Warren Buffett Full CNBC Interview

Warren Buffett
Full CNBC Interview
Who is the wisest man in the world that wears a Rolex Day-Date? Could very well be the Oracle of Omaha, which is Warren Buffett. This interview is absolutely fascinating.

Rolex in Japan: An Example to Follow

Rolex in Japan

An Example to Follow?

 By DANNY CRIVELLO
           

Two thousand nineteen marked an important anniversary in horology, and this one has nothing to do with the Moon. 

Fifty years ago last month, on Dec. 25, 1969, Japanese watchmaker Seiko unveiled the Astron, the world's first quartz watch, unwittingly starting what is dubbed today as the Quartz Crisis because it forced many traditional Swiss watchmakers out of business.

Half a century later, however, in one of the greatest turnarounds in the industry, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said exports to Japan have never been stronger, logging the biggest increase year-over-year for any country. 

Austin Daniels/YouTube

Swiss watch exports to Japan are up a stunning 21%, while in Hong Kong, still the biggest market in the world, it dropped 10%. 

The year 2019 was not an outlier in the Land of the Rising Sun: If we look at the past two years, Swiss watch exports to Japan increased by a mind-boggling 33%. Exports to Japan have surpassed exports to the UK and are catching up with exports to China.

So it's no surprise that watch publication HODINKEE picked Japan as its first international edition. Two months ago, it went live with HODINKEE.jp, providing a mix of translated articles published on HODINKEE.com and original pieces written by Japanese watch journalists.

Fifty years after the quartz revolution nearly wiped out the Swiss watch industry with cheap quartz models, the popularity of Rolex in Japan has never been stronger even spawning new policies for buying Rolex watches.

The new policy, which started in November, restricts the number of Rolex professional models that can be purchased by one customer.

The policy was not instigated by Rolex Japan but was suggested by 20 companies that run official stores in that country. Rolex signed off on the new policy. 

The policy restricts clients to one popular professional model per year—Daytona, GMT-Master II, Submariner, Sea-Dweller, Deepsea, Explorer and Explorer II—and one reference per five years. For example, you can buy a GMT-Master II BLRO ("Pepsi") one year and a GMT-Master II CHNR ("Root beer") the next. If you want to buy two BLROs, however, you'll have to wait five years between the two.

Of course, the main purpose of this policy is to prevent buying for the purpose of watch flipping, as most Rolex professional models command a price on the grey market that is above the recommended retail price in Japan.

The new policy aims to protect the watch enthusiasts who want a Rolex in their collections and is conducted at 67 stores in Japan which share a database of purchases. Customers will have to present a photo ID when purchasing. 

An American businessman in Japan who goes by M. Bu told me recently: "I’m glad such rule exists even though I’m here for work," he said. "I hope such rule is coming to the USA."




Austin Daniels, an American who has lived in Japan for nearly 15 years, is the host of a popular channel on YouTube about Rolex and the Japanese culture. Austin told me that [before the rule] there was a sense of unfairness on the part of potential Japanese Rolex customers. And he felt a rule that limits the amount of desirable pieces a single person can buy addresses that. "It seems to be aimed at maximizing fairness," he said. "I commend Rolex for their aim." 

Should a similar rule be implanted in other countries? Let me know via Twitter or Instagram.

Amanda Holden Got Talent

Amanda Holden might not be super famous on this side of the pond, but the British celebrity—a television star, singer and writer—has hosted the show "Britain's Got Talent" since it first debuted in 2007. BGT's auditions for the 2020 season have just recently started.

Seeing a woman wearing a Daytona is always attractive, in my opinion. But what fascinated me with Amanda was that she'd rock her Daytona no matter what outfit she was wearing. Many choose a watch based on the color of the outfit; not Amanda. It seems that the Everose Gold Daytona is a perfect match for her skin and hair color.

"Britain's Got Talent" has always been a very successful show in the UK, propelling Amanda's career. The launch episode drew an average of 8.3 million people tuning in, a 45% share of the TV audience at the time.

The concept of choosing a Rolex based on your skin tone and hair color was a new concept for me. The Rolex Daytona 116505, which has a 18kt Everose gold case and bracelet, is a perfect Rolex for her, not matter her outfit, just the way the Rolex GMT-Master II with black ceramic bezel is perfect for me. What is the perfect Rolex design for you?

Amanda Holden has taken part in an episode of the British family history show "Who Do You Think You Are?" where she looked into rumored French ancestry on her mother's side of the family, uncovering a Napoleonic-era cross-Channel romance. She pieced together the story of her paternal grandfather, who tragically took his own life.

