The Complete History Of The Robert Redford Submariner [Part 1 of 4]

...Academy Award Winning Director & Actor...

Robert Redford

Belongs To The Ages

1936-2025

Rolex Submariner: Reference 1680

The Complete History Of The Robert Redford Submariner

[Part 1 of 4]

This is really sad, as Robert Redford has stepped back into infinity...but he left behind so many of his memories for us to cherish...  Robert Redford was one of the most successful and iconic actors in Hollywood history. Robert Redford was an Academy Award winning Director and actor, and I thought it would be a good time to explore his amazing career achievements.

On Jake's Rolex World I created a series named Profiles In Coolness which covered The King Of Cool, Steve McQueen, and Paul Newman, today we are going to take a look at another super-cool guy with an amazing career—Robert Redford.

Robert Redford was born Charles Robert Redford Jr., on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California and he has been in many famous classic films. When you think about it, Robert Redford is about as classic as it gets, and it should come as no surprise that he wears a Rolex Submariner.

Single Red Submariner 
[Reference 1680]

Robert Redford wears a Single-Red Submariner [Reference 1680] which was the first Rolex Submariner model to come with a date. It was COSC certified and essentially replaced the Reference 5512. Rolex made the Single Red Submariner from 1967 to 1976. The Single Red designation came from the Single Red SEA-DWELLER which was developed to be tested in prototype for early 1967.

Robert Redford

The Candidate
1972

Robert Redford starred in the 1972 political movie titled, The Candidate, in which he plays a lawyer who decides to run against an incumbent Senator. In the movie, Redford deals with the challenges of trying to be himself, while trying to satisfy his political party.

Justin Timberlake

The Candidate
2011

The photo below is from a W Magazine photo shoot in 2011 that Justin Timberlake posed for, in which he was paying homage to  Robert Redford, from the 1972 movie, The Candidate.

Somebody once offered Robert Redford a yellow gold Rolex Submariner as a gift and he refused it by responding, "I am not a gold kind of guy." This is kind of interesting because I think that a yellow-gold Submariner would have looked great on Robert Redford because it would match his hair.

One of the obvious questions, is why does it say ROLEX on the front of the newscaster desk that Robert Redford is sitting in front of in the picture below from the movie The Candidate? I have no idea. I assume it was obviously some kind of Rolex advertisement.

1972 Cannes Film Festival in France

In the photo below we see Robert Redford with fellow actor and director Sydney Pollack and Polish pianist Arthur Rubenstein and his wife Aniela Mlynarska to promote the movie Jeremiah Johnson in 1972 at the Cannes Film Festival. Sydney Pollack directed the movie Jeremiah Johnson which is considered to be one of his best films. Arthur Rubinstein is considered to be one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.

Three Days Of The Condor (1975)

All The President's Men (1976)

Robert Redford costarred with Dustin Hoffman in All The President's men which was about the Watergate conspiracy that ultimately forced U.S. President Nixon to resign.

It is interesting to note that Robert Redford's Rolex Submariner pictured above and in the next two photos from the movie, All The President's Men has the winding crown completely unscrewed and pulled out all the way!!! I have no idea why?

Update: Tim Parker-Chambers is a reader of Jake's Rolex World and he wrote in and said:

"Hi Jake,

I was reading your fantastic articles on the watches of Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and Robert Redford, and saw a comment you made about the crown of Robert Redford's Submariner being fully extended while filming a scene.

Something I have read elsewhere, which might be applicable to that situation, is that for continuity and editing ease, in some close up shots, or multiple takes, sometimes the director has the actor pull the crown on his watch, so the hands remain static and constant in all takes. 

Just thought I'd pass on what I'd heard, thanks for taking the time to put together such fantastic articles, they're a pleasure to read."

Best regards,

Tim

Tim's points make perfect sense!!!

1981

Next we see Robert Redford at the 33rd Annual Directors Guild Awards, which took place on March 14, 1981 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel located in Beverly Hills, California.

