Rolex and Polo...

[Grumpy Badger]

I think they go rather well together, but then I'm biased...

Maybe one day I'll play as well as Rolex ambassador Gonzalito Pieres and maybe one day the photos of my Sub will rival Jocke's!







Please be gentle on the pics...it's my first time!

I just wanted to try to combine my two favourite things! (Well, the two that I can post photos of on a public forum!)

[moviefreak]

nice pictures...
If you don't mind me using the first image to show you that a little post-processing helps a lot too...

[lhanddds]

Hey, they're nice

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by moviefreak

nice pictures...
remember that a little post-processing helps a lot too...

COOL!
What did you do to it?

[moviefreak]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Badger

COOL!
What did you do to it?

I believe it was brightness, sharpening, and light effect..

[BH13GMT]

Nice pics, we have the Polo on Sandbanks beach every summer. More of an exhibition than a serious competition.

Am i to beleive the JLC Reverso's were originally designed for Polo back in the 1930's to protect the face by having the option to turn the face inwards?

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by BH13GMT

Nice pics, we have the Polo on Sandbanks beach every summer. More of an exhibition than a serious competition.

Am i to beleive the JLC Reverso's were originally designed for Polo back in the 1930's to protect the face by having the option to turn the face inwards?

I'd heard that too. Not sure how true it is or whether it was a bit of a marketing thing... Makes a bit if sense, though. JLC still sponsor a fair bit of polo, especially the snow polo in St.Moritz.

I've seen reports on the beach polo in Dorset, as you say a bit of a demo but does look like a larf... I think they do it in Yorkshire too.

[Paracentesis]

Very nice pics, Mark. You have an enviable lifestyle.

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by Paracentesis

Very nice pics, Mark. You have an enviable lifestyle.

Thanks!

Alas I'm trying (and some would say failing) to make a living out of breeding polo ponies to sell to the glitterati, rather than being one of them myself!

It's not quite such an enviable lifestyle in the middle of January, with the sleet driving in sideways and the boots being sucked off my feet in the knee deep mud, but I wouldn't want to give it up!

[Dan2010]

Sweet.

[Grumpy Badger]

Thanks Eduardo! I've got a lot to learn...

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Boy was I confused. I thought the OP was talking about Ralph Lauren clothing.

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by mrbill2mrbill2

Boy was I confused. I thought the OP was talking about Ralph Lauren clothing.

I like that too...

[dddrees]

Cool PICs Mark.

Thanks for the short little class MovieFreak.

[Grumpy Badger]

No... Not yet, anyway...!
With the local tattoo shops near me there's a better than evens chance the polo pony would look like a gerbil and the Rolex would look like a G-shock!

[997Opus]

Not to hijack the thread but you are correct on the JLC Reverso. In fact the first JLC Reverso's only had a watch face on one side with the backside being usually a solid precious metal with the wearers engraved initials or club symbol displayed on it. During polo matches the watch face was turned inwards with the strong solid backs exposed, now facing outwards protecting the watches from harm. After the match, the watches face was again turned outwards for normal ware. Later on JLC developed a two faced movement to put into their Reverso line so the watch wearer could have one watch with two distinct and different looks (a two faced watch).

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by 997Opus

Not to hijack the thread but you are correct on the JLC Reverso. In fact the first JLC Reverso's only had a watch face on one side with the backside being usually a solid precious metal with the wearers engraved initials or club symbol displayed on it. During polo matches the watch face was turned inwards with the strong solid backs exposed, now facing outwards protecting the watches from harm. After the match, the watches face was again turned outwards for normal ware. Later on JLC developed a two faced movement to put into their Reverso line so the watch wearer could have one watch with two distinct and different looks (a two faced watch).

Thanks for the clarification! I knew I'd heard that, but wasn't sure if it was just a rural legend!
I think it must have been a bit of a marketing ploy to associate it so heavily with polo, though. I'd have thought there would have been plenty applications where protecting the face would have been just as important, if not more so. I've been hit full force by a couple of polo balls and, in the thirties at least, I think your watch would be smashed (along with your wrist) whichever way it was turned!
I'm surprised Rolex chose to associate Gonzalito with a DateJust... I'd have thought they'd have gone for something out of the Professional line. I think Expy II would have been best. Rugged and with the dual timezone.

