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Rolex is a brand name that has long been known as a horological status symbol. This is true not only among the individuals looking for a beautiful accessory but also for the most discerning passionate watch connoisseur.

This is unarguably the most powerful and most influential luxury watch brand of this time. Rolex has successfully established itself as one of the most famous luxury watch brands on the planet. Rolex is already a symbol of precision, quality, and luxury.

This luxury watch brand has been around for over a century and has been labeled as producing “the only watch that matters.” They provide some of the world’s most reliable and durable timepieces.

But other than that, this watch brand has other trivial facts as well. Here are some of the ones that aren’t as well known about Rolex:

All of the Gold Rolex Uses Are Made in-House

You know a brand is serious when they just produce the gold they use in their watches. In the industry of watchmaking in general, having an in-house movement tends to be a prestigious thing. And this reflects a great deal of passion for watchmaking, but when this brand even goes so far as to make it gold in-house, it proves that Rolex isn’t like any other watchmaker out there today. 

Because they could make their gold in-house, they can control the production and the part where they need to machine parts of it. With this, they are also able to ensure the level of quality of every timepiece, as well as the looks of the material itself.

Every Single Watch Rolex Produces Is Pressure-Tested Right before Leaving the Plant 

Just like some super secret spy or high grade military equipment, watches built by Rolex are tested to their limits. Extreme limits. Because Rolex is at the very forefront of water-resistant technology, this of course involves a multitude of steps. Watches they produce are placed in sensitive air-pressure chambers to determine if there are any air leaks within the case itself. Using a medical-grade optical sensor, they will be able to find any level of condensation or water infiltration. If these problems are detected, the watch is completely scrapped.

The First-Ever Waterproof Case for a Wristwatch Was the Oyster Case

The historical oyster case was first made by Rolex back in 1926, and this was in fact, a very significant moment in watchmaking history. Back in the day, normal watches got water damages due to their inability to prevent water from entering the case.

On the other hand, the Oyster case had a patented system of screwing down the bezel case’s back and crown to right to the middle part of the case itself. This essentially made the watch waterproof. They not only created the very first versions of waterproof watches, but they also were able to produce these timepieces on a large scale.

Rolex Timepieces Are All Handmade

Just like the Skyline GTR’s monstrous V6 engine, all watches produced by Rolex are handmade. It takes almost a whole year to build just one Rolex watch. Every single Rolex is painstakingly made by hand in Switzerland. 

Rolex watches are given all utmost attention and dedication to ensure that every single piece will meet the coveted brand’s strict standards. Every single piece is made in-house, which all of the course includes the materials themselves. When all of the parts for a Rolex watch are made, they are then hand-built and tested one by one. And as previously mentioned, the overall quality testing process is very intense.

The Most Expensive Rolex Watch Was Sold for $5,060,427 in 2017

This particular timepiece that was sold was called the Bao Dai ref. 6062. This watch is the only one of its kind. It came built with a black dial and diamond indexes. Initially, the watch was first auctioned back in 2002 for a measly $235,000. But as time went by, 15 years later it broke its record easily and more significantly by more than 20 times the price when it was sold for $5,060,427.

The Earlier Wristwatch Models of the Rolex Were Marked with “W&D”

Back when the watch company first began, the name Rolex didn’t exist yet. The company originally made watches for jewelers. Because of that, the watches were not branded on the dial itself. This was done so to allow the jewelers to put their names on the dial. Hence the watches being marked with ”W&D”. Then, years later in 1908, Wilsdorf decided and succeeded in registering the trademark “Rolex”. And this then became the brand name of watches from Wilsdorf and Davis.

Rolex Began Utilizing 904l Stainless Steel Back in 1985

Other watch companies are known to make their steel watches in a type of stainless steel called 316L. Rolex named its special alloy the ”corrosion-resistant superalloy”. As you all know, corrosion is a problem with stainless steel watches. Because the watch is attached to the wrist most of the time, moisture from the sweat, combined with other corrosive substances in the air like salts for example will make your watch rust and corrode eventually over time.

