Friday, December 29, 2017

Macro Nature Shot Of The Day: Snow Flake Magnified 40 Times



...Ever Wonder?...

Macro Nature Shot Of The Day
Snow Flake Magnified 40 Times

Ever wonder what a snowflake looks like really close up? Pekka Honakoski of Jonkajarvi, Finland took this amazing macro shot of a snowflake magnified 40 times and it is really amazing!!!!!!

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Rolex Hotness: Victoria Secret Models...


...Rolex Hotness...
Victoria Secret Models
Stainless Steel Rolex Daytona

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Casey Neistat on How He Broke His Rolex..



Top Influencer


Casey Neistat

How He 'Broke' His Rolex

The world is changing very quickly, and some of the most influential personalities are YouTube vloggers. "vlogger" stands for Video Blogger, and last month Danny Introduced us to Logan Paul who is a 22-year-old vlogger, who recently bought his first Rolex. Today, if you are not already familiar with Casey Neistat, I am happy to introduce you to him. Casey is one of the top vloggers with 8.5 million followers on YouTube. It is pretty difficult to shatter a Rolex synthetic sapphire, and I certainly never have, but in this video, we witness how Casey shattered his. This video is from September 9, 2016 and already has 3.5 million views! Also, in this video, Casey mentions he had just passed 1 Billion video views, and a little more than a year later he has passed 2 Billion View...




Rolex Christmas Gift

"A day without laughter is a wasted day." —Pablo Picasso

Speaking of 3.5 million views and Logan Paul, he published a vlog on YouTube less than 24 hours ago, and it already has had close to 3.5 million views!!! In the video below, Paul and his brother Jake gave their mother $10,000 in cash for Christmas as well as a ladies Rolex Datejust.  Logan Paul's approach to vlogging is really high in energy, quirky, silly, emotional, funny and in many ways, he is like a modern Benny Hill on steroids. This video may not be safe for viewing at work :-0


Since we are on the subject of Logan Paul and Rolex, Logan's brother Jake (not me ;-) is also a top vlogger. Jake has had over 4 billion video views to date, which is also remarkable. Yesterday, Jake gave his mother her first Rolex watch, which you can view in the video below that already has close to 2.5 million views. Jake's vlogging style is very similar to his older brother Logan, and once again, this video may not be safe for viewing at work.


It's interesting, at the end of this video Jake and his mother do the Ayo & Teo "ROLEX" Dance

Two-Tone Rolex Submariner



...Rolex Macro Shot Of The Day...

Two-Tone Rolex Submariner


Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Hard-to-find: Green Submariner "Hulk"



Hard-to-find Rolex


Looking for a

Green Submariner?


(Try the Police)  


 By DANNY CRIVELLO           


The photo above appears courtesy of Scott Shafer.

There are very few current Rolex models that are selling for more money on the used market than the full retail price. The stainless-steel Daytona, of course, is one of them.

Over the past few months, the Rolex Submariner Date 116610LV, unofficially nicknamed "The Hulk" because of its green dial and bezel, has joined this exclusive group of Rolex watches that are less expensive when bought brand new from an authorized dealerif you can put your hands on one, that is. 


Good catch: the Rolex 116610LV.

The Submariner Date LV is one of the hottest watches on the market today, with a full retail price currently listed at $9,050. But due to scarcity, they have recently shot up in value on both the grey and used market, from $8,000 just six months ago to well North of $10,000, a few standing at $12,000. 


Dialing up demand for one of the hottest watches on the market today.

Though sales figures in the used market are hard to come by, price listings are a good indication of where the market for Hulks is trending. 

On watchrecon.com, which aggregates for-sale listings from most watch forums, the Submariner Hulk easily reaches five figures. A listing that advertised a Hulk for $10,900 last week, for example, is now closed because the watch has sold. (Though we don't know the final sale price, a deal reached in just six days is a good indication it sold for close to the asking price.) 



I used to own a Rolex Submariner LV, which I had bought brand new at an AD on St Patrick's Day 2017 (my watch, below). I fell in love with the watch—like many—and wanted my name on the warranty card with the date showing 03/17/17. I sold it a few months later, but I enjoyed my time with it and would still recommend the watch.



