If one sets out to find an athlete whose strength of character and endurance can be matched with the pristine quality of a Rolexwatch, there would only be handful of such athletes all over the world. However, one of such undisputed leader and respected athlete is Lance Armstrong. better known as the seven-time Tour de France champion. He is also famous as a Rolex connoisseur.

Lance Armstrong is one of the most successful athletes in the world. He has refined and expensive tastes for everything luxurious and classy. Therefore it comes as no surprise that Lance’s preferred watch is the much acclaimed Rolex GMT Master II. His impressive athletic record and a slew of personal achievements are reflected in his choice of watch too.

Lance Armstrong not only managed to survive testicular cancer and return to his much loved sport- cycling but he also surprised the world by becoming a father once again. In a recent announcement, Lance Armstrong and his girlfriend Anna Hansen announced that they were expecting their new child in June. Considering the fact that Lance managed to survive testicular cancer, becoming a father definitely comes as a major achievement for this athlete.

Lance Armstrong has once again proved that he is a rare example of perfection and perseverance like the Rolex watches.. Both have reached milestones recently-Lance Armstrong embraced fatherhood and the Rolex GMT Master II completed 50 years. In a bid to celebrate the occasion, Rolex also introduced the anniversary edition of this master timepiece that has managed to win millions of hearts since it was first launched.

The older version of the watch has been revamped in order to give it a new improved look. Apart from its durability and elegant designing, the new Rolex GMT Master II is a perfect watch for individuals who love to travel frequently. The watch can display dual time zones, both of the home country and the destination country. The date window for the home time zone is another highlight of this watch. Rolex GMT Master II also boasts of a smoother hour hand movement courtesy the improved new caliber 3186.

The dial of the watch also sports an all-new look. The “maxi dial� allows an individual to view the time more conveniently with the larger hour, minute and second hands. The case of the watch is made of ceramic bezel. This is another important highlight as ceramic bezel is abrasion resistant and does not lose its color over time.

The crown of the watch has been made larger and heavier, which will make it easier to grasp than before. The special edition Rolex GMT Master II is not merely eye candy because of its stylish looks but is also a perfect watch known for its durable performance. Just like its celebrated wearer, Lance Armstrong, the Rolex GMT Master II won’t disappoint its fans.

Rolex-A name that evokes feelings of patience, virtuosity, honesty and passion, one of the most premium watch manufacturers in the world has been able to set its own standard. Rolex, like Alain Hubert, the renowned Belgian explorer can multitask efficiently. Rolex has always supported exceptionally talented individuals who dare to dream beyond the ordinary and have the determination to achieve it. Alain Hubert is a man of tremendous talent who performs a number of functions capably. This multi-faceted personality is known the world over for his incredible expeditions to the far corners of this planet.

Born in 1953 in Schaerbeek in Belgium, Alain Hubert has always possessed a flair for venturing out into the harshest and most severe places and conquering them. Alain graduated in the year 1977 form the University of Louvain-La-Neuve in civil engineering. An explorer, civil engineer, mountain guide, carpenter, public speaker, co-founder of the International Polar Foundation and a good-will Ambassador for UNICEF, Alain Hubert is equipped with a wide range of skills. He is one of the founding members of the Cherbais furniture making co-operatives that is located in the Ardennes. Alain was always drawn to the arts and extreme sports including mountaineering, rafting and parascending. He was able to triumph over the daunting challenges of walking to the North Pole and the South Pole in the years 1994 and 1998 respectively. An expert in polar expeditions Alain led many ventures for National Geographic to the polar areas. He led the Artic Arc expedition, the first of its kind that covered more than 1700 kilometers on ice, in 106 days and crossed the Siberia-Greenland crossing through the North Pole. Apart from leading such incredible expeditions Alain is a proficient guide, writer, public speaker and designer of various sporting equipment and clothing. Alain is an avid writer and has written numerous articles based on his expeditions. Additionally, he produced a number of short documentaries on his various expeditions to the remotest corners of this planet. He was responsible for setting up the zero carbon emission polar station, ‘Princess Elizabeth’ for Belgium in the winter of 2007-2008 in Antarctica. With numerous firsts to his name that include the world record journey of 3294 kilometers in 99 days across the Antarctic using the newly developed power kites Alain is determined to reach new heights and surpass average human capacity.

