ROLEX AND EQUESTRIANISM / ROLEX und der PFERDESPORT / Rolex grand slam magazine rolex et les sports équestres Rolex and Equestrianism As the crown in equestrianism for over 50 years, Rolex is proud to be a major force at play behind the sport’s finest events, riders and organizations. Whether supporting leading athletes such as Rodrigo Pessoa and Meredith Michaels- Beerbaum or maintaining tradition and excellence with the historic CHIO Aachen in Germany or the newly established Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Rolex has cultivated a privileged relationship with the elite world of equestrian sports. History The roots of Rolex’s affinity for sports and human achievement can be traced back to the pioneering origins of the company. When founder Hans Wilsdorf set up his watchmaking firm, he was influenced by the swift changes sweeping through society at the beginning of the 20th century. In an era when wristwatches were still regarded as fragile items of apparel, he was determined to create a wristwatch that would be robust, precise and reliable, adapted to ever more active lifestyles. In 1910, a Rolex wristwatch obtained the first certificate ever granted to such a watch by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne, Switzerland. In 1926, Rolex invented the Rolex Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch in the world, thanks to a case equipped with an ingenious patented system consisting of a screw-down bezel, case back and winding crown. To prove his invention, Hans Wilsdorf equipped Mercedes Gleitze with an Oyster when she swam the English Channel a year later. The Rolex watch emerged from more than 10 hours in the water in perfect working condition, and the young Englishwoman effectively became the brand’s first Testimonee – a witness to the watch’s uncompromised performance. In 1931, Rolex invented the first wristwatch self-winding system with a free rotor, called the Perpetual rotor, the precursor of contemporary self-winding systems. With Hans Wilsdorf at the helm, Rolex continued to use the world as a real-life proving ground for the Oyster, demonstrating time and again its reliability in the most extreme conditions, on land, in the air, in the depths of the ocean or on the tallest peaks. By being associated with so many achievements, Rolex became the trusted reference for chronometric precision, robustness and reliability around the world. Meanwhile, Rolex evolved, as did its product, in a constant pursuit of perfection. As part of this evolution, Rolex watches – made from only the highest quality materials and designed by the industry’s best – became symbols of elegance and prestige. As a result, it was only logical that Rolex support equestrianism – one of the world’s finest sporting activities – through an alliance with showjumper Pat Smythe, who became the brand’s first equestrian Testimonee in 1957. Since that auspicious partnership, Rolex’s involvement in equestrian sport has increased significantly. 20
Rolex Grand Slam magazine - Number 1
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