Historically, Rene-Paul Jeanneret proved to be one of the key appointments at the RWC during the company's most fruitful period of the 1950s and 60s.
His official title was of Public Relations Director; but his influence was much more than just a PR man, involving himself in many aspects of the company's activities including the creation of new watches. As an active sportsman with an interest in many fields & disciplines, he introduced the concept of the “tool” watch in the early 1950s. Specifically a watch designed for practitioners of individual sports or activities.
The results of this concept 1st appeared on the Rolex stand at the 1954 Basle Watch Fair in the following formats: -
- The Explorer for sportsmen
- The Submariner for divers
- Turn-O-Graph for businessmen
Rene-Paul Jeanneret, therefore not only aided the creation of the Rolex Sports Watch as we know it today, but also indirectly played an integral part in the way in which wristwatches have been design and developed in the later part of the last century.
Stainless Steel Rolex Sport Watches today often attract huge premiums above the list price due to their design and limited availability, with in recent years the vintage models increasing dramatically in value. However buyers should beware, due to the demand there are now far more high quality fakes than originals, both new and vintage, to be sure also buy from an authorised dealer or get to know a knowledgeable and trustworthy vintage dealer.