The 904L steel is essentially more expensive than the 316L variant. This is also much more complicated to make. There are of course other variants of steel that are harder and more resistant to scratches and marks than the 904L steel, but specifically for a tool watch and especially when it comes to Rolex’s dive watches, the cases must be waterproof. Corrosion can compromise this if the threads that hold the crown of the watch and the case at the back corrode.

In the end, the Fact Is, Rolex Is a Luxury Icon

Rolex at this point is most probably the most known luxury watch brand around the planet. This level of global recognition comes from the brand’s success in several fields, from early watchmaking firsts, technological innovations, all the way to an association with James Bond and Paul Newman. If you are interested in owning a Rolex, you can find these watches in a respectable jewelry shop. Start a personal watch collection and perhaps become one of the watch enthusiasts.

Google Drive is a cloud storage service that comes with a lot of advantages such as having a remote area to back up your file and for easier file sharing. This cloud storage became popular with useful collaborative tools and built-in integrations with Google’s suite of products and services. Having an account will automatically give you 15GB of free storage on Google Drive.

As for managing PDF files, Google has prepared great features to be used. In any device like your personal computer, laptop, tablets, and cellphones, you can scan PDF files, convert them, share them, etc. this will come in handy when you are always on the go. Travelling may also keep you away from your PC but with your cell phone, PDFs are ready to work with.

If your work requires a lot of PDF files and documents, open your Google Drive and try some features that are underused or are simply left unknown by users. These Google Drive features will help you do more and efficiently with less time and effort.

Convert Doc to PDF, and PDF to Doc

Google Drive thought of convenience and time-saving features. This one is a good example of that kind of feature. A converter that let you convert Doc to PDF, and also PDF to DOC. although using another online tool will be nice if you require more features than just converting.

Follow these instructions to be guided on to convert with Google Drive. Pen your doc, go to File. Choose Download as, then choose PDF Document (.pdf). And as for PDF to Doc, follow these steps: Open your file in Google Drive by selecting Upload files then select the file from your hard drive. Right-click on the PDF file in Google Drive and open it in Google Docs. Finally, download the file as Microsoft Word (.docx).

Use this converter feature by Google Drive for your convenience. It’s easier and faster when you need to convert from Google Drive and then you can share it immediately.

Save PDFs to Google Drive

Web browsers like Google Chrome can do more than letting you read your PDFs with Google Chrome’s PDF viewer. Google Chrome lets you save web pages as PDF files. You can select Print at the bottom right of the browser then select Save as PDF.

Make sure that you are logged into Chrome to be able to save PDF files into your Google Drive. For you to do this, look for the printer tab, select then click Change. If you continue to scroll down, look for the Google Cloud Print section that should be right there. If you are there, you can save it to Google Drive.

This feature can help you save time. And to avoid having to open your Google Drive just to manually upload the file from your local disk. It is again, fast and easy.

Merge PDF Files and Documents

If you are to combine loads of PDF files and documents into one single PDF file, Google Drive recommends the PDF Mergy. This is another Chrome add-on like the PDF converter. Choose and select the files that you want to merge. Right-click then select Open with PDF Mergy.

Wait for the files to be processed. You can rearrange the order of the files to suit the PDF file you are creating. You can still add more files from your drive. Select Merge if you are done customizing. Save the file on your local disk or in your Google Drive.

Interactions With PDF Files 

PDFs are compatible with any platform you have available. But unfortunately, having a PDF file means you can only read these files without being able to edit the file. Some online applications are allowing you to interact with a PDF file

Google Drive extensions also allow you to underline, strikethrough, draw, highlight, add text, insert shapes, signatures, and comments on the PDF file. All these will help your work or study better with notes and highlighted parts. Because it will feel as though you can interact with the PDF file.

Consider this add-on if your company is to release files by signatures. Or if files are to be reviewed, comments are allowed and so are drawings for better corrections. You are now interacting with PDF to make work efficient and effective.

