Ceramic LV Submariner Bezel Insert

Ceramic LV Submariner Bezel Insert

This is an amazing Rolex photo of the current ceramic Rolex LV Submariner bezel insert. If you look closely at the detail, it is incredible how the markers are etched into the ceramic!!!! 

Profiles In Coolness: James Coburn

...Profiles In Coolness...

James Coburn

Pepsi GMT-Master

Who is the coolest, most exuberantly charismatic dude to ever wear a Rolex? This is a fascinating question if you think about it since there have been so many. The top of this list would include Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Miles Davis, Robert Redford, and even Pablo Picasso. This being said, there is another person to add to this list that could arguably top the list, and that is actor, James Coburn. Nick Gould the amazing horological journalist discovered the photo of James Coburn rocking his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master in 1968.

So what makes a dude cool? I would argue coolness is a combination of being handsome, masculine, charismatic, stylish, confident, competent, with and a relative degree of nonchalance and je ne sais quoi—all of which James Coburn possessed in spades.

A Man For All Four Seasons

James Coburn was an unusually charismatic, handsome actor. During his acting career which made up the better part of a half-century he appeared in over 80 movies and 100 TV shows including Bonanza and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. James played many different roles in his career, and in 1998 won the Academy Award for his supporting role in the movie "Affliction." 

The Magnificent Seven

James Coburn co-starred in The Magnificent Seven alongside other famous tough-guy actors including Steve McQueen, Yul Brynner and Charles Bronson.

The Great Escape

In 1963 James Coburn co-starred in the great escape alongside James Garner, Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson. We see the three of them together pictured below in 1963. Speaking of Rolex and The Great Escape, our Captain Danny wrote and amazing story on this subject, which I highly recommend checking out!!!

Our Man Flint

James Coburn made a series of two movies which debuted in 1966 and 1968 named Our Man Flint, and In Like Flint in which he played a James Bond like character.

Duffy

James Coburn starred in a movie in 1968 named Duffy, where he wore his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master as seen below. 

Lume Shot Of The Day: Rolex Explorer II Orange Hand

...Lume Shot Of The Day...

Gary's Rolex Explorer II 

Orange Hand

I couldn't make up my mind which way I like this image cropped, so I am sharing both with you ;-)

Ali MacGraw 1968 Cartier Boutique Rolex Ad

...Vintage Rolex Hotness...

Ali MacGraw

1968 Cartier Boutique Rolex Ad

There is nothing cooler in the world of Rolex spotting than discovering a famous person in a vintage Rolex ad rocking a Rolex that you have never seen before. It's rare, but it happens. Nicolas from Adpatina.com discovered this AMAZING Cartier Boutique Rolex ad from 1968 which features a young Ali MacGraw clad in Bill Blass while sporting her ladies Rolex Oyster in Stainless Steel. Adpatina.com specializes in selling original vintage Rolex magazine advertisements both framed and unframed! 

We know vintage Rolex watches are very popular with collectors, and many people like owning vintage ads, which are far less expensive, but will likely continue going up in price over the upcoming years.

The ad above which features Ali MacGraw when she was a model in 1968. Not so long after, she became a famous actress and started dating fellow actor, Steve McQueen who she is pictured with below in 1972. 

In an ironic twist of fate Steve is wearing the same Rolex Submariner [Reference 5512] model seen in the ad sans the Cartier logo and he married Ali! 

Nick Gould discovered the photo below of Ali MacGraw wearing her two-tone ladies Rolex Datejust.

Ultra-Rare Hermès Model Paul Neman Exotic Dial Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona

Ultra-Rare Hermès Model

Paul Newman Exotic Dial

Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona

40MM Reference 6241

Want to see some of the most beautiful photos of vintage Rolex Daytona models on planet earth? You can see many of them in my story from 2014 named, The Complete History Of The Rolex Daytona Cosmograph.

The photo below is from the story and showcases an ultra-rare yellow gold Paul Newman exotic dial Rolex Daytona that was made for and retailed by Hermès. The photo is from Pucci Papaleo's masterpiece book named The Ultimate Daytona. In my opinion this is the very, VERY, VERY best looking yellow gold Rolex Daytona EVER Made...

It's interesting to note that when most people think of a "Paul Newman Exotic Dial Daytona", they don't envision anything like this Hermès Rolex Daytona. Instead, they think of a stainless steel variant, but, man this Rolex is beyond beautiful...

...Rolex Coolness... Matt LeBlanc Stainless Steel Rolex Sumbariner

...Rolex Coolness...

Matt LeBlanc

Stainless Steel Rolex SEA-DWELLER

How You Doin'!?!?!

Matt LeBlanc is best known for his role as the beloved Joey Tribbiani on the Superhit, Friends. 

Matt starred in 236 episodes of Friends, which aired for 12 years from 1994-2006!!! 

Matt LeBlanc has been wearing his trademark stainless steel Rolex SEA-DWELLER for more than a decade. Matt has also been successful in movies, and was in Lost In Space, and Charlie's Angels.

Above Photo appears courtesy of Kirk McKoy of the Los Angeles Times

In this next photo Matt LeBlanc is wearing a modern LV "Hulk" Submariner.

In this next photo Matt LeBlanc is wearing a two-tone Rolex Daytona.

Rolex Day-Date in 40MM

...Rolex Studio Shot of the Day...

Rolex Day-Date in 40mm

Platinum with Ice-Blue Dial

Early 1960s Rolex Ad Celebrating 700,000 Officially Certified Swiss Chronometers

1962-1963 Les Acacias Rolex Ad

Celebrating 700,000 Officially Certified Swiss Chronometers

Putting together the pieces of the Rolex history puzzle over the years has been absolutely fascinating for me. Doing so is kind of like putting together a jigsaw puzzle–you begin by separating all the edge pieces and you figure out how to assemble them to form the frame, then you work your way inward, toward the center, and complete the puzzle. 

This Early 1960s Rolex Magazine ad was likely created just after Hans Wilsdorf's death. I don't have the exact date, but I would guess it was probably around 1962-1963. It is fascinating to note Rolex talks about how it took them over 50 years to produce their 700,000th Officially Certified Chronometer. Ironically, Rolex makes far more than 700,000 Officially Certified Swiss Chronometer a year now!!! Rolex World Headquarters is located in the Les Acacias district of Geneva, Switzerland. 

1993 Rolex Datejust Manual Cover

1993 Rolex Datejust Manual Cover

Yellow Gold Rolex GMT Master II 50th Anniversary Celebration Model with Green Dial

...Rolex Discontinued Beauty...

Yellow Gold Rolex GMT Master II

50th Anniversary Celebration Model with Green Dial

Reference 116718LN

It's hard to believe this watch is now considered vintage as Rolex discontinued one of my favorite models back in April of 2019 which is the yellow gold Rolex GMT-Master II with green dial as seen bellow.

Rolex introduced this stunning beauty nineteen years ago in 2005, on the 50th anniversary of the GMT model, and they gave it an unusual forest green dial. Over the years I have seen this watch in person and it is a truly magnificent looking Rolex watch. The watch is just striking in person, and the forest green dial for some reason kind of reminds me of a pool table. 

Examining the up-close macro dial shot of this beauty really allows you appreciate how elegant, precise, iconic and timeless Rolex design language is...just stunning!!! When Rolex discontinues models, often times we see them go up in value and I think this model will likely follow that trend.