Rolex Ambassador, @ Lindsey Vonn, is a fast moving woman! Literally and figuratively, as she prepares to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics which begin on February 9th.
Today the New York Times Magazine published a fascinating story in "The Olympic Issue," titled "The Workout That Saves Lindsey Vonn From Wipeouts." The first three black and white photos of Lindsey Vonn above and below are from that NYTM article. It's interesting to see Lindsey wears her Rolex Day-Date while she is working out.
The photo below of Lindsey Vonn was taken several days ago on January 26, 2018, as she races down on her first alpine sky run at the Women's World Cup combined race in Linzerheide, Switzerland.
Photo of Lindsey Vonn appears courtesy of AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati
Wins 2018 Australian Open 20th Grand Slam Title Wears Rolex SKY-DWELLER
Rockin' Roger Federer did it again!!! He won his record-breaking 20th Grand Slam Title, thus further cementing his position as the greatest tennis player in history!
Roger Federer photo appears courtesy of Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Roger wore his steel and white gold 42MM Rolex SKY-DWELLER with a black dial during the awards ceremony for the Australian Open. The Rolex SKY-DWELLER is a GMT Annual Calendar which is the first all-new Rolex watch model introduced since the original Rolex YACHT-MASTER in 1992. The red indicator on the edge of the dial at 7 O'clock is the month indicator, and the inner ring keeps 24 hour time in a second time-zone. This is a very cool looking watch!
One of the really cool unique features of the SKY-DWELLER is the fluted bezel is used to switch between all the functions of the watch. Rolex calls this feature Rolex Ring Command. People have always loved how Rolex sports models like the Submariner and GMT-Master have spinning bezels. My first Rolex was a Submariner and after I got it I kept fidgeting with the unidirectional spinning bezel. Same with my GMT-Master, which spun both ways. When I got my first Rolex Datejust and Day-Date I kept trying to spin the fluted bezel even though I knew it didn't spin.
Roger got very emotional after accepting the trophy and started crying tears of joy, which you can see in the video below.
Caroline Wozniacki is wearing a bejeweled Platinum Rolex Daytona [Reference 116576TBR], which is commonly referred to as The Rolex Daytona ICE. It features baguette diamonds on the bezel with pavé diamonds on the dial.
Rolex is synonymous in many ways with motorsports, as is the Rolex Daytona. It's been a busy weekend in the world or Rolex sports. This years Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona which is the 56th year, broke an all-time attendance record. Filipe Albuquerque won the Prototype class at the Rolex 24 at Daytona today, as seen below.
Filipe Albuquerque, who is from Portugal is pictured above and below after winning the IMSA 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race.
Chip Ganassi Racing won its 200th victory with the GT Le Mans [GTLM] class with their Number 67 Ford GT. In the GT Dayonta class [GTD], the Number 11 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 won with Mirko Bortolotti's team.
Enzo Ferrari 1898-1988 With Rolex Keeping The Time Of His Life
Rolex Chronograph Reference 3055
Enzo Ferrari is a racing car legend and in many ways, he created a company that is very similar to Rolex. Enzo wore and depended on a Rolex to keep the time of his life for at least 4 decades of his life. Enzo Ferrari is pictured below in 1920 racing and A.L.F.A. 40/60HP.
Enzo Ferrari had a nickname of 'Il Commendatore', which means 'Commander'. This nickname came directly from the King of Italy, Vittorio Emmanuel III.
1952 Indianapolis 500
[Ferrari's First U.S.A. Race]
The photo below was taken of Enzo Ferrari and his top driver Alberto Ascari in Maranello, Italy as they prepare for the Indianapolis 500 car race that would soon take place in the United States. Enzo Ferrari is pictured on the far right side, sporting his trademark Rolex Chronograph Reference 3055. Enzo is standing next to world champion, Alberto Ascari (center) and the man on the far left is Ing Daccò (tallest).
It is fascinating to take into consideration the in-depth contextual meaning behind these photos, in the sense, that when they were taken, Enzo Ferrari, with his number 1 driver, Alberto Ascari, were making Formula 1 history, and putting Ferrari on the map for the first time.
In the photo above and in the photo below, we see Alberto Ascari and the Ferrari N.A.R.T. (North American Racing Team) at the 1952 Indianapolis 500 race. The 1952 N.A.R.T. team was owned by Luigi Chinetti, who was the official distributor of Ferrari U.S.A.
