 1965 and 1973 and worked as a sports commentator and racing safety advocate thereafter. He has been honored by Sports Illustrated, BBC and ABC for his accomplishments in racing and continues to be involved with the sport to this day.

Sir Jackie Stewart's Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (photo: Rolex)

"The most important thing I learned as a Grand Prix driver was mind management. I found out that if I removed emotion, I was going to be less likely to do the wrong thing," Stewart says about his strategy for success on the racetrack. Unsurprisingly, the model of choice for this gear head is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona shown in the photo above. He has already given Rolex watches to his sons and grandchildren as an inheritance. 

"It’s nice to have been a champion. I think I still want to be a champion at whatever I do — and that’s still a challenge. When I look at my watch today, I see all of that." For more information visit rolex.com. 

Louis C.K. Wears a Rolex Explorer 1016 on Conan

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Louis CK Wearing his Rolex Submariner in a GQ Photoshoot (photo: GQ)
Comedian Louis C.K. was interviewed by Conan O'Brien recently wearing a Rolex Explorer (Reference # 1016). He is usually seen wearing the Submariner shown in the photo above in a photo shoot for GQ magazine. The Submariner was gifted to him by Chris Rock after C.K. helped Rock with a script.

The Explorer 1016  reference was in production from the 1960s to the 1980s. This 36mm vintage Explorer is coveted amongst Rolex enthusiasts for its simplicity and symmetrical display. For more information on the Explorer model, check out the latest reference in the Rolex Models section of this website.

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Check Out Kevin Durant Sporting a Ceramic Daytona

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After a controversial decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors in the summer of 2016, Kevin Durant has faced an onslaught of criticism that is new to the NBA All-Star. In Issue 1273 of Rolling Stone Magazine, the basketball phenom opens up about his decision to follow his own dreams and leave behind a city and a team that he was loyal to for almost a decade. On the cover of the magazine, shown below, Durant is shot wearing the highly coveted Rolex Daytona 116500LN with the ceramic bezel.  

Kevin Durant on Rolling Stone Magazine Cover Wearing a  Rolex Daytona 116500LN
Durant was born in Washington DC and grew up in a part of town where he worried for his physical safety on a daily basis. He had two coaches that helped him develop the work ethic that eventually got him drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007 as the second overall pick. The team moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder, the team he would dedicate the next eight years of his career to. In the Rolling Stone interview, Durant opens up about his disappointment in the team's management decisions and the difficulty he experienced making the call to tell them that he would be playing for the Warriors in 2016.

Known as one of the kindest NBA players, it is difficult to imagine him receiving a backlash after making the decision, like many before him, to go for a championship on a team with more than one or two MVPs. However, the player is channeling the criticisms into his work ethic, using the words to motivate him to make the most of his practices. Others may crumble under the pressure, but Durant's upbringing makes the challenges he faces in the NBA pale in comparison.

Even though Durant's jersey is a top seller, the basketball star isn't extremely ostentatious with his earnings. His choice in the ceramic stainless steel Daytona reveals a casual elegance in his style, opting for a hip yet modest timepiece compared to the diamond-paved, precious metal watches that many other professional athletes wear on their wrists. The NBA season is just getting started, so time will tell if Durant's decision to join Steph Curry and the Warriors will give them what they need to repeat their 2015 NBA Championship win. For more information on the Ceramic Daytona, check out my posts on the model by clicking here.

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Limited Edition Rolex Daytona Designed by Lenny Kravitz

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A renaissance man with an eye for mid-century modern design, Lenny Kravitz has spent the past decade building his design resume with Kravitz Design, Inc. His main focus has been on interiors and furniture, but the musician recently collaborated with Les Artesans de Genève on a modified Rolex Daytona that exudes rock and roll appeal. They took a 116523 reference Daytona and added design elements made from leather and gold while still maintaining the iconic look of the Cosmograph Daytona model. 

Lenny Kravitz Wearing Kravitz Design LK 01 Rolex Daytona (photo: Mathieu Bitton)
After two years of development, the Kravitz Design LK 01 is available in limited quantities for 41,380 Swiss francs and comes in a black case with a bluetooth speaker built in. The modifications include a Barenia calf leather strap, a handmade golden bakelite bezel that preserves the tachymetric scale of the original and a dial modified by hand. 22 carat gold features were added, including a gold rotor added to the movement, a staple of Les Artisans de Genève, that can be seen through the clear case back, another modification. The case is treated with a black diamond-like carbon coating, allowing the case to blend in with the dial and straps for a monochromatic look that makes the red and gold details pop.

Kravitz Design LK 01 Modified Rolex Daytona (photo: lesartisansdegeneve.com)
Kravitz takes natural glam to a new level with his foray into wristwatch design. Similar to his interior design concepts, this timepiece brings a vintage seventies style to the modern blacked out wristwatch trend for a truly unique watch. As a watch collector, Kravitz's eye is well trained and he is clearly a proponent of modifications, something many watch enthusiasts rail against. A combination of creativity and hand craftsmanship brings the LK 01 to a higher echelon than other modified timepieces, transcending the trend and cementing it to the legacy of the talented rock star and designer. For more information about this timepiece, visit the official website of Les Artesans de Genève.

