...Rolex Hotness...
Minka Kelly
Yellow Gold Rolex Lady Date
Saturday, December 31, 2011
...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day... Julian's Rolex Prince
...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day...
Julian's Rolex Prince
The original Art-Deco Rolex Prince models are always fascinating and elegant. In the future, I plan to do a detailed history of the Rolex Prince models.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Dylan McDermott: American Horror Story
...Rolex Coolness...
Dylan McDermott
American Horror Story
Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner
Steve Nickodemski is a reader of Jake's Rolex World and he send in this image of Dylan McDermott sporting his stainless steel Rolex Submariner that he wears in his new show named American Horror Story, which is produced by the same producer who does Glee. If Dylan looks familiar to you, it is because he starred in hit TV show, The Practice.
Johan's Double Red Rolex SEA-DWELLER
...Rolex Hand In Glove Wrist Shot Of The Day...
Johan's Double Red Rolex SEA-DWELLER
Johan is a reader of Jake's Rolex World who is located in Sweden, and he sent in this great hand-in-glove wrist shot of his Double Red Rolex SEA-DWELLER. I can't understand why Rolex doesn't bring back the red Submarine and SEA-DWELLER dial designations!?!? What a great looking watch...Maxi Markers, no cyclops, silver ground date wheel...just perfect design language!!!
Rolex Communists: Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker Wearing Matching Yellow Gold Rolex Datejust Watches...
...Rolex Communist...
Leonid Brezhnev
General Secretary
Of The Communist Party of The Soviet Union
1906-1982
Yellow Gold Rolex Datejust
Communism For The Masses–Capitalism For The Bosses
Karl Laschnikoff is a daily reader of Jake's Rolex World and he sent in the three first images in this story of Soviet Communist Leader, Leonid Brezhnev and East German President, Erich Honecker. In this first image, we see Leonid Brezhnev sporting his yellow gold Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet.
Spirit of Détente
In the next two images taken in July of 1979, we see Soviet Leader, Leonid Brezhnev kissing East German President, Erich Honecker, and if you look closely, you notice Erich Honecker sporting the same model of yellow gold Rolex Datejust that Soviet Leader, Leonid Brezhnev is wearing in the photo above. Maybe that is why they are kissing so passionately!?!
Why are these dudes kissing so passionately? They are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the German Democratic Republic in June of 1979. These comrades were showing their sign of socialist solidarity, which had become standard since the Khruschev era. In the photo below you can see that Erich Honecker's Rolex Datejust is yellow gold.
Soviet Communist Leader Leonid Brezhnev is pictured below with U.S. President Nixon
Soviet Communist Leader Leonid Brezhnev is pictured below with Nikita Krushchev
In the photo below, we see the first President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, sporting his stainless steel Rolex Datejust. It is ironic that so many Communist leaders wore Rolex Datejust watches!!! Even Chinese Chairman Moa wore a yellow Gold Rolex Datejust!!! So Did Cuban Communist Dictator Fidel Castro, and Che Guevara.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Rolex Single-Red Submariner Surf Ad
Single-Red Submariner Surf Ad
Rolex Submariner [Reference 1680]
This has got to be one of the coolest vintage Rolex Submariner magazine ads I have ever seen!!!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
...Rolex Macro Shot Of The Day... Ryan's Double Red SEA-DWELLER Submariner 2000: Reference 1665 Mark II
...Rolex Macro Shot Of The Day...
Ryan's Double Red SEA-DWELLER
Submariner 2000: Reference 1665 Mark II
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Rolex Hotness: Victoria Beckham Wearing a Yellow Gold Day-Date...
Rolex Hotness: Victoria Beckham
Posh Spice Girl
Victoria Beckham is a singer and founding member of The Spice Girls and is also a solo artist today. Victoria Beckham is considered to be one of the most stylish women in the fashion world today and she wears her men's 36mm men's Rolex Day-Date on an Oyster band quite a bit these days.
