Saturday, November 30, 2013

If You Were Negotiating Here Tomorrow You'd Wear A Rolex


If You Were Negotiating Here Tomorrow 
You'd Wear A Rolex
Geneva's Palais des Nations

This vintage Rolex ad showcases what is now referred to as UNOG, which stands for The United Nations Office At Geneva. The "Palace Of Nations" was built in Geneva between 1929 and 1936 as the headquarters for the League of Nations, which later evolved into the Geneva headquarters for the United Nations in 1946. Today, The United Nations In Geneva is busier than ever with international diplomats, and it primarily deals with social issues around the world.

Vintage Rolex Ad Appears Courtesy of The Concannon Collection


The First Rolex President

Former U.S. General Eisenhower was the architect of D-Day, where he assembled the greatest armada in history and successfully set sail to free Europe from Nazi tyranny. 

After World War II, President Eisenhower became the Supreme Commander of NATO in Europe where he oversaw rebuilding many parts of Europe, and that is when Rolex gave him their 150,000th Officially Certified Swiss Chronometer, which was a yellow gold Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet, as pictured below. General Eisenhower returned to the U.S., where he was elected President and served for two very successful full terms.

Back in 2008, I worked with the Eisenhower Presidential Library archivist to dig up all the historical documents that shared the beautiful story of his relationship with Rolex. President Eisenhower was one of the worlds first iconic world leaders, along with Sir Winston Churchill who made the Rolex Datejust "The International Mark Of Success." In other words, when the vintage Rolex ad suggests "The Rolex they wear is the Datejust, in 18ct gold, with matching Jubilee bracelet", they are referring to this man.