Russell Peters Wears a Platinum Rolex Daytona

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Russell Peters Wears Rolex in Netflix Special (photo: Russell Peters Facebook)
Canadian standup comic Russell Peters is the most financially successful comedian that most Americans haven't heard of. He was the first comedian to be given a standup special on Netflix (Notorious in 2013) and his current special on the streaming service, Almost Famous, pokes fun at his lack of name recognition while selling out shows across the globe. Peters was born in Toronto to Anglo-Indian parents and began his comedy career with the blessing of George Carlin, who told him to get on stage whenever possible. The comedian took the advice to heart and created a comedy empire in the years that followed, headlining at Madison Square Garden and O2 Arena in London to name a couple of his accomplishments in the world of standup.

Peters' comedy focuses on the humor in cultural differences between ethnic groups, as you can see in the clip embedded below from Notorious in which he talks about discussing paint color with a Mexican Home Depot employee. The comedian has yet to be embraced by Hollywood, which he attributes to not being 'in with the in crowd' or being introduced to Hollywood executives by a tastemaker. He is currently filming a television series set to air in Canada, with the possibility of being picked up in the US. For now, he makes his living touring the world with his comedy.

In his latest special, he wears a platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, a symbol of success and status that not every comic can claim. Almost Famous is now streaming on Netflix as Peters tours the US working on new material. For more information on Peters, including tour dates, visit his official website at russellpeters.com. To check out the 2016 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in all of its configurations, visit rolex.com.

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Rich Kids of London Use Rolex Watches to Troll Instagram

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Rich Kids of London on Instagram 
Amassing a following of over 150k followers in less than a year, Rich Kids of London is an Instagram account that posts photos of young British kids flaunting their parents' wealth. While many who are born to privilege prefer a lower public profile, these young Brits post photos of private planes and sports cars with cheeky captions about what their daddies' money can buy them. With the success of many troll accounts on the social media platform over the past few years, it was only a matter of time before one of them focused on the absurdities of youth and privilege.

When they're not pouring bottles of champagne into a jacuzzi or eating cereal over their iMac screens, they spend time placing their Rolex watches at the bottom of the toilet for a photo op, as you can see on their feed. Most of the photos feature cars, planes, bottles and watches with similar comments. While these photos may be insulting to people who have to work hard to afford such luxuries, it is clear that those posting them are looking for passionate reactions, as the definition of internet trolling suggests.

While controversial accounts like this will always be a part of the internet landscape as long as there is an element of anonymity involved, the notion of gaining popularity by mocking inherited wealth with frivolous photographs is certainly telling of the times. Technically speaking, posing next to a fancy car or pouring champagne on a luxury watch doesn't mean you're wealthy. It just means you're a special kind of person. This personality type has gone by many names over the years but most of those names are too vulgar to publish here so, for now, we can just call them Rich Kids of London.

Every Rolex Tells a Story: Tiger Woods

.Celebrities.
The only golfer in the modern era to hold all four professional majors simultaneously, Tiger Woods is no stranger to success. Though his marriage to the mother of his children reached a scandalous end a few years ago, the athlete seems to have moved on from that. He dated Lindsey Vonn seriously for a few years and has settled into a lower profile as a public figure since their break up. Woods is no stranger to fine timepieces, so it seems fitting that Rolex tapped him for their Every Rolex Tells a Story series.

Every Rolex Tells a Story: Tiger Woods (photo: Rolex)
"When I’m not playing golf, I want to be in the ocean. I grew up in Southern California, in the Pacific, surfing, and I dive all the time. Water has always been a part of my life... For all of this, I need a watch that is very reliable, that’s why for me the Rolex Deepsea is a natural fit. I love the way it feels. It’s heavy, it’s sturdy, it’s very manly," says Woods about his choice of Rolex. He describes his experience underwater as a break from the connectivity of modern life, something that makes sense given the fact that he has been under a microscope for years as a household name and top athlete.

Woods plans to stage a comeback to competitive gold with the first event of the PGA Tour's 2016-2017 season, the Safeway Open on October 13th. The golfer has been recovering from surgeries since participating in the at the 2015 Wyndham Championship last year. Though nothing is set in stone, this fall will see him return to competing in the biggest golf tournaments in the world. On his time away from the golf course, he spent time with his children, designing golf courses and, of course, in the sea.

"My watch has been part of wins, of losses, part of adventures with my kids, individual adventures. I was sceptical at first that this watch could keep up with me. And you know what, it can." For more on Tiger Woods and his Deepsea, check out the video embedded below from the World of Rolex YouTube channel.

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