Victoria Beckham is married to Soccer Superstar David Beckham and they are pictured below.
Victoria Beckham's husband, David Beckham is pictured below
Victoria is performing in her solo career in the video below
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Chapter 3: Panerai & The Italian Royal Navy [Part 5 of 5]
Note: I am still working on this story and when it is completed, I will remove this notice.
Hi Everybody!!!
I hope you are all having a great holiday season!!! I have a special treat for you on this Christmas day!!! John Goldberger is one of the worlds leading horological experts and each year he puts together an amazing calendar that he sends out to all his friends as a Christmas gift, and unfortunately you can't purchase the calendar, but on Jake's Rolex World you can download John Goldberger's 2012 Panerai Calendar for free as a PDF.
John Goldberger's 2012 Panerai Calendar is filled with amazingly rare vintage Panerai watches and I am adding them to this story so you can see them below without having to download the PDF. John Goldberger has authored many horological book including 100 Superlative Rolex Watches, and he also publishes the amazing Vintage Rolex HD app for the iPad.
The Complete History Of
The Rolex Submariner & SEA-DWELLER
Rolex's Conquest Of The Ocean
Chapter 3: Panerai & The Italian Royal Navy
The First Professional Rolex Diving Watch
[Part 5 of 5]
Back To The Begining
Everything in this story is new to Jake's Rolex World and the web. In other words, none of the images or significantly historical images in this story have ever been published–anywhere. I decided to add this story as Part 5 of Chapter 3 of The Complete History Of The Rolex Submariner & SEA-DWELLER.
As I mentioned in the introduction, John Goldberger is one of the worlds leading horological experts and he is sharing all the amazing Panerai images in this story with you, but there is ONE MORE THING...and this is absolutely MIND-BOGGLING!!! He also is allowing me to share the next three previously undocumented and unpublished documents that will forever change the course of Rolex and Panerai history!!! These first 3 historically significant Rolex invoices come from the collection of Francesco Ferretti.
If you are not familiar with Panerai watches, it is important to understand that Rolex made all the vintage Panerai watches, beginning in 1936, and running all the way up to at least 1956. If you are not familiar with Panerai history, I highly recommend you read the first 4 parts of Chapter 3: Panerai & The Italian Royal Navy, and if you are feeling ambitious, you can always start at the beginning of The Complete History Of The Rolex Submariner & SEA-DWELLER.
The Rolex-Panerai Receipts
If you are a vintage Rolex or Panerai enthusiast you are in for the surprise of a lifetime!!! Over the years, there has been a lot of speculation put forth about the origins of the Rolex-Panerai relationship. Specifically, nobody has ever been able to put together all the pieces of the puzzle so they fit perfectly–not until today.
Panerai Reference 2533
We begin with this first historical Rolex-Panerai document which is a paid Rolex invoice dated June 13th, 1936 for the sale of 19 Panerai Reference 2533 watches. Notice Panerai is misspelled at "PANERAJ."
Image appears courtesy of Francesco Ferretti Panerai Collection
The next two images below, show the front and back of the Panerai Reference 2533 along with the Rolex movement inside the opened case back. Over the years, people have speculated as to whether or not these Panerai Referece 2533 watches with the unusual dial were real.
They speculated they were not correct because the dial designs did not match any of the other Panerai classic 3, 6, 9, 12 dial design language, or the classic California Dial design language.
It turns out they are real and the Rolex invoice from June 13, 1936 (pictured above) confirms this fact. There are only 2 known examples of this early prototype and they are owned by Francesco Ferretti who is one of the most important vintage Panerai connoisseurs in the world. They are located in his museum located in his new showroom in Montecatini Terme, PT. This next image shows one of the first Rolex made Panerai Reference 2533 prototype models that is referenced in the invoice above.