[HL65]

Cool pics Mark!!

[nauticajoe]

Nice pics.

[Rolex116520]

Nice pictures of a great watch !
Nice mallet ( vilamil ? ) the spurs seem a bit rusty .
Breeding Polo ponies ? Hard to beat the Argentinians at that game .

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by Rolex116520

Nice pictures of a great watch !
Nice mallet ( vilamil ? ) the spurs seem a bit rusty .
Breeding Polo ponies ? Hard to beat the Argentinians at that game .

Thanks, man!

The stick's a Logi (I know a guy) and the spurs are just caked in dried horse sweat since I through 'em in the tackroom at the end of last summer without cleaning them first!

I've got a Urugyuan stallion so at least I can give the Argies a bit of a run for there money. If they decide they want the Malvinas back again I could stand to benefit from import ban!

I struggled a bit before deciding on the sub to go with my lifestyle... I'd probably have been better off with an Explorer or Expy II but you gotta love that Sub!

[Rolex116520]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Badger

Thanks, man!

The stick's a Logi (I know a guy) and the spurs are just caked in dried horse sweat since I through 'em in the tackroom at the end of last summer without cleaning them first!

I've got a Urugyuan stallion so at least I can give the Argies a bit of a run for there money. If they decide they want the Malvinas back again I could stand to benefit from import ban!

I struggled a bit before deciding on the sub to go with my lifestyle... I'd probably have been better off with an Explorer or Expy II but you gotta love that Sub!

Fire that groom !
Ban on the Argies ? With that lot in Parliament and nobody like Maggie on the horizon ?
There is always the option to breed polo elephants .. highlands elephants ??
The SUB is as practical as a EXP .

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by Rolex116520

Fire that groom !
Ban on the Argies ? With that lot in Parliament and nobody like Maggie on the horizon ?
There is always the option to breed polo elephants .. highlands elephants ??
The SUB is as practical as a EXP .

Hey, Scotland are world champions at Elephant Polo! I know the guy who came up with the idea...he was p*ssed up in the bar at St Moritz when he thought of it. Good Drills, that man!

[Rolex116520]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Badger

Hey, Scotland are world champions at Elephant Polo! I know the guy who came up with the idea...he was p*ssed up in the bar at St Moritz when he thought of it. Good Drills, that man!

Didn't you have Torquhil Campbell as captain of the elephant team ?

[Gary Busey]

might be a stupid question....but have you ever met a polo player that grew up poor, and started playing polo poor?

in other words is there a place in the world where its accessible?

[Rolex116520]

Originally Posted by Gary Busey

might be a stupid question....but have you ever met a polo player that grew up poor, and started playing polo poor?

in other words is there a place in the world where its accessible?

Yes , I met many in Argentina that are relatively poor. They play for a team owned by rich individuals or companies or they find richer persons believing in them and sponsoring the 3 to 4 ponies you need to be able to play .

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by Gary Busey

might be a stupid question....but have you ever met a polo player that grew up poor, and started playing polo poor?

in other words is there a place in the world where its accessible?

Depends on your definition of poor, I guess.

I know quite a few people who work normal jobs and play as a hobby. It's always going to have a bit of expense attached but, certainly at the lower levels, probably not any more than someone who's really into golf, diving etc. I'd say most people who can buy a Rolex probably have enough disposable income to play if they prioritised it.
You couldn't play if you were on income support but I'd say low-goal polo would be easily attainable to someone on an average wage IF they really wanted to make it a priority.

It's not as exclusive as it once was or as many people think. I guess it is very much like golf, if you want to play for fun at a small, local club the cost isn't prohibitive. If you want to join the best club, have the best equipment and party like it's 1999, you best have DEEP pockets or get good enough that someone else picks up the tab!

[z32turbo]

Looks Good!