Table Of Contents

Chapter 1: Robert Redford's Submariner 1680

NEXT>>> Chapter 2: Iconic Redford Style

Chapter 3: The Sundance Kid

Chapter 4: The Way We Were

...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day... Grahame's Rolex Milsub

...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day...

Grahame's Rolex Milsub

1970s Vintage Rolex Hotness

1970s Vintage Rolex Hotness

Rolex Lady-Date

I am pretty certain I recognize the model/actress in this vintage Rolex ad, but I can't seem to remember her name. She's rocking the Farah Fawcett Majors hairstyle, with her yellow gold Rolex Lady-Date, and he is gorgeous and has it going Bossa nova 4-Sure!!! It's so interesting how marketing messaging has changed and evolved over the past 50 years. I'm not certain, but I think the message this image is conveying is that the woman is professional, happy and on top of things as she is taking notes...

If this photo were taken today, she would be on her iPhone, wearing AirPods...I just love the super feminine vibe with the 28MM Lady Date, which has always been considered a major status symbol as the female Rolex President model...I had a girlfriend I dated several decades ago who wore this model and it always mesmerized and bedazzled me...

Rolex Crown Logo Collage...

...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day...

Rolex Crown Logo Collage

@Stockegsix from Instagram created this AMAZING Rolex Crown collage comprised of six Rolex models and I almost fell out of my chair when I first saw it!?!! I have to say in my opinion this is one of the coolest looking Rolex Studio Shots I have ever seen!!! Just AMAZING!!!! 

Nicholas Foulkes New Book Oyster Perpetual DATEJUST

Nicholas Foulkes New Book

Oyster Perpetual DATEJUST

"Renowned watch expert, Nickolas Foulkes explores the evolution of an icon, a supremely elegant status symbol for both men and woman, the success of which continues to endure after eight decades." This quote comes from the Editor and Chief of Wallpaper, Bill Prince, and sums up Foulkes new book on the Rolex Datejust, which I am certain will be a fascinating read. You can pre-order and learn more on Wallpaper's microsite for this book.

Foulkes upcoming Rolex Datejust book would appear to include many fascinating never before documented revelations about the history of the Datejust including his apparent discoveries of Princess Grace rocking her Lady Datejust (pictured above), as well as Andy Warhol, President Eisenhower, and Tom Cruise. Nicholas once mentioned to me he is a big fan of my work product, which is clearly evident...

September 11, 2001: Todd Beamer's Rolex

...Commemorating Sept. 11, 2001...

The 9/11 Rolex

Let's Roll!

"Rolex is the international mark of success," is a phrase famously said by Jake in these pages and even requoted in The New York Times. For Todd Beamer, passenger of Flight United 93, his mark of success came when he was promoted from salesman to account manager at Oracle. 

Todd's father, David Beamer, agrees. "Todd's watch was a fine watch," he said. "He was a successful guy."

We can easily recall where we were on Sept. 11, 2001. I was putting my uniform on that morning, grabbing my flight bags and headed to my '65 convertible Mustang as an airline Captain based in Washington, D.C. My neighbor saw me outside and she called me. "Have you seen the news? I don't think you'll be flying anywhere today." I immediately went back inside and followed the horrific events on live TV. 

Todd Beamer

For Todd Beamer, it was a different story. He and his wife had traveled through Italy on a trip paid for by Oracle. The couple returned to the U.S. on Sept. 10, and Todd rose early the following morning to catch Flight 93 out of Newark airport for San Francisco.

Todd's story on that fateful flight is well known. "Let's roll!" were his last recorded words as he and other passengers attempted to storm the cockpit and retake the plane from the hijackers. The slogan subsequently became a battle cry for American forces during the War on Terror. 

In a Nov. 8 address from the World Congress Center in Atlanta, President George W. Bush invoked Todd's words: "Some of our greatest moments have been acts of courage for which no one could have been prepared. But we have our marching orders. My fellow Americans, let's roll!" He used them again in the 2002 State of the Union address: "For too long our culture has said, 'If it feels good, do it.' Now America is embracing a new ethic and a new creed: 'Let's roll.'"