Google Drive’s Scan and Search Feature

Did you know that Android devices are handy scanners? Yes, your phone is a scanner that can convert these scanned files to PDF. With Google Drive, you can use your phone’s built-in camera to scan the hard copy of the document to save it electronically.

When the scan is complete, save the file into your Google Drive. The contents of the file, which is a PDF now, are available to be scanned. Using Google Drive’s search tool, you can find specific words within the PDF file immediately. However, handwritten documents are not searchable by the search tool. Only typewritten text is searchable by Google Drive.

This feature is useful for scanning certificates, official receipts, official forms, and certificates. Make sure you have done the following to create scanned PDF documents in Google Drive: 

First access the Google Drive application on your Device. Next, tap the plus symbol on the screen to start a new file. Choose Scan and it will automatically open your phone’s built-in camera. Take the picture, and make sure you get all the parts captured on your screen. If you are satisfied with the picture, save your project to Google Drive.

Takeaway

When managing PDFs, try to open Google Drive. This cloud storage lets you export PDFs and helps you interact with them as well. These underused and are often overlooked Google Drive features are worth a try when you need to save and manage time.

There are a lot of online tools all over the internet that are best in specific formats and services. But with Google Drive, you can have all you need in one place.

According to research compiled by StatCounter, Google accounts for more than 92% of all search engine activity on the internet. With more than 66% of modern businesses utilizing web traffic to build their brand and customer base, reaching an audience online is more important than ever to remain competitive.

To succeed with internet marketing while developing your brand, you will need to craft the perfect company profile. An online profile can be placed on dedicated networking pages like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

No matter where you are planning on placing your company profile, just make sure that you include these five following details to get the most out of your efforts.

1. Get the Basics Down Right

When it comes time to establish your company profile, you will need to make sure that you have all of the basic information locked down tight. What does this typically entail? Anything that you have to offer, of course!

Whether you are an entrepreneur or the CEO of a business, your business profile should feature all of your official links to social media as well as your brand’s official website. In addition to this information, make sure that your brand’s location, employee count, and contact information are also available.

We want to make your profile as easy as possible to access and that means making your information palatable. You can take a look at this company profile for a great example of what we mean.

2. Craft a Personable Bio

Behind every great brand and product is the person who helped to make it happen. While we all know that Microsoft is a computing juggernaut, we are infinitely more familiar with Bill Gates and his personal history. While we don’t expect you to become the next billionaire, you can certainly create a biography that is personable to your experience and expectations.

Forbes highlighted some key suggestions for improving personal biographies and one such suggestion was to imagine your targeted audience. Speak to the visualization you have in your head of your targeted clients and you will find that your biography hits closer to the mark.

One of the most important things to remember while penning your biography is that you are a person first and a business second. There are countless brands trying to sell themselves to customers. Stand out by selling yourself instead.

3. Showcase Your Guiding Values

For companies that want to endure long-term growth and progress, knowing what your guiding values are can be a great way to start. Guiding values are the very groundwork upon which your business has been built. Values can come to you as specific or vague as you’d like, but make sure that they are always going to be articulable to your audience.

For example, an athletic apparel company may be guided by the values of hard work, sweat equity, and pushing yourself to the limit. Those are great traits to look for in a business of that sector. Take this mindset and adapt it to your business and the realm within which it exists.

4. Utilize Professional Images

We are living in the era of photoshop, the time of endless media, and the world of professional imagery. If you want to sell your business like a AAA brand, then you are going to have to market yourself like one.

If you are new to the industry or are struggling to find professional images to use, consider hiring a photographer as well as an editor to create some branding imagery for you. There is an entire industry dedicated to this aspect of brand representation, so don’t skip out on it!

For individuals, we like simple portraits that are as warm as they are professional. For businesses, clean and simple logos that highlight readable text are ideal.

5. Maintain Regular Activity

Creating a business profile isn’t the end of your journey, rather it is the beginning. Upon creating a business profile on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, you will need to ensure proper maintenance and upkeep. A dormant profile that has not been updated will leave a negative impression on potential customers and prospective clients.

