Up for Sale: Rolex ‘President’ Gifted to a President by a President

President Gamal Abdel Nasser. (Photo courtesy: Sotheby's)

A Rolex Day-Date, Reference 1803, in yellow gold from the early 1960s is being sold by the family of the original owner, former President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser, a widely popular figure in the Arab world. The watch is engraved not with his name but the name of Anwar El Sadat, who was the original gifter.

El Sadat, who later became Vice-President of Egypt in 1969, and then President of Egypt in 1970, had been a life-long friend of President Nasser. Sadat had been in the Egyptian Military Academy with Nasser, making this a Rolex “President” gifted to a President from a President.

The watch, which is being auctioned by Sotheby's in New York on Dec. 6, was worn until Nasser's death in Sept. 1970.

In a letter written by Nasser's grandson that is included in the Rolex sale, he wrote that “shortly after [President] Nasser’s passing, my Grandmother, gave my father the watch that was worn up until his death.... A few years before my father’s passing in September of 2011, he showed me the watch for the first time, and passed it on to me as his mother had done with him.”

With Jannik Sinner, Rolex May Have Found Its Next Federer

(Credit: @janniksin/Instagram)

After Jannik Sinner’s win in the Davis Cup on Sunday, it's hard to overstate what a year the 23-year-old Rolex brand ambassador from South Tyrol — the German-speaking region of Italy that borders Switzerland and Austria — has had.

Sinner, who was signed by Rolex at the age of 18, has become the first tennis player ever to win two Slams, the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup in the same season. No one previously had ever managed to achieve this milestone, not even Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic.

When Sinner reached the No. 1 ATP spot in June, Federer advised him to enjoy the view from the top. For Rolex, the ultimate goal of sponsorship is not just to find a winner — it sponsors more athletes in tennis than in any other sport — but to find someone who will embody the brand's values for a lifetime: a Federer, a Jack Nicklaus, a Jackie Stewart.

Speaking on “Served with Andy Roddick” podcast, Roddick said, “He is the most relaxed person I've ever seen beside of Roger [Federer] before a Slam final. It feels like he has this very quiet confidence.”

Earlier this year, Sinner faced allegations of doping after he tested positive for traces of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol — less than a billionth of a gram — on March 10 in Indian Wells, Calif., and again on March 18. Initially, he was suspended from tennis, but the suspension was later overturned on appeal.

Sinner may have reached the top ranking less than six months ago, but already he looks untouchable. With 11,800 ATP points, he has 4,000 more than the next two players.

Rolex's Hans Wilsdorf Foundation Releases New Donation Data

Hans Wilsdorf Foundation donations from July 1st, 2023, to June 30, 2024. (Data: hanswilsdorf.ch)

The Hans Wilsdorf Foundation has supported more than 5,500 projects in the past year, most of them in welfare and healthcare, according to the latest data made available by the foundation, which is the sole owner of Rolex. The foundation published the new data on Friday on its official website.

This year, la Fondation Hans Wilsdorf gave away 21% of its donation money to help people acquire job training. In the past, almost a third of its donation money would go to that category. But the foundation boosted donations in other categories — culture, arts, humanitarian, environment and animals.

Though many of these donations remained in Geneva, some have no geographical limitations, especially when it comes to the environment and animal rights, two fields in which the foundation allocated double the fund when compared to the previous year.

Still, the foundation's main goal is to fulfill the mission as outlined by its statutes — first, to guarantee Rolex's longevity as a business, a reason why the foundation tends to be conservative with its investments. Today, its subsidiaries, Marziano 19 and Marconi Investment, make up the largest private real estate ownership in the canton of Geneva.

Rolex Strengthens Ties with Women's Tennis

Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals. (Courtesy: Rolex)

Rolex continues to grow its tennis empire, expanding its sponsorship with the Women’s Tennis Association at a time of growing popularity for women’s tennis, with WTA events attracting an annual televised audience of more than 1 billion.

