Many of the key pieces that Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida wore at landmark occasions during her career were auctioned off last night, in order to raise money for an international stem cell hospital.

Christie’s described her 1942 split-second Rolex chronograph as “the most exclusive” model ever made, selling it for $1.16 million. Other auctioned items included some stunning natural pearl and diamond earrings, which had previously been included in the House of Habsburg, which sold for $2.3 million Swiss francs. They set a new auction record for natural pearl earrings, beating Elizabeth Taylor’s earrings from 2011.

“Jewels are meant to give pleasure and for many years I had enormous pleasure wearing mine,” Lollobrigida told auction attendees. “This will create a legacy to live on after me.” All of the money raised will go towards developing stem cell treatments to be offered at the international hospital, which is said to be being located in Italy.

The post The Most Expensive Rolex In The World appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

A Blog To Watch

The world’s most popular watch blog, A Blog To Watch should be in everyones’ favorites.

Who?

Founder and editor-in-chief Ariel Adams developed his signature style writing for Forbes and Tech Crunch, and together with a team of two editors and four regular contributors, he produces some very easy-to-read, enjoyable content.

What?

Check out A Blog To Watch for editorial and opinions from trusted industry voices, along with detailed and hands-on reviews that are accompanied with original photographs and videos. ABTW offers whole-industry coverage, so you are almost certain to find a watch you want to read about!

Where?

www.ablogtowatch.com

Anything Else?

Adams changed the name from A Blog To Read in 2012, and gave the site it’s modern, intuitive new look.

Hodinkee

One of the most widely-read watch lifestyle websites, aimed at the new generation of watch buyers.

Who?

Launched in 2008 by 25-year-old Benjamin Clymer, who has written for the Financial Time’s How To Spend It, GQ, Departures, Forbes and Reuters, along with his team of 7 writers.

What?

Hodinkee is a robust online magazine that’s notorious for it’s earnest looks at the most high-calibre watches available. The magazine offers in-depth reviews, critiques and reports, and has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes and Esquire.

Where?

www.hodinkee.com

Anything Else?

The blog attracts over 300,000 unique visitors per month, from over 200 countries.

The Watch Enthusiast

A unique look at a variety of mechanical watches.

What? 

The Watch Enthusiast is a critical guide to mechanical watches, with all the information collated into easy-to-read layouts. It covers over 130 brands and 3,095 watches, along with nearly 15,000 images, and 212 videos.

Where?

www.thewatchenthusiast.net, or as an app on Android, iPhone and iPad.

Which of these watch blogs do you love the most? Have we missed something great? Let us know!

The post 3 Watch Blogs You Need To Read… appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

The Venue

One of the biggest talking points about 2013’s show was the new venue, so it’s no wonder that all eyes were on the unveiling. World-famous architects Herzog and de Meuron designed the new hall complex, which contains over 1000 exhibitor stands arranged around various halls.

The new venue took an amazing five years of planning, and took just over 22 months to build. Over 6,800 tons of steel and 450,000 square meters of concrete hold everything in place, and the venue cost over 400 million Swiss francs to build. Wow.

Attendance, Exhibitors and Journalists

The new venue seems to have paid off, with the eight-day show being a record success. Baselworld 2013 broke a new record, welcoming over 122,000 visitors from over 100 countries, a 17% increase on 2012’s attendance.

Exhibitor numbers also grew, with a total of 1460 attending over the eight days, and showcasing their collections and innovations. Despite the new lay-out, which some described as confusing, exhibitors seemed to find the show a big success too. Considering the slow trend of the European jewelry market at the moment, the show did excellently, and garnered huge coverage of exhibitors.

Baselworld 2013 also hosted 3,610 journalists across the event, from publications around the world. That’s a 9% increase on 2012’s numbers!

Finance

Francois Thiebaud, the president of the Swiss Exhibitors Committee and the CEO of Tissot, announced a 10.9% increase in Swiss watch exports this year, rising to a total of CFH 21.4 billion.