It's unclear why almost no authorized dealer has the green Submariner in stock today and why very few dealers have any sports stainless-steel Rolex left. One theory is that demand for Rolex watches has surged in the past year, outpacing supply.

Another theory is that Rolex is about to upgrade its line of Submariners with new movements, similar to the new Sea-Dweller's 3235, which has a 70-hour power reserve and is anti-magnetic. But the new Submariners may not hit your local AD until next May.
So, what is a Rolex prospective buyer to do during the holiday season? One option: turn to the police. 

Yesterday, a police department in New Jersey auctioned off a Rolex Submariner Hulk, as well as a new-reference, two-tone Submariner. They were seized during a narcotics operation, according to the police, along with a Rolex Yacht-Master 116822. The watches were part of the contraband. (Every Rolex tells a story!)



While the bids for the two-tone Submariner and the Yacht-Master closed below retail price, at $8,000 and $7,000, respectively, the Submariner Hulk managed to reach $9,500 after no fewer than 27 bids. The terms of the auction require the winner to go to the police station to collect the watch. The actual watch auctioned yesterday is pictured below.


The fact that buyers are now willing to pay above retail price at such auctions—for a watch that comes with no Rolex warranty card—is the latest sign of the Hulk craze. Still, the closing bid is one of the lowest prices on the market. And there are no buyer's fees.

So, is it simply watch lovers fighting over a beautiful Rolex, or pre-Baselworld jitters when speculations are flying high? Maybe both. I was always impressed by Rolex as a watchmaker. But every year, I'm more and more impressed by Rolex's marketing genius.


Thursday, December 14, 2017

Adieu Johnny: A French Music Legend Dies



Music Legend Dies


Adieu, Johnny!


'French Elvis' Honored 


 By DANNY CRIVELLO
           


In a career that spanned more than six decades, he recorded more than a thousand songs, sold 100 million records and earned more than 60 gold and platinum records. Jean-Philippe Smet, whose stage name is "Johnny Hallyday," was dubbed the "French Elvis" because he is credited for bringing rock 'n' roll to France. He passed away last week from lung cancer at the age of 74. And France is mourning.

Fats Domino, left, Johnny Hallyday and Sugar Ray Robinson

Johnny was also a lover of watches (top picture, with a Cartier Tank) and a Rolex wearer. He wore a two-tone Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date in the 1980s (next two pictures). Later in life, he owned a Rolex Daytona black dial 116520 (last picture). 



I grew up in France listening to his music. For me, he was more of a French Johnny Cash mixed with Bruce Springsteen  a combination of raw masculinity, rebellion and hard work  and I shed tears when I learned of his passing a week ago. His funeral brought 800,000 French to the Champs Elysées Saturday. This weekend the Eiffel Tower was lit with letters that said, "MERCI, JOHNNY." And French President Emmanuel Macron gave a speech.


He was married four times and had a four-year relationship with Nathalie Baye, above, a French actress who played in "Catch Me If You Can." Below, Johnny wearing a Daytona.


Finally, I love this video of him with Sammy Davis Jr. 


Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Cash on Your Wrist: Rolex as Currency



Rolex in the Movies


Cash on Your Wrist


Rolex as Currency 


 By DANNY CRIVELLO

           


The virtual currency Bitcoin reached a record high today, shooting past $17,000, from $800 a year ago. Turns out, this so-called "invisible money" is a great way to store value and a great way to transfer that value across the globe thanks to the Internet.

Unlike Bitcoin, my Rolex is far from being invisible. But once on my wrist, it is a liquid asset that can easily cross borders. As a transoceanic pilot for a major airline, I have a wallet full of currencies  from yens to euros, pesos to pounds. I pay with credit cards first, cash second. My last resort is the Rolex on my wrist. When it comes to watches, Rolex is the most famous brand in the world, and it maintains exceptional value.


Philippe Cousteau, Jr., pictured above and below, wears a Rolex Sea-Dweller. Cousteau, who is the grandson of the legendary oceanic explorer Jacques Cousteau, told Bloomberg last month: "I was working on a project in Singapore, and an ex-[Special Air Service] soldier told me to always wear a nice watch: Don’t flaunt it, but have it with you. 