Todd's watch is frozen in time, the date window permanently stuck on "11." It is a two-tone Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph with a champagne dial on Jubilee bracelet. The Turn-O-Graph is essentially a Datejust with a rotating bezel. Unfortunately, the model is no longer sold by Rolex; in fact, it hasn’t been since 2011.

Todd's Rolex is charred, smashed, fragmented, missing the crystal, the second hand, and what would appear to be the minute hand and also the bracelet. The Rolex has been through hell, there is no other way to put it. But the coronet logo is unmistakable. Every Rolex tells a story and, in a sense, this one still tells the story of one day, one date. Still displayed in the window.

After the hijackers took over the plane, Todd saw the dead co-pilot laying in the aisle near the cockpit with his throat slit. He reached for the phone on the seat back in front of him and tried to call his wife, but could not get through. 

Screenshot from the movie "United 93"

He instead got a G.T.E. operator. He told her what was happening, and she connected the call to F.B.I. agents. The phone remained connected for fifteen minutes while Beamer and several others organized to overtake the terrorists. 

Moments after Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania

He had the flight attendants boil water and assemble whatever could be used as a weapon. He said the Lord's prayer and the Psalm 23 with the G.T.E. operator, others joined in. He then told her to call his wife and kids and tell them he loved them. The last words the operator heard Todd Beamer say were, “Are you guys ready? Let’s roll.” 

We know that Flight 93 was destined for Washington D.C., near where I lived, making this story extra personal. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, at 9:55 am—as I was getting ready for work—the terrorist pilot Ziad Jarrah dialed in the frequency for the navigational aid at Washington Reagan National Airport, clearly indicating that the attack was planned for the nation's capital.

And Todd Beamer, a Rolex on his wrist, said, "Let's roll!" He helped stop the hijackers' plan from unfurling while saving countless lives on the ground. 

Roger Moore Rolex GMT-Master

Roger Moore

Rolex GMT-Master

Message and Discovery from a Reader

One of my favorite things about publishing Jake's Rolex World are all the great readers all over earth, who regularly come across interesting Rolex history and share it with me, so I may share it with you!

Recently I received an interesting email that said:

Hello Jake,

I hope my email finds you well.

I’ve enjoyed reading your Rolex Magazine over the years and when I came across this image on Pinterest, I thought of you.

This is a behind the scenes photograph of Roger Moore during the filming of The Spy Who Loved Me in Sardinia. It may very well be on the beach where the Lotus Esprit S1 triumphantly emerges from the ocean judging by the suit Roger Moore is wearing.

Anyway, I thought this may be of some interest to you because if I’m not mistaken it very much looks like Roger Moore is wearing a Rolex. The bracelet, bezel and what looks like a cyclops are the usual hallmarks of stainless steel sports model from this era.

Initially, I thought it may have been a Rolex Submariner Date. Perhaps a 1680? However, I think it may be the Rolex GMT-Master 1675 ‘Coke’ you refer to on your website. I reckon there’s a good chance it’s the same one worn by Roger Moore in the publicity shot of him donning a Royal Navy Commander uniform: 

Warmest regards

Nick

Thanks for writing in Nick, and sharing your photo of Roger Moore rocking his Rolex on what seems to be the set of The Spy Who Loved Me.

It appears Roger's GMT-Master was his personal watch, as it does not seem to make an appearance in Film, but you never know, as often times people wear watches under their cuffs that stop them from being visible...

Crown On Crown...

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

Crown On Crown

Blue Dial Rolex Yacht-Master

Jindrich from the Czech Republic is a fan of Jake's Rolex World and he recently sent in this superb Rolex Studio shot and said:

Hi Jake,

My name is Jindrich Strnad and I am from Czech Republic.  I would like to congratulate you on your perfect blog about Rolex, it is superb.

I own Rolex Yacht-Master which I consider as perfect combination of sporty and elegance. Because I am also keen on photography, I decided to send you one of my macro shots. I hope you will enjoy it as well.

Have a nice day and keep posting!

Kind Regards

Jindrich