The Chinese market seems to have shrank more than expected, showing only a 0.6% increase. Industry experts explained this by stating that many Chinese buyers purchase while travelling, to avoid expensive taxes. Others claim that the Chinese Government’s clampdown on corruption and bribery has damaged the market, with Swiss watches being common gifts to officials.

Hong Kong, which is ranked separately to China, retained it’s title as the biggest Swiss watch customer, importing CHF 4.3 billion of watches: a 6.8% increase.

Key Trends

Gemstones were a big trend throughout the show, and buyers didn’t seem to manage the higher prices for gemstoned jewelry or watches.

Loose diamonds were another popular trend, although exhibitors reported needing to negotiate much harder on prices for diamonds.

Jewelry sales in general grew, as expected. The Indian Pavillion also saw a big boost in sales, due to now being located in Hall Two, alongside the biggest watch brands.

Key Events

Swarovski announced it’s 2020 Vision brand development program, including aims to purchase a number of established jewelry brands. Swarovski has now announced that it has acquired US brand Chamilia.

129-year-old Swiss watchmaker Breitling released another of it’s celebrated high-tech watches, and the Emergency II, which comes in volcano black, cobra yellow or intrepid orange, is already said to be bigger than the iWatch.

Back in 1995, the Emergency I was created with a single-frequency distress beacon built in. More than 40,000 watches were sold, and Brietling records show that the watch saved at least 20 people, from plane crash vinctims to car wrecks and military firefights.

The Emergency II is a 10-layer, indestructible wrist chronometer, with a dual-frequency distress beacon micro-transmitter.

Hublot caused a stir by unveiling the striking MP-05 LaFerrari, a striking open-dial and sapphire crystal watch with a manually wound movement. The watch contains 657 parts, more parts than any other Hublot watch, and has 50 days of power reserve. It’s designed to match the stunning Ferrari hybrid car unveiled earlier this year.

All the big rumors before Baselworld 2013 surrounded Rolex, and they didn’t disappear. The Rolex Platinum Daytona was released to celebrate Daytona’s 50^th birthday, and this striking 40mm wide watch has a brand new 950 platinum case and bracelet. The blue dial and brown cerachrom bezel were right on trend, too.

Casio G-Shock celebrated it’s 30^th birthday by releasing an anniversary edition, in a limited run. The 5000 DW-6900 model comes in a lustrous silver, and has a mirror front and sides, a brushed metal dial and an engraved back plate. It’s a very modern update for this timeless watch!

Exhibitor Opinions

“Baselworld 2013 is now a genuine luxury show. We are particularly satisfied, since our new stand, in it’s new position, gives us enhanced visibility. This meant we were also able to benefit from increased visitor frequency.” – Guido Terreni, MD, Bulgari Watches

“This stand reflects our brand in an outstanding manner. We were able to welcome around 800 journalists. The number of buyers has also risen. This show is an event not to be missed.” Luc Perramond, CEO of La Montre Hermes.

“Baselworld 2013 was an exceptional platform for us, allowing us to meet customers and the media. Thanks to our new ‘wings of sparkle’ stand concept, we attracted a large number of visitors, and a high level of attention from the media from all over the world.” Robert Buchbauer, CEO of Swarvoski.

“We invested a great deal in new models and our stand, and our customers are delighted. We were also able to acquire considerably more new customers compared with previous years – especially from Russia and the Far East.” Giuseppe Picchiotti, owner of Picchiotti.

Baselworld 2014

Baselworld 2014 will take place between March 27^th and April 3^rd next year, and judging by this years’ stats, it’s definitely worth marking it in your diary now.

The post Baselworld 2013: The Facts You Need To Know appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

1. HYT H2…

You’ll have to be quick to get your hands on this watch! HYT revealed their second watch at Baselworld, known as the H2, and it’s certain to impress. This hybrid watch features an intuitive, fluid display alongside transparent architecture, stylishly seated in a durable DLC titanium case. While HYT didn’t specify the price, only 50 of these watches will be sold, and industry insiders expect the H2 to sell for around double the price of HYT’s original timepiece. Meaning this striking watch will cost somewhere around $90,000.

2. Romain Jerome Moon Orbiter Tourbillon…

This is a watch for those who love the mechanical look, but want a timepiece with a difference. The hard-wearing steel casing is embedded with glittering sapphire pieces, and the spring-loaded pistons ensure this watch will always sit perfectly against your wrist. There’s even some real moon dust on the dial: but you’ll have to be first off the line to win yourself one of these, as only 25 will be made.

3. Hublot Masterpiece MP-05 La Ferrari 

Back in March, Ferrari unveiled a hybrid car named LaFerrari at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. With  over 1,000 horsepower, and a stunning design, the car is sure to be a success. But if your pockets aren’t quite deep enough for a brand new $1.3 million dollar supercar, Hublot have come to the rescue.

The MP-05 is a tribute to the LaFerrari, and the engineers were dedicated to producing a watch that mimics the car’s style exactly. The face is made from sapphire crystal, the case and buckle are PVD titanium and the strap is rubber. There’s 637 watch components powering this striking watch, and it boasts a 50-day power reserve: a record for a hand-wound watch. The left cylinders alert you to the amount of power remaining, and the right cylinders tell the time. There’s only 50 of these limited-edition watches being made, but at $300,000, they are an absolute steal compared to the car!

4. Blancpain Tourbillon Carrousel…

If you love that vintage watch look, you’ll adore the Blancpain Tourbillon Carrousel. This watch manages to capture the feel of years gone by, whilst remaining utterly timeless. The watch features both a carrousel and a tourbillon, which the company says are “two of the major devices aimed at reducing gravity-related effects on the running of the movement”, and that’s not all it boasts. There’s two independent carriages, a sapphire crystal case-back and an external winding crown. Beautiful.

5. Graham Orrery Tourbillon Planetarian…

This striking design is based on the original planetarian complication, which was designed by George Graham back in the 1700′s. With a centre diamond, engraved gold and shimmering jewels placed to represent the Earth, moon and Mars, this is one watch that is sure to impress. While the price hasn’t yet been revealed, it’s reported that only 20 pieces will be made, so you’ll need to be quick to wear a piece of the solar system on your wrist.

6. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona…

Rolex first unveiled the Daytona fifty years ago, back in 1963, so it was widely reported that they’d launch a special edition this year. It didn’t disappoint! This prestigious new watch was described as being “the perfect alchemy between form and function, aesthetic and technical”. The new Daytona is entirely 950 platinum, and has a brown Cerachrom bezel, and ice blue dial.

The GMT-Master II was also given an update, with Rolex announcing the reintroduction of the design in both black and blue. With a Cerachrom bezel, self-winding mechanism and caliber 3186, the new edition is sure to be a hit. There was even a new women’s watch announced, with the Oyster Perpetual Lady-Date Pearlmaster being updated with an ever-rose gold case, 18ct bracelet with embedded diamonds, and special-edition black or white mother-of-pearl decorations on the dial.

7. Christophe Claret Kantharos…

Christopher Claret unveiled the beautiful Kantharos earlier this week, and it’s no wonder it’s proving so popular. The automatic watch has a constant-force escapement that reduces timing variations, and ensures the watch is as precise as possible, along with featuring a cathedral gong that chimes with the changing of each function. The gong is visible at 10 o’clock, according to Claret, and this sporty watch is set to sell for around $100,000.

Felix Baumgartner’s Actual Watch…

Of course, it’s not just new watches that are on display at Baselworld 2013. This is Felix Baumgartner’s actual Zenith Stratos Flyblack Striking 10th. Amazing.

Which watches at Baselworld 2013 are you loving? Let us know!

The post Baselworld 2013: The Lowdown on the Most Amazing Watches… appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

Blue

Blue has been all over the show at Baselworld 2013. From blue faces matched with blue straps to bright blue dials accented with something shimmery and metallic, this deep blue shade is set to be all over wrists for the next few seasons. Denim was also a big hit, with Guess and Hublot revealing watches with retro blue denim straps.

Bimetal Straps

Another top trend is bimetal straps. Rose gold and steel in particular have become the metals of the season, with everyone from Longines to Zenith using this striking color combo. My favorite take is Patek Phillipe’s Nautilus 5980, shown above left. The bold shape and striking colors make this watch utterly timeless.

Orange

Bright orange is another color that’s dominating watches this season. From thick bold orange straps to orange dials, this color is sure to draw attention to your stylish watch. If you don’t quite feel like embracing the eye-catching bold designs yet, check out something more subtle, like the Oris Prodiver Pointer Moon (left.).

GMTs

Rolex led the GMT trend this year, by unveiling the all-new GMT Master II (left). The lacquer face, painted cerachrom bezel and 18k hands make this one striking watch, and it’s no wonder that other brands have followed suit. A whole series of classic GMTs were given an update at Baselworld 2013, and the new sportier image is sure to make the new designs popular.

Gray

Gray was big at all the men’s fashion shows this year, and it’s set to be big for watches, too. Plenty of big brands unveiled striking gray-on-gray color combos, including the Rado Diamaster Ceramic (left) which it’s slate-like effect, and the Dior Chiffre Rouge A2 (right), which comes with a soft leather strap. For a more modern, interesting take on the trend, try Girard-Perregaux’s Constant Escapement (middle).

The post 5 Big Watch Trends From Baselworld 2013 appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

Rolex are celebrating some big achievements this year, including 125 years of National Geographic, and the Rolex Awards for Enterprise, but there are some lesser-known achievements of these stylish watches, too. Like the time a Rolex solved a murder…

Can You Work It Out?

Albert Johnson Walker

Back in 1990, Albert Johnson Walker was an Ontario financial consultant and Sunday school teacher who was facing 32 counts of fraud. He’d scammed over £1.67 million out of his fellow church-goers and friends, and become Canada’s most wanted man. He decided to flee to Europe with his 15-year-old daughter, leaving his wife to look after their other children, under the guise of a skiing trip.

Walked fled to London, pretending to be a wealthy American businessman called David Davis. He met Elaine Boyes and Ronald Platt, a friendly couple who told Walker how much they wanted to move to Canada. Walker saw his opportunity. He offered the couple directorship of his company, and sent them on various business trips.

In 1992, Walker gave the couple one-way tickets to Canada as a Christmas present. He convinced Robert to leave him a signature stamp, his driver’s license, birth certificate and credit card, so that he could run the business while the couple were away. As soon as Robert left London, Walker stole his identity.

By 1996, Walker was living with his eldest daughter Sheena as husband and wife. They had two young children, whose birth certificates cited Ronald Platt as their father. Walker regularly spoke Ronald and Elaine, and eventually learnt that the couple had split. While Elaine stayed in Canada, Ronald flew home and started living just streets away from Walker and his daughter.

Realising the game was up, Walker invited Ronald on a family holiday to Devon to cheer him up. While Sheena and the children played, Walker and Ronald went for a  trip on Walker’s yacht. Four miles out, Walker hit Ronald round the head with an anchor, before tying it around his body and throwing him into the sea.

Ronald’s disappearance wasn’t discovered for over six weeks, by which time the trail was cold. It seemed that the killer had got away with it: until the body was discovered, that is.

On 28^th July, John Copik was fishing when his nets pulled up a body. There was a clear injury to the man’s head, but it was

Rolex Yacht-Master II

presumed that he had drowned accidentally. Police struggled to identify him, but after noticing the body was wearing a Rolex Oyster Perpetual wristwatch, they contacted Rolex. Rolex confirmed that a man named Ronald Platt had bought the watch in 1986…

The police contacted Walker after finding his mobile number on a letting agency reference. Walker visited the station voluntarily, and told the police he believed Ronald had gone to France to start a new life after the break-up. It looked as if he’d got away with it.

A few days later, the police tried to contact Walker again, to confirm something he’d said. They visited him at home, but there was no answer. A neighbor informed them that Walker didn’t live there, and that his neighbor was infact called Ronald Platt. He also revealed that Ronald owned a yacht in Devon, and often spent days there.

On 31^st October 1997, Walker was arrested on suspicion of murder. The police found Sheena filling bags with gold bars, after Walker had spent £67,000 on gold bullion: he’d intended to flee again. During the trial, Sheena testified against her father, claiming he’d hypnotized her. Police used GPS signals from Walker’s yacht to prove he was in the area Ronald died at the time, and matched Walker’s fingerprints to those on a bag on the boat.

It took the jury just two hours to find Walker guilty of murder and embezzlement, and jail him. Around £500,000 of embezzled money was returned to the bankruptcy trustees, but Walker refused to reveal what had happened to the rest, or if any is left. Sheena and her children were allowed to return to Canada, and in 2004, Britain transferred Walker back to a Canadian prison. Walker becomes eligible for parole on 6^th July 2013, but Canada are intending to prosecute him for the 37 original fraud and theft charges against him shortly.

Crazy, right? It’s no surprise the Rolex Oyster Perpetual has remained one of the most popular watches around!

The post Time To Kill: The Rolex Watch Murder appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

TAG Heuer, Seiko, Casio G-Shock and Swatch are all celebrating big anniversaries during this World’s biggest watch fair, but it’s Rolex that’s making most of the headlines.

The current Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

Rolex will celebrate 50 years of the stunning Daytona during the event, which starts on Thursday 25^th April, and it’s widely reported that they’ll be unveiling another striking Daytona model to mark the occasion.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the new watch will be bigger, featuring a 42mm stainless steel case, and that the signature crown guard used on the Daytona will be replaced by a stylish black Cerachrome tachymeter bezel.

TAG Heuer will also celebrate 50 years of the Carrera model at the event. The Carrera was designed by Jack Hueur himself in 1963, and named after the Carrera Panamericana Mexico race. The model is influenced by some of the biggest design trends of the time, including sensual curves, geometric purity, dashboard-style codes and even some Pop Art influence. The classic watch has been left exactly as it was since it’s launch, so it’ll be interested to see what TAG do to update the look: rumors suggest the new Carrera will have a bullhead look, featuring crowns placed at the top of the watch for a stop-watch type look.

2013 also marks the 3oth anniversary of the Swatch, a product that is widely believed to have saved Swiss watch-making back in the

The original Heuer Carrera, from 1963.

1980’s. Despite the Quartz revolution being based on a technology the Swiss had created, the industry didn’t adapt well to the new conditions, and the Japanese soon perfected the technique. The Swatch was a rather last-minute attempt to draw the world’s attention back to Swiss watches, and it worked fantastically. Being colorful, easy to manufacture and cheap by Swiss standards, it’s no surprise the Swatch took off big time. Several anniversary editions have already been unveiled this year, but it’s widely reported that Baselworld will feature the unveiling of the most technologically advanced Swatch yet.

Other big events include the 30^th anniversary of the Casio G-Shock, a durable plastic watch that comes in price points from $170 to £1,700, and the 100^th anniversary of Seiko’s very first watch, the Laurel. There’s certainly a lot to enjoy over the next few days: but of course all eyes will be on Rolex.

The post Rumors and Secrets Before Baselworld… appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

The partners shot down the name idea of Wilsdorf & Davis, and immediately searched for a name that would portray excellence. Some historians say the name Rolex was chosen and most likely inspired from the French, “Houloguorie Exquise” or “exquisite.” In reality, however, Wilsdorf & Davis wanted a name that was “easy to pronounce in multiple languages” and “was hard to misspell.”

With a business name comes the need for a quality and memorable logo and the logo of a crown symbol seemed perfect—it expressed their commitment to timepiece excellence and enhanced their slogan of “A Crown for Every Achievement.”

The elongated crown shoots up in the air and while Rolex watches are fit for royalty, the company felt the logo revealed prestige and perfectionism and the finality of owning a Rolex—victory!

Throughout the years, the Rolex logo has been printed in black, white, with a green background or in the crown form only. The logo began with a gold/white crown to illustrate “exquisite” or “excellence” and the green color of the words, ROLEX was to represent money, prosperity and achievement. Along with the crown image and bold green letters, the use of a modified Garamond typeface has made it one of the most famous logos of all time.

Today, the company is led by newly appointed (2011) CEO Gian Riccardo Marini who was the former manager of Rolex Italy. There are rumors abound about the Rolex logo, two of which are not found anywhere on the Rolex website—that the crown logo represented “five fingers” or the crown was meant to portray five branches topped in pearls.

Here at Bob’s Watches, we agree the crown portrays one “exquisite” timepiece, and along with this adjective, we also look at the Rolex logo and its incorporation into each watch as superb, attractive and indeed a watch fit for Kings or a “crown of achievement” for all who own one.

The post The History of the Rolex Logo Is “Exquisite!” appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

For a pitcher to be credited in the history books with a perfect game alongside such legends as Don Larsen, Sandy Koufax, and Cy Young, he must allow no base runners – which means no base hits, no walks, no hit batters, and no errors.  This endeavor requires perfection from not only the pitcher, but from his teammates, as well.  Of all of these teammates, none is more crucial than the catcher, the one who throws down the signals for each and every pitch.  It is customary for the pitcher of a perfect game to give a token of his appreciation to his catcher, so what did King Felix give his catcher following an offseason where he was rewarded handsomely with a seven-year, $175 million contract?  A Rolex watch, of course.

What would be a more fitting gift from a Mariner than a Submariner?   The catcher, John Jaso, was traded from the Mariners to the Oakland Athletics during the offseason, and – wouldn’t you know it – Felix’s first start of the 2013 season would be against his former batterymate’s new team.  Before the game, Jaso, whose salary during the perfect game was less than 3% of that of his pitcher, could only guess what the gift could be.  “Maybe a fastball in the back?” he joked.  Imagine the 29-year-old’s surprise when he un-wrapped a Rolex Submariner 116613 engraved with the words “Perfect Game – 8/15/12” on the back.

According to Newport Beach, California-based Bob’s Watches – the first and only e-commerce site to focus on both selling and buying used Rolex watches in a user-friendly and secure platform – the waterproof Swiss timepiece features a lustrous, scratch-resistant ceramic bezel and engraved markings.   ”It is pretty heavy,” Jaso opined, “It’s got to be real.  The watch I own, I think it’s a Timex, so this is a bit of an upgrade.”

Whether you have ascended to the top to the field or are currently ascending the summit, the Rolex watch is the perfect accessory.  For some, it serves as a source of inspiration to keep striving for perfection; for others, it serves as a reward for a life’s work.  The truth of the matter is that no mere mortal is capable of achieving perfection, even in the game of baseball.  But that should never prevent us from continuing to try, for that is at the essence of the human spirit.  The list of luminaries whose wrists were graced with a Rolex watch is littered with legends who strived for perfection – Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, Arthur Ashe, Paul Newman, Chuck Yeager, just to name a few.

While we all define perfection in different ways, the reward is always the same: Rolex.  There are countless professions that influence the world in positive ways but do not receive the publicity or nine-figure contracts common in professional athletics.  Now there is a way for the teachers, scientists, and engineers of the world to look down at their wrist and see exactly what President Eisenhower saw.  Bob’s Watches is the world’s first and only pre-owned Rolex Exchange where consumers can buy, sell, and trade pre-owned Rolex watches at true fair market value.  They openly publish the current buy and sell values for each Rolex model allowing them to serve as an online marketplace for buyers and sellers looking to get the best deal.

Felix Hernandez did not achieve baseball’s version of perfection, hang up his cleats, and call it a day.  He continues to go out there every fifth day in order to try to recapture that enticing, elusive encounter with perfection.  During his first start of the year, he retired the first ten A’s in a row before the no-hitter was ended by a double to center field in the fourth inning off the bat of who else but John Jaso.

”He broke up the no-hitter,” Hernandez recounted.  ”I was going to say, `Dude, what time is it?”’

The post Rolex – The Mark of Perfection appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

Today Rolex continues to be the favorite watch of professional and leisurely skiers alike. In the professional realm, official wearers of Rolex include the likes of:

• World Champion Herman Maier. He is a dynamo with an indestructible spirit. Maier’s events include King of the Downhill, Giant Slalom, and Super-G. His Rolex watch of choice is the Day-Date because of its sleek elegance and indestructible nature.
• Champion Lindsey Vonn. The 2010/2011 season saw this inspiring young woman take first in the Downhill World Cup, Super-G World Cup, and Super Combined World Cup. Noted as a “true fighter,” this Minnesotan is going to be a force to reckon with for years to come. Vonn’s Rolex of choice is the Datejust. Her favorite model is the 36 mm, white gold and diamond Datejust with pink waves.
• World Cup Winner Carlo Janka. In 2010, he was the overall World Cup winner. His victory came after he unmasked his undying spirit to be noted as one of the fastest men in the world.  His watch of choice is the Datejust because of the watch’s timeless elegance.

Not only does Rolex sponsor some of the world’s most noted skiers, the company is also the official sponsor of the Hahnenkamm Races in the Austrian Alps. The event takes place 1,665 meters above sea level and is heralded as one of the most difficult events of the season.  With drops as steep as 85% and some jumps measuring 80 meters long, pros are pushed to their maximum. Join in the fun from January 20-22nd, 2012 if you dare!

Rolex’s visibility in the ski world inspires the purchase of new and pre-owned Rolex. Whether an adventurer chooses a new or used Rolex DateJust, President Day-Date, or Explorer, they are sure to get a watch that will endure their rough and tumble ski quests. Plus, the ski world tends to understand the value that new and used Rolex watches bring to their everyday lives.

The 2011/2012 ski season is sure to bring unlimited excitement around the world. Don’t miss out!

The post Rolex and the Snow Skiing World appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

Equipped with a 42 mm 904L super alloy steel case, corrosion-resistant steel bracelet with an Oysterlock clasp and Easylink extension, and a rapid-setting instantaneous date setting, the Rolex Explorer II features an orange-colored arrow 24-hour hand, a characteristic feature of the 1971 model, 24-hour graduated bezel that allows its wearer to distinguish between a.m. and p.m., and a GMT 12-hour hand that displays a second time zone which can be independently set. The blue-glow Chromalight display allows the broad markers to be legible in dark environments for up to 8 hours, about twice as long as standard luminescent products. The blue parachrom hairspring feature, a sign of prestige held by the most accurate timepieces, is devised from a paramagnetic alloy that is impenetrable to magnetic fields and up to 10 times more resistant to shock. Engraved on the dial are the words “SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED”, signifying that this model has been rigorously tested for 15 days and nights by the COSC, Contrôle Officel Suicce des Chronomètres, an independent non-profit organization that tests for excellence, accuracy, and precision. Lastly, the Explorer II is waterproof up to 100 metres/330 feet.

While the Explorer II is the model most favored by modern-day explorers, the original Explorer model can still be found. With a 39 mm 904L steel case (slightly smaller than the Explorer II), smooth bezel, and waterproof feature of up to 100 metres/330 feet, the original Explorer model features many of the same features as the Explorer II (COSC certification, blue Parachrom hairspring, etc.), minus the 12 and 24-hour hand and instantaneous date features. The Explorer features a basic black dial with highly-legible broad markers and an Oyster bracelet with Oysterlock safety clasp with Easylink extension.

