...Rolex Coolness...
Paul Schutzer
LIFE Magazine Photojournalist
"It doesn't just tell time. It tells history"
Paul Schutzer was an American photojournalist who worked for LIFE Magazine. His name may not be familiar but some of his photographs are instantly recognisable.
The earliest photo I came across of Schutzer wearing a Rolex timepiece was in 1958. He was covering the inauguration of newly elected Argentina's newly elected president Arturo Frondizi in Buenos Aires.
Schutzer followed Presidential candidate John. F Kennedy during his successful campaign against Richard Nixon in 1960. While traveling on Kennedy's train, Schutzer snapped a photograph of JFK reading through some notes while lying down in his cabin. What makes the photograph so cool, is the fact Schutzer took it through the reflection of the mirror. It shows Schutzer wearing his stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual, while JFK is talking to someone at the door in the background.
The earliest photo I came across of Schutzer wearing a Rolex timepiece was in 1958. He was covering the inauguration of newly elected Argentina's newly elected president Arturo Frondizi in Buenos Aires.
Schutzer followed Presidential candidate John. F Kennedy during his successful campaign against Richard Nixon in 1960. While traveling on Kennedy's train, Schutzer snapped a photograph of JFK reading through some notes while lying down in his cabin. What makes the photograph so cool, is the fact Schutzer took it through the reflection of the mirror. It shows Schutzer wearing his stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual, while JFK is talking to someone at the door in the background.
"It doesn't just tell time. It tells history"
The famous photograph below of JFK at his inauguration ball on January 20th 1961, after being elected the 35th President of the United States, was taken by Schutzer.
In 1962, Schutzer travelled to Iran to cover the aftermath of an earthquake. Schutzer was wearing his Oyster Perpetual on Oyster bracelet, which is clearly seen on his wrist in the picture below.
In 1964, Schutzer went to Israel, where he took photographs of the Israeli Army and is seen below next to a group of marching female soldiers. His trusty Oyster Perpetual can be seen on his left wrist.
In 1965, Schutzer was sent to cover the Vietnam War, and his photograph of a captured Viet Cong solider was the cover photo for the November 1965 issue of LIFE Magazine.
Schutzer was photographed wearing a No Crown Guard Submariner during his time in Vietnam, which is clearly recognisable due to the bezel, dial and Oyster bracelet. I can't tell the exact reference but due to the crown size being small it is either a reference 6536 or 5508 Submariner.
Paul Shuzter was an amazing photographer. “Unfortunately his career was cut short as he was killed while on assignment during the first day while covering the ‘Six-Day War’ in 1967. One thing is for certain and that is the fact his images will live on as part of our historical record.
