A game of basketball like any other game entails keeping an eye on the watch and timing each move. This fast paced game is high on adrenaline but the best basketball players know that amidst all the heady rush they have to aim at the basket with a shooter’s precision and to do that the timing must be just right. Rolex is a name tantamount to accuracy and exactness like no other watch brand. Rolex does not sit complacent on the good reputation that it has earned for itself and like Tony Parker knows that only those who strive to work hard and with extreme relentlessness succeed in life. Tony Parker’s more glamorous image is as Eva Longoria’s husband, but Parker is first and foremost a basketball player and NBA star. Parker plays point guard position because of his dexterity and speed. Parker played in the French amateur league for two seasons and turned professional in 1999. He finally entered the NBA draft in 2001. Parker played with San Antonio Spurs earning 77 appearances in his rookie season. He became the third French player to ever play in an NBA game. He won his first championship ring by the end of the sophomore season and led his team in assists on nothing less than 49 games.</p> <p>In the ’04-’05 season Parker recorded career highs of 16.6 ppg, 6.1 apg and 3.7 rpg. That season Parker was instrumental in victories against three big names. The San Antonio Spurs won their third NBA Championship in the 2005 NBA Finals. Parker was selected to play in the next year’s NBA All Star Game as a reserve guard in 2007. Parker a pro at the pick and roll method beat his much taller counterparts to win the Western Conference Finals. Parker was named the 2007 NBA Finals MVP.

Parker was chosen as a reserve for 2009 All Star Game. He recorded career highs in both assists and points per game. In the fourth game of the 2008-09 NBA season, Parker swooped a career high of 55 points to lead the Spurs in a victory against Minnesota Timberwolves. Parker has been named to the All NBA Third team in May this year.

Tony was also named the Most Valuable Player in 2000 playing for the French national team. France with Parker’s contribution went on to win the bronze at the 2005 Championships. Parker has also been voted by his peers as the quickest player on the court. Tony was inducted into the Legion of Honor as a chevalier. He has recently been photographed on the cover of NBA Live 09.

The Rolex Submariner Date is a superlative certified chronometer which true to its name is water resistant to waters as deep as 300 metres/1000 feet. The watch features a unidirectional bezel that is also rotatable enabling the checking of decompression times. The bezel is such that it helps in viewing time under immersion safely and efficiently. The 40 mm black dial watch also has a stylish, high end green bezel. The bracelet has an oyster fliplock facility and is self wound providing the user with extreme functionality.

Like all Rolex bracelets this too is sculpted to a smooth finish to provide maximum comfort to the user. One can adjust the length of the watch according to one’s wrist size.The watch is crystallized in sapphire and made in gleaming steel finish that is both classy and suave. The steel is 904L steel, the best of its kind and helps in maximum resistance against corrosion. Tony Parker and the Rolex Submariner Date do what they’re best at, guarding the position most effortlessly

Stealthily moving in the shadow of the night while at other times flying over rooftops to capture villainous elements, the action of the world’s best known spy, James Bond continues to bewilder and astonish millions of people around the world. Created by the legendary Ian Fleming, the character of James Bond has left an indelible impact on the world and created such a brilliant legacy that it still leaves many people spellbound. Such a heroic character that travels around the world for his secret assignments could only wear a watch as flawless and brilliant functioning as his own capability, something like the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer. A masterpiece of creation and artistry the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer is a brilliantly crafted watch that exudes of precision, flawless performance and tremendous endurance.