"He had a stainless-steel Rolex and wore it everywhere. He told me that no matter where you travel, a good watch  like a Rolex  is like currency and is something you can always use to barter to get yourself out of trouble. 

"You always hear 'never have anything nice on expedition,' but that soldier’s advice was smart and practical so I always wear a 'tradable' watch that can help get me out of a bind."


While I did walk in the streets of Singapore wearing a Rolex like Philippe Cousteau, I never had to use it for emergency. But the idea was depicted in several movies through the years. 

Here are some of the films that show the power of Rolex as currency. (The list doesn't pretend to be exhaustive.) Unfortunately, some scenes don't lend well for still pictures, so not all Rolex shots could be included. 

"Bourne Legacy" (2012)

Jeremy Renner who plays Aaron Cross gains passage onto a boat by using a gold Daytona. Below we see the boat captain with his new watch.


"Marathon Man" (1976)

The character played by Dustin Hoffman, Thomas Levy, uses a Rolex GMT-Master to pay for a taxi fare. Hoffman only wants a dime back to make a phone call. The scene is pictured above this article and also briefly in the Rolex commercial that aired during the Oscars this year. 


"Rain Man" (1988)

After finding out his autistic brother can count a deck of cards, Charlie Babbitt, played by Tom Cruise, pawns his yellow-gold Day-Date to buy suits for him and his brother (Dustin Hoffman) and a seat at a blackjack table at the Caesars Palace Casino.


"National Treasure" (2004)

Benjamin Gates, played by Nicolas Cage, gives a waitress his Rolex so he can get $100 from her cash register. "It's called a Submariner. I dive with it," he tells her. "It's actually quite valuable." 


"Leaving Las Vegas" (1995)

Alcoholic Ben Sanderson, played by Nicolas Cage, pawns his Daytona to sustain his addiction. 


"Home Alone" (1990)

Kevin's mom Kate McCallister played by Catherine O'Hara said she would sell her soul to the devil to get a seat on an airplane to get home. She ended up trading some jewelry and her two-tone Datejust to an elderly couple for their seats at Paris airport.


"Unknown" (2011)

Dr. Martin Harris played by Liam Neeson suffers memory loss after a taxi crash in Berlin. He gives his cab driver Gina (played by Diane Kruger) a Sea-Dweller Deepsea for information and a bed for the night. "It's worth at least 5000 euros. Come on. Feel the weight of it. It's the real thing," he tells her.  


Whether traded for some emergency cash, a place to stay for the night, or something completely intangible  like the two examples below  a Rolex on your wrist always commands a powerful bargain. 

The Fugitive Kind (1960)

The clip below shows Marlon Brando's character Valentine Xavier use his Rolex as a token of his independence. "So you take this Rolex.... That's my message to you and the pack you run with," Brando says. "I run with nobody." He removes his Rolex and hands it to Carol Cutrere (Joanne Woodward).


James Cameron

Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron, who after "Avatar" became an activist for Indigenous rights, tells the story of when he visited the Kayapo people, a tribe that lives deep in the Amazon. And he made friends with the chief of that tribe.


The chief gave the film director some gifts, "great gifts that were meaningful to him," explained Cameron. "And I thought, 'What do I have that has that kind of value that I could give him?' I couldn't think of anything...

"...except my watch that had been with me for 20 years." 




Jake’s Take:

Another excellent interesting story by Danny with a fascinating premise… I want to add a few thoughts on this subject.

Rolex is not only a form of currency as Danny pointed out, but Rolex is like a country in-and-of-itself, and its currency is in the form of their watches, much like the U.S. greenback is an international currency. 

In my own experience over the years, it has never ceased to amaze me as to how well known Rolex watches are internationally. Since Rolex watches historically hold their value much better than just about any other asset you can purchase, they offer an interesting long-term value proposition. 


For instance, If you bought a Rolex Submariner in 1964 it would have cost you $195. If you simply put it in a drawer and pulled it out today, you could easily sell it for $10,000. If you bought a Submariner ten years earlier in 1954 and put it away in a drawer it could easily be worth $100,000 today. That is impressive performance.

