Friday, September 29, 2017

GoPro 6 Is Here



GoPro 6 Is Here!!!


I always love cover when GoPro comes out with new models, and this years are no expiation. Check out the amazing 4K 60 frames per second video below:



The GoPro 6 video below is mind-numbingly magnificent, so turn up the volume, go full screen and enjoy the magic!



Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Hugh Hefner Belongs To The Ages 1926-2017



Hugh Hefner

Belongs To The Ages
1926-2017


Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy passed away today at age 91, and left behind quite a legacy. The screen-grab below is from Playboy.com today. 


What do Hugh Hefner and Rolex have in common you ask? They are both extremely well known iconic brands that came into their own in 1953. Let's get in the Rolex Time Machine and go back to 1953 and take a look around.


On Top of The World

Rolex had been around for almost a half century in 1953, but things were really just getting to ready to take off. Many of us have seen the classic National Geographic photo below of Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay near the top of Everest. The two men were wearing Rolex Oyster Perpetual Watches on their wrists when they were the first to conquer Everest.




Jacques-Yves Cousteau was out in the Mediterranean Sea, on his beloved Calypso ship filming his seminal documentary named "The Silent World" in 1953, and he and his diving team members were wearing and testing prototype Rolex Submariner watches as seen below.


A 1953 Rolex Submariner is pictured below, and in may ways it resembles the current Submariner models.





The 1953 letter below from the Institute Of Submariner Research below documents Cousteau's teams results from testing Rolex Submariner prototypes.




The Rolex Magazine ad seen below feature the Submariner as it was later advertised in 1955.







It Was A Very Good Year

In 1953 the world was starting to bounce back from World War II and Queen Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of England at Buckingham Palace as seen in the Life photo below from the coronation. 

Ironically, news of the successful conquering of Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached Britain on the very day of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.


1953 was a glorious year of optimism where anything seemed possible. As the world embarked upon the second half of the twentieth century, a whole new modern world began to emerge. The world entered into a truly modern epoch where everything began to change quickly, and humanity began to freely dream again. The only limitation was imagination.

In 1953 Dwight Eisenhower was the President of The United States and of course he was wearing his beloved yellow gold Rolex that had been given to him as a gift from Rene-Paul Jeanneret who was the director of Rolex. This Rolex was no ordinary Rolex, it was the 150,000th Officially Certified Swiss Chronometer that Rolex made.


1953 was a very interesting and promising year. Elvis Presley was still in high school and the Space age had arrived–and with it, America's love for the automobile culminated in the 1953 Corvette which had beautiful lines like nothing that had ever come before it.



Speaking of beautiful lines, 1953 was the year that Hugh Hefner launched Playboy magazine, which, in its debut issue, featured this stunningly gorgeous photo of the young Marilyn Monroe–The sexual revolution was also underway.



Kurt in Germany took this photo of two classic icon's. The Supreme irony of course, is that in the 1980s the Rolex President (with the Champagne dial) was considered to be the international mark of success-for men. Today, this same watch has become the international mark of success for stylish women. Oh, sweet irony...



Hugh Hefner was a truly icon revolutionary who legacy will live way beyond his lifetime.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

William Shatner On Star Trek Turning 50



...Rolex Coolness...


William Shatner

On Star Trek Turning 50

It's hard to believe that Star Trek is turning 50, and in the CNN Video interview seen below, we see William Shatner being interviewed, and I think I am even more impressed with the incredible intellectual, philosophical and physical shape William Shatner is in at age 86!!! It's hard to believe this dude is only four years away from being 90!?!! On a side note, William Shatner is a big watch collector, and in this video he is rockin' a really cool Bell and Ross model.





Rolex Submariner

Captain Kirk's Choice

Of course, if you play the iconic and enduring Captain Kirk in real life, you wear a stainless steel Rolex Submariner, as we see in the photo below of William Shatner, and Chris Pine!




Chris Pine 

Chris Pine is the current Captain Kirk in the most recent Star Trek movies.


Chris Pine is pictured above at the 2016 Indianapolis 500 race track rockin' his Steve McQueen Persol Special Edition Sunglasses [Reference PO0714SM]. Chris is one cool dude, that is for sure! Chris appears in the photo below from the Rolex 40th Anniversary Awards for Enterprise.

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Google Maps 3D Satellite View Rolex Movement Factory Bienne, Switzerland 1928


Google Maps
3D Satellite View
Rolex Movement Factory
Bienne, Switzerland
1925


Let's get in the Rolex Time Machine and go back to Switzerland in 1925, and take a look around to see what Rolex looked like. 1925 was a very good year for Rolex. Rolex was just putting the finishing touches on the worlds first waterproof watch they were just preparing to bring to market a year later in 1926.