The author Ian Fleming created the legendary character James Bond out of a composite of other real life characters as well as his own ambitions and likes. Born in Mayfair in London, in May 1908, Ian Lancaster Fleming was commissioned as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve lieutenant and then promoted to the position of a Lieutenant Commander, then subsequently to the post of a Commander. Ian Fleming was known codename was 17F while serving in the defense services. Publishing his first novel on James Bond by the name of Casino Royale in 1953, Ian Fleming had created the most conspicuous and well known spy in the world. Flying off book shelves and stores everywhere the James Bond book series became such an incredible rage that people around the world could not get enough of this spy that flew across the world, swam in the deepest oceans and dodged a volley of fire power to rid the world of its criminals. The tremendous popularity of the James Bond novels and its riveting stories evolved in to films that eternally captured the soul of the character and his exploits on the Silver Screen. The enormous impact of James Bond and his whirl wind adventures caught the imagination of people everywhere and generated such an enormous fan following that even after almost six decades from the time he was created the excitement and passion for this character refuses to die out. Avid fans from around the world collect numerous memorabilia that was used in the films along with the first editions and prints of the novels that brought this legend to life.

The author of the James bond novels and creator of this legendary character sported a Rolex Explorer that seems quite apt to his creative ability of exploring the facades of the adventurous spirit. This watch was recently on display at the Imperial War Museum in London that featured along with other items related to the life and work of Ian Fleming.

Now the Rolex Explorer is on display at the National Watch & Clock Museum that is also putting up other watches that were worn by James Bond in the novels and motion pictures.

The incredible legacy of James Bond and his creator Ian Fleming lives on in the novels, films and the Rolex watches that both the astounding adventurer and the incredible author.

Fame and success are not exclusive to any one field. There are different reasons which drive people to seek it and devise various ways to achieve them. One of the reasons behind the same is the desire to become the master of that particular art. Rolex is known for always trying to achieve the same through the watches it offers. It channelizes its resources to achieve the kind of fame and success, which is the hallmark of the masters. One of the gems from the house of Rolex is Yacht-Master II, a watch high on craftsmanship, technology, appearance and utility. With its highly acclaimed design and unparalleled durability this watch is a definite master of its art. The world of cinema similarly is no stranger to the dreams of countless people toiling to realize the elusive fame and success. Among those who have not only succeeded but become masters of the art is the American film and television producer Jerry Bruckheimer. He has accomplished in the cine world what Yacht-Master II has done on the world of watches.

Rolex Yacht-Master II is the watch people in love with adventure want to own. And when people in love with action and science fiction movies have to pick their favorite they throng to Jerry Bruckheimer movies. Though a big movie fan from his childhood days, yet Jerry never really did anything in terms of education and school dramas, etc to bring forth his hidden talents. After spending time Michigan and Arizona he finally landed in Los Angeles where he was about to change the rules of the game. He didn’t start off as a solo producer instead worked with people like Dick Richards and Paul Schrader. His first big hit came in the year 1983 when Flashdance was released. But this was just the beginning of what was going to be a long lasting and highly successful journey that would catapult him into the league of masters of the art, a proud honor enjoyed by Yacht-Master II too.

His 1986 movie Top Gun became a cult classic and Beverly Hills Cop was a successful series as well. The decade of 1990s was the time when each of his movie became a blockbuster and established him as the master of making his genre of movies. Days of Thunder, Bad Boys, Crimson Tide, The Rock, Con Ai, Armageddon and Enemy of the State were the movies that took him to top of the ladder and high quality action/drama movies became Jerry’s signature. It looked as if just like Rolex he could feel the pulse of his fans and make sure he always exceeded their expectations. What followed in 2000s was a flood of movies each of which was a separate proof of his class. The decade started with Gone in Sixty Seconds, Remember the Titans, Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down. But the highlight of the decade was the Johnny Depp starrer trilogy Pirates of the Caribbean which broke many box office records to make Jerry a living legend. His upcoming movie G-Force is a shoo-in to be among the biggest blockbusters of 2009.

Rolex just like Jerry Bruckheimer knows what it takes to be the master of the art. And the same is reiterated through Yacht-Master II as well. It is the favorite of the sailors because of its impressive programmable countdown feature which they can set as per the starting sequence of each regatta. The watch is a certified chronometer and is made in yellow gold. The white dial with blue ceramic rotatable bezel enhances the looks of watch manifold. The Yacht-Master II is the perfect choice for some like Jerry Bruckheimer as both are the perfect examples of being the best in their fields.

