Saturday, June 14, 2008

1964 Rolex Submariner Advertised for $195...


This vintage Rolex advertisement from Skin Diver Magazine in 1964 is fascinating and filled with some very interesting facts.

It is hard to believe that in 1964 the Stainless Rolex Submariner retailed for $195.

It is amazing to compare and contrast older Rolex copy with recent copy.



You can buy an underwater watch for $39.95

The Rolex is $195

That cheaper watch may work just fine.

The Rolex Submariner 660' leaves nothing to chance.

You can't make a mistake. Here's why: Guaranteed water and pressure-proof to depth of 660 feet.

Super shock-resistant.

Self-widing 25 -jewel certified chronometer movement.

Revolving bezel registers elapsed dive time.

Hands and dial are extra luminous for utmost visibility.

The Submariner's "Crown-Guard" steel shoulders completely protect the crown from accidental knocks against hard surfaces.

And...the Submariner is the one piece of SCUBA equipment you can wear proudly 24 hours a day.

Its rugged good looks cut a handsome swath in or out of the water.

Go ahead and show it off. It looks great on you!

Stainless steel Oyster case with special "Tropic" crystal and matching flushfit bracelet. $195 (federal tax included).

When case, crown and crystal are intact.

P.S. Did you know that the Submariner 660' is the father of our famous Rolex "bathyscaph" watch which was fitted to the outside of the "Trieste," spent 20 minutes on the ocean floor (at 35,797 feet), withstood pressures of over six tons per square inch, and maintained perfect accuracy throughout and after that grueling test?

That watch is now in the Smithsonian Institution. The Rolex Submariner is at your nearest quality jeweler.

Skin Diver-June 1964

Rolex GMT II Ceramic Stainless Steel...

Patrick sent in these great close up shots of his awesome GMT II Ceramic...

You have to click on this image

Photo Credit: Patrick B

Rolex Yellow Gold GMTs at Basel...

I can't figure out which one of these I like better. They are both so cool looking.

This is the watch that Brad Pitt is wearing in the post above.

Rare Yellow Gold Yacht-Master with White Dial with Black Indices...

The Yellow Gold Rolex Yacht-Master is a striking watch. One of the interesting details with this white dial is that it has onyx black inlays for indices, but the lume is separate on pyramid shaped markers that sit in front of the indices.

Click on the image to see up close:

Clint Eastwood Rolex Two-Tone Datejust with Jubilee Bracelet...

Clint Eastwood is a very famous actor and director, and he is wearing his two-tone Rolex Datejust with the Jubilee bracelet in this shot.

A Nice Pepsi Shot...

Early Rolex Milgauss Design Language similar to new Rolex Day-Date II

I kept looking at the new Day-Date II, thinking I had seen that wide bezel somewhere before and I just figured it out.  

The design language of the new Day-Date II is somewhat reminiscent of this early Milgauss.  I like the Duaphine hands better.  I think Rolex should bring them back.  They look so precise and sharp–like a sword.


Rolex Day Date: My Second Rolex...

More that a quarter century ago I bought my first Rolex Submariner when I was 16.

Several years later when I was 20 I bought this Yellow Gold beauty.  It had a white white porcelain dial with raised yellow gold Roman numerals.

Roger Moore as James Bond Rolex Stainless Submariner...

This is a publicity shot of Roger Moore as James Bond.

A President Wearing a President...

Former Vice President and President of the United States, Lyndon Johnson was the third or fourth U.S. President to wear a Rolex.  In our upcoming Definitive Rolex Series we will be exploring the origin of the term "Rolex President."  

Lyndon Johnson was the first American president to wear a Day-Date with what is commonly referred to today as the "Presidential" bracelet.


This is a Great Rolex work of Art from the Idle Swede of Boca Raton...

When I first saw this 3 Dimensional Artwork created by Leo I was blown away!!!

It is so cool how the Rolex watches seem to float and pop off the page.

Really cool.  Thanks for sharing this great piece of artwork and watches with us Leo!!!

You must click on the image to see it bigger:

Image Appears Courtesy of The Idle Swede

If you Enjoy Jake's Rolex Watch Blog Please Make A Donation...

Please make a donation to help keep Jake's Rolex Watch Blog commercial free...

Rolex Wrist Shot of the Day: Explorer II

Jesse Jackson Rolex Tridor Day-Date with Diamond Bezel and Matching Diamond Indices...

Rolex discontinued the Rolex Tridor Day-Date years ago but I remember that when it came out many people touted it as the Supreme Day-Date.  

It is interesting because it looks like a Presidential bracelet mixed with a Jubilee bracelet.

Jesse Jackson is an American civil-rights leader and was a protege of Dr. Martin Luther Kind, who also wore a Yellow Gold Rolex.  Jesse Jackson has worn his Rolex Tridor Day-Date with the diamond bezel and dial for many years.




Rolex Day-Date II Preview All Five Watches...

We were just looking at the black dial Day-Date II that Rolex previewed at Basel 2008, so I thought it would be good to look at all the upcoming 40mm Day-Date models.

I know many people like the new glacier blue dial with raised roman numerals.

I think I noticed