Wouldn't it be cool if Google Maps had a feature where you could go back in time using the 3D Satellite View and take a look at the way things used to be!?!! If you look at the title of this story, I was kidding when I said, 'Google Maps, 3D Satellite View', because that is what these photos look like. 

The photo above and the two photos below were taken at low altitude from an airplane or hot air balloon in the mid 1920s in Bienne, Switzerland and show the original /Rolex movement factory, which was part of the Aegler S.A. company. 




It is amazing when you look at these photos, and you can't help but notice how few structures there were in downtown Bienne, Switzerland. Right-click on these images and open them in another browser window so you can see all the crazy HD resolution! I don't think anybody has ever seen these photos before, and it was actually Jose from Perezcope.com who found and shared them with me, when he was doing research!


The photo below shows Rolex Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland in 1928. Notice the Rolex Logo on the front of the building is identical to the one the front of the building above. The Rolex logo has a long underline coming of the bottom of the "R" in ROLEX, which runs to the "X". The Rolex logo typeface in the late 1920s was definitely much, much more modern and art-deco than the current Rolex Logo typeface.



Saturday, September 23, 2017

Prince Harry of Wales Stainless Steel Rolex Explorer II




...Rolex Coolness...


Prince Harry 

Stainless Steel "Orange Hand" Rolex Explorer II

Many members of the British Royal family wear and have worn Rolex watches for a long time. Prince Harry of Wales is fourth in line to the crown of the British Throne. He is pictured below rockin' his stainless steel "Orange Hand" Rolex Explorer II with the polar dial. Prince Harry is 33 years old.











Prince Harry's

 Invictus Games 


So what is Prince Harry up to today? Prince Harry is a founder of the Invictus Games, which is like the Olympics for wounded soldiers. Harry being a soldier himself came up with the idea when he was return home from a tour and saw wounded soldiers. Below is the opening speech Prince Harry gave today to kick off the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada.



Prince Harry is pictured below shaking hands with Captain Trevor Greene, who is a retired soldier that was injured while on active duty in Afghanistan in 2006.




Prince Harry is pictured below with the Australian team at the Invictus Games, giving a pep talk. 




Prince Harry is pictured below yesterday ahead of the opening ceremony for the Invictus Games chatting with United States First Lady, Melania Trump.



Speaking of Melania Trump, I had to include the photo below, which shows Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles in 2005, chatting with Donald Trump and Melania Trump at a Museum of Modern Art reception in New York City. I don't know why I find this photo to be so fascinatingly bizarre!?!! It almost looks like Prince Charles, with a gin and tonic in hand, is looking at The Donald, saying "Whatcha talkin' bout Willis!?!!" I think one of the things that is fascinating about seeing these two men together, is how similar yet different they are. They are both high ranking iconic wealthy public figures that are roughly the same age. Prince Charles non-verbal communication in this photo is priceless, as is future President Trump's swagger and bravado! Melania looks like she is somewhat awestruck...



Prince Harry is pictured yesterday at the Invictus Games shaking hands with Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.



In the video below Prince Harry offers and overview of how he asked his Grandmother, The Queen to support his effort in the Invictus Games after be challenged by President Obama and The former First Lady, Michelle Obama.






Dating Meghan Markle

Prince Harry is dating gorgeous actress Meghan Markle, who is pictured below. Meghan Markle is one of the stars of the TV show Suits, which if you have not seen it, is amazing!!! Also, Meghan is an superb actress...The couple was just seen in public for the first time holding hands as they walked at the Invictus Games...









The thing many of the publications are speculating on is if Harry is going to marry Meghan Markle.








President Obama Surprise Visit


Former U.S. President Obama showed up at the 2017 Invictus Games, and he was wearing a white gold Rolex Cellini on his wrist as seen below.




The video below of Prince Harry at the 2017 Invictus Games will make you giggle, as we see a little toddler  swiping his popcorn, and Harry's response...






The Rolex Crown & Royalty


Rolex is a royal brand in many ways. Particularly with the Rolex trademark crown logo, which adorns the dial and winding crown on every Rolex.






Lord Mountbatten 


Rolex has a longstanding following amongst the British Royalty, going back to Lord Mountbatten, who is Prince Harry's great, great uncle. The photo of Lord Louis Mountbatten below was taken during World War II, and he is wearing his trademark Rolex Oyster Perpetual on a leather strap. Lord Mountbatten is Prince Philip's uncle. Prince Philip is married to Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain.