If dancing is like dreaming with your feet nothing dances better than the Rolex sponsored Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative because it translates the dreams of the talented into reality. The Initiative has chosen an American dancer this year for its Dance mentor protégé event and he is Jason Akira Somma from New York. Jiri Kylian who is a renowned Czech dance choreographer served as the Artistic Director of Nederlands Dans Theatre and gained fame with his breathtaking choreography in Symphony of Psalms. Jiri believes that the human dancer is a perfect idiom of art and he studies the human body as a form that is malleable to create shapes that the artist wants to represent on stage. Kylian has been appointed mentor to the Jason by the prestigious The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.

Jason’s My Space blog reads that he is the first American ever to have received this award. Jason also says that he believes “movement to be the bare bones of what defines a culture� and in a way Jason spells out the Rolex ideology. At Rolex the effort is always to mix a hallmark of perfected accuracy and the watch movement is mostly self wound lending a kind of flexibility to the wearer that can be equated with the litheness of a dancer’s body and movement. Jason is 29 years of age and an established dancer in his own right. He believes that The Rolex mentor protégé experience will not only enhance his skill as an artist but also allow him to interact with a dance maestro he has always looked up to. Rolex has given him a chance at excelling in his field and he appreciates the fact that he is among the chosen few that Rolex sponsors every year to train with the very best in their respective fields. .

Jason like his mentor and a Rolex watch amalgams dance and visual arts in a way that is praise worthy because it is high on imagination and the right tuning of one’s creative potential. Somma settled in New York after he graduated with a Fine Arts degree in Dance and Choreography and has earned a reputation for himself as prodigy any master would love to take under his wings. Rolex has literally followed suit and wasted no time to get Jason on the team of protégés for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative this year.

Akira Somma has performed in prestigious events around the world but most prominently featured at the path breaking BAM and Dance Theater Workshop. Jason and his mentor are collaborating on an ambitious dance recital to celebrate the 50 years of Nederlands Dans Theater. Jason is also an avid photographer and film maker, his film work having been screened on the Independent Film and Sundance Channels in the New York Times.

The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative was started by the Rolex Foundation as an effort to get those who wanted to give and those who wanted to take the best that was there in the world to offer, together. The Initiative was in keeping with the Rolex tradition of catering to exclusivity because it believes that perfection cannot be improved upon and hence takes time to be shaped. The artists come into a highly celebrated one-to-one relationship with their guru and for a time span of a whole year the two creatively collaborate to create magic together. The enterprise by Rolex is their attempt to bring culture from around the world on a common platform and then showcase to people an experience that will remain unforgettable, and only a Rolex can make this happen.

Rolex watches are as diverse and rich as the multifaceted characteristics of the Rolex brand. Pick any watch at random that belongs to Rolex and start noting down the things that help it stand out. You will look for one and you will find many. Take for example Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust, a watch that is so awesomely different yet outstanding in each aspect that it can hold on to being the best against any watch. You can start from the looks and move on to the craftsmanship or may be the technology Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust is just perfect and redefines just about everything. If you were to wander into the world of show business in search of someone who would demonstrate the same attributes, the name that would crop up first is going to be Cameroon Diaz. She is one actress who stands out in any crowd simply because of her alluring persona. She is so good in every thing that she does, that just like Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust, Cameroon Diaz has redefined everything.

Cameroon Diaz was born in 1972 in the State of California. She was the second daughter of a second-generation Cuban American father and an English, German and Cherokee mother. She went to the Long Beach Polytechnic High School and while in school started off as a fashion model at the age of 16. She was signed by one of the top modeling agencies, Elite Model Management. Her modeling assignments took her to different corners of the world and she worked for some of the top names in the market including Calvin Klein and Levi’s.

She redefined many things in the course of her modeling career and by the time she turned 21 in spite of the lack of prior acting experience she landed the lead role in Jim Carrey starrer, The Mask. This was just the right kind of launch pad and with highly acclaimed roles in successful movies like My Best Friend’s Wedding and There’s Something About Mary she became a star in no time. The latter even got her a Best Actress Golden Globe nomination. She got the same honor along with similar nominations at BAFTA Awards and Screen Actors Guild for her role in the movie Being John Malkovich. She was so far more known for the comedy characters she was playing but she surprised everyone with an action filled role in Charlie’s Angels. This was followed by a lot of critical acclaim and award nominations for the movie Vanilla Sky and highly adorable role of Princess Fiona in the movie Shrek.

A new chapter opened in Cameroon Diaz’s career when she was offered the lead against Leonardo DiCaprio by none other then Martin Scorsese in his movie Gangs of New York. The movie again showed the things she was capable of doing. This was in fact the golden period for Cameroon Diaz as she was offered $ 20 million for the role in the sequel Charlie’s Angles Full Throttle. She achieved greater glory with the success of movies like Shrek 2 and 3, In Her Shoes, The Holiday and What Happens in Vegas. Her latest movie My Sister’s Keeper is once again reiterating her beauty and acting potentials.

The same kind of strength and success is related to Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust as well. The attractive watch clearly stands out because of its smoother lines and enhanced dials. You can choose between steel only, and steel and white gold watch. It has silver concentric dial and Jubilee bracelet that features Crown clasp. Even a cursory look at the watch makes it obvious that it redefines everything in the world of watches just like Cameroon Diaz does in the world of entertainment.

Spunk, confidence, attitude and courage come together in a single package very rarely and to discover all of that in a person and a watch are indeed very rare finds. Rolex goes ahead and does the impossible. It brings to you the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust which offers all the above and more, and Natalie Portman, the beauty with the brains offers the unthinkable in the world of cinema.

Natalie Hershlag born to an Israeli father and American mother is the only child of her parents. Portman has always been academically inclined, missing the premiere of her film Star Wars: Episode I to study for her high school exams and later going on to graduate with a degree in Psychology from the prestigious Harvard College. Portman who is strongly connected to her Israeli roots and calls Jerusalem her true home appeared as a guest lecturer at a Columbia University course in Terrorism and Anti-terrorism. She also spoke about her film V for Vendetta during this lecture. Natalie is proficient in French, Japanese, Arabic and German besides Hebrew and English. She also published two research papers in professional scientific journals, making her one of the very few professional actors with a defined Erdos-Bacon number.

Portman was a born professional when it came to acting attending theater camps while other kids played around. Her knack and the seriousness with which she took acting at such a young age got her the role of Mathilda in Léon. Natalie was only 13 when she adopted her grandmother’s name Portman after the film’s release to protect privacy. The mid-90’s saw Natalie acting in films such as Heat, Everyone Says I Love You and Mars Attacks! After the script of Anywhere but Here was rewritten Natalie signed on and the role of Ann August brought her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Portman played the role of an unrelenting teenaged mother in Where the Heart Is with a maturity uncharacteristic of her age.

Portman, equally adept on stage, was cast to act in Chekov’s The Seagull which also had a star cast comprising Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and Philip Seymour Hoffman. She took a sabbatical to concentrate on her degree, shooting and promoting her films during vacations. Her astounding performance as Alice in Closer got her the ever evasive Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination. Natalie shaved her head for V for Vendetta, liking the tonsured look for the chance it gave her at escaping from vanity. In late 2006 Natalie filmed for The Other Boleyn Girl and is slated to star in Brothers with Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal soon. She has also served as the youngest member of the jury in the Annual Cannes Film festival in 2008.

