Rolex and The Championships, Wimbledon
1930 was an exciting year in tennis. It was the time when the idea of the professional athlete was first emerging. American Helen Willis Moody won Wimbledon and became celebrity. The US Men’s team came in second at Roland-Garros, probing that tennis was not just the domain of gentleman amateurs and thus, piquing interest in the “the King’s sport” around the world.
1930 was also the year that Fink’s Jewelers opened its doors in Roanoke, Virginia. Over the years, one of our most enduring partnerships is with Rolex. The brand’s Datejust model is popular with our customers in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee because, like an elite tennis player, it has a celebrated history of delivering both precision, endurance and style.
Nowhere is this elegant combination better executed than at Wimbledon, the annual international competition held in England each July. Down to every detail, tradition encircles this event for players and spectators alike. Guests are served strawberries and cream and drink refreshing Pimm's Cups. Players must be dressed in suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white. These rituals elevate the event (while also providing world class performances).
Here’s a brief history of the brand’s enduring ties to Wimbledon and how this sport, steeped in rituals, also continues to evolve.
Rolex first partnered with The Championships, Wimbledon, in 1978. The world’s oldest tennis tournament is the temple of lawn tennis and of the original game. It is also where athletes become legends.
Rolex is the Official Timekeeper and one of the major partners of all leading tennis tournaments. The story began at The Championships, Wimbledon, in 1978 when the brand first became involved with a sport capturing the world’s attention.
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in south-west London has hosted The Championships since the inaugural edition in 1877. The world’s oldest tennis tournament, Wimbledon is the home of the sport and its grass court temple.
"IF YOU CAN MEET WITH TRIUMPH AND DISASTER AND TREAT THOSE TWO IMPOSTERS JUST THE SAME"
A temple of tennis tradition
Above the players’ entrance to Centre Court, which seats 15,000 spectators, lines from the poem If by Rudyard Kipling read:
If you can meet with
Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two
impostors just the same
These verses encapsulate the event’s philosophy because, at Wimbledon, the greatness of the sport lies not in victory but in the humility and perseverance of the champions.
The scene of major showdowns
The intensity of Wimbledon finals on Centre Court means they live on in the memory as extraordinary moments of tennis history. Epic battles between the likes of Rod Laver and John Newcombe, Björn Borg and John McEnroe, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have written the legend of Wimbledon and world tennis.
This unprecedented level of sporting excellence struck a chord with the ethos intrinsic to Rolex. A natural partnership developed at all the major tennis events, now spanning more than 40 years.
Rolex and tennis:
a partnership of more than 40 years
Rolex has enjoyed a special relationship with tennis that is deeply rooted in a common philosophy: the continuous pursuit of excellence, a desire for precision and innovation, the elegance of movement, unwavering effort, respect for tradition and a drive to always push beyond personal limits.
Over the years, Rolex has extended its involvement in the sport, becoming the Premium Partner of world tennis in both the men’s and women’s game.
The brand supports most of the major competitions, including all four Grand Slam® tournaments, the season-ending ATP and WTA Finals, the high-status ATP Masters and WTA 1000 tournaments, and the premier international team contests, the Davis Cup Finals and the Laver Cup.
Rolex Testimonees and Wimbledon
Among its Testimonees, Rolex counts a host of Wimbledon champions, including tennis legends Björn Borg and Chris Evert, as well as Stefan Edberg, Garbiñe Muguruza, Angelique Kerber and Roger Federer, who won the men’s singles crown a record eight times.
Today’s leading lights, including Rolex family members Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Świątek, Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff, are aiming to join these greats on the list of winners at this revered tournament.
Rolex and sport
For many decades, the brand has actively championed culture, architecture, exploration and conservation of the planet. And in the sporting world, it has built a diverse range of partnerships across tennis, golf, equestrianism, skiing, sailing and motor sport. Rolex partners governing bodies, competitions and athletes – from established champions to promising talents – in long-standing engagements that perpetuate the future of these disciplines and promote excellence.
Visit us to discover first-hand the Datejust
The Fink’s team invites you to visit one of our locations in the South East to discover
which model bests serves you. As an Official Rolex Jeweler, we are the only
retailers allowed to sell Rolex watches. With the necessary skills and technical know-
how, we will help you make the choice that will last a lifetime.
Contact us to book an in-store visit at one of our Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee boutiques today.
