Rolex of the Day: Milgauss Old School Beauty...

I think I am going to start a Rolex of the Day where I just show a beautiful Rolex with a brief description every day.

This first watch is a classic Milgauss.  This is NOT a new 40mm version.  This is a vintage old school 36mm looking awfully good.

Apollo Astronaut Jack Swigert Rolex Collection...

Jack Swigert was an Apollo Astronaut and went on become a U.S. Congressman from Colorado.  

Jack loved his Rolex watches and wore a Stainless Rolex Submariner and a Yellow Gold Root-beer GMT with a Jubilee Bracelet.

Tiger Woods and Rolex...

Tudor Coolness: Tiger Woods

The Tiger Tudor

Since we are on the subject of Golf Greats and Rolex, let's not forget that Tiger Woods used to have his own line with Rolex named "Tiger Tudor." It was pretty cool!!! In 1997 after Tiger Woods won the Masters, he signed a 5 year deal with Rolex to make a chronograph named the Tiger Tudor.

Jack Nicklaus and his trademark Rolex Day-Date

O.K. Back to reality! Nothing like James Bond and Rolex to get you all riled up!

Here is a classic Rolex Golf Advertisement of Jack Nicklaus for his trademark Day-Date. You have got to love the Gold Bear!

James Bond and Rolex...

We are going to go deep into the James Bond Submariner and its history.

For now I will get this party started with an image of James Bond wearing his Trademark Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner.  This photo is of James Bond being played by George Lazendby in On Her Majesty's Secret Service which was released in 1969.

James Bond-like 1965 Rolex Advertisement...

One of the things we are going go explore is the history of Rolex Watch Advertisements which have been superb over the years.  This one obviously is playing on James Bond.

The most interesting thing about this add is the text which reads:

We invented the Submariner to work perfectly 660 feet under the sea.  It seems to work pretty well at any level.

The Rolex Submariner is a salty watch.  It's the official watch for the divers of the Royal Navy. That beefed-up Oyster case resists pressures down to 660 feet.  You'll find it in the cockpits of most ocean racers as hard-driving skippers beat up on Bermuda, Hobart and the Fastnet Rock. How come it's seen so much where the wettest thing around is a dry Martini?  Who knows. Maybe it's because the black dial goes so well with a black tie.  Ask her.  Maybe she knows.

When a man has a world in his hands, you expect to find a Rolex on his wrist.

John Mayer Rolex Collection...

Ultra talented Singer Songwriter & Guitarist John Mayer is a fellow Rolex fanatic.  He has a huge collection of rare Rolex watches and he is probable one of the most knoledzgle and astute collectors on earth.

We will be bringing you much more on John Mayer's Rolex collection in the future.

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Peter Fonda Prototype GMT from Easy Rider

Peter Fonda wore a prototype Yellow Gold Rolex in the movie Easy Rider.  This watch is very rare and has what is commonly referred to by Rolex collectors as "Nipple" minute markers.  

In other words, if you click on the image below of the GMT you will notice that he 5 minute marker indices have an unusual dome shape to them.  

Click here to watch a video of Peter Fonda discussing his Yellow Gold GMT Prototype.

This is a very cool watch and I think as a designer it is really cool how it matches his gold sunglasses.

Presidents Wearing Presidents...

Speaking of Presidents wearing Rolex watches:

US President Dwight Eisenhower was the first known American President to wear a Rolex.  The Yellow Gold Rolex Datejust pictured below was a gift from Rolex to President Eisenhower in 1950 and it has his initials D.D.E. engraved on the back along with 5 stars.

In the future I will be doing an in-depth analysis on the American Presidents wearing Rolex watches as well as conducting an exploration into the origins of the name "Rolex President."

Stay tuned...

Photo of President Eisenhower's Rolex Datejust Photo Courtesy of Raleigh DeGeer Amyx

Chuck Yeagers's Rolex...The Right Stuff...

An example of this life long love for Rolex comes from Chuck Yeager–the American test pilot. Chuck Yeager was the first pilot to break the speed of sound barrier in an airplane and of course he was wearing his trusted Rolex that he paid $58.00 for.

The Evoltion of a the Classic Rolex Submariner

Let's start at the beginning. The beginning of the modern Rolex Era...

Although Rolex was founded in London, England in 1908 by Hans Wilsdorf this blog is really dedicated to modern Rolex design.  The original Submariner referred to by some as the James Bond Submariner, has evolved over the years but still kept many of its original design features.

Modern Rolex in my mind begins in the early 1950s with the introduction of the Submariner. The Submariner is perhaps the most iconic and classic watch ever made. Although many other watch companies have derived design elements from it, nobody has ever come close to achieving its level of design brilliance.

When I was 16 years old, over a quarter century ago, I bought my first Rolex Submariner.  I have been in love with Rolex every since.  This life long love is very common for many people.  

Rolex is very careful with changing the design of the Submariner but in 2003 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rolex Submairner they introduced a new version with a green dial named the LV Submariner.

Welcome to My Rolex Blog...

Hi, 

My name is Jake and I have been a Rolex watch fan / fanatic for over a quarter century.  I have also been a designer for over a quarter century and thus I decided to create a blog just dedicated to exploring Rolex watches from a design perspective.

So as your design guide, let's get started on our exploration into the design history of the most successful watch company in history...

Jake