The John Player Special...Exotic Dial Up Close...

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

The John Player Special

Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona

Can it be that it was all so simple then...

...or has TIME rewritten every line?

Graham Stephan Rolex Datejust...

 THE ONE

$500 Million Estate

Beverly Hills

Image of THE ONE in Beverly Hills appears courtesy of The Society Group

Graham Stephan

Rolex Datejust

I am a huge fan of high-end modern architecture, most of which is located in Beverly Hills, Bell Air and in the Hollywood Hills in Southern California. I have been following Graham Stephan on YouTube since he started his channel a few years ago. Graham reminds me of Tom Cruise for some reason. I always wondered why he didn't wear a Rolex, so recently I could not help but notice when he recently started rocking a stainless steel Rolex Datejust as seen in the photo below. Congrats on your Datejust Graham. It looks great on you and wear it well!!!

I first noticed Graham wearing his Rolex Datejust in a fascinating video review of the all-new $500 Million Beverly Hills Estate named 'THE ONE', which is arguably the most expensive private residence on earth—or certainly one of them.

Ironically, Graham's review was of Producer Michael's amazing tour of THE ONE which can be seen below in the 3 part series which features THE ONE developer, Nile Niami who is a fascinatingly charismatic and talented developer. 

My personal opinion—as a designer—is Nile went too far over-the-top with this house in the sense it is just way too big to be appreciated. At times this architecture reminds me of the Winchester Mystery House where you will have a door open to a brick wall, or a flight of stairs they lead to the ceiling. 

You really notice this with details like the balcony above the office with the shelves that go up to the top of the 35 foot ceiling that are NOT accessible. Le Corbusier, the famous Swiss architect put it best when he said:

"As a car is a machine for driving,

 

and an airplane is a machine for flying

—a house is a machine for living in.

...A house as practical as a typewriter."

—Charles-Édouard Jeanneret  

(A.K.A. Le Corbusier) 

Ironically, at one point when Producer Michael tours the guest home Nile posits the guest house is more his cup-of-tea than the main estate itself. This really illustrates the power of fellow 20th century modern architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's notion that "Less is more".

Below is Graham Stephan's review of Producer Michael's tour video...

Moody Blues Rocking Rolex

Justin Hayward

Moody Blues 


Singer · Songwriter · Guitarist

The Moody Blues produced some of the most iconicly timeless haunting music back in the later 1960s, and continued making pop-culture hits up through the 1980s. The Moody Blues created hit after hit that could be referred to as anthems including "Your Wildest Dreams", "Tuesday Afternoon", "The Story In Your Eyes", "Isn't It Strange", "I Know You're Out There Somewhere", "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" and "Nights in White Satin." Many of these epic songs were written by Justin Hayward who is pictured below wearing his Rolex Datejust Oyster Perpetual.

 

John Lodge who is also one of the founding members of The Moody Blues is pictured below next to Justin Hayward and he is rocking his two-tone Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet. Both John and Justin wear Rolex Datejust models.

Studio Shot Of The Day: Roberto's Pre-Daytona Rolex Chronograph

...Studio Shot Of The Day...

Roberto's Pre-Daytona Rolex Chronograph

Notice the tachymeter scale on this vintage Rolex chronograph is on the outside of the dial, as apposed to the Daytona which has it on the outer bezel.

A Brief History Of The Swiss Watch Industry & America

Art Deco Rolex Ad

Rolex Lume Shot of the Month!!! Michael's Espresso GMT Master...

Rolex Lume Shot of the Month!!!

Michael's Espresso GMT Master

[Reference 1675]

2021 Rolex Dutch Masters

2021 Rolex Dutch Masters

Clyde Beatty 1964 Datejust Ad

 

Clyde Beatty

1964 Datejust Ad 

Circus Impresario 

Lion Tamer with Two Tiger Cubs

One of my absolute favorite aspects of journaling Rolex history is discovering brilliant vintage ads that had previously disappeared into the abyss. In other words, I think vintage Rolex ads are often times even more interesting than the Rolex watches featured in them. Every so often I discover a vintage Rolex ad that takes my breath away and this is one of them. There is something so cool about the overall composition of this ad I recently acquired that make sit so cool looking. As I have mentioned before, I perceive these vintage ads as being high-art in and of themselves.