The Explorer II model is available in a white or black dial. The black-dialed version features black-based markers that blend in with the dial, creating a “phantom” effect where the markers appear to float against their background, a characteristic feature of the 1971 model.

Photos courtesy of www.amillionwatches.com.

The post The Rolex Explorer – For Explorers Beyond The Ordinary appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

After his Famers Insurance win at Torrey Pines in San Diego in January, Tiger Woods sits at number eight in the rankings with 500 points in 2013. Woods has already pocketed over a million in winnings in 2013 and his 14 under par performance may be just one of the reasons he’s back promoting Rolex watches.
When we say he’s “back” as a Rolex endorser, many will remember when Tiger turned pro in 1996, he signed a deal with Rolex to promote their now discontinued Tudor watch line (http://www.bobswatches.com/102252-1-rolex-tudor-oysterdate.html).

According to a story by AP’s Doug Ferguson on PGA.com, a spokesperson from Rolex said of this renewed endorsement:
“Rolex is convinced that Tiger Woods still has a long career ahead of him, and that he has all the qualities required to continue to mark the history of golf.” Rolex also said that Tiger’s return to sponsoring Rolex watches is a “tribute” and shows “…the exceptional stature of Tiger Woods and the leading role he plays in forging sport’s global appeal.”

With 75 PGA wins under his belt, 2013 looks promising for Tiger Woods since his fall from grace in 2009. Although Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg noted that Tiger “doesn’t wear a watch when he plays golf” to the Swiss-based watch manufacturer, that doesn’t seem to be an issue especially with the success Woods has had in the past with other endorsements such as AT&T, Gatorade and Gillette. Tiger only needs seven more PGA wins to match that of golfing legend Sam Snead and fans of Woods are surely rooting him on in every event he plans to participate in this year.

Also in the news for Tiger beyond his Rolex sponsorship is his latest golfing partner—President Barack Obama! According to ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/tiger-woods-obama-amazing-touch/story?id=18540795), Tiger and the President teamed up for a round of golf over President’s Day weekend.

How well does the President play? Tiger told ABC News, “He hit the ball well, and he’s got an amazing touch. He can certainly chip and putt.” When questioned on how Tiger got to play golf with the President, he responded, “He (the President) calls up and says, Hey Tiger, you wanna play?”

We look forward to seeing the elegance of Rolex on Tiger’s wrist once again and for those of you seeking out a pre-owned Rolex watch, Bob’s Watches is the #1 place to shop!

Resource: Ferguson, Doug, (AP) PGA.com – http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/tiger-woods-signs-deal-rolex-first-big-endorsement-scandal-broke

The post Golfing Great Tiger Woods Signs Endorsement With Rolex Brand appeared first on Bob's Watches Rolex Blog.

It’s a date James Cameron will never forget. He was busy making history, becoming the first ever solo explorer of the Mariana Trench.

Back in 1960, Captain Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard descended down 10,916 meters, to the floor of the planet’s oceans, in the Trieste. Their adventure made history, and while the Trieste suffered some damage (including a cracked viewing port), the Rolex Deep Sea Special came back in perfect condition.

Cameron also took a Rolex on his descent – a thicker, newer design of which only three watches actually exist. With a 51mm diameter, 28.5mm thickness and heavy Oyster bracelet, this watch is built to last – and it can withstand up to 13.6 tons of pressure. It’s rated down to 12,000 metres deep, or 39,370 feet – which is around the normal height for most flights, to offer some perspective.

Of course, Cameron’s Rolex wasn’t the only new item he took. The Deepsea Challenger is a one-of-a-kind vessel, designed specifically to be able to carry and support a human at the bottom of the ocean. It can collect samples, dive repeatedly to collect extended data and even produces 34 imagery, letting people on the ground see the deep sea better than ever before.

While James’ is now turning that footage into an amazing 3D film, the actual watch that accompanied his amazing dive is on show to some of Rolex’ biggest customers. Seeing it next to the watch used in 1960, one thing really is for sure – A Rolex is always ready for adventure.

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