Lume Shot Of The Day Sascha's DEEP-SEA Darkness

Lume Shot Of The Day

Sascha's DEEP-SEA Darkness

President of Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek...

Chiang Kai-shek

1887-1975

President of Republic of China (ROC)

I must begin this story by thanking Nick "Eagle Eyes" Gould for discovering and sharing with me the fact that Chiang Kai-shek wore two different Rolex models, including an OP and a Rolex Bubble Back. Nick is one of the greatest Rolex historians and we have learned and discovered so much together. Thus, I wish to dedicate this story to Nick who has remained a constant source of inspiration and invaluable insight and I just wanted to thank you for being super awesome!!!

This is a fascinating story about a Chinese family that ruled China and Taiwan and wore Rolex watches for at least 3 generations which begins with Generalissimo, Chiang Kai-Shek. Chiang Kai-sheck was a Chinese statesman, revolutionary, and military commander. 

Chiang was the head of the Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) party, as well as serving as the General of the National Revolutionary Army, where he was commonly referred to as Generalissimo, and went on to be the leader of the Republic of China (ROC), in mainland China from 1928 to 1949.

Chiang was ultimately defeated during the Chinese Civil War by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1949, and he fled to the Island then known as Formosa, which  today is commonly referred to as, Taiwan, where he lived until he passed away in 1975. Taiwan is an island 100 miles off the southeastern east coast of China, which is about twice the size of New Jersey. Taiwan today is a technological powerhouse that is the world leader in the fabrication and production of microchips, like you would commonly find in an Apple iPhone.

Chiang Ching-kuo

1910-1988

President of Republic of China (ROC)

Chiang Kai-Shek's only son, Chiang Ching-kuo is pictured below wearing his Rolex GMT-Master, Reference 6542. Chiang Ching-kuo served as the Premier of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1972-1978, and went on to serve as the President of the Republic of China from 1978 to 1988.

Chiang Hsiao-wu

1945-1991

Chiang Kai-Shek's is pictured below walking with his grandson, Chiang Hsiao-wu, who also wore a Rolex GMT-Master [Reference 6542], which you can see in the photo below on his left wrist.

Jake Ehrlich Sr.

1900-1971

As they say, it's a small world after all. Chiang Kai-shek was a client of my grandfather, Jake Ehrlich Sr., who is pictured below wearing a pair of yellow gold cufflinks that Chiang Kai-shek gave him as a gift. The cufflinks are of Chinese foo dogs that guarded the Emperor's Temple in the Forbidden City in China. These dogs were also know as Chinese Guardian Lions.

Generalissimo 

Chiang Kai-Shek

In the photo below taken in November of 1943 in Cairo, Egypt af the First Cairo Conference, which was codenamed, SEXTANT we see Chinese Generalissimo, Chiang Kai-Shek, chatting with U.S. President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, while we see Sir Winston Churchill chatting with Chiang Kai-shek's wife, Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, Lay-ling.

In the video below, we see Madame, Chiang Kai-shek address the Congress of the United States, during World War II in 1943.

In the photo below we see Chiang Kai-Shek wearing a Rolex Bubble Back on an early Rolex Oyster Bracelet.

A Tale of Two China's & Two Rolexes

Chiang Kai-shek v. Mao Zedong

One of histories greatest rivalries existed between Chiang Kai-she and Mao Zedong, who are pictured together below in August of 1945.

The documentary below goes into great detail on the Chinese Civil War, and explains how the history to make it easy to understand.

Chairman and founder of The People's Republic of China (PRC) Mao Zedong, also wore two different Rolex watches. 

The photo below shows two yellow gold Rolex Datejust models, that were owned and worn by Chairman Mao. Many people are surprised when they learn how many of the top communist leaders in history wore Rolex watches.

ONE MORE THANG

Rolex Submariner Heritage

The two really cool photos below are of Taiwanese Frogman taken during the Second Taiwan Straits Crisis in 1958 and notice both of them are rocking Rolex Submariner tool watches. The 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis was also referred to as "The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis", and U.S. Secretary of State Christian Herter (1959–1961) was said to have later referred to the antagonism as: "the first serious nuclear crisis".

This event was part of an altercation between the Republic of China (ROC), A.K.A. Taiwan, formerly know as Formosa, prior to 1945 and The People's Republic of China (PRC) A.K.A. Mainland China. During this conflict the PRC shelled Kinmen (Quemoy) and Matsui Islands located on the East Coast of Mainland China—part of the Taiwan Straits) as part of a mission to try to take control of Taiwan from the Chinese Nationalist Party, which was also known as the Kuomintang (KMT). 

This scrimmage was regarded as a test to explore the United States resolve and defense capabilities of Taiwanese territory. A fierce naval battle ensued near Dongding Island as the Taiwanese ROC Navy defeated an attempted amphibious landing by the Mainland Chinese PRC Navy.

Pepsi GMT-Master Ceramic Bezel Insert

...Rolex Macro Shot of the Day...

Pepsi GMT-Master

Ceramic Bezel Insert

The level of detail, quality and sophistication in Rolex watches is truly amazing as we see with this close-up macro shot of the Pepsi GMT-Master with the ceramic bezel insert...

 

1964 Rolex Submariner

This Rolex is $195

Just a few years before I was born, a Rolex Submariner not only looked materially the same as it looks in 2026, but it cost less than $200, which just completely blows my mind, as we witness with this vintage Rolex Magazine ad from June of 1964. The more things change, the more they remain the same...

Rolex Coolness: James Gandolfini Rocking his Rolex Presidential as Tony Soprano...

...Rolex Coolness...

James Gandolfini

1961-2013

Tony Soprano

Ay'der!?! What'r you lookin at!?! hugh!?!

Rolex Presidential

It is hard to believe James Gandolfini is not only no longer with us, but stepped back into infinity thirteen years ago on June 19, 2013. Young James was only 51 years of age, James Gandolfini when he died. James Gandolfini was best know for his highly ironic role as Tony Soprano on the HBO megahit, Sopranos. James Gandolfini won 3 Emmy awards on a total of six nominations. He passed away in Italy while on vacation and his reported cause of death was a heart attack.

James Gandolfini is arguably one of the best character actors that ever lived, and in his role as Tony Soprano, he may very well have been the greatest character actor. So good, in fact, that he kind of typecast himself in that role as he played it so believably well...so much so, James Gandolfini was Tony Soprano... 

"Even a broken clock is right twice a day." 

–Anthony "Tony" Soprano [1999]

The Sopranos originally aired on HBO, and completely changed TV. The Sopranos was a hyper-immesive show, and probably the greatest TV show that ever was filmed. It certainly was also one of the most financially successful TV franchises as well. It is likely it never would have been nearly as successful if it was not for James Gandolfini doing such a convincing job of Playing Tony Soprano.

In the famous and now iconic Sopranos intro you can see Tony Soprano wearing his trademark Rolex Day-Date. Watching this now sends shivers down my spine, is a DejaVu kind of way...

Despite the fact The Sopranos was an over-the-top violent show, James Gandolfini's character Tony Soprano in many ways symbolized the aggressive alpha-male, almost in a raw, caveman kind of way, which is what made the fact Tony Soprano wore a Rolex President quite fitting. If the Rolex Day-Date is the International Mark Of Success, then it perfectly symbolized Tony Soprano's disposition.

The Sopranos was such a highly addicting show. I remember I used to jones to see the next episode. It has been many years now since I watched an episode of the Sopranos, but in the future I am excited to do a Sopranofest, where I watch all six seasons, back to back to back, and of course, I will document all the different Rolex models worn in the show...

The Sopranos Rolex Watches

The HBO his series, The Sopranos was created by David Chase and is the most financially successful cable series in television history. 

The Sopranos probably featured more Rolex watches per actor than any other TV show or movie in history. Tony is pictured below wearing his trademark yellow gold Day-Date and his wife, Carmella is wearing her trademark ladies two-tone datejust on a Jubilee bracelet.

As I mentioned earlier in this article, James Gandolfini was arguably one of the greatest characters actors in history. I remember after years of enjoying watching the Sopranos, hearing James Gandolfini speak with his real voice and I was shocked!!??!! 

In real life he was completely antithetical to the Tony Soprano character  In real life he was a gentle, soft-spoke giant, kind-of-like Mike Tyson, in the sense that if you just saw Mike Tyson box, the first time you heard him speak, it was shocking because his voice did not match his presence. 

...Rolex Super-Hotness...

Jamie Lynn Sigler

Sopranos Daytona

Jamie Lynn Sigler played Medow Soprano on the HBO Blockbuster hit who was Tony Sopranos' daughter. In her private life she wears several Rolex Daytona watches. In this first photo we see Jamie Lynn Sigler wearing her stainless steel Rolex Daytona.

Rolex Day-Date Rainbow Puzzle Dial

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

 Rolex Day-Date

Rainbow Puzzle Dial

Rolex Super-Coolness: Tenzing Norgay

...Rolex Super-Coolness...

Tenzing Norgay


Mountain Climbing Legend

Conquerer of Mount Everest

Back in 2009 I wrote an 8 part series named, "The Complete History of Rolex Conquering Mount Everest, and in that series I documented how both Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary might have worn Rolex watches when they were the first humans to successfully climb to the top of Mount Everest in 1953. The photo below of Tenzing Norgay was taken on October 31, 1957 wearing a Rolex on an Oyster Bracelet.

The super iconic photo below taken by the Royal Geographic Society shows Tenzing Norgay with Sir Edmund Hillary on their way establishing Camp 9 as they head to the summit of Mount Everest.

In the photo below taken in 1953 by the Royal Geographical Society we see Tenzing Norgay with Sir Edmund Hillary and they both might be wearing Rolex watches. Tenzing received a Rolex as a gift from Swiss climber, Raymond Lambert after he and Lambert almost reached the summit of Everest the year before on a Swiss Everest Expedition in 1952. 

The photo above shows Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary on May 25th, 1953 during the Mount Everest Expedition as the duo prepares their oxygen systems just before they set off from Camp 9 for the summit of Everest. If you look closely you will notice Tenzing has their Summit flags wrapped around his ice axe which he is holding like a cane.

This next photo of Tenzing Norgay was taken by Sir Edmund Hillary on the summit of Mount Everest. Tenzing offered to take a photo of Hillary on the summit but Hillary refused the offer.

The Rolex advertorial seen below was published 3 days after Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary conquered Everest.

1957 Rolex Mount Everest Ad

This next two photos below show Tenzing Norgay at  Rolex International Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland taken on July 5, 1953 and he is wearing a Rolex on his wrist. 

The photos above and below were recently discovered by our super-talented researcher, Alan who is located in Hong Kong. The next photo shows Tenzing Norgay examining a Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet in Rolex Founder, Hans Wilsdorf's private office at Rolex Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

It is believed Hans Wilsdorf traded Tenzing Norgay a Rolex in exchange another Rolex which is now in the private Museum collection. 

The photo above and below appear courtesy of Rolex Passion Report who first discovered this historical yellow gold Rolex Datejust that apparently was a gift from Rolex to Tenzing as a memento for the 1952 Swiss Expedition to Everest.

New Nick Gould Article: Rolex GMT-Master Reference 6542

New Nick Gould Article

Rolex GMT-Master Reference 6542

The World's Most Infamous Watch 1959-1960

My favorite horological historian who I work with regularly is Nick "Eagle Eyes" Gould, and he just published an AMAZING deep dive story on the Rolex GMT-Master, which was published on FratelloWatches.com. The image above appears courtesy of AmsterdamVintageWatches.com, and shows a magnificent lume shot of the GMT-Master 6542 'recall'.

This new article explores the early years of Rolex GMT-Master and offers a great deal of previously undocumented history. The image below the early Rolex GMT-Master Reference 6542 appears courtesy of Christies.

I published a story named "The Complete History of The Rolex GMT-Master", which also offers a great deal of insight on the history of this most iconic Rolex. Be sure to check out Nick Gould's new GMT-Master article on FratelloWatches.com. The ROLEX Magazine article page below was published in Europa Star Asia, Issue #42, in 1957.