Social networking is about sending your roots far and wide to connect with those that can help you reach your potential. Post frequent updates or consider hiring a social media manager to handle that aspect of the job. A social media response team will not only keep your posts coming, but they will also perform aspects of brand support and reputation management along the way — a necessary skill in today’s era.

Summer is the perfect season to kick back and relax, and even in corporate culture, it’s a great time to (appropriately) party. If you’re in charge of planning a corporate summer party in the southeast corner of Florida, event planners in Miami will help you pull off a successful summer blast. Here are a few ideas that they can assist with.

Beach Party

Spend a summer afternoon with everyone on the beach, enjoying the sand, waves, and cool refreshments. Miami’s beaches are perfectly suited for this classic summer event, and a corporate beach party can have a lot more going on than a small get-together that people might throw with family or friends.

Miami event planners Twenty Three Layers note that securing a place on the beach that’s large enough for a corporate party can require some legwork. Not only must you find a suitable location, but sometimes reservations and/or permits are necessary. An event planner can help research all required documentation and make sure the red tape is taken care of.

In addition to helping secure a location, an event planner can also assist with the more major things that could make a corporate beach party stand out. Whether you want an organized volleyball tournament, live DJ, jet ski rentals, or private boat charter, they can work with you to brainstorm ideas and make arrangements.

Brand-Name Party

No matter where your corporate summer party takes place, making bringing in a major brand can make everything more recognizable. Free swag is something that everyone appreciates, and many brands have other equipment or supplies to add to a party. Depending on the agreement, they might even take care of some of the planning.

Event planners are essential when working with major brands. Many brands won’t want to work with anyone outside the event industry, because pulling off a major event between multiple organizations requires experience and expertise. The Miami event planners Twenty Three Layers have worked with many different companies that have sponsored corporate events.

Private Film Showing

For an evening corporate event, set up a projector and screen to show a movie outdoors. Offer freshly popped popcorn and other refreshments, and at least older employees will reminisce of the old days of drive-ins. Just make sure there’s time to mix and mingle before the showing starts so that people have a chance to see each other.

Again, an event planner can assist with both finding a spot for your private film showing and with setting up equipment. They’ll know how large a screen you need to ensure everyone at the event has a good view.

Twenty Three Layers are event planners in Miami that specialize in corporate events. They also have locations in New York and Los Angeles. For wedding planning services, learn more about the 23 Layers sister company Neon River Weddings.  

Packaging is the first thing a consumer sees about a product. This is why the design and approach to packaging is vital. With the increase in eCommerce sales, packaging can make or break a sale among the competition.

Packaging can be a great opportunity to create customer loyalty with customers as well as build brand awareness. Customer loyalty can be defined as when a customer has a positive connection with an organization. As that connection grows, customers will likely retain your business over customers. If you are interested in learning how to make your packaging stand out, make sure to check out the resource below.

Infographic created by Chicago Tag & Label, a barcode label manufacturer

As Coronavirus swept the country in 2020 – and as civil unrest became a major talking point in the Presidential election – gun sales skyrocketed. The FBI says it processed nearly 40 million background checks – 10 million more than 2019 and more than any year on record. A record-setting 8.5 million of those gun sales were transacted by first-time buyers, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Some data suggests that up to 40% of purchases went to new buyers. It was previously “anti-gun” demographics – young adults, those who politically identify as liberal, and minorities – who became gun owners in the face of uncertainty and civil strife.

The Coronavirus pandemic shot the proverbial starting gun that began the rush to firearm ownership in March 2020. Police officers became infected with the virus, departments stopped responding to some 911 calls to prevent the spread, and discussions of releasing inmates led to concerns of personal safety during the pandemic. Historically, gun sales rise during presidential election cycles, and the inevitable discussions about firearm ownership and new gun control continued driving sales through the year’s end and into fiscal Q1, 2021. The NSSF reports that in 2020 the firearms and ammunition industry was responsible for as much as $63.48 billion in total economic activity. That’s in addition to a record-setting $19.3 billion in industry wages recorded last year, spread across an estimated 342,000 jobs.