He was awarded the prestigious Georges Lemaître International Prize for his contribution to science in 2003, the Grand Officier de l’Ordre de la Couronne in Belgium in 2003 and the “Climate Change” prize by the Prince Albert II de Monaco Foundation, for his commitment and contribution towards climate and related issues in 2008.

The first Belgian to ever reach the Antarctic this man of boundless vision has become a standard that aspiring explorer’s measure themselves against. Rolex has the satisfaction of partnering this incredibly talented and determined individual. The Rolex Perpetual Explorer II built by master workers from the house of Rolex goes with Alain Hubert to the farthest corners of this earth and even in the most overwhelming conditions performs perfectly like him.

Rolex has become more than a watch producing brand through incredible labor and passionate belief and has evolved to become a yardstick to measure perfection and dedicated craftsmanship. Over the years Rolex has been associated with many exceptionally talented individuals; among them is the pioneering under water photographer David Doubilet. Like Rolex, David Doubilet is continually working towards changing long held perceptions and through his innovative concepts has revolutionized the world under water photography.

Born in New York in 1946, David Doubilet is a prominent creative artist who is known for his remarkable contributions to the National Geographic magazine. David has been known to push the limits and through his instantly recognizable artistry recreates under water photography. The images David Doubilet captures are stunning works of art that have a tremendous impact on any viewer. The capacity of these images lies in their mystic allure and surreal halo that has the power to transport the mind into the inner reaches of a beautifully delirious dream. David Doubilet began taking under water photographs at the tender age of 12 and hasn’t stopped since. His first camera was a Brownie Hawkeye that he wrapped with a rubber anesthesiologist’s bag. The purpose of this wrapping was to prevent the water from reaching the camera. David worked as a photographer and diver for Sandy Hook Marine Laboratories located in New Jersey. He has spent a lot of time working though multiple jobs in the water. It was as a diving instructor in the Bahamas that the passion and ambition for under water photography developed in David Doubilet. He is known to carry several cameras with him whenever he descends into the water.

The inability to change the camera lens underwater proved to be a major obstacle but this also ignited his mind to look for ways around this hindrance. David’s unfettered mind began its process of solving this anomaly while his pioneering aptitude led him to invent split lens camera. The first of its kind, the split lens camera enables him to capture images simultaneously both above and below the water. This camera is able to do this because it features different focus points for the top half and the bottom half of the lens. The image that is captured through this lens is recorded on the same negative in the camera. A graduate from the Boston College of Communication David Doubilet has garnered a lot of respect and admiration for his well written reports and books on the sea. With over sixty stories for National Geographic and numerous books to his credit David Doubilet is a formidable name in creative arts who has been able to achieve all of this through perseverance and persistence.

Recipient of numerous awards for his remarkable proficiency in his craft that includes the Lennart Nilsson Award for scientific photography and Lowell Thomas Awards, David Doubilet has re-mastered the world of under water photography. Rolex has been a proud partner of David Doubilet on several occasions and endorses his ambition of transforming the notion about under water photography. David Doubilet sports the Rolex Submariner crafted by Rolex to withstand any circumstance and perform flawlessly. When pioneering innovation of David Doubilet meets years of flawless dedication of Rolex what results is a partnership that is able to revolutionize the world of photography.

Rolex has been a source of inspiration for many people around the world. Developing itself on the principals of dedication and flawless craftsmanship, Rolex has been instrumental in the evolution of timepieces. It comes as no surprise that as a brand Rolex doesn’t merely stand for astounding watches but also as a platform for meticulous craftsmanship that propounds timeless elegance and remarkable functionality. All the advertisements that have ever been put to print for Rolex have always stated the factual functions and performance of these ground breaking watches.

The 1968 Rolex advertisement is a perfect example of how Rolex utilized its functional and performance based design with Grand Prix racing. The advertisement has a clear cut message that indicates the responsiveness and the precision of the chronometer. It links the accurate sense of timing the formula one race car drivers have with flawless performance of the watch. The advertisement further goes on to state the features of the meticulously crafted Rolex Oyster. Constructed using the finest materials, the oyster case of the watch is built from either 18 carat gold or Swedish stainless steel. The most significant aspect of the advertisement is that it mentions the fact that the Rolex Oyster was crafted almost entirely by the hands of master craftsmen. The advertisement also talks about the incredible actuality that the Rolex Oyster is crafted using the utmost devotion and patience, so much so that each Rolex watch takes over a year to be completed. Jackie Stewart a Scottish daredevil had worked his way up the ranks from a mere mechanic. Jackie was a formidable competitor who was born to blaze the circuits. Stunning the awe-struck crowd with perfect control of the formula one car Jackie had 27 formula wins to his name that were unequalled for almost 20 years. The 1968 Rolex racing advertisement mentions that Jackie Stewart an unparalleled performer in the world of formula one racing endorses the Rolex brand and prefers to wear the scrupulously crafted Rolex Oyster Datejust.

This vintage advertisement employs a theme that associates the incredible speed the racers move around the circuit without losing control of their cars, with the performance of the Rolex Oyster that functions perfectly even in extreme conditions. The primary purpose of the advertisement is to highlight the high level engineering skill that has gone into crafting one of the finest watches the world has ever seen. What distinguishes Rolex from other brands is that right from the start it has never employed clever marketing tactics or strategies in its advertisement. Even though it uses some of the best people in the business to endorse its product it does so only to make the public aware of its flawless craftsmanship and dedicated engineering. Rolex has been able to reach unprecedented heights of success solely because of its determined vision of crafting the best and ushering in a whole new standard of performance and functionality. Apart from setting a precedent for the entire watch market Rolex symbolizes class and true sophistication. A theme for numerous books that have tried to outline what this premium brand defines; Rolex will go down in the pages of history as marvel that revolutionized time.

There are very few among who push the limits of human capacity and achieve such heights that the world stands still and observes their unbelievable achievement. So unprecedented is their feat that they soon become more then men and transform into a notion or an example of ones capacity to pursue excellence. The most important ingredient that goes into every Rolex watch is the passion to craft it into something that becomes more than a mere timepiece. Deeply rooted in the foundation of Rolex is the capacity to push forward to achieve more than what is defined in any text or any standard. Over the years Rolex has made the process of supporting and celebrating any individual who defies the established standards and performs unthinkable feats solely on the basis of courage, an integral part of its system. Jean Troillet a world renowned Swiss mountaineer is one such man. Rolex is the principal sponsor for Jean Troillet who has been appointed ambassador for World Vision. As a part of this humanitarian organization Jean travels the world to help and support the people in need.

Born in 1948 in Switzerland, Jean Troillet toiled endlessly and braved the icy slopes and tremendous heights of the mountains to become one of the finest climbers the world has ever seen. Jean acquired a mountain guide degree and all the necessary qualifications for becoming a mountain guide in 1969. This fleet footed exemplary climber has conquered a total of 10 peaks that are more than 8000 meters in height. Jean conquered all these peaks in an alpine style and that too without oxygen. Ascending a mountain is a tremendous task in itself because of the impending danger of an avalanche and the slippery icy surface that is sometimes impossible to grip. Jean however decided to conquer these slopes using something more than large expedition like team or extra supplies. The ability to drive oneself to achieve the unthinkable is the most powerful and vital tool that is absolutely necessary in order to conquer the impossible. Among the numerous records Jean Troillet holds the most remarkable one is his ascent to the Mt. Everest from the north face. He completed the entire climb and back in just 43 hours, a feat that is relatively impossible for the rest of us. An avid mountain guide and seafarer Jean has been places and seen such magnificence that most of us can merely read about or imagine in the far reaches of our consciousness. To add to the list of unheard feats is his descent from the Mt. Everest on a snowboard in 1997.

Having already conquered most of the major peaks Jean Troillet is now on the path of self discovery through unhindered humanitarianism. In this mission that takes him across the far reaches of this world Jean tries to accomplish his most monumental task yet, i.e. to lend a hand to all the people in need. Rolex partners Jean in this fantastic feat that seeks to conquer ignorance and champion the cause of humanity and ultimately create a world of understanding and shed light on life.

Innovating to create something out of the ordinary which in turn will improve the underlying conditions is a principal we all need to follow. This rudiment is imperative in order to understand our place on this planet and by employing this remarkable gift of vision we all possess we can transform this world into a better and more sustainable place to live in. Rolex is regarded all over the world as a master workshop that condenses the finest elements and distils it into its marvelous watches. Continually striving to reach the pinnacle of perfection Rolex has been involved with numerous ground breaking events. Whether it is sports or culture Rolex has persistently tried to endorse and promote exceptional talent and remarkable achievement. The Rolex Awards for Entrepreneurs is an initiative that promotes enterprising talent and celebrates incredible brilliance. The Rolex Awards for Entrepreneurs recently underwent a change and was expanded to accommodate young talented innovators who have altered human perception through their revolutionary projects.

In the spring of 2010 Rolex will announce the names of five exceptional innovators and scientists from around the world who have made a significant impact in human history through their incredible projects. These five individuals will be the first recipients of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise: New Young Laureates Program. This program aims to honor these young men and women who have contributed to this world through their body of work. The Rolex Awards for Enterprise: Young Laureates Program recognizes and awards men and women from the age of 18 to 30 who made a significant contribution in solving tomorrow’s problem today through exceptional work in the fields of science and health, environment and cultural preservation, applied technology and exploration. Each of these young innovators will be awarded a cash prize of 50000 US dollars. The purpose of the cash award is to fuel their original projects and assist them in developing the program further for a greater impact. Apart from the award these awardees will now be a part of the network of Rolex scientists and innovators who would assist them in developing their projects. The Rolex Awards for Enterprise was conceptualized and created in 1976. From the time of its inception till date 110 awards have been presented to laureates from over 40 countries. This has consequently aided the development and implementation of these programs in over 60 countries.

This program does not seek to replace the earlier awards for laureates and assistant laureates but to a certain extent complements it. The Rolex Awards for Enterprise: New Young Laureates Program and the Rolex Awards for Enterprise for laureates and assistant laureates will be held on a rotational basis every two years. The primary focus of the program is to identify exceptional young talent which will bring in fresh approaches to tackle the complex problems of the future.

Rolex supports numerous initiatives that promote and encourage talent but unlike the rest of its programs the Rolex Awards for Enterprise: New Young Laureates Program is aimed at igniting the mind and utilizing the invigorating forces of innovation and creativity to transform this world for an improved life.

Royalty or the blue lineage is something most people around the world covet. But there are some who are born with it while others fight tremendous battles and prove to the world that they deserve every inch of it. The Rolex Cellini Prince Everose Gold from the renowned watch manufacturer Rolex is an incredibly alluring watch that is surrounded with an air of gravity and elegance. The Rolex Cellini Prince mirrors the exceptional brilliance of Hollywood’s true royalty Gene Hackman. The Rolex Cellini Prince Everose Gold is the result of many years of passionate craftsmanship and possesses a mesmerizing magnetism hidden between its meticulously crafted design. Similarly a name that is taken in Hollywood circles with deep respect and utmost admiration, Gene Hackman has such tremendous draw that most people who watch him on screen, are instantly compelled to keep their eyes fixed on him.