1936 Panerai Reference 2533 47mm
First Prototype
This next image shows the backside of the Rolex made Panerai Reference 2533. The case back has been removed for this photo to expose the Rolex movement.
This next invoice is dated November 20th, 1937 and it illustrates a waterproof free service for 3 watches. Apparently the first Rolex made Panerai Reference 2533's had a lot of water-proofing challenges).
Image appears courtesy of Francesco Ferretti Panerai Collection
This next Rolex invoice is dated March 7, 1939 for the sale of 15 more Reference 2533 Panerai watches. The translation reads "Oyster steel special for divers, (dials supplied by the house PANERAJ), without leather bracelets, or boxes." So Rolex delivered the watches assembled, with Panerai dials on the watches, but without straps or boxes. Also on the invoice you notice Rolex misspelled PANERAI and instead typed "PANERAJ" twice.
Image appears courtesy of Francesco Ferretti Panerai Collection
1940 Panerai Reference 3646 47mm
Radiomir Panarai Dial
1942 Panerai Reference 3646 47mm
Blank Dial Designation
1942 Panerai Reference 3646 47mm
Blank California Dial
1943 Mare Nostrum Prototype Chronograph 52mm
Radiomir Panerai Mare Nostrum Dial
1954 Panerai Reference 6154 47mm
Small Egiziano with Radiomir Panerai Dial Designation
1955 Panerai Reference 6152-1 47mm
Radiomir Panerai Dial Designation
1955 Panerai Reference 6152-1 47mm
First Panerai with trademark Half-Moon Crown Guard
Radiomir Panerai Dial Designation
1955 Panerai Reference 6152-1 47mm
Marina Militare Dial Designation
1956 Panerai Reference 6152-1 47mm
Marina Militare Top Dial Designation
with
Luminor Panerai Lower Dial Designation
Second Hand Complication at 9 O'Clock
1956 Panerai Reference 2/56 60mm
Radiomir Panerai Dial Designation
8 Giorni Brevettato [8 Days Patented]
50 Examples Made for Egyptian Navy Commandos
1961 Panerai Reference 3646 47mm
Luminor Panerai Dial with Seconds Hand
1993 Panerai Reference 5218-201 44mm
Luminor Panerai Prototype with OP Logo
I sincerely hope you enjoyed part 5 of this story, and yes, as time permits, in the future, I plan to complete and Publish Part 6 of this fascinating story, so stay tuned...
Jake :-)
Jerome Simpson FLIP Touchdown!!!
Jerome Simpson FLIP Touchdown!!!
You have got to check this out!!! Probably the greatest touchdown in the history of the NFL!!!
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Vintage Rolex Christmas Ads...
The Vintage Rolex Christmas Ads
I hope everybody is having a great holiday season! Every year, around Christmas time, I publish this Rolex Christmas ad story, and each year I significantly update it. This year is no exception, and I just completed a major update. I can hear the Nutcracker Suite playing in the background ;-)
Rolex used to publish Rolex Christmas ads, but I don't recall ever seeing one in a magazine in my lifetime. It is interesting to note the Rolex Christmas magazine ads only ran while Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex was alive.
It took Rolex 20 years before they came up with their crown logo which they introduced in 1925. If you examine all of the ads, which run from 1935 to 1948, you will notice how much the Rolex crown logo evolved. Over the 12 year span from 1935, we witness the evolution of the crown from a kind of primitive version to the timeless logo which has not changed very much over the past half-century.
1930 Beautiful Rolex Ad
We start with this stunning art-deco vintage Rolex ad from 1930 that features a woman sporting the flapper look. It was published in the British publication named "The Tatler" in 1930. This ad was published at a fascinating and optimistic time in Rolex history. Several years prior, Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex had recently completely revolutionized the world of watches, when Rolex introduced the worlds first waterproof watch, known as the Rolex Oyster.