1964 Clyde Beatty Rolex Datejust Magazine Ad

Another one of my favorite things to do when exploring vintage Rolex ads is to do a deep dive into the backstory behind the person featured in the ad, which often times offers me a fascinating history lesson and this ad is no exception. Let's begin by examining a photo that Nick Gould discovered that features Clyde Beatty wearing his Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet. In the photo below we see Clyde Beatty with Prince Rainier of Monaco along with his son, daughter and beautiful wife, Princess Grace of Monaco with Clyde Beatty pictured on the far right rocking his Datejust which is featured in the 1964 Rolex ad seen above.

What can be said of a man long after he has departed the living world? That he left the world having made it a better place than when he entered it? That he made a significant contribution to mankind's understanding of the world we still share? Or, as Saroyan brilliantly said:

"In the time of our life, live—so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it." 

—William Saroyan 

(Pulitzer Prize winner who wrote: The Time of Your Life, 1939)

Clyde Beatty was born in 1903 in Bainbridge, Ohio and passed away at age 62 in 1965 in Ventura, California. Clyde was a famed animal trainer, actor, circus mogul, and zoo owner. 

Clyde Beatty stood 5 foot 6 inches and was nicknamed  'Scrap-Iron Shorty' was the first lion tamer to be featured in a circus and was best known for his 'fighting Act' where he would enter the cage only equipped with a chair, whip, pistol on his hip and a tremendous amount of courage and confidence. 

I was not familiar with Clyde Beatty until I saw his really cool 1964 Rolex ad featured toward the top of this story, but researching and sharing his career achievements has been fascinating. My takeaway from this story is that he personally exhibited many of the characteristics that make a Rolex a Rolex which are strength, value, competent, timelessness, elegance and precision.

50Th Anniversary Apollo Moon Landing Special Announcements

Apollo 11 Astronaut


Michael Collins

Belongs To The Ages

1930-2021

Rolex Day-Date

NASA Apollo Astronaut Michael Collins passed away today at age 90. I originally published this story on July 20, 2019 and thought it was apropos to publish today. Michael Collins took the amazing photo below on July 21, 1969 that shows the Apollo 11 lunar module 'Eagle' as it returns from the surface of the moon to sock with the command module 'Columbia'.

“This trip of ours to the Moon may have looked—to you—simple or easy… All you see is the three of us, but beneath the surface are thousands and thousands of others, and to all those I would like to say, thank you very much." 

—Michael Collins, July 21, 1969

Update July 22, 2019:  Nick Gould discovered the first photographic evidence today that shows Apollo 11 Astronaut, Michael Collins wearing his yellow gold Rolex Day-Date and you can learn more by scrolling down the page:

...It doesn't just tell time

It tells History...

50th Anniversary 

Apollo Moon Landing

Coverage & Special

 Announcements

I remember when I was 9 years old having a conversation with my grandmother Marjorie Ehrlich at her flat in the San Francisco Marina. She was reflecting back on her life and she said, "It is amazing how much the world has changed in my lifetime!?!! I was born in 1897 and when I was your age in 1906, if you had told me that I would live to witness men walking around on the moon I never would have believed you!"

Today, mark the 50th Anniversary of NASA's Apollo 11 landing on the moon and I have some special news to share with you! First, I wanted to share with you that I have been working on new show I plan to launch on YouTube named, The JAKEe SHOW. I am working on a Series named "MANKIND'S GREATEST ADVENTURES". If you want to make certain to be the first to see this upcoming Rolex's Conquest Of Sapce documentary be sure to subscribe to The JAKEe Show on Youtube!!!

My first documentary is named "ROLEX'S CONQUEST OF SPACE: From Switzerland To The Moon & Beyond" as we se in the screenshot below. This series is being filmed in 4K and will offer the first real comprehensive look at Rolex's Conquest of Space.

This upcoming series will offer offer many never before seen photos of NASA Astronauts wearing Rolex watches. Since today represents the 50th Anniversary of men landing on the moon I thought I would share this exclusive photo of Apollo 11 Astronaut, Buzz Aldrin sporting his Rolex SEA-DWELLER which was discovered by Nick Gould.