Next we have the following Rolex ad from 1957 which is clearly referring to Lord Mountbatten who is pictured in the photo below the Rolex ad.







In the two photos below, we see Lord Mountbatten with his family on holiday in Scotland, and notice he is wearing a Rolex Submariner on his wrist.


In am not certain what is going on in the photos, but I think the family buried a hole and he climbed into it, and they filled it in with sand.







André Heiniger 

Former Rolex CEO, André Heiniger is pictured below with his wife, Odette Heiniger, Colonel Gerard Leigh and Price Charles of Wales, who is Prince Harry's father, at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor, U.K.


In this next photo, we see Gérard Souham, André Heiniger, Jan Nelson and Prince Charles.



In the next image we see André Heiniger with HIH The Princess Napoleon at a Polo match.






Arnaud Boetsch 

Prince Harry is pictured below at a Polo match in Sentebale with legendary car racing legend, Sir Jackie Stewart, and Rolex Director of Communications, Arnaud Boetsch.



Prince Harry is obviously into watches, and in the photo below he is checking out Arnaud Boetsch's Rolex. Before joining Rolex, Arnaud Boetsch was a top ranked professional tennis player.




The Amazing Life of a Rolex Prince




Despite having been born and raised in the United States, I recall my whole life being very aware of the British Royal Family. So much so, they almost feel like distant relatives. I imagine since the root of the world "Family" is "Familiar" this makes sense. Since everybody else reading this probably feels the same way, I will let the photos tell the story of Prince Harry's life.



Speaking of a Rolex Prince, Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf was of German descent but he was an extreme anglophile, and as a result was a bit obsessed with Royalty—so much so he launched a line of Rolex watches based upon Royal names that included The Rolex Prince, Princess & Queen.





The photos above and below were taken in 1987, and show Prince Charles and Princess Diana with Prince William and Prince Harry.














When Princess Diana died in 1997, it stunned the world. Many people were in a state of disbelief when they heard the news. Princess Diana was a lovely lady and a beautiful woman who made a big difference in many peoples lives. Prince Harry, and his older brother, Prince Andrew have both mentioned on many occasions how inspired they are to this day to continue following in their mother's footsteps...











Prince Harry is pictured below with his brother, Prince William on the far left, and soccer legend, and Tudor Brand Ambassador and overall Rolex fanatic, David Beckham is standing between them.



Prince Harry is pictured below with his brother, Prince William and Princess Kate, and they are attending the Diamond Jubilee Concert. Harry is wearing his Rolex Explorer, and William is wearing the only watch I have ever seen him wear, which is an Omega Sea-Master his mother, Princess Diana gave him as a gift when he was a young man.








Zara Phillips

In the photo above, on the right of Prince Harry we see his cousin, Zara Philipps-Tindal, who is also a Rolex Brand Ambassador. Zara is also pictured below wearing a yellow gold Rolex.


Zara Phillips-Tindal is an accomplished Equestrian and we see her below on her horse at a competitive event.


Zara Phillips has been a Rolex Brand Ambassador for about a decade now. The Zara Phillips Rolex ad below is from 2008.




Zara Phillips is pictured below with fellow Rolex Brand Ambassador, Ana Ivanovic in a recent Rolex Magazine ad.



Zara Phillips is seen below on the far right side with five other female Rolex brand Ambassadors.







Prince Andrew





Prince Harry's uncle, Prince Andrew of York, is pictured above with Harry and The Queen, as well as below on the far left, next to Prince Harry, Prince Charles, and Prince William. Queen Elizabeth in on the right, just out of sight. 




Prince Andrew has worn Rolex watches his whole life, begining with a Rolex Submariner which is seen below in the photo of him with his then fiancé Sarah Ferguson wig us wearing a two-tone Rolex Ladies Datejust.



When Prince Andrew wed Princess Sarah, he showed up on their wedding day wearing a platinum Rolex Day-Date as seen below.


More than a quarter-century later, Prince Andrew is still wearing his Platinum Rolex Day-Date as pictured below.


Prince Harry is pictured below with his father, Prince Charles who he seems to get along well with.



In the following photos be see Prince Harry on active military duty, wearing his stainless steel Rolex Explorer.






Below we see a photos of Prince Harry of Wales as a spectator at the 2014 paralmpics swimming meet, and he is wearing a modern Rolex Explorer Orange Hand, which in my opinion is the coolest contemporary Rolex made today.