I remember when I was in college, I was in an economics class, and we read a book that mentioned how the value of any given currency was fundamentally based upon “the faith society has in the maintenance of social order.” In other words, in a country that had an unstable social structure, their currency would be weak in the international market. But if a country maintained a strong social order, its currency would benefit accordingly.

Since Rolex is based in Switzerland, its stability has indirectly been tied to the Swiss Franc, which has historically been a very strong contender. And if you ever visit Switzerland, you realize they maintain a very strong social order.

Jake

Monday, December 11, 2017

Festive Finland 100 Submariner



Festive Finland 100 Submariner


Jouni is a reader of Jake's Rolex World and he recently wrote in from Finland and said:

Hi Jake,

Hope you've had a good year.

Got my five-digit Submariner back from service about four days ago so decided to finally snap some photos of it - because of the time of the year that it is, and it being Rolex's official color I used a green Christmas ornament as the "backdrop" for the watch.

I also thought it was very fitting to have my blue-dial Submariner back right on time for the 100th anniversary of Finland's independence - so this is also a bit of a tribute to my homeland; some Green for the festive season and Rolex, some Blue & White for Finland.

I'm not a professional photographer but you can use the photos on your site if you wish - I noticed there aren't too many shots of the blue-dial 16613 in there so maybe they'd be a nice change for all the shots of the more modern Rolex watches. No need to use all of them but maybe you can sneak in a photo or two to give an "old" 16613 (and Finland) some love.

Also added a couple lume-shots.

Take care,
Jouni




Saturday, December 09, 2017

Never Before Seen Photos of Fidel Castro & Che Guevara


...Rolex Revolutionaries...

Never Before Seen Photos of

Fidel Castro &  Che Guevara


One of my favorite things is when a reader sends in cool historical Rolex photos. In this case, Erik sent in the images below with this nice email message: 

Dear Jake

My name is Erik Twiest, and I am a longtime collector of original photos/documents of the Cuban revolution, in particular, Fidel and Che. I' am not a Rolex collector, but your story in the online magazine was very interesting. 

I went through my collection to see if I could find a Rolex in the photos and I found 2 interesting early photos which as far as I know are never published. 

Please see attachments; 

1) Fidel in 1959 with 2 Rolex watches in Cuba, photo was taken by Korda (famous for the Che Guevara portrait). The photo is original and never published, and "forbidden" in Cuba over the years, I didn't see any similar example from Korda in books.



2) Che playing chess, probably at one of the first Capablanca Tournaments in Havana 1961/63, which he organized after the revolution. 

Regards Erik. 


Wednesday, December 06, 2017

The Return Of Jake's Rolex World Podcast


The Return Of 

Jake's Rolex World Podcast

I am happy to announce that Jake's Rolex World Podcast is back! Ironically, the last time Jake's Rolex World Podcast was published was back in December of 2008, which was 9 years ago! In this podcast, Danny and I talk about several stories, as well as the new Paul Newman Daytona combination I recently discovered. If you are not familiar with the podcasts I did in the past you can check them out on iTunes.


Show Notes

New Daytona Found: http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2017/12/another-paul-newman-daytona.html

The Corporal's Watch: http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2017/12/rolex-history-corporals-watch.html

Hans Wilsdorf Video Interview: http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2017/11/hans-wilsdorf-founder-of-rolex-only.html

Logan Paul Rolex: http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2017/11/logan-paul-first-rolex.html

Ayo & Teo Rolex: http://www.rolexmagazine.com/search/label/Ayo%20%26%20Teo

SEAL-Dweller: http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2017/11/seal-dweller-tyrone-woods-story.html

1966 Playboy Rolex ad: http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2017/11/1966-playboy-magazine-rolex-ad.html

FBI Director Rolex: http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2017/11/christopher-wray-fbi-director.html

Tuesday, December 05, 2017

Madison Blank GQ Magazine Fashion Assistant


...Rolex Hotness...

Madison Blank 
GQ Magazine Fashion Assistant

Wrist Shot Of The Day