In 1930, Rolex was preparing to revolutionize the world of watches again, by preparing to introduce the Rolex Perpetual movement, which was the worlds first automatic movement that would allow the wearer to wind their watch simply with just the movement of their wrist. I believe this beautiful ad reflects Rolex absolute optimism at this time. Notice how the ad uses the term wristlet instead of the commonly used term of of today which is wrist watch.
1935 French Rolex Noel Ad
Next we examine this vintage Rolex ad from 1935 that was published in France. The watches in this ad are art-deco and more dress watch oriented.
1938 French Rolex Christmas
We see in this next French Rolex Christmas ad that with all the different Rolex ads, Rolex is really beginning to hit its stride. I really like the artwork in this ad.
World War II
1942 Rolex Christmas Message
World War II was an extremely difficult time for most people on earth. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex was likely very, very frustrated by the mess the Nazi's and other axis powers made because it had a devastating financial impact on Rolex business.
The reason I suggest Hans Wildorf and Rolex must have been really frustrated, is because Rolex had really begun to hit its stride, and Rolex wanted to capitalize on their patents on both the waterproof Oyster as well as the perpetual automatic movement. This spiritually uplifting ad was published in the United States in 1942.
1943 World War II
Rolex Christmas Magazine Add
It is difficult to put into words how profound and optimistically prescient this next 1943 Rolex magazine advertisement was from the middle of World War II:
1944 World War II
Rolex Christmas Magazine Add
In this next World War II Rolex Christmas Ad, you see how they were getting excited about the end of World War II:
1945 World War II
Rolex Christmas Magazine Add
In this next World War II Rolex Christmas Ad, you can see that Rolex is relieved and back on its optimistic game:
1946 German Rolex Ad
Rolex was quick to get things back to normal just after World War, as we see in this very elegant German Rolex Christmas ad from 1946.
1948 Rolex Christmas Ad
40th Jubilee Celebration
In this next Rolex Christmas ad from 1948 we see Rolex back on top of its game. With the World War II fiasco behind it, it was smooth sailing. 1948 was Rolex's 40th anniversary so they named their new 5-link trademark bracelet, "The Jubilee Bracelet" as seen below on this first generation yellow gold Datejust. (The 40th Anniversary of most things is referred to as The Jubilee Anniversary).
We take having a date complication on a watch today for granted, but back in the late 1940s when Rolex was the first to introduce the date feature, it was considered a dramatically positive innovation. This all-new Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet is essentially the watch Rolex gave Dwight Eisenhower, who at the time was the Supreme Commander of NATO in Europe.
The yellow gold Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet is essentially The Father Of The Rolex President or Rolex Day-Date.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Rolex Coolness: Sylvester Stallone
Rolex Coolness: Sylvester Stallone
Rocky Balboa Rolex Collection
If you listened to the T. Walker Lloyd podcast interviews I believe he spoke about his experiences with Sylvester Stallone. Sly is pictured below sporting his yellow gold Rolex Submariner with the black dial and bezel in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Since the yellow gold Rolex has no nickname I am officially nicknaming it the "Sylvester Stallone Submariner."
You have to click the play button on the video below to get into the true spirit of this article...you know you wanna...
Sylvester Stallone is picture below with John Travolta on the set of Stayin' Alive, which Sylvester Stallone directed. Sly is wearing his Rolex Submariner in the photo below.
Ronald Reagan and Sylvester Stallone
Two California Classics
Sylvester Stallone is pictured below with his wife at the time, Briget Nielsen at a White House party with then U.S. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan.
Who You Callin' Girlyman!?!
Sly is pictured below with the Gubernator, and notice Arnold Schwarzenegger is wearing his yellow gold Rolex Mocha GMT on a Jubilee. Rolex seriously needs to bring back the brown bezel and dial on the yellow gold GMT Master–it was a superb color combination!!!
Sly's Black-Out Concept Rolex Daytona
In the recent photo below, we see Sylvester Stallone wearing his customized Black-Out Concept Rolex Daytona.
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