At 48, her mega-celebrity status in the UK and her beauty can't be overstated.

She has presented various British television shows including The Sun Military Awards, Superstar, This Morning, Text Santa and Give a Pet a Home. 

In 2019, she became the co-host of the Heart Breakfast radio show with Jamie Theakston. At 48, she looks half her age.

And she's definitely got talent! Headstand with a Daytona on her wrist!

1950 Rolex Triple Date Moonphase

...Rolex Studio Shot of The Day...

1950 Rolex Triple Date Moonphase

[Reference 8171: Black Dial]

If you are a regular reader of Jake's Rolex World you know vintage Rolex moonphase models are some of my absolute favorite watches. This stainless steel beauty was sold at auction by Sotheby's back in 2014. It is unique in the sense it features the red date hand with a hyper-faded moonphase disc. BTW, I have been working on a story for some time now titled "The Complete History of the Rolex Moonphase" which I hope to publish soon :-)

ROLEX Mentor and Protégée Arts Initiative

ROLEX 

Mentor and Protégée Arts Initiative

 Documentaries

The Rolex Mentor and Protégée Arts Initiative is a really amazing program, and I noticed Rolex just released four new mini documentaries that cover recent 2018-2019 programs. Be sure to check out these absolutely fascinating videos!:

Spike Lee at the Oscars

SPIKE LEE: GMT-MASTER 

AT THE OSCARS

 By DANNY CRIVELLO

           

The famous director might have worn a purple suit, with the number 24 on his lapels as a tribute to Kobe Bryant, but on his wrist is one of Rolex’s best recent releases: a rose-gold Rolex GMT-Master II. 

Rolex recently turned the professional pilot's tool into a high-jewelry item, as with the new “Pepsi” GMT with its signature red-and-blue two-tone bezel recreated with a meteorite dial. Lee, who has been making movies for over 30 years, is wearing the black-and-brown “Root Beer” model remade entirely out of Everose gold—the version of rose gold that Rolex makes itself.

Spike Lee, who is one of the most influential and socially conscious filmmakers of his generation, also wore Kobe sneakers in honor of Kobe Bryant at the Oscars Sunday. 

Spike Lee is one of four artists, with the composer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda, the visual artist Carrie Mae Weems and the theater director Phyllida Lloyd, who were announced last week as the new mentors in the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, which pairs eminent cultural figures with emerging artists in their fields.

Spike Lee has been paired with Protégé Kyle Bell, left, the Native American filmmaker who strive to tell the stories of his people, "stories that don’t get told or whose voices are not heard" and whose work as director, director of photography and film editor has included the Heartland Emmy-winning documentary show "Osiyo: Voices of the Cherokee People." Kyle Bell was named a 2019 Sundance Indigenous Program Fellow.

Rolex Pays Tribute to Filmmakers

Rolex Pays Tribute to Filmmakers

Rolex.org just released these fascinating new videos for the Rolex Mentor and Protege program that focus on Rolex and Cinema.

Sir Elton John Rainbow Daytona @ Oscars

Sir Elton John

RAINBOW

Daytona

Everose Reference 116595 RBOW 

Rainbow Daytona @ Oscars

Academy Award for Best Original Song

Elton John and his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin won the 2020 Academy Award for (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again from Rocketman and in the Instagram post below we see Sir Elton backsatge at the Oscars rocking his Rainbow Daytona.

View this post on Instagram

What happens when you put Sir Elton John (@eltonjohn) and Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) in a room together for the first time? Magic. ✨⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ It’s Oscars night (@theacademy) and we’re celebrating more than the legendary awards ceremony.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ❤️️🧡💛💚💙💜⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ This year, Elton John is nominated for best original song for the first time in 25 years. And while he is at the ceremony, he’s called on the help of “Queer Eye” star Jonathan Van Ness to help host his Academy Awards Viewing Party.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Now in its 28th year, the annual benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (@ejaf) raises millions of dollars to fund HIV/AIDS projects around the world. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ❤️️🧡💛💚💙💜⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ To learn more about the party, the foundation and the incredible people behind it all, head over to our story now!

A post shared by Instagram (@instagram) on Feb 9, 2020 at 1:28pm PST

Below is a higher resolution version of the photo where you can see more detail on Sir Elton John's Rainbow Daytona. Elton John needs no introduction as he is one of the greatest and most enduring singers in history...

Bernie Taupin

Elton John is a huge Rolex collector and in the future I plan to write a story about his collection, but in the meantime, below is a photo of Sir Elton's lifetime songwriter, Bernie Taupin wearing his Rolex Yacht-Master which appears courtesy of Rolling Stone... Elton John referred to Bernie Taupin as his "Songwriting Soulmate."

Rolex @ 2020 Greenroom Design Academy Awards

Rolex @ 2020 Greenroom Design

Academy Awards

Exploring Polar Extremes in 5th Year of Design

It's time again for the Oscars, and once again Rolex is not only the primary sponsor, but also designed the Greenroom for the 2020 Academy Awards as seen in the magnificent Rolex photos below.

The Following (in green text) is from the Rolex Press Release:

DESIGN OF THE GREENROOM

The ethereal beauty of a polar landscape is captured by Rolex in its 2020 Greenroom design. Greenroom guests are invited to witness an icy scene, as if they are in the middle of the North Pole gazing at the stark, white landscape from a cozy, wood- panelled observatory decorated with warm-toned furnishings that contrast with the frosty white of the frigid outside setting. Special lighting will give a sense of sunlight and shadow playing on the area, as well as simulating sunrise and sunset and the passage of time.

Time is a fundamental concept of the design, with the display of the Rolex Explorer II central to the decor that evokes the vital function that the watch plays during extreme expeditions. Meridian lines emanating from the watch draw the eye from the timepiece to the outside world.

Further representing the atmosphere of an expedition, slanted mirrors help deepen the sense of distance, while also enticing guests to view the polar horizon line depicted through the Greenroom’s windows. Overall, the effect is one that allows an appreciation of both the beauty and vulnerability of extreme regions of the Earth.

ROLEX GREENROOM 2020

ROLEX INVITES OSCARS GREENROOM GUESTS TO EXPLORE THE POLAR EXTREMES IN FIFTH YEAR OF DESIGN

Los Angeles, 5 February 2020 – Inspired by the world of cinema, every year since 2016, Rolex has created its own unique and evocative design for the Greenroom at the Dolby Theatre, the illustrious room where presenters gather before going on stage to bestow Oscars on the winners, as well as special guests of the Academy Awards.

This year, Greenroom guests are again treated to a design theme that has deep resonance for Rolex − polar exploration. The history of Rolex and exploration is linked to some of the greatest expeditions of the past century, with Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches accompanying explorers and adventurers to the highest peaks, the most remote caverns, the poles, and the deepest oceans – the underwater world reflected in the 2019 Greenroom theme.

For decades, these pioneers have considered Rolex watches as veritable tools in their struggle to push back physical and mental boundaries and attested to their reliability in the planet’s most challenging environments. The iconic Explorer model was launched in 1953, following the first successful ascent of Mount Everest, while the Explorer II was introduced in 1971.

In the 21st century, Rolex’s support for exploration is changing from pure discovery to preserving the natural world. In 2019, the company launched its Perpetual Planet initiative to protect the environment in the face of climate change. The Greenroom’s design signals this focus.

“The design of this year’s Greenroom is a reminder of the beauty and fragility of the environment that Rolex is seeking to protect through our support of pioneering individuals and organizations finding solutions to safeguard the planet for future generations,” said Arnaud Boetsch, Rolex Director of Communication and Image.

ROLEX LINKS TO CINEMA

In 2017, Rolex became Proud Sponsor of the Oscars®, giving official recognition to the brand’s long-standing connections to the world of cinema. It is Exclusive Watch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Founding Supporter of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which aims to preserve film history, a key interest of Rolex whose values include the importance of encouraging the transmission of knowledge from generation to generation. 

©Renzo Piano Building Workshop/©A.M.P.A.S./ Image from L’Autre Image

The photos above and below of the Academy Museum are renderings of the all the brand new museum which is beyond amazing and schedule to open to the public soon. Once it's open will prepare a super-detailed story on it's amazing design.

Rolex also supports individuals who achieve the highest level in their field. Brand Testimonees in cinema are Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Martin Scorsese whose films have collectively won 57 Academy Awards®.

©Renzo Piano Building Workshop/©A.M.P.A.S./ Image from L’Autre Image

This formal relationship with cinema underscores the historical nature of the links Rolex has with the art form. Renowned for their endurance and prestige, as well as for depicting courage and tenacity, Rolex watches have been used to indicate these qualities in characters in films for more than 60 years.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race