It is interesting to note the Ferrari badge appears in both photos, but without the prancing "Ferrari" Horse. This is due to the fact Enzo Ferrari his first participation in the Indianapolis to be unofficial. After Enzo got underway, he changed his mind and decided to add the prancing horse.
Alberto Ascari experienced mechanical challenges during the 1952 Indianapolis 500 and was not able to continue past his 13th lap. The 1952 Indianapolis 500 represented the first time Ferrari raced in the U.S.A, and even though they did not complete the race, it marked a significant milestone in Ferrari history.
In the photo below we see Alberto Ascari racing in a Ferrari F2 in the Belgian Grand Prix
In the photo below we see Alberto Ascari racing in a Ferrari F2 in the British Grand Prix
Enzo Ferrari's Rolex Chronograph (Reference 3055) was the smallest chronograph ever made, at an astounding 30mm diameter.
I would like to thank my pal, John Goldberger for sending in these amazing photos.John Goldberger is the author of 100 Superlative Rolex Watches and he also publishes a Vintage Rolex Application for the iPad which showcases high-definition photos of beautiful Rolex watches.
1940 Italian Rolex Chronograph Catalog Page
[Reference 3055]
John Goldberger also sent in this vintage Rolex catalog page for the Rolex 3055 Chronograph which appeared in an Italian magazine in 1940. Pretty cool!!! One of the interesting take-away points is that in 1940, during World War II, Rolex pocket watches were still very popular, as we see in the Rolex catalog below. Rolex began selling the Reference 3055 Chronograph in 1940 and offered the model for sale until 1960.
Enzo Ferrari is pictured below wearing his Rolex Chronograph Reference 3055. He is pictured with American driver, Phil Hill who is the only American born Formula One driver to ever win the World's Drivers' Championship. (Mario Andretti was born in Italy). Enzo Ferrari is pictured below in 1966 at Monza.
Enzo Ferrari is pictured below on the left with Ferrari Racing Legend, Niki Lauda, between him and the current Chairman of Ferrari, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. Niki Lauda is also a big Rolex fan.
Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is pictured below in the early 1970s sporting his trademark Rolex GMT Master.
Luca Cordero di Montezemolo went on to become the Chairman of Ferrari, as well as FIAT S.p.A. He is pictured below in a recent photo, wearing his trademark Rolex GMT Pepsi, as he poses in front of a model of a Ferrari. It is fascinating to note that the men who have guided Ferrari for its entire history are Rolex men!!!
Earlier in his career, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo was the director of racing for Ferrari, and you see him in the photo (three photos up the page) with Enzo Ferrari and Niki Lauda. Nicki Lauda was Ferrari's lead driver, and we see him in the photo below as he practices at the Nurburgring race track during the 1976 Grand Prix.
We see Niki Lauda in a more recent photo below, sporting his trademark vintage Rolex Daytona.
Below is a video documentary on Enzo Ferrari which I highly recommend watching...
Enzo Ferrari had two sons, Dino and Piero. Dino passed away when he was 24 years old, and Piero who is pictured below owns 10% of Ferrari today. Notice Piero Ferrari is wearing a Rolex, like his father.
Below is another fascinating documentary on the life and times of Enzo Ferrari.
Today Ferarri continues its proud legacy of making radical looking and performing sports cars as seen below. It will be interesting to see how Ferarri responds to the upcoming all-electric Tesla Roadster which can do 0-60 in 1.9 seconds while offering a range of over 600 miles, as Ferrari recently announced they were going to be creating the ultimate Electric Supercar. It will be weird to see a Ferrari without the throaty gargling, screaming engine of a Ferrari.
Doesn't the black with red trim La Ferrari pictured below above look like Adam West's Batmobile?
Historically Rolex has always been extremely secretive and discreet, and no journalists in the past have ever been invited "INSIDE ROLEX" to explore and report on all four Rolex Manufacturing faclities in Switzerland.
In November 2013, this changed when Rolex invited Jake to take an unprecdented journey into the heart of Rolex to learn and report on everything he witnessed and learned.
This Super-Detailed 3 Part Story is a "MUST READ" story for anybody who wants to understand what really makes Rolex tick.
