Lasting Impact

On the 20th anniversary of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative this year, the Swiss manufacture reinforces its profound commitment to supporting artistic excellence

- Annabel Tan

In today’s fast‑paced, ever‑changing world, much of the focus tends to be placed on keeping up with the tempo and quickly adapting to the next new thing. Qualities such as agility and resilience are consequently valued and even seen as vital to success. While this undoubtedly helps to drive society forward, the unrelenting fixation on continual progress and growth can result in some of our traditions and roots falling by the wayside.

The arts, in particular, require efforts of preservation to pass on to future generations or risk getting lost in history. This important transmission of knowledge and skill is consistently championed by Rolex in its pursuit of excellence, which stems from its prestigious craft of watchmaking. As a brand highly regarded as the pinnacle of Swiss watchmaking, it is globally recognised for its unparalleled expertise, quality and standards—a reputation possible only with the Swiss manufacture’s dedication to traditional watchmaking crafts and know‑how.

This commitment to excellence and passion for its craft have prompted Rolex to be involved with and support individuals and organisations in the spheres of arts and culture, sport, exploration and sustainability. In fact, for more than half a century, the brand has worked with some of the world’s most talented artists as well as leading cultural institutions to help perpetuate artistic heritage and create the all‑important link between the past, the present and the future. These partnerships, which fall under the Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative, span a broad portfolio of arts—from music to architecture, cinema and more—through which Rolex asserts its long‑term commitment and contribution to global culture.