Under this latest agreement, Rolex will become Official Timekeeper and Timepiece of the WTA Tour and will renew its support of the WTA Finals, which was won earlier this month by Rolex brand ambassador Coco Gauff.

The brand’s support for tennis has been swelling under Arnaud Boetsch, a former tennis pro and the current Director of Communication & Image for Rolex. In 2018 and 2019, Rolex acquired the rights to two Grand Slam tournaments, four decades after it first partnered with Wimbledon.

Rolex has also increased its roster of tennis players, including teenagers before their first major wins, Coronet reported. Rolex now sponsors more tennis players than any other sports.

For the First Time, Rolex Hires In-House Counsel

(Photo credit: Pascal Frautschi)

In a sign of Rolex’s needs for immediate access to legal expertise, the 119-year-old watchmaker has decided to appoint its first ever General Counsel, hiring Alexander Troller, a partner from Switzerland-based law firm LALIVE.

Rolex, which operates in multiple jurisdictions, is facing increasingly complex regulations related to manufacturing compliance, environmental standards and intellectual property. The Swiss Supreme Court ruled against the brand earlier this year after it sued Artisans de Genève, which customizes Rolex watches.

Alexander Troller. (Credit: LALIVE)

With an in-house lawyer, Rolex will have access to immediate strategic guidance, especially during contract negotiations for sponsorships, or if the brand decides to acquire more companies besides Bucherer while keeping negotiations airtight. Coronet was first to break the news in July that Rolex would be exiting Formula 1 in 2025.

Rolex's first in-house lawyer will begin at the brand on Jan. 2025. Before joining LALIVE, Troller held various positions in the commercial and banking sector, including with Banque Paribas in Paris (1994-1997), Firmenich Inc. and Firmenich SA as legal counsel in New Jersey (1994) and in Geneva (1993). He received his law degree at the University of Geneva in 1989.

Quincy Jones Honored at Rolex-Sponsored Event

(Photo credit: Jake’s Rolex World)

The life of Quincy Jones was celebrated on Sunday in a ceremony sponsored exclusively by Rolex. The prolific song writer, record and film producer, who passed away on Nov. 3 at the age of 91, was one of five Hollywood luminaries honored at the Governors Awards, which are not televised.

“For Rolex, the Governors Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the creative journey and commitment of a filmmaker or artist,” the brand said on Friday.

Jones’ honorary Oscar statuette was accepted by his daughter, actress and writer Rashida Jones, who, flanked by some of her siblings, tearfully paid tribute to her father and read the speech that he had planned to give at the ceremony.

In an interesting twist for a Rolex-sponsored event, James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson were also honored. Daniel Craig was in attendance.

Why Rolex Was Not Nominated at GPHG

(Photo credit: Rolex)

The Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), whose 2024 edition took place Wednesday, requires an entry fee of 800 francs per watch, according to GPHG rules. Which means any brand can enter the competition if it's just willing to pay.

And, in case of nomination, an additional 7,000 francs must be paid by the brand for each timepiece nominated.

Some big brands have skipped the event entirely though they can afford the fees. Rolex, out of principle, does not pay to enter watch competitions just like it won’t pay for movie placement.

Rolex’s sister brand Tudor, however, entered this year’s GPHG, and both the Pelagos FXD Chrono “Cycling Edition” and Black Bay 58 GMT were nominated though they didn’t win.

Absent also from the competition are the smaller, innovative brands, which have decided the fees are not worth it, a fact Robin Swithinbank, a GPHG Academy member, deplored on WatchPro earlier this month. GPHG faces a credibility issue because of its pay-to-play rules, he said.

A New Book From Geneva Celebrates Travel Watches

(Photo credit: GMT Publishing)

The 2024 edition of the Millennium Watch Book collection, the fifth in its series, is dedicated to travel watches, specifically GMT and worldtimer models.

The release Wednesday of the 190-Swiss-franc, 200-page coffee-table book, just weeks after Rolex's first authorized history of the Submariner, is the latest sign print is still very much in demand when it comes to showcasing the watchmaking world.

This volume published by GMT Publishing in Geneva delves into the history, engineering and cultural impact of travel watches through more than 1,000 photographs.

It also highlights the Top 50 travel watches from the past two decades, independent creators, auction trends and travel-specific complications. For more details or to order, visit The Millennium Watch Book​.

(Photo credit: GMT Publishing)

Seddiqi to Take Rolex CPO to New Heights

Roger Federer, Jean-Frédéric Dufour, Abdul Seddiqi and representatives in 2018. (Photo credit: Jake’s Rolex World)

Dubai-based Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the largest authorized dealer of luxury watches in the Middle East, is taking the Rolex certified pre-owned program to the next level with highly collectible vintage pieces, some more than 50 years old, the latest sign of changing appetites in the Middle Eastern market, where consumers have historically favored new models.

Next week, Seddiqi will open its first Rolex CPO store specializing in vintage models, with around 120 vintage CPO pieces on display at the Dubai’s Wafi Mall and a growing inventory of 400 pieces.

Seddiqi said it has spent in excess of $10 million on stock, including on many 40 and 50-year-old Rolex watches in new-old-stock condition and a further $500,000 on servicing to meet Rolex’s CPO criteria. The retailer said it’s planning on low margins — maximum 20% — to gauge demand in the market.

Coronet last month reported on how the CPO program started two years ago by Rolex has continued to swell despite the 10-consecutive-quarter drop of the pre-owned watch market.

A New Rolex Logo for a Daycare Center

(Credit: Rolex via Swissreg.ch)

In an unusual trademark filing with the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, Rolex has registered a new logo under the category Service de crèches d'enfants, with the tagline “Les P'tits Spiro: Grandir et s'épanouir au fil du temps.”

Rolex confirmed it is planning to open a daycare center starting mid-2025 for its Bienne manufacture — its largest manufacture — the latest sign the brand wants to help young mothers (and fathers) develop a career at Rolex.

“As a committed company, this initiative aims to support the well-being of our employees by offering them a work environment adapted to their needs,” a Rolex representative said.

Les P'tits Spiro, or the Little Spiro, is a riff on the Belgian comic character Spirou and the spiral shape of a watch’s mainspring — while Grandir et s'épanouir au fil du temps means to grow and thrive over time. In the logo, the markers typically found on a Rolex watch create the eyes and hands of the character.

Rolex said the childcare facility will initially welcome 60 children with an option to expand. The location on Leugene 6 Street in Bienne was picked for its proximity to the Rolex site but also for being near nature and away from major roads.

This is not the first crèche d'enfants for Rolex employees: the brand has had a daycare since 2021 at its Geneva location.

Upcoming Rolex Sales Tout Provenance

Bill Paxton. (Photo credit: Jake’s Rolex World)

There are two types of provenance in Rolex collecting. The first one is linked to someone famous; the second is all about the experience: a moon landing, a land speed record or an interesting dive. Sotheby's will offer both types in its upcoming auctions.

In its Important Watches sale on Dec. 6, Sotheby's will feature two Rolex Submariners linked to the movie “Titanic.” One of the watches, a stainless steel Submariner “Red” ref. 1680 has accompanied underwater Titanic cinematographer on numerous deep-sea dives to the Titanic site. The second, a gold Submariner ref. 1680/8, was worn by actor Bill Paxton during the filming of James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster.

In Sotheby's “The GOAT Collection: Watches & Treasures From Tom Brady,” on Dec. 10, the seven-time Super Bowl champion is auctioning several Rolex watches, including a rare Paul Newman-dial Daytona ref. 6241 “John Player Special.”

(Photo credit: Sotheby’s)

As China Prepares for Another Trump Term, Rolex Stands to Gain

(Photo credit: Rolex/MZ-STUDIOS)

While China braces for increased trade tensions with the U.S. under Donald Trump, it announced Friday a Rmb10 trillion ($1.4 trillion) fiscal package to help shore up its economy.

