Rolex Coolness: Niki Lauda

Formula 1 Legend

Niki Lauda

Belongs To The Ages

1949-2019

The Miracle Man

Niki Lauda's Formula 1 racing career has saw the highest highs and the lowest lows and today he passed away. 

His story is an amazing example of great achievement in the eye of diversity. Niki was born Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda on February 22, 1949 in Vienna, Austria.

Niki Lauda is pictured below in 1973 racing a BMW 3.0CSL during the Spa 24 Hours.

Niki Lauda is pictured below racing in a BMW M1 in 1979 @ Zandvoort.

Niki Lauda's career racing achievement is amazing as he has won the F1 World Championship three times (1975, 1977, & 1984). Niki Lauda raced for the Ferrari team from 1974 to 1977, and later moved to race for McLaren. He remains the only Formula 1 driver to have been a champion with both Ferrari and McLaren.

In 1976, a week prior to the German Grand Prix held at the treacherous Nurburgring Nordschleife track, Niki Lauda attempted to boycott the race due in large part to the lack of safety considerations and most of the other drives voted against Lauda, so the race was held.

In a bizarre twist of fate, Lauda's Ferrari swerved off the track because its rear suspension failed and his car hit an embankment and burst into flames, trapping Lauda in his car.

Before Lauda could be pulled out of his car, he suffered severe burns and inhaled highly toxic fumes which severly damaged his lungs and blood. Lauda went into a coma in the hospital and a priest administered last rites.

In what appeared to be nothing short of a miracle, Niki Lauda made it out of the coma and came back to life and even continued his racing career. In the photo below we see Niki Lauda awarding Arturo Merzario a yellow gold Rolex he won when setting pole position at the 1976 Monaco Grad Prix. Niki wanted to award Arturo the watch as a token of appreciation for saving his life.

Niki Lauda is pictured below with fellow legendary Formula 1 race car driver, Alain Prost who is sporting his two-tone Rolex Datejust.

Niki Lauda is pictured below checking out a Mercedes SLR Roadster and he is wearing his vintage Big Red Panda Rolex Daytona.

In this next photo we see Niki Lauda sporting his Coke Rolex GMT-Master.

A Pocket-full Of Miracles

In 2008 Niki Lauda was 59 years old and married Birgit Wetzinger (pictured below) after a most unusual 4-year romance. A year after Niki Lauda started dating Birgit, he was diagnosed with kidney failure, and his then girlfriend, Birgit successfully donated one of her kidneys which saved Niki Lauda's life.




Niki Lauda is pictured below with fellow legendary Formula 1 racing legend, Sir Jackie Stewart who is a Rolex brand ambassador.

Niki Lauda's intense rivalry with fellow Formula 1 driver James Hunt was made into a movie by Ron Howard in 2013, and the movie was an international success.

Charlie Rose interviewed Ron Howard and Nicki Lauda when the movie "Rush" came out. The first video below is the full episode where Charlie interviews Ron Howard and Niki, and the second video below is just the interview with Nicki.

All at McLaren are deeply saddened to learn that our friend, colleague and 1984 Formula 1 World Champion, Niki Lauda, has passed away. Niki will forever be in our hearts and enshrined in our history. #RIPNiki pic.twitter.com/Ndd9ZEfm6B

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 21, 2019

...The Greatest Guitarist Superstar Of The 1970s... Peter Frampton

...The Greatest Superstar Guitarist Of The 1970s...

Peter Frampton

An Amazing Career with Rolex Keeping His Time

Peter Frampton is arguably the greatest Rock Guitar playing Superstar from the 1970s. He is pictured below in a recent photo wearing his trademark stainless steel and platinum Rolex Yacht-Master. Many people today still consider Peter Frampton to be up there in the pantheon of the greatest guitarist, along with Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.

Peter Frampton's first blockbuster album was titled, "Frampton Comes Alive", was released in 1976, and we see its album artwork below.

In 1977, Peter Frampton released his second mega-hit album titled: "I'm in you", which we see the album artwork from below. 

In the photos below from the 1970s, when Peter Frampton was at the height of popularity and fame, we see him wearing his two-tone Rolex Datejust.

The music videos below showcase Peter Frampton's greatest hits from the mid to late 1970s.