 All this sums up one theme for this year and at least the next three: The gun industry is burgeoning, even contributing to economic recovery and it’s buoyed by new buyers and low supply which is, counterintuitively, driving demand for guns and ammo even higher. Couple this with a Democratic President who on the campaign trail promised “common-sense gun reform,” and you wind up with firearm manufacturers and retailers simultaneously seeing unprecedented sales while anticipating potentially dramatic restrictions being placed on the very goods they sell. Experts agree that gun sales, while not as high as 2020, will remain elevated throughout 2021.

As Americans receive their Covid-19 vaccines and the country begins a return to some sense of normalcy, it is now Biden’s recently announced gun control proposals and a shortage of manufacturing material that is keeping demand for guns high. The president’s proposals, if implemented, would constitute a major reduction in total manufacturing and job loss in the gun sector: Biden announced his wish to reinstate the 1994 assault weapons and high-capacity magazine ban, which expired in 2004.

The ban would target weapons like the AR-15, which many consider to the most common sporting rifle now sold in the U.S. The NSSF estimates that around 20 million models of the rifle are currently owned, with millions more produced and sold each year. Biden went a step further with this second iteration of the ban, targeting AR-15 build kits and part skits. Although the administration has suggested existing owners would get to keep their firearms, passage of the ban would effectively end the sale of the rifle and many other semiautomatic rifles that now comprise a large portion of annual gun sales in the U.S.

Some of Biden’s more impassioned gun control promises make reinstatement of an assault weapons ban look mild: On the campaign trial, the President expressed his intent to effectively shutter the entire online firearm and ammunition sales market. Although figures aren’t available, many gun shop owners have commented the bulk of their sales are now conducted online. If Biden’s plans were implemented, this would eliminate a significant portion of the more than $13.5 billion in annual revenue the gun industry rakes in each year.

At least some version of this campaign promise is being reviewed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) at the direction of the current administration: ATF officials are reviewing the definitions of a firearm currently applied to enforce federal gun laws and ATF policies, with expectations of “enhancing” such definitions to affect a ban on certain gun-making kits and firearm receiver blanks.

With retail gun dealers and brick-and-mortar stores all but hosting empty shelves, gun owners have turned to fabricating their own firearms using components that, individually, are not considered firearms. It’s a practice little known to anyone but enthusiasts until recently, though long held to be legal under the Gun Control Act of 1968. Any individual who may otherwise legally own a firearm can assemble, for personal use only, a firearm “from scratch.” Often using receiver blanks called 80% lowers, amateur gun builders have fabricated these components into working receivers to build firearms at home for years. But with more gun owners turning toward the practice in a market that’s been dry on ready-to-buy retail guns for months, the Biden administration is seeking their prohibition.

Inversely, all the talk of prohibition has simply caused more gains in the industry’s market, particularly for investors. After Donald Trump took office in early 2017, the market saw a three-year slump. It was only in 2020 that background checks surpassed all prior years’ data and for investors, it has been a boon. Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ:SWBI) reported sales surging 141% in Q2 2020, bringing in $229 million. Gross profit margins expanded 330 basis points (3.3%) to 42%. Sturm, Ruger (NYSE:RGR) saw an increase in sales of 53%, with earnings per share shooting up by five times to $1.39 per share.

The ammunition sector is seeing gains, too. Vista Outdoor (NYSE:VSTO) who owns Federal and Remington ammo brands, are seeing sales surge by 26% or more. Olin (NYSE:OLN) who owns Winchester, says that sheer volume and the better cost of goods sold it brings caused profits to soar 51%.

Whether the firearm industry continues to balloon is thus entirely dependent on the Biden administration’s success in implementing its gun control proposals – and whether (or really, how much) the market shrinks if any of the president’s proposals make it through ratification and the inevitable appeals.