My friend, Roger, only picked this up two weeks ago. So I feel very honoured that he has allowed me to borrow it. However, the caveat was that I take some pictures of it for him in my light box.
But first a few words about this strikingly beautiful timepiece:
I have always wanted one of these since I was an influential early teen and saw Don Jonson wear one in the first series of Miami Vice. I was aware of Rolex at the time but this really made me go out and find out about this prestige brand.
Some say that Rolex have maintained their position as one of the biggest selling high end watch brands through clever marketing alone. Although Rolex are very clever at pitching their products to the right audience and gaining world wide recognition as a result, you only have to handle and wear this beautifully finished Day Date to realise that it is their products that allow them to remain at the pinnacle of watch sales.
There are so many individual details to this watch that, at first, my thoughts were it was a little bitty and fussy. Almost over designed (and this from someone who loves Graham watches
). However, after being allowed to handle it and inspect it for awhile you realise that the design really works and you are left feeling that this is a very special timepiece indeed. Very well designed, in fact, with nothing superfluous, if I can say that about a solid 18K watch with diamonds. Even at the $25K asking price!Although the hour markers are diamonds, including baguettes at 6 and 9 O'clock, the feature that draws you in is the dial design. This could easily be considered the "star of the show". It is meticulously finished and made up of a solid gold disc that has been etched with the word ROLEX, over and over again. This may seem a little ostentatious when described but the design has been cleverly done so that it isn't obvious at all that this is what has been etched. The best way I can describe it is that it looks like a fine tapestry made of gold thread. See the pictures below and decide for yourself. It is quite special in my opinion.
I am not a fan of diamonds on watches. I would rather spend my money on acheiving something with a more complicated or highly finished movement. I would not choose to have diamonds on this watch either but at the same time they are not screaming "Look at me, I can afford diamonds" as most studded watches seem to do. Instead these are fairly subtle and seem to be added purely for the wearer's pleasure.
The president bracelet is one of my all time favourite designs. It is solid in feel and has a wonderful and cleverly designed clasp that uses the crown emblem to open it.
My watch aspirations have moved on since my early teens but I have taken great pleasure in handling, inspecting and photographing this classicly designed and beautifully finished and detailed watch.
Thank You must go to Roger, the owner, for his generosity and trust in lending me his new 18K gold Rolex Day Date. I also applaud Roger for buying this watch. He is not a Rock Star or a professional Sportsman with money to waste. He has bought various Rolex's over the past 30 years, cleverly, and has now finally realised his all time dream of owning something that many may believe to be over indulgent but, knowing Roger, I think it is deserved and I congratulate him.
Please be as honest in your appraisals as you wish. Roger appreciates that his Day Date is not to everyone's taste and by the looks of his wide smile, whenever he looks at or talks about this watch, I don't think he gives a damn.
Could look at it all day!!