Portman has advocated the cause of PETA and One Voice Movement for a long time. Natalie has been voicing her support and educating students in various universities in the power of micro-finance in villages to do away with poverty. Woody Allen’s New York, I Love You is Natalie’s next, much awaited release.

Similar to what Natalie Portman symbolizes, the superlative chronometer by Rolex is also an unusual offering. The Oyster Perpetual Datejust comes with an eye catching red dial measuring approximately 36mm. The bezel setting which circumferences the watch is of a fluted design and projects just enough to give an edgy touch to the Oyster Perpetual Datejust. The Rolex crown clasp features the official Rolex jubilee. Self winding and with a water resistance of up to 100 meters, the watch is crystallized in Sapphire and the time is slotted in encrusted diamonds.

Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City characteristically says “Every once in awhile, a girl has to indulge herself.� Rolex perhaps picks a cue from Carrie’s belief and presents the Cellini Cellissima collection. When you think of Sarah Jessica Parker who plays Carrie in the very popular series, you think of elegance, poise, panache and oodles of oomph. The Cellini Cellissima is drop dead gorgeous like Sarah and wraps around your wrist beautifully to give you that added elegance. Rolex has been attributed with delivering class and contributing to creating a distinct mark of sophistication in the urban way of living. In associating Sarah with the Cellini Cellissima, Rolex has once again set the style barometer at a simmering high and the Cellini Cellisima conveys Sarah’s sense of fashion be it on or off the screen magnificently.

Sarah Jessica Parker has made a mark for herself on stage and in the theatre. Her most successful stint that also brought her to the notice of the fashion world was with the hugely popular TV series-Sex and the City.  Born on March 25, 1965 in Ohio,Sarah had stars in her eyes from a very young age. All along the Parkers were encouraging the acting talent in their daughter enrolling her into the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. She later joined the Professional Children’s School, Hollywood High School in Los Angeles.

Parker bagged the co-lead for the CBS sitcom Square Pegs in 1982 playing an introverted teenager and in 1984 and ‘85 Parker played significant roles in the films Footloose and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Sarah went on to play Dolores Fuller in Ed Wood with Johnny Depp as co-star. The audience liked Sarah in romantic comedies and she made them happy with her role in Miami Rhapsody in 1995. She also starred in The First Wives Club and Substance of Fire, and garnered much acclaim.

A bigger success was in store for Sarah Jessica Parker. Parker went on to star in the now popular Sex and the City TV series. The actress became a star overnight, her character of a fiery but ambitious writer inspiring millions of urban single women. Riding on its popularity Parker became the executive producer of the show in its third season. She bagged three Golden Globes, two Emmies and three Screen Actor’s Guild Awards for her role in Sex and the City and also starred in the film version in 2008.

Parker has proved her mettle on the stage playing lead roles in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying with husband and actor Matthew Broderick with whom she has a son, and in Once Upon a Mattress. Parker was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in the film Family Stone in 2005 .Sarah is currently producing Washingtonienne for HBO.

Sarah Jessica Parker has also been the face of Garnier and also launched her range of perfumes “Lovelyâ€�, “Dawnâ€�, “Endlessâ€� and “Twilightâ€�. Sarah also launched her own fashion line Bitten in 2007 in partnership with Steve and Barry’s. Parker has been a member of the Hollywood’s Women’s Political Committee and is the UNICEF Representative for the Performing Arts. Sarah has proved that there is more to her than just the actress, she is currently the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for United States.

The Cellini Cellissima is 18ct of perfection, style and pure white gold. A tonneau fashioned casing encases glistening bezel and end pieces placed with brilliants. A white dial with roman numerals shows the time and the striking watch holds your attention with the diamond set component fashioned along the case to bracelet attachments. The blue or pink leather strap has a gold folding clasp that fastens to your wrist nicely and the only effect the watch inspires is awe and appreciation. The Cellini Cellissima is set in Quartz movement and the watch combines the Rolex and Sarah Jessica Parker signature sophistication.

