Everose Gold Rolex Sky-Dweller with Chocolate Dial (photo: Rolex/Breanna Galley)

I came across a photo of the Everose gold Sky-Dweller with Chocolate dial on UFC fighter Connor McGregor's wrist recently and couldn't resist reposting it to my Instagram feed. It looked so fresh and bold that I thought it was a customization. Only after inquiring on the forums did I find out that it is in fact a standard configuration offered by Rolex on this model. While it still looks great in white and yellow gold, the Sky-Dweller really sets itself apart in rose gold. It is available with a chocolate dial, as shown in the photo above, or with a Sundust dial on either an Oyster bracelet or brown alligator leather strap.

Everose Gold Rolex Daytona on Black Leather Strap (photo: Rolex)

Everose Gold Rolex Yacht-Master on Oysterflex (photo: Rolex)

Everose Gold Rolex Pearlmaster (photo: Rolex)

A Los Angeles native, singer Adam Levine has amassed an impressive collection of luxury watches since he shot to fame in the early 2000s as frontman for the rock/pop band Maroon 5. Becoming a judge on The Voice in 2011 has increased both his name recognition and net worth. The new season of the hit singing competition show premieres September 19th on NBC.

Gregory Colbert is a Canadian artist whose photographic, filmic and literary work focuses on moments of contact between man and the animal kingdom. In 2002, he presented a show at the Venice Arsenal entitled Ashes and Snow. The largest solo exhibition ever mounted in Italy, it caught the eye of the chairman of Rolex at the time, who purchased pieces and encouraged the artist to take his show around the world. 

The photographic portion of the exhibit features sepia and umber toned photos Colbert shot in various locations around the world. Documenting his years traveling to places like India, Egypt, Burma, Borneo and Namibia, the original photographs show interactions between man and beast. None of the shots are digitally superimposed, meaning that the boy reading a book in front of an elephant in the photo above is actually sitting in front of the elephant. For the exhibition, the photos were printed on handmade Japanese paper, giving them a natural look and feel. 

The literary component consists of 365 letters from a man to his wife over a yearlong journey. The title, Ashes and Snow, is revealed in the final letter and the photos and films are tied into the narrative. In addition to the photos and letters, the exhibition features films that contain poetic narratives that tie in the themes of endless connection between humans and the natural world. "When I started Ashes and Snow in 1992, I set out to explore the relationship between man and animals from the inside out. In discovering the shared language and poetic sensibilities of all animals, I am working towards restoring the common ground that once existed when people lived in harmony with animals," Colbert said about the project. 

After the success of the original exhibition, Colbert decided to take the show to the world, enlisting the help of Colombian architect Simón Velez to create the Nomadic Museum. A sustainable structure made using shipping containers and bamboo, the 55,219 square foot structure featured 2 galleries and 3 theaters that could be assembled and broken down in different cities across the globe. It traveled the Atlantic for shows in New York City, Los Angeles and Mexico City, then crossed the Pacific for an exhibition in Tokyo for millions of people to experience.  

The Rolex Institute has immortalized the show on their website entitled Codex: Ashes and Snow. They present the images from the show in the style of an ancient codex for those who have not been able to experience the Nomadic Museum in person. For more information on Gregory Colbert, visit his official website at gregorycolbert.com. For more information on Rolex and the Arts, visit rolex.com. 

>>BACK TO ARTS

If you have $5,000 to spend on a watch and you really want a Rolex, you will not be able to purchase most of their 2016 models new, but you still have options. In my post about the cheapest 2016 Rolex model on the market, I recommend taking a look at Rolex's sister company, Tudor, for brand new models under $5,000. However, if you have your heart set on a Rolex and are okay with purchasing one pre-owned on the gray market, there are a few models that you can find to fit your budget. 

Rolex Submariner Date

When people talk about the gray market, they refer to the market for watches that are not sold by the original manufacturer, but are acquired and sold legally through other entities. In other words, you are buying a Rolex, just not directly from Rolex. There are many online shops that offer pre-owned watches from reputable sellers. The Rolex Forum has a Classifieds section where people can sell and trade their timepieces. Other sites like WatchRecon aggregate listings from various sellers to give you an idea of what's available online. There are also shops like Bob's Watches, Chrono 24 and Hodinkee that sell pre-owned timepieces.

In terms of which Rolex models you can find pre-owned for under $5,000, you have a few options as well. The most commonly posted models within this price range are Oyster Perpetual and Datejust models with cases usually under 36mm in diameter. I've seen midsize Air-King and Explorer I models priced in that range as well, but they are a little more scarce than the OP and DJ models. The 42mm Explorer II model is the largest stainless steel pre-owned Rolex that you can find in this range, though the ones in better condition usually go for more. The stainless steel Submariner and Sub Date can also be found for just under $5,000, though the majority are priced closer to $6,000. Every once in a while you can find a Milgauss and GMT-Master II in this price range, but they are more scarce than any of the models mentioned above.

There are some risks involved with purchasing a luxury watch on the gray market. I have run into forum threads that accuse sellers of posting the photo of one watch and sending the customer another. There is also due diligence required to make sure that the timepiece you are purchasing is authentic and has all of its original parts. Rolex will not service a watch that contains any parts that aren't theirs, so if you would like the option of sending your watch to them for service in the future, you should make sure that the watch you purchase is in its original configuration, unless indicated otherwise. Luckily, there are usually very helpful Rolex enthusiasts on forums and subreddits that would be more than happy to assist in assessing a pre-owned watch's value and condition.

Essentially, purchasing a pre-owned Rolex on the gray market means that you can get a good deal, but also requires you to assume all of the risk involved in purchasing a watch from someone other than the watchmaker. There is no champagne and hors d'oeuvres offered to you while you shop and no guarantee that you will get exactly what you are looking for, but if you want a Rolex for under $5,000, it's still a possibility if you play your cards right.

>>BACK TO SHOPPING GUIDE

The first mechanical watches manufactured by Rolex and other Swiss watchmakers in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century required one to wind the crown to power the movement inside the case. The Perpetual rotor, developed by Rolex in 1931, changed that. With the addition of a half-moon shaped oscillating weight to rotate 360 degrees with the motion of the wearer's wrist, the Perpetual rotor provided enough energy for the movement to power itself. 

You may have noticed that, save the models in their Cellini line, Rolex watches have the words 'Oyster Perpetual' printed on the dial. The word Oyster refers to the waterproof Oyster case, developed by the watchmaker in 1926. The Perpetual part refers to the rotor and indicates that the timepiece is in fact self-winding or automatic. There are still luxury watchmakers, like Panerai and others, that still offer mechanical watches that require winding, but all of Rolex's current models are self-winding.

For more information on Rolex's Perpetual rotor, check out my previous post about the innovation in the Tech section of this website. You can also find information on Rolex's official website at rolex.com.