The photo above of Buzz Aldrin rocking his Rolex SEA-DWELLER is exclusive to Jake's Rolex World and it is interesting to note it was taken 25 years ago at the White House during the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Apollo 11 conquering the moon which you can watch in the C-SPAN video below:




Buzz Aldrin wearing his Rolex SEA-DWELLER is a significant revelation in the sense that it means that at least 2 of the 3 NASA Astronauts from Apollo 11 chose to wear Rolex as their personal watch. Think about that for a second!?!!

The photo below is Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins official NASA photo and if you look closely at his wrist you can see he is wearing his Rolex Turn-O-Graph!!

We can tell Michael Collins is wearing his Rolex Turn-O-Graph in his official Apollo 11 portrait (pictured above and below since we can see the grooves/notches on the side of the bezel, which allows the user to spin the bezel. 

Michael Collins is pictured above and below in between fellow Apollo 11 NASA Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and in the photo below we see Michael Collins rocking his Rolex Turn-O-Graph! 

In the photo below we get a close-up shot of NASA Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins wearing his Rolex Turn-O-Graph.

Michael Collins is pictured below at NASA on April 16, 1969 during centrifuge training for Apollo 11. Three short months later he would fly into the history books as part of the first team to land on the Moon and return safely to earth.

Michael Collins' Rolex Turn-O-Graph was an early model, which had a gilt dial, and it is interesting to note that these first generation Rolex Turn-O-Graph models looked and functioned similarly to a Rolex Submariner.

In the close-up photo below of Michael Collins' Rolex Turn-O-Graph, we not only see the gilt dial and hands, but also the early models of the Turn-O-Graph featured all 60 second markers on the black bezel insert. This design feature predated the Rolex Reference 5517 Milsub, as well as the Rolex DEEP-SEA, which also have this feature.

1969 Rolex Day-Date

I discovered that NASA Apollo 11 Astronaut wore a yellow gold Rolex Day-Date for 34 years, which is pictured below. The watch was recently auctioned by Sotheby's, and in the description Michael Collins mentioned he wore it for 34 years. This is such an apropos discovery as we are now celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing!!!

The photo above and below are of Michael Collins Rolex Day-Date and we see he had an engraving of his initials. Notice the band has a "69" engraving, which means it was made in 1969.

The photo below of Michael Collins (also seen as a crop three images up) was discovered by Nick Gould on July 21, 2019 who is an amazing horological researcher. This is the first image that gives us a visual confirmation of Michael Collins wearing his Rolex Day-Date!!! This photo was taken by Charles Harrity on June 25, 1970 and show Mike Collins sitting at his desk at the State Department in Washington D.C.

Michael Collins is pictured below as he suits-up to leave for the Moon on Apollo 11.

Michael Collins is pictured below (second in line) as he and his Apollo 11 team members leave for the Moon.

The photo below shows Apollo 11 taking off to head for the moon.

...The Rolex President...

U.S. President Lyndon Johnson

Apollo 11 Lift-off

Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date

In this next photo we see U.S. President Lyndon Johnson wearing his trademark yellow gold "Rolex President" Day-Date as he watches Apollo 11 take-off for the moon on July 16, 1969 at 9:32am EDT. U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew is pictured on Johnson's right and Lady Bird is on his left.

Historical Note: The photo above of U.S. President Johnson is a bit ironic because he was no longer President when this photo was taken. At the time Richard Nixon was the President of The United States and he did not attend since he was paranoid the launch might fail. Instead he watched the launch live on TV from the Oval Office.

Another irony, regarding the photo above is that Lyndon Johnson was able to witness first hand, what he had helped develop at the beginning of the Kennedy administration back in 1960, when he served at the Vice President Of The United States. 

...The Greatest Newsman In History...

Walter Cronkite

The Most Trusted Man In America

Two-Tone Rolex Datejust

Apollo 11 Moon Touchdown Coverage

The image below is of major historical significance. We see Walter Cronkite on July 20, 1969 as he keeps his eyes glued to his monitor as NASA's Apollo 11 Mission touches down on the Moon for the fist time, and notice that Walter Cronkite is wearing his trademark two tone Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet.