Rolex: The Impossible Collection, 2nd Edition - Assouline
ASSOULINE ULTIMATE COLLECTION
The Impossible Collection of Rolex by Assouline
For more than a century, Rolex stands apart as the most coveted and most legendary brand of watches in the world. A Rolex connotes many things: the quintessence of the luxury timepiece, a tool of power for movers and shakers, the symbol of passage into adulthood. New labels pop up, styles come and go, but the brand at the top never changes. Ever the record setter—the Daytona that had belonged to Paul Newman was auctioned by Phillips in New York in October 2017 for $17.8 million—it comes as no surprise that Rolex is the most collected watch label in the world.
The history of Rolex is rooted in the visionary spirit of its founder, Hans Wilsdorf. In 1905, young Wilsdorf founded a company in London for the distribution of timepieces, but his true dream was to produce wristwatches—in their infancy at the time, and not very precise—that would be technically durable and reliable, and supremely elegant. The company first concentrated on producing the highest quality movements, and this quest for precision rapidly led to the first wristwatch in the world to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, granted by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne in 1910. Four years later, Kew Observatory in Great Britain awarded a Rolex watch a class A certificate, a distinction that had been previously reserved exclusively for marine chronometers.
From that date forward, the Rolex wristwatch has been synonymous with precision. Over the last 100 years, Rolex milestones include: the first waterproof watch, the first self-winding mechanism, the first wristwatch to fly over Mt. Everest, the first diver’s watch waterproof to 100 meters, the first to withstand magnetic fields of 1,000 gauss, the first to descend the Mariana Trench.
Selected by specialist Fabienne Reybaud, each of the exceptional Rolex watch models in this beautiful handcrafted Ultimate Collection volume showcase the most valuable and technically innovative models the luxury watchmaker has produced, including watches never seen in print before: From the first wristwatch dating to the early 1900s and the first Oyster Perpetual from 1931, to an Explorer worn during Sir Edmund Hillary’s expedition to the summit of Mt. Everest in 1953 and the Submariner worn by actor George Lazenby in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, they are sure to astonish collectors the world over.
Details
-
- 196 pages
- over 200 illustrations
- English language
- Released in March 2024
- W 15.55 x L 18.62 x D 2.95 in
- Handcrafted in a luxury leather clamshell case with metal plaque
- ISBN: 9781649802835
- 13.0 lbs
About The Author
Since 1989, Fabienne Reybaud has been an esteemed editor specializing in the luxury field. She was head of the jewelry and watches department of the French daily newspaper Le Figaro for twenty-five years and is now an independent journalist, writing for leading national publications such as Paris Match and Numéro. Reybaud is the author of several books, including Watches: The Ultimate Guide (Assouline, 2006, 2010), Chanel: Jewelry and Watches (Assouline, 2020) Tambour by Louis Vuitton (Thames & Hudson, 2022) and Jewelry Guide: The Ultimate Compendium (Assouline, 2022).
Craftsmanship
Assouline’s Ultimate Collection is an homage to the art of luxury bookmaking. Hand-bound using traditional techniques, with color plates hand-tipped on art-quality paper, each page of this limited-edition series bears the unique imprint of the artisan. Treating a range of topics from jewelry and fashion, fine art and the ‘Impossible Collections,’ the Ultimate Collection curates culture from around the world and across the ages. Nestled in linen clamshell presentation cases, these books attract collectors, lovers of the printed page, and those who devour the culture of our time. Signaling a new level of sophistication for true connoisseurs, these unique books are works of art in their own right.
Press
International Watch Review: Rolex: The Impossible Collection, L’Officiel, January 2019
Rolex is the Next Subject in Assouline's Impossible Collection Series, Acquire Mag, August 2018
The Ultimate Photographic History of Rolex in 194 Pages, InsideHook, November 2018
SHIPPING TIMELINE
All in-stock orders at Sip Hip Hooray are typically processed and dispatched within 1-3 business days. We don't operate on Saturdays, Sundays, or U.S. holidays. For personalized items, anticipate around 2-3 weeks for delivery after you've approved the artwork.
Do bear in mind that holidays, product launches, and sales events might extend order processing times.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING POLICY
We are unable to pre-calculate all international shipping rates at checkout. Once your order is placed, our team will review your order, including the product specifications, box size, and weight. There may be additional shipping charges applied after your order has been processed. If any additional costs arise, we will reach out to you for confirmation before proceeding with shipment.
INTERNATIONAL DUTIES, TAXES, AND TARIFFS POLICY
Due to the ever-changing global trade climate and varying regulations by country, Sip Hip Hooray is unable to estimate or include duties, taxes, tariffs, or other import fees at the time of purchase.
All international orders may be subject to additional charges imposed by the destination country’s customs authorities. These charges—including but not limited to duties, VAT, tariffs, and brokerage fees—are the sole responsibility of the purchaser/recipient.
By placing an international order with Sip Hip Hooray, you acknowledge and accept that any such additional costs will be paid by the recipient and are not included in the shipping charges or product pricing.
We recommend checking with your local customs office for more information on potential fees before placing your order.
SHIPPING DELAYS & REFUNDS
We strive to deliver your order promptly. If, however, your non-personalized order does face a delay from our end and arrives late (excluding shipping courier-related delays like weather or equipment failure), you're eligible for a refund once you return the items. We'll provide a call tag for the product return. Upon receiving the returned items, your refund will be processed.
SHIPPING COURIERS
We use a range of couriers to ensure your order reaches you efficiently. If you have restrictions on receiving from a particular courier, inform us by emailing orders@siphiphooray.com with your order number.
SHIPPING PROMOS
Shipping promotions are only applicable to the contiguous United States and cover ground shipping. For rush shipping please inquire with us at orders@siphiphooray.com
SHH EXCLUSIVE DESIGNED PRODUCTS
(Product lines like Christmas sweatshirts, Gildan sweatshirts, fun mugs)
These are exclusively crafted and undergo a 10-business day production cycle. Since they're tailored just for you, we can't cancel them once they're in production.
RETURNS
Due to the custom nature of our products, all sales are final.
REFUND TIMELINE POLICY
If a refund is approved, please note it typically takes 3–10 business days for the funds to appear in your account. This timeline depends on multiple factors including your bank’s processing speed, credit card provider, and the payment method used at checkout. Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite this process once a refund has been issued.
Refunds processed through Shopify Payments usually initiate within 2 business days, but your bank may still require additional time to post the funds.
We understand the wait can be frustrating, but rest assured—once we process the refund on our end, it’s in the hands of your bank or card provider to complete the transaction.
CUSTOM SKETCH ARTWORK POLICY
For custom sketches, we accommodate 2 rounds of alterations, provided they don't necessitate a complete redo. Should you have specific changes in mind, do relay them so our artist can incorporate them. However, since these sketches are meticulously hand-drawn and delivered to you, the associated fees are non-refundable.
CONTACT US
Got questions? We're here for you.
Email: orders@siphiphooray.com
Phone: 713.247.9856