Sir Elton John is England’s King of Bling. Whatever he does, wherever he goes, whoever he is with, our home-grown singer and composer is way over the top. The fact that his real name is Reg Dwight has never held him back.
The glamour that attaches to him means that he is constantly in the news, and is the major reason why Chopard approached him some years ago with the idea of creating a watch collection in support of the Sir Elton John AIDS Foundation. The composer of such songs as Candle in the Wind (both played and sung by him in Westminster Abbey at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales), Crocodile Rock, Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road and The Lion King has always maintained a collection of fine wristwatches, and so when Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele, Vice-President of Chopard, met Sir Elton at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000 there was an immediate meeting of minds.
The result has been two series of Sir Elton John Watches. The first is Ref. 16/8331/10, an edition limited to 2,000 pieces, all in stainless steel. This automatic chronograph has a 42-hour power reserve, and is a handsome piece with a dark green bouchonné dial, a sapphire crystal back so that the works can be inspected, and mounted on a dark green rubber strap, which is distinctly reminiscent of a 1960s Dunlop racing tyre.
The second series is Ref. 17/1868-20. This model is limited to 200 pieces and is a much more blingy affair. It is powered by a quartz movement, but the chronograph function is mechanical. All the ‘furniture’ (case, buckle, winding crown, push buttons, etc) is in 18-carat yellow gold. The case is set with no less than 471 diamonds, and the dial displays a further 216 of Sir Elton’s favourite gemstone. The back of each case is engraved with his signature and the number of the piece. The ensemble is finished with a setting of 24 diamonds in the gold buckle.
Rolex is never far from the sponsorship arena. In this country it concentrates on the timing of major events, and so it is impossible to watch tennis at Wimbledon or important golf championships, including the British Open, without seeing a giant Rolex clock presiding over the proceedings. Rolex is also a sponsor of equine eventing, and when Zara Phillips, the daughter of Prince Charles’s sister Anne, won the World Championship in the summer of 2006, she was appearing in Rolex advertisements within days. She was most definitely a figure of glamour on the afternoon of her triumph, and it is typical that Rolex was early to spot her potential.
One of the most prominent events in England’s social calendar is the Cartier International Polo Day in Windsor Great Park, which is owned by The Queen. This summer her grandson Prince Harry was deputising for his grandmother in presenting the Coronation Cup to the England team, which beat New Zealand. Earlier in the day Prince Harry played for the Prince of Wales team in the Golden Jubilee trophy, which it duly won, and he was pleased to receive his prize from Arnaud Bamberger, Managing Director of Cartier in the UK.
There was splendid sport on the field, rivalled only by the magnificence of Cartier’s hospitality in its enormous tent and the lawn outside it. Plenty of leading English socialites were, as always, present (after all, this was the 22nd such occasion, and tickets are always much sought-after), and there was a sprinkling of Hollywood stars to grace this most English of occasions, with bandstand music and tea with strawberries and cream on the lawn.
Cartier is also noted for its presence at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed, now in its twelfth successive year. There at this famed event in West Sussex the Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ car show is the one that attracts the crowds, with its eight different classes of elegant cars, judged by a celebrity panel. The private lawns of Goodwood House, home of the Dukes of Richmond, suit the ambiance of Cartier’s presentation. In truth, it is always difficult to decide where the most glamour and beauty are to be found on this delightful day out: with the magnificent classic cars in perfect condition, or with the elegant and equally perfectly conditioned crowd in all their finery. This event always confirms that the appreciation of classic cars goes hand in hand with that of the finest wristwatches.


Source: Europa Star October-November 2006 Magazine Issue