An Unmatched Rolex Ambassadorship... Or Is It?

[askdanny]

And now for a fun post on Thanksgiving day...

Among all brand ambassadors, Paul Newman is arguably unmatched...

And ironically, the man who has done the most to promote Rolex was never paid to wear one.

But at some point, future waves of collectors will relate less and less to someone born in 1925 -- whom they only know on-screen through the voice of Doc Hudson in "Cars."

Will his appeal ever diminish? Ineluctably. To be sure, Rolex doesn't need any brand ambassador today; it sells every watch it makes. But that could change.

Still, I look around and struggle to find someone who can step into his shoes -- or racing suit, so to speak. I don't even think Federer can match him.

Who is your pick?

Here's mine: https://coron.et/new-long-reads/role...newman-problem

[Podmornica]

No One Stays at the Top Forever.

It will change with the upcoming new generations who don't give a crap about Rolex and who will sell their fathers watches after their death. Rolex watch may end up being similar to what the pocket watches are currently. Hardly any interest and a thing of past.

[capnty]

Originally Posted by Podmornica

No One Stays at the Top Forever.

It will change with the upcoming new generations who don't give a crap about Rolex and who will sell their fathers watches after their death. Rolex watch may end up being similar to what the pocket watches are currently. Hardly any interest and a thing of past.

I've noticed that there is a small subset of thirty somethings that enjoy mechanical watches, myself included. While not often the case, I've seen it happen such that people are introduced to the concept of wearing a watch regularly via smartwatches, but become disillusioned with being constantly connected all the time; They wind up enjoying being able to check the time without checking their phone, then later start collecting analog watches as a result. Happened to my cousin, who himself was an engineer at Apple, and now owns multiple Rolexes, both new and vintage.

[amh]

Originally Posted by Podmornica

No One Stays at the Top Forever.

It will change with the upcoming new generations who don't give a crap about Rolex and who will sell their fathers watches after their death. Rolex watch may end up being similar to what the pocket watches are currently. Hardly any interest and a thing of past.

Indeed. This is why I really wonder about those who say "I'm going to pass them down to my kids." It's highly likely that the kids will take them to the nearest pawn shop after the TRF member passes.

[HMHM]

Probably Roger Federer. Swiss made watch on the wrist of a legendary Swiss Tennis player. Not the best Tennis player, but certainly one of the most graceful.

[capnty]

Originally Posted by amh

Indeed. This is why I really wonder about those who say "I'm going to pass them down to my kids." It's highly likely that the kids will take them to the nearest pawn shop after the TRF member passes.

This begs the question though, if nobody cares about watches, will they even be worth selling at that point? Kind of a chicken and egg scenario. Obviously PM pieces will always maintain an intrinsic value.

[PenDelicate]

What a great question.

What strikes me is that Newman - and someone correct me if I'm wrong, I know very little about the chap and his times - wasn't a great Rolex ambassador during his peak. Arguably, he only gained iconic status late in life, and it increased after his death. So Newman wearing a completely unloved Daytona at the time didn't really do much for Rolex, even though those photos now are legendary.

Is it that he was two things: both iconic actor and racing driver? To be honest, I didn't know about his racing until I got into Rolex: for me, he was more famous for his salad dressings. But those shots of him wearing his Daytona while he's in fire-retardant racing gear: marketer's dream.

Would he have been the face of the Daytona had he not been a racer? Probably not.

So if we're looking to replace him, and if the same stars are to align, then we need someone who:
1) Is famous.
2) Has a secondary passion that is relatable to a Rolex watch.

So if Ronaldo takes up science and wears a Milgauss.

Or Dwayne Johnson takes up professional sailing and wears a YachtMaster.

Or Taylor Swift devotes herself to saving rare animals and wears an Explorer.

You could say that James Cameron fits the bill: a director who at least dabbled in diving. But ... he just doesn't have Newman's clout. Not even posthumously, you have to think.

So that scuppers my theory!

What the hell does Newman have that Cameron doesn't?

What is that ... magic something?

[PBJ1925]

In the current generation, the first person that comes to mind as a Rolex Ambassador is Federer. Couldn't speak to Newman as he was that 1/2 prior generation for me as I tend to think of his Newman for his Newman's line (love the lemonade) and how they generated over 1/2 a billion to charitable causes.

[soldes]

Brady already is, without getting paid. His association with IWC appears to have ended, and since his retirement; he has been photographed wearing all kinds of hard to find (for the common mortals), Rolexes.

[brandrea]

The obvious choice is Federer. Added bonus, he’s Swiss and loved the world over.