Sgt. Pepper's

Lonely Hears Club Band

1978 was a good year for Peter Frampton, and he stared in with the Bee Gees in the remake of the Beatles Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and as we see in the photos below, Peter was sporting his Rolex Datejust.

In 1978, Peter Frampton also played lead guitar of the title song for the movie Grease, which stared John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. Grease was written by Barry Gibb for the movie. While on vacation in the Bahamas Peter Frampton almost died in a car accident. In the photos below we see Peter Frampton in 1980 rockin' his two two-tone Rolex Datejust.

David Bowie

Never Let Me Down

Peter Frampton was old friends with David Bowie and in 1987  he joined David Bowies band and played lead guitar on Bowies song titled Never Let Me Down.

The MTV News Video below is fascinating as it shows David Bowie and Peter Frampton wandering the streets of Barcelona in Spain looking for a Pub to have a pint of beer.



The full length David Bowie concert below is amazing and features Peter Frampton playing lead guitar while he wears his Rolex Datejust.

In the photo below we see Peter Frampton playing with fellow legendary guitar player, B.B. King, who also famously wore a Rolex.

In this next image we see Peter Frampton hanging with fellow British legendary rocker, Ringo Star.

Peter Frampton is pictured below with singer songwriter and fellow rock legend, Billy Joel who appears to be wearing a Rolex Day-Date on his 70th birthday earlier this month on May 9, 2019.

Single Red SEA-DWELLER Fluted Light Bezel Effect

...Wrist Shot Of The Day...

Single Red SEA-DWELLER

Fluted Light Bezel Effect

Back in 2017, I was in a San Francisco restaurant that had an outdoor room, with a closed canvas canopy above that had black and white stripes on it. I looked to see what time it was and noticed this crazy reflection the canopy was having on the ceramic bezel insert on my Single Red SEA-DWELLER. It almost made it look like it had a fluted bezel. Interesting... 

Incase you did not notice, I kept a diary on my experience with the Single Red SEA-DWELLER, which offers insight into wearing it long term.

Baguette Diamond Daytona...

...Rolex Time Machine...

Baguette Diamond Daytona

Set 2009 Auction Record of $315,000

The Antiquorum Auction house in Switzerland set an auction record in April of 2009, when the price realized for an 18kt gold Rolex Daytona was auctioned for $315,000.00 (U.S. dollars). Of course, the record has been broken many times since then, but I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at this Rolex auction record from 10 years ago.

This very interesting looking Daytona [Reference 6270/6263] was made in 1985 and has 28 baguettes surrounding the bezel along with 240 diamonds and 9 sapphire indices on the bezel. I believe this one of a kind Rolex watch was custom made for the Sultan Of Oman.

Smokey Robinson Two-Tone Rolex Datejust

...Rolex Super Coolness...

Iconic Motown Music Legend

Smokey Robinson

Keeping Time with Rolex Datejust

Smokey Robinson is an international treasure. There, I said it. Smokey's Rhythm and Blues Motown music defined a generation, and as we seen in the photos below, Smokey wears two different Rolex Datejust models.

In the photo above and below, we see Smokey Robinson hanging out in 2013 with world renowned music producer, Jimmy Lovine, on the set of American Idol. Smokey Robinson was a guest judge for an episode of American Idol, and I noticed he was wearing a two-tone Rolex Datejust.

Smokey Robinson is considered to be one of the greatest R&B singer/songwriters to ever live, and despite the fact he performed many of his instantly recognizable hits, he wrote many other famous songs that were sung by other famous Motown recording artists. 

Smoke Robinson was the founder of the legendary Motown band, named The Miracles. Smokey Robinson wrote and performed many top hits like, Shop Around, The Tracks Of My Tears, Ooo Baby, Baby, Cruisin', and Being With You. Smokey Robinson's music, just like his Rolex, is completely timeless!!! The following videos offer an excellent overview of Smokey Robinson's incredible music career, which has spanned over 60 years!!!

Macro Shot of the Month: Eduardo's Daytona...

Magic Macro

Eduardo is very talented and passionate Rolex photographer and he sent in this superb macro shot of his Rolex Daytona. I am awarding this the Macro Shot of the Month because it is so outstanding!!! Thanks for sharing Eduardo!!!

