50Th Anniversary Apollo Moon Landing Special Announcements

...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.

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.

HODINKEE: HANDS-ON WITH Marlon Brando's 'GMT Apocalypse' Rolex Watch

HODINKEE


HANDS-ON WITH


Marlon Brando's

'GMT Apocalypse' Rolex Watch

I realize there are many readers of Jake's Rolex World that are awaiting my definitive upcoming story on Marlon Brando's story, which I hope to publish this weekend. This story will contain a tremendous amount of significant historical research, findings and insight into the Marlon Brando's watch he wore during the epic movie "Apocalypse Now."

In the meantime, Hodinkee's James Stacey just published an excellent article titled "HANDS-ON: Marlon Brando's Rolex GMT-Master From Apocalypse Now." James Stacey from Hodinkee showcased the first photos of Marlon Brando's Apocalypse Now Rolex GMT-Master on the wrist and they are superb, as is his story, so be sure to check it out!!!

Rolex and The Open

Rolex and The Open

Mirka Federer: The Rolex Ambassador's Wife

 By Capt. DANNY CRIVELLO
           

Roger Federer didn't win the 2019 Wimbledon championship. As a tennis fan, I watched the five hours of the game, perhaps the longest Wimbledon final ever. But I also enjoyed watching his biggest fan: his wife. 

Sunday Mirka Federer was wearing a Rolex White Gold Cosmograph Daytona 40, Mother-of-Pearl Diamond Dial on white leather strap during this five-set nail-biter. 

The white Daytona is very à propos for this tournament as players can only wear whites on Wimbledon courts. I love that Mirka doesn't just wear Lady-Datejusts.

Mirka Federer, who used to play tennis professionally and competed at the US Open, Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open, has been married to Roger since 2009. 

...and she has been his biggest supporter. They met during the 2000 Summer Olympics on a tennis court. They were both representing the Swiss team. 

Mirka is the perfect example of men-size Rolex fitting perfectly on a woman's wrist. Below she is rocking the Rolex Yacht-Master 40 with multi-color gem-set bezel.

And finally below, Mrs. Federer is rocking probably the coolest Rolex Day-Date ever: A Day-Date with emerald bezel and diamond pavé dial.

Marlon Brando Rolex GMT-Master From Apocalypse Now...

Marlon Brando's

'Apocalypse Now'

GMT-MASTER 

Discovered!!!

This is such epic news that I had to borrow Hodinkee's "Breaking News" moniker again for this story!!! I can't believe I am writing this, but at the same time I am not surprised: The GMT-Master Marlon Brando wore in "Apocalypse Now" was recently discovered and surfaced at Philipps auction house, which will offer this amazing historical watch in December!

Marlon Brando's Rolex GMT-MASTER he famously wore in the 1979 movie "Apocalypse Now" is pictured above and below.

Marlon Brando gave the watch to his adopted daughter who gave it to her husband years ago, and they just discovered it in a dresser drawer. Marlon Brando hand-etched his name on the back of the watch as seen in the photo below. 

I have written extensively about Marlon Brando and the many different Rolex watches he wore throughout his life, which you can learn far more about below:

...Profiles In Coolness...

Marlon Brando

The Wild One

The Greatest Actor In History

An Amazing Life with Rolex Keeping His Time

1924-2004

Marlon Brando is considered by many to be the greatest actor that ever lived. In his amazing career he won two Academy Awards. One for Best Actor in the 1954 movie "On The Waterfront" and in 1972, another for Best Actor in "The Godfather."

Not only was Marlon Brando a pioneer of cool, but he was also a lifetime Rolex wristwatch wearer. In this article we will see him wearing five different Rolex watches.

Marlon Brando's First Rolex

Marlon Brando was born in 1924, and received his first Rolex in 1943, at age 19 from his parents, and it is seen below. It was a Rolex Oyster Royalite Observatory model.

In the photo below we see Marlon Brando with his dad and notice he is wearing his Rolex Royalite which is pictured abovel.

The inscription on the back of the watch reads, "To Bud, from Mother & Dad. 1943" "Bud" was Marlon Brando's nickname his parents gave him when he was a child.

The Fugitive Kind (1960)

All The Crazy Moonphases

John Goldberger, the author of 100 Superlative Rolex Watches pointed out that in the 1960 movie, The Fugitive Kind, starring Marlon Brando and Joanne Woodward, that Marlon Brando mentions his Rolex Moonphase 6062. John also points out that he thinks the watch is a chronograph, but I can't see it well enough to tell. I definitely see the moonphase on the dial of the watch when Marlon hands it to Joanne.

John Goldberger pointed out to me in an email, "I think this is the first Rolex advertising in the movies, because I bet the original book or script by Tennessee Williams didn't mention the words Rolex Chronometer."

Update: In a follow-up email, John mentioned "Tennessee Williams wrote the script for The Fugitive Kind in 1937, at which time Rolex had NEVER made a Moonphase of any kind. This means that in 1960, the screenplay authors added the words Rolex Chronometer as well as the description for the Moonphase. Also the description is too precise for the knowledge of a film-maker, and the supreme irony is that the model was out of production in 1960!!"

Marlon Brando is pictured below in 1962 with his fellow Hollywood leading men including Rock Hudson, Cary Grant and Gregory Peck.

The Godfather (1972)

Don Vito Corleone

Marlon Brando starred in The Godfather in 1972, which is considered to be on of the best films of all time.

Last Tango In Paris (1972)

Marlon Brando starred in The Last Tango In Paris in which he wore a yellow gold Rolex Datejust as seen in the photos below.

In the next three photos, all taken in 1975 we see Marlon Brando sporting his Coke GMT Master on an Oyster bracelet.

The first photo below shows Marlon Brando with famous rock and roll promoter, Bill Graham.

Marlon Brando is pictured below in 1977 sporting his Rolex GMT Master.

In the photo below, Marlon Brando is pictured with his secretary, and he is wearing his Rolex GMT Master.

Superman

In 1978 Marlon Brando played Superman's father Jor-El in Superman: The Movie.

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Rolex GMT Master

In this next set of photos we see Marlon Brando wearing his Rolex GMT Master in the movie Apocalypse Now. Apocolypse Now was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and Marlon Brando played Colonel Walter Kurtz. Notice his Rolex GMT Master is missing its bezel. The following set of photos were taken by Mary Ellen Mark from Apocalypse Now.

In this next photo, taken in 1982, we see Marlon Brando pictured with Native American activist and leader of the American Indian Movement, and Brando is wearing his Rolex GMT-Master on a Rolex Oyster Bracelet.

Wearing Two GMT-Masters

The two next photos are screen grabs from the 1989 Connie Chung interview, which can be seen below. The photos show that for some reason, Marlon Brando was wearing his two-tone GMT-Master, along with his Pepsi GMT-Master at the same time. 

In this next photo, taken toward the end of Marlon Brando's life we see him wearing a two-tone Rolex GMT Master on a Jubilee Bracelet.