A man who has a number of Golden Globe, Academy, BAFTA and other prestigious international awards to his credit does not need to be told that he is synonymous with Hollywood itself. Born in 1930 in California, Gene Hackman worked in the navy after which he worked in a string of other insignificant jobs. The passion to act came when he was 26 and after being downcast and ridiculed by a number of people including his former teacher who had condescendingly remarked that Gene was unlikely to ever succeed he took off on his path towards glory with a new unshakeable resolve. Determined to be the best there ever was he played each part with true passion and a great understanding of the director’s vision. Right from his first unaccredited appearance in Mad Dog Coll to The French Connection that earned him an Academy award, BAFTA and the Golden Globe, Gene had carved out his own space among the other well known actors. Circumstances and people had tried to discourage his vision but his steel willed resolve remained undeterred. Achieving true brilliance requires an unthinkable quantity of honest labor and fortitude. Surrounded by an aura of brilliance and a delectable intrigue that astounds most people Gene Hackman is a star of significant stature which has earned him royalty status.

When you can achieve brilliance through sheer labor and determination it automatically forms a halo of well-deserved, acquired royalty. The Rolex Cellini Prince Everose Gold is a shining star; similar to the exceptionally talented Gene Hackman. Their craft and façade are enough to hold the world in rapture and while they take their place amongst the true royalty the world looks on with awe and reverence.

Regarded by most people in the world as the foremost brand in premium luxury watches Rolex not only represents true class but also stands for perfection that has been achieved through utmost dedication. Rolex does not merely manufacture watches; it also supports and sponsors internationally acclaimed events that have become a platform for world class sportsmen and women. Among the exclusive events that Rolex promotes is the Rolex Capri Sailing Week. The Rolex Capri Sailing Week which began in 2005 is now in its fifth year and has grown both in the number of people participating and the spectators that witness the event. Always pursuing perfection Rolex has had a proud tradition of providing people with an exceptional talent with a platform that showcases their devotion and true command over the sport. The 2009 Rolex Capri Sailing Week sponsored by Rolex was held at Capri in Italy. Surrounded by the emerald blue sea and white sand beaches this delectable island looks like a dream. Amongst this unfettered natural beauty the Swan Class 45’s and Comet 41’s among others churn though the pristine water trying to grasp the fleeting wind and that would sail them to victory.

The Rolex Capri Sailing Week for the year 2009 turned out to be a complete Italian triumph with Italian sailors sweeping up all the laurels in the various categories.

Vincenzo Onorato and Mascalzone Latino emerged as victors in the Farr 40 class. This proved to be great win for the two talented sailors as this victory come on home shores. Carlo Perrone at the Atlantica Racing stormed the waters to win the Swan 45 Class. This was Perrone and his crew’s first race this season. Winning this event would give a moral boost to the entire Atlantic Racing team that is all set to compete in the Argentario later in August. In the Rolex Capri Sailing Week last year Alessandro Nespega preformed quite disappointingly however upping his performance this year Nespega blazed through the competition to emerge victorious in the Swan 42 Class. Even though the competition in this category was tough the well prepared crew and strategic maneuvers were the key elements that resulted in Nespega winning the competitive event. Though the most thrilling win for the Rolex Capri Sailing Week came from Massimo Russo on his ‘Athanor’ swept through all the five races and gained an imaginable victory. The entire Sicilian crew onboard Russo’s boat turned out to be well trained athletes that had an almost perfect knowledge of all the moves. Leonardo Ferragamo beat out the rest and gained the upper edge to win the Swan 42 Class. Vincenzo Onorato was ecstatic with the win as this would not only help in improving the confidence levels and also prepare the entire team fro the Farr 40 regarded by the best sailors as the toughest and most premier sailing event.

The Rolex Capri Sailing Week for the year 2009 culminated into a grand Rolex crew party at the La Canzone del Mare located in Marina Piccola. This luxurious bathing firm was originally an old fort that was transformed into what it is today by Gracie Fields, a prominent singer and actor from the 1930-40’s era. The spectacularly beautiful view of Siren’s Rock with the emerald waters gently caressing the shore turned to be an ideal location for the Rolex Capri Sailing Week and a befitting finale to the highly competitive event that was sponsored by the world class Swiss company Rolex.

Wow! An 18k gold Rolex Daytona Cosmograph with a black dial was found by police divers in the Scioto River at the beginning of May 2009. It turns out the Rolex luxury watch has been under water for over eighteen months, but it was still ticking away as the internal action maintained perfect timing. In Columbus, Ohio a home robbery took place during 2007 that netted the lucky, or maybe not so lucky, bandit’s a treasure of gold, jewelry and other items valued at two million dollars! Why were the thieves unlucky? To start with, they were criminals. Although they got away for a while, they apparently were not the sharpest knives in the drawer because they were caught and convicted, six of them in total. The gold and jewels that they stole were so rare that they could not sell them without someone knowing where they came from, particularly after the big media blitz about the robbery and the stolen items. The jury is still out on why the homeowners had two million dollars of gold and jewelry that was uninsured. They may not have been any smarter than the thieves. We agree that having your Rolex Daytona Cosmograph at home makes sense so you can wear it around town and show it off to your friends. However, over two million dollars in uninsured valuables — that is just stupid or more than just a little fishy.

Heading back to the treasure, after about a year and a half in custody, one of the thieves finally gave up some information about where some of the treasure could be found. According to the thief, several of them got scared because of the media attention and realized they would not be able to sell a lot of the things they stole. They tossed a lot of the jewelry in the Scioto River. Police divers began searching the river, at an undisclosed spot, two days ago and have already recovered $22,000 dollars worth of valuables including a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona valued at $16,000. The police said the Rolex luxury watch was still running. With a Rolex, you get what you pay for! The police say they are still searching for an additional $800,000 worth of property that was taken during the robbery and that they have no clue where to look. At the very least, the owner of the house got his 18k Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with a black dial back, a little worse for the wear, but still working!

It is hard to hem in the vast world of Rolex watches in a single book or guide. Thus, it is advisable for an individual to obtain several books and publications dedicated to these luxurious watches. Another popular book, which can be added to an individual’s collection on Rolex books, is “The Rolex Report� written by John E. Brozek. After going through this book, one feels that had there been sucha book earlier there would not have been any hesitation in choosing ones perfect Rolex watch. Individuals who love sports watches launched by Rolex would also like the book “Vintage Rolex Sports Models� written by Martin Skeet and Nick Urul. The book is a step-by-step guide for individuals who are on the lookout for their perfect Rolex watch. The book gives detailed information right from the purpose of these sports watches to the ideal sport for which a particular watch is designed.. Some of the most popular Rolex models which find mention in this book include the Rolex Cosmograph, the Rolex Daytona and the Rolex Submariner.

When it comes to penning down the history and popularity of various Rolex models, there are a number of magazines and periodicals which have contributed entire issues to this particular subject. Magazines, which seem to have a wider readership and are more accessible as compared to the all-exclusive Rolex watches , play a crucial role in making these exclusive Rolex watches noticed and admired by the common man. One of these magazines is the World Wrist Watch Time Spec. World Photo Press published this Japanese magazine. It will not be an overstatement to say that this is one of the best write-up ever published on Rolex watches.

Although it is a bimonthly magazine and offers a lot of information along with exclusive pictures of Rolex watches, the magazine does not have a translated English version. However, the magazine Time Spec has been considerate enough to come up with special editions which focus exclusively on selected Rolex models. Some of these magazines worth collecting are Rolex Fan Volumes 1 & 2. These two editions were dedicated exclusively to 12 Rolex models, suitably divided into twelve chapters.

Another famous magazine is the Rolex Scene 1913-1997 The London Aritake Collection. This magazine is edited by Shigeharu Aritake. Although the magazine was published in London, all the exclusive pictures of Rolex watches incorporated in this book were traded from a Japanese photographer who had painstakingly collected the pictures of all the Rolex models which were launched in the last 15 years.

There has been a plethora of book series introduced in the recent past, focusing mainly on the topic of Rolex watches. These books were launched as a part of a three-book series in A5 format.
Although Rolex is a premium Swiss watch with the majority of its customers based in European and American countries, it is surprising to note that a large amount of books and magazines dedicated to it are published in Japanese and other Asian languages. Well, maybe that’s just another example of the global appeal Rolex has and the popularity it enjoys all over the world.