Aspirations tend to stay with people who dream of a dawning future and are aware of the commitment needed, to fulfill this ambition. Rolex a formidable leader in premium watches and probably the most valued brand in the world ensures that it’s inherent principal of perfection; becomes an inspiration for others to attain the epitome of human ambition. Fuelling the growth of international sporting events like golf around the world, Rolex constantly strives to leave an inedible impact on the functioning of the society. As a premier partner of the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), Rolex has been actively supporting this non profit golfing body in promoting golf for almost three decades now. The AJGA is more of a gateway to a higher ambition and aids the development and growth of young men and women, by recognizing their ability as well as awarding them scholarships; that are earned by winning the competitive golf tournaments. Regarded by many people as the premier junior golf organization, AJGA has its headquarters at Chateau Elan Resort in Braselton, Georgia. Organizing and hosting about 75 games per season the AJGA aims to focus its efforts in developing elite golfers that are able to transform the game of golf through their skillful ability. Legends of today like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have competed in the junior golf tournaments held by AJGA and were awarded the prestigious honor of player of the year. Golfers who are between the ages of 12 and 18 are allowed to compete in this prolific event and earn the opportunity of attending the finest universities through the scholarship program.

AJGA has witnessed a surging growth pattern and over the years it has developed into one of the most highly regarded platforms to step into the world of professional golf. Usually held in the month of June by Rolex in collaboration with the AJGA, the Rolex Girls Junior Golf Championship is one of the most highly respected and prestigious junior girl’s tournaments on the globe. The Rolex Girls Junior Golf Championship celebrated its 18th anniversary in 2009 and saw some of the most skilled young golfers perform tremendously at the event. Last year the Rolex Girls Junior Golf Championship was held at the Carmel Country Club and was won by the talented young golfer Victoria Tanco. The 2009 edition of the Rolex Girls Junior Golf Championship was held at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California and was carried out over a period of three days from 16^th to the 19^th of June. The talented young golfer Kimberly Kim from Pahoa, Hawaii won the 18^th Rolex Girls Junior Golf Championship beating out Jessica Bradenton in the first round of sudden-death playoff. This game was Kimberly Kim’s last as junior golfer as she announced that she would be retiring from junior golf. This extremely capable player has four AJGA events including the Thunderbird International Junior event to her credit along with winning the Rolex Junior All-American five times. Kimberly Kim is a three-time Canon Cup West Team member who has also represented United States at the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2005. She was awarded the top prize along with a scholarship to attend the University of Denver.

The unhindered support of Rolex in assisting the AJGA, aid the development of elite golfers has provided the momentum that was required to promote the game of golf.

The journey of the emancipation of women has been as tumultuous as the ebbing tide and probably that’s why, more interesting. Rolex is proud to sponsor and promote sporting events like sailing for women and assisting them in developing their talent. The Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship is the recognition of women sailors and their mastery over sailing. Maybe it is the unpredictability of the ocean waves and the momentary gusts of wind that draw the finest women sailors around to compete in what is now regarded as the crown jewel of women’s regatta. Sailing is a sport that Rolex has constantly supported and in view of promoting this sport to all people it has endeavored to go where none others have. A partnership that began many years ago in 1985 between Rolex and US Sailing has grown to become a top notch, premier event for women sailors everywhere. The Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship is a biennial tournament that attracts keelboat as well as offshore sailors who come together to battle it out and stake a claim over the coveted title. An array of activities and programs has been introduced to further augment the importance of sailing among women and improve the career opportunities of dedicated women sailors. Like the ‘Next Step to Rolex’ program that aims to improve the keelboat handling skills of girls between the ages of 13 and 17.
After the completion of the racing tournament a social gathering is held on the docks every evening, allowing sailors and their team mates to recuperate and unwind. The premier women’s regatta culminates into a grand traditional gala where winners are awarded a Rolex watch in recognition of their sailing skills.

The Rochester Yacht Club (RYC) will be organizing and hosting the social get-togethers at the docks for this year’s edition of the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship. The bid for Rochester Yacht Club a historic yacht club that was founded in 1877, to host the International Women’s Keelboat Championship was put forward by the Olympian Cory Sterl. The last major sailing tournament to be held at the esteemed Rochester Yacht Club was the J/22 World Championships that was held in 2002.This year the International Women’s Keelboat Championship will be held on the elusively pristine waters of Lake Ontario from the 7^th to the 10^th of October. This eminent regatta for women is about three months away; however the preparations for making this event into an absolutely flawless, world class event are already underway. The organizers have begun implementing the plans and the procedures that would make this competition as streamlined as possible. Skilled women sailors are polishing their skills and making improvements in tackling unforeseen circumstances, in a last minute effort to increase their chances of coming out on top. As the sailors and their teams ready themselves for this predominant event, crowds of reporters and sailing enthusiasts are brimming with anticipation, to discover the winner for this year’s International Women’s Keelboat Championship.

Rolex, the steadfast supporter of this premier women’s regatta readies itself, to deliver the most astounding and probably the most competitive International Women’s Keelboat Championship.

Riding with the wind to perform feats that seem humanly impossible, the world-class riders at the FEI world cup presented by Rolex stun the bewildered crowd with a spate of skillful moves. In a bid to support events that promote and showcase exceptional talent Rolex endorses such sporting events and propounds its philosophy of pursuing perfection.

The Rolex FEI World Cup Final is considered to be the most prestigious equestrian event and draws a tremendous number of spectators along with numerous world-class competitors from all across the globe. The Rolex is the principal partner of the Rolex FEI World Cup for 2009 that saw a fierce competition amongst the riders, who gave it their all in order to win the 102,000 dollar cash prize along with a Rolex watch. The Rolex FEI World Cup was held at the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on the 21^st of April. The home crowd was on their feet to see the last American rider competing in the finals. American rider Steffen Peters and his horse Ravel rose to the challenge and performed tremendously. Immensely talented dressage rider, Steffen Peters is a three time Olympian who won the bronze medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. An accomplished rider Steffen Peters was the Chronicle Horseman in 2006 and has the title of the US National Grand Prix held in Gladstone.

Flying through the piaffes and passages, Steffen Peters riding on the back of Ravel the 11-year-old Dutch gelding displayed near perfect foot work and fantastic movements in the incredibly tough competition. As the competition advanced Steffen Peters got better and better ensuring that every performance garnered enough points to beat the rivals. Ravel, the Dutch Warmblood gelding who is owned by Akiko Yamazaki rode with Steffen Peters for the first time during this competition. In an incredibly tough competition, Steffen Peters rose to the occasion and clinched the Rolex Grand Prix making him the first American rider ever to win this premier competition. In a skillful display of talent Steffen Peters went on to win 84.95 percent marks, which was enough to leave the other competitors behind and win the title at the Rolex Grand Prix challenge. Standing fourth at the Olympics Ravel, Steffen Peters’ horse, has continuously improved its performance and during a half pass piaffe at the end of the challenge, Ravel showed the crowd something more than just flawless performance. Changing the trot music from as Asian based theme to a song by Coldplay titled Viva la Vida, this stallion took on a new groove and danced its way through the difficult tasks. With a glint of strength in his eyes, amidst the throng of people Steffen Peters rode to victory with the Rolex Grand Prix title.

Even though Isabell Werth from Germany, who won the World Cup title in 2007 at the same venue, gave a stellar performance on her 15 year old Hanoverian gelding by the name of Satchmo, it still was not enough to secure the top honor. The nine time world champion Anky van Grunsven riding his horse Painted Black could only secure the third place with 82.50 percent marks. Etching a place amongst the legends of equestrian sports, Steffen Peters rose to win the world title in an incredible combat of skill, talent, endurance, heart, spirit and resolve.