Records are meant to be broken, so even I’ll concede by that measure alone, he’s not the greatest player of all time, but he certainly handles himself with dignity and class … something the current goat could learn from.

[RichardBartlett]

Jackie Stewart has been a Rolex brand ambassador since 1968

[alllexandru]

Rolex and F1
Rolex and tennis
Rolex and golf
Rolex and IG
Rolex and YT
Rolex and ….

These are the future ambassadors for the generations to come.
We don’t have one person but an entity to represent the brand, entity of being present in the eyes of many thru all major channels of communications

My take of course

[Gearjockey]

I’m sure Rolex could find ambassadors from Football (soccer) currently the world’s most popular sport and making serious inroads in the US. I’m not worried about Rolex marketing at all.
If my kids are selling my Rolex watches at pawn shops upon my demise, they’re certainly very good at disguising their intentions.

[njlam]

https://youtu.be/OfPlD9t32so?si=FWjxgwotnt0T8idM

Jack only had one…


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[RTG]

Mechanical minds will always be intrigued by mechanical things. I deal with a lot of twenty-somethings and the same percentage of them like mechanical watches as the fifty-somethings I deal with. If you speak to them you’ll find the same. Only difference is more 50-somethings can afford them. Someday the kids driven to succeed will be able to embrace their interests. They just need time to figure their path and earn it.

As for kids who will pawn dad’s Rolex the day he dies; focus on raising better kids. If you fail, don’t leave them anything. Don’t punish the world you leave behind by enriching stupidity.

[jn2d1986]

36 here… watches are not going to be forgotten about with the younger generation. I have plenty of friends that enjoy wearing them. Go to Reddit and you’ll see how popular Rolex is with young people.

[ArtNouveau]

Originally Posted by PenDelicate

What a great question.

What strikes me is that Newman - and someone correct me if I'm wrong, I know very little about the chap and his times - wasn't a great Rolex ambassador during his peak. Arguably, he only gained iconic status late in life, and it increased after his death. So Newman wearing a completely unloved Daytona at the time didn't really do much for Rolex, even though those photos now are legendary.

Is it that he was two things: both iconic actor and racing driver? To be honest, I didn't know about his racing until I got into Rolex: for me, he was more famous for his salad dressings. But those shots of him wearing his Daytona while he's in fire-retardant racing gear: marketer's dream.

Would he have been the face of the Daytona had he not been a racer? Probably not.

So if we're looking to replace him, and if the same stars are to align, then we need someone who:
1) Is famous.
2) Has a secondary passion that is relatable to a Rolex watch.

So if Ronaldo takes up science and wears a Milgauss.

Or Dwayne Johnson takes up professional sailing and wears a YachtMaster.

Or Taylor Swift devotes herself to saving rare animals and wears an Explorer.

You could say that James Cameron fits the bill: a director who at least dabbled in diving. But ... he just doesn't have Newman's clout. Not even posthumously, you have to think.

So that scuppers my theory!

What the hell does Newman have that Cameron doesn't?

What is that ... magic something?

Paul Newman did have that indefinable “magic.” The start of the hype era of the Daytona is generally attributed to when Paul Newman was on the cover of an Italian magazine wearing his Daytona around 1988. Suddenly it became the “it” watch and has remained so ever since. When his personal watch set the record for price at auction the deal was sealed.
But as shown on this meme, he was more than a movie star, he was an all around good guy whose greatest legacy is his philanthropy that continues to his day.
He was never an official Rolex ambassador but certainly could have been.

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by njlam

https://youtu.be/OfPlD9t32so?si=FWjxgwotnt0T8idM

Jack only had one…


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And hasn't been the face of golf for at least 25 years. He may or may not be considered the best ever but he was never relatable, open or as personable as Palmer before him or Woods/ Michelson/Others after.

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by RTG

Mechanical minds will always be intrigued by mechanical things. I deal with a lot of twenty-somethings and the same percentage of them like mechanical watches as the fifty-somethings I deal with. If you speak to them you’ll find the same. Only difference is more 50-somethings can afford them. Someday the kids driven to succeed will be able to embrace their interests. They just need time to figure their path and earn it.

As for kids who will pawn dad’s Rolex the day he dies; focus on raising better kids. If you fail, don’t leave them anything. Don’t punish the world you leave behind by enriching stupidity.

Seeiously? I have failed if my son sells something he isn't interested in. And don't say it's wrong because it was Daddy's. That can be said about an entire house and garages full of stuff.

[njlam]

Originally Posted by zengineer

And hasn't been the face of golf for at least 25 years. He may or may not be considered the best ever but he was never relatable, open or as personable as Palmer before him or Woods/ Michelson/Others after.

You must not play golf, or watched the video…For his almost his entire professional career, Jack had one watch, a YG President, which he wore while holding the trophy for every tournament he won (including 18 majors). He is an icon of Rolex history.

Watch the video.


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[zengineer]

Originally Posted by njlam

You must not play golf, or watched the video…For his almost his entire professional career, Jack had one watch, a YG President, which he wore while holding the trophy for every tournament he won (including 18 majors). He is an icon of Rolex history.

Watch the video.


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I've played golf for 30 years and know it's history very well. I watched it back when the interview was first done and know the story very well. Jack was really not into watches. That watch barely brought over $1 million when he sold it which is a shame but reinforces what I am saying. He simply isn't known for watches even though he put it on after every winning round.

[askdanny]

Thanks for the comments, much appreciated. Tom Cruise came close after he was first spotted with a white-dial Air King on-screen in 1988 (“Cocktail”).

If he had stuck with one model, à la Newman, he could have become Mr. Air-King. Both the Daytona and the Air-King were under appreciated.

I can picture him doing his Mission Impossible stunts — or flying his personal P-51 Mustang — with an updated Air-King on his wrist.

The “Top Gun” star is today the biggest paid actor in Hollywood. He is irrefutably one of the greatest action movie stars of all time — if not the greatest. Hell, the guy can grab onto the side of an airplane as it takes off.

[Yobber76]

Originally Posted by RichardBartlett

Jackie Stewart has been a Rolex brand ambassador since 1968

I think Jackie Stewart was better known as a Rolex wearer and therefore ambassador than Paul Newman was during their times surrounding racing. I loved Newman as an actor, and I knew he raced, but never knew or cared about what watch he was wearing. The Rolex phenomenom came years later for Newman, Steve McQueen and a host of other celebrities that wore Rolex watches.
Federer has been a very visible paid ambassador for the brand, and IMO much more known as a Rolex wearer than Newman was. Of course, a lot of this is marketing driven by Rolex.

[Rolexatlast]

Far cooler for a celebrity to wear a Rolex because he loves it, than because he’s paid to

[TikTok]

Too much emphasis on so called celebrities. I really don't care which ‘name’ wears which watch. Would they pay from their own pocket to own the watch we see them pictured with?
Most of them these days are completely anonymous to me anyway.

[Guppydriver]

Originally Posted by PenDelicate

What the hell does Newman have that Cameron doesn't?

Pure unadulterated sex appeal. A man's man if you will.

[GradyPhilpott]

Never mind.

[lencap]

I don't understand why Novak Djokovic decided to become a Hubolt Ambassador. The brand is constantly heavily discounted on grey market dealer sites, and doesn't seem to have much interest to serious watch enthusiasts. He even waited until August of 2021 to choose a watch brand to promote. It must have been quite a contract.

[Fahoo Forays]

Probably not that difficult to be an ambassador wearing a chronograph. That's a complication that can be used for numerous tasks at home and work.

The hard sell was pointless WR.

The greatest ambassador* Rolex ever had is 007, folks.
No, it doesn't matter that he ain't a real person. He's still the reason scores of non-divers own a Sub, or even any dive watch. He started that mess.

*Did Rolex ever pay Newman (in cash or watches)? If they did, he's a shill. If not, he's a fan. I'll go along because it's in the threads title, but really... "Ambassador" is a bit too lofty a term for, "I like his watch brand choice"

[Fahoo Forays]

Originally Posted by Fahoo Forays

Probably not that difficult to be an ambassador wearing a chronograph. That's a complication that can be used for numerous tasks at home and work.

The hard sell was pointless WR.

The greatest ambassador* Rolex ever had is 007, folks.
No, it doesn't matter that he ain't a real person. He's still the reason scores of non-divers own a Sub, or even any dive watch. He started that mess.

*Did Rolex ever pay Newman (in cash or watches)? If they did, he's a shill. If not, he's a fan. I'll go along because it's in the threads title, but really... "Ambassador" is a bit too lofty a term for, "I like his watch brand choice"

Huh. I did some Googling and... now that I think about it a bit, this guy here...



...should have been perfect for the job. That DJ is classy even in gold, and he's wearing the watch instead of the other way 'round. It's not the first thing you notice about him and it isn't the last. He was gifted this piece after earning a Nobel.

Problem is, he didn't flash the watch around enough for people to know he had one and want to go buy one to be like him.