Mystery Solved: Fidel Castro Submariner

Mystery Solved

Fidel Castro

1959 Rolex Submariner

Exclusive Photo Proves

First Rolex Sport Watch Was A Submariner

If you are a regular reader of Jake's Rolex World, you are likely aware Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro wore multiple Rolex watch models. This first photo below—which is exclusive to Jake's Rolex World—of Fidel Castro was taken when he was 32 years old. It was taken in Houston, Texas in April of 1959 and it's deeply profound as is the first photo that proves, as a matter of fact (with 100% Positive ID) Fidel's first Rolex sports watch was a Submariner and NOT a GMT-Master. 

In the photo above we see Fidel Castro signing a letter of intent with Texas Oil Millionaire, Frank B. Waters for the film rights to his life as the leader of Cuba. Marlon Brando was chosen to play Castro, but the movie was never made.

The photo below is a tight close up of Castro's Rolex Submariner and it reveals some interesting details. In particular, his winding crown is NOT screwed down? Castro's Rolex Submariner is an early Reference 6536, and is probably a 1956 model.

Castro Took Cuba Wearing His Submariner

Fidel Castro wore a sport Rolex Submariner when he overthrew dictator Fulgencio Batista during the Cuban Revolution in late 1958. In this image from the LIFE Magazine archives we see Fidel Castro standing on the balcony of the Hilton Hotel with friends after his triumphant entry into the Havana, Cuba wearing his Rolex Submariner.

I originally published the image seen above and below more than 10 years ago, and in the images we can clearly see Castro wearing his Rolex and at the time I assumed it was a Submariner, but realized it could be a GMT, but it was not as the first image in this story now proves unequivocally. 

The Habana Hilton Hotel-Casino is pictured above in 1958 just after it opened. After taking over Cuba in late 1958 Fidel Castro made the Habana Hilton his headquarters. The photo below was taken in January of 1959 and shows the Habana Hilton Foyer filled with armed Cuban revolutionary soldiers.

In this next photo seen below of Castro, also taken in 1958 in Cienfuegos, Cuba you see Castro being cheered by crowds on his victorious march to Havana after successfully ousting Batista. 

Fidelito Castro 

Fidel Castro's First Son

Fidel Castro's oldest son is named Fidelito Castro, and he is pictured below with his father Fidel Castro in 1959 at the Havana Hilton Hotel in Cuba.  In the photo below Fidelito is inspecting his father's Rolex what was previously assumed to be a Rolex Day-Date with an early Rolex 'President' bracelet, but Nick Gould from Quill & Pad recently figured out it was a Datejust on a Rolex President bracelet. We also see Fidel wearing his Rolex Submariner on his left wrist along with another watch that is flipped-around out of view. 

The photo below is the same as the one above, just zoomed-in on Castro and we see he is wearing his Submariner with the crown in the unscrewed winding position.

In the photo below, we see Castro in 1964 wearing an early Coke Rolex GMT-Master with no crown guards [Reference 6542].

Communism for the masses. 

Capitalism for the Bosses. 

Fidel Castro also wore a Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master [Reference 1675] with crown guards as pictured below on the cover of TIME Magazine. 

Castro's Legacy

Castro remains a highly polarizing figure in the world today. Some people see him as a hero, or David who stood up to Goliath (Batista and the Imperialist Americans). Others see Castro as being a stone cold killer and hypocrite. I received an email which include the photo seen below in response to this story from a reader who shared his insightful perspective:

Hi, Jake

I have been a fan of Rolex watches for many years and a fan of your website and therefore your post.  However, I hate to see guys like Fidel Castro and Che Guevara wearing Rolex watches and given credit for wearing them despite their atrocities and crimes against humanity.  These two guys, were criminals just like Hitler and lately Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.  They killed thousand of peoples and destroyed thousands of families, some of them my friends families, just to please themselves and their relatives with money. 

To me they are all cowards hiding behind a political ideology to become billionaires. The Castro family is well worth over 10 billion dollars at the expense of the Cuban people which still live in misery.  The same is with Maduro in Venezuela. Well, Guevara didn’t get that lucky, he got what he deserved. I guess the guys who captured him were better Rolex ambassadors, perhaps and I hope they had the chance to wear Guavara’s GMT.

Jose

History is filled with all kinds of atrocities, and hopefully as mankind moves forward we can all learn from these mistakes so they are not repeated. In the Chess game of life, Che Guevara was hunted down like a dog in Bolivia and brutally executed.