China's faltering economy has had a direct impact on Swiss watch exports, which had dropped -24.6% — in Hong Kong, -20.4% — when comparing the first nine months of 2024 to the same period last year, according to the latest data available, while exports to the U.S. and Japan have slightly increased.

The measures announced by the National People’s Congress just three days after Trump's election may help jumpstart its economy, benefitting the luxury industry, including Rolex. China is the second biggest market in the world for Swiss watches.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin spiked to a record high as crypto investors celebrated the election victory of Trump, who has pledged to make the U.S. “the bitcoin superpower of the world.” The world’s biggest cryptocurrency rallied to an all-time high of $79,595 on Sunday.

When the cryptocurrency surged in 2021, it presaged a bubble in Rolex preowned prices, as many “crypto bros” diversified their portfolios by buying and flipping Rolex watches.

Missing Rolex Adds Mystery to Liam Payne's Death

(From @liampayne / Instagram)

New details in the investigation into Liam Payne's death reveal the star's Rolex watch is nowhere to be found. The former One Direction singer died on Oct. 16 after falling from his room balcony, in Palermo, Buenos Aires. A toxicology report said he had drugs and alcohol in his system.

Payne wore a yellow-gold Rolex Day-Date 40 with champagne-colored dial that was found missing from his hotel room where he had stayed for four days. Payne is said to have been seen wearing the Rolex in CCTV images and other photos shortly before he died around 5pm local time on Oct. 16.

Police identified the presence of two female escorts at the hotel in the hours before Payne's death. Payne offered $5,000 to the escorts but ended up not paying them, according to ABC News. The two women left the hotel before he fell, according to footage from security cameras.

Payne's Rolex Day-Date, Reference 228238, retails for $40,100.

Swiss Authorities Clear Way for New Bucherer Charity

Jörg Bucherer. (Photo credit: Corriere del Ticino)

The Swiss government cleared the Bucherer Foundation to be officially registered in the public records in January 2025 after ruling Jörg Bucherer had no legal heir to his estate. The foundation will begin operation in 2026.

It was a year ago, on Nov. 6, 2023, that Bucherer, the owner of the largest watch and jewelry retailer in the world, passed away, weeks after selling his company to Rolex.

Because he had no descendants, the inheritance estimated at more than 6 billion francs will be poured into a new foundation, as reported by Coronet, following in Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf's footsteps.

Rolex’s takeover was finalized in July after antitrust authorities signed off on the deal. The Swiss government approved the establishment of the foundation, ruling out the possibility of legal heirs after local newspapers publicized a search into Bucherer’s grandparental line.

The foundation will support music, literature, scientific research, the care of disabled children, as well as improving availability in nursing homes, according to the executor of Bucherer’s will, Urs Mühlebach.

Rolex Is Switzerland's Most Attractive Employer

(Credit: Rolex)

It's hard to compete against Google, but Rolex does it well. The watchmaker is taking first place two years in a row as the most attractive employer for young professionals in Switzerland ahead of Google. The Californian tech giant, with 5,000 employees based in Zurich, had ranked first in 2022.

Luxury brands are still a huge draw, according to the just-released Young Professional Attraction Index (YPAI) 2024, a yearly survey by recruitment company Academic Work that included 1,542 Swiss participants aged 18 to 30. Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Chanel are in the top 10.

Not surprisingly, tech companies remain strong contenders, with Google taking second place and Microsoft coming in sixth. Still, the public sector isn’t far behind, a sign of its strength in Switzerland, with the Swiss Confederation ranked ninth and Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) at twelfth.

(Data: Academic Work)

Rolex Adds Personalized Homepage Experience

(From Rolex.com)

In a new feature added to Rolex.com, the homepage is using cookies to remember and display the last watch you've viewed on the site.

“Welcome back,” Rolex's official website now says while offering to pick up where you left off. The homepage will also remember how you last configured a watch through the site’s configurator, as well as your recently viewed jeweler’s name and address. You might want to go private mode if you’re researching a gift for a significant other.

While these features are nothing new among major retailers, it is the latest sign Rolex keeps improving its online presence to make the experience more personal to clients.