The 24 Hours of Le Mans
Like almost everyone in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee, the Fink’s Jewelers family knows a thing or two about motorsports. Races between unmodified “stock” cars at the Virginia State Fair go back to as early as 1928 — two years before Nathan Fink founded Fink's Jewelers in Roanoke.
This is why we are so inspired by events like the 24 Hours Of Le Mans.
Motorsport enthusiasts know that Le Mans represents car endurance racing at the highest level. 2023 marked the 100th anniversary of this classic French competition. Here the best international drivers and teams race cars from all classes, on one of the most exciting tracks on Earth.
One of the reasons our business has endured for generations is that we have brought the best brands in the world to our boutiques, including Rolex!
Rolex has been the Official Timepiece of this legendary event since 2001. It’s a great partnership because the brand also offers a wide array of best on class options. And, like the many experimental supercars that made their debut at Le Mans, the brand strives for technical excellence. For 2023, the brand revealed a special edition 24-Hour Daytona Chronograph at Le Mans.
The centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race that celebrates endurance and motor sport excellence, takes places on 10 and 11 June. Rolex has been the Official Timepiece of this legendary event since 2001.
A century of legendary racing
Created in 1923, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the oldest and one of the most prestigious car races in the world. A stern test of the reliability of the machines as well as the physical and mental stamina of the drivers, Le Mans attracts some of the greatest names in motor sport. On the 13.6-kilometre (8.4 miles) Circuit de la Sarthe in north-west France, some 62 cars, each with teams of three drivers, race against each other, divided into two Prototype and one GT Class. The winning team is the one which covers the greatest distance in 24 hours, some 5,300 kilometres (3,293 miles). Rolex has been the Official Timepiece of the race since 2001.
100 years of innovation
Since its inaugural edition, the mythical event has been an ideal testing ground for the many advances in motor sport technologies. The trialling of a new road surface in 1922 (still viable today), improvements to safety, engines and aerodynamics, as well as, since 2022, the requirement for all cars to run on 100 per cent renewable biofuel, are among the notable developments marking a century of progress supported by this legendary endurance race.
Tom Kristensen: ‘Mr Le Mans’
Tom Kristensen has well earned his nickname. The most successful driver in the legendary race’s history, he won it a record nine times, starting with his debut in 1997. A Rolex Testimonee since 2010, the Danish racing driver was FIA World Endurance Champion in 2013 and, a decade later, is the ambassador of the 24 Hours of Le Mans centenary. “You carry a win at Le Mans with you forever. I feel proud and humble reflecting on the race’s legacy and Rolex’s involvement with motor sport. Together they are the perfect combination; both striving for excellence through persistence, technical innovation and human endeavour.”
The Cosmograph Daytona: a singular prize
The winners of the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans receive an Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, specially engraved for the occasion. A legendary watch whose characteristic design has become iconic, the Cosmograph Daytona is emblematic of Rolex’s expertise. Equipped with a movement entirely designed and produced by the Rolex manufacture, it stands out by virtue of its chronometric precision as well as its unfailing reliability.
Visit us to discover first-hand the Cosmograph Daytona
Every timepiece in the Rolex family is designed to help you navigate life’s experiences, 24 hours a day. Our team invites you to visit one of our many locations throughout Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee to discover which model will best suit your lifestyle. As an Official Rolex Retailer, we are the only retailers allowed to sell Rolex watches. With the necessary skills and technical know-how, the Fink’s team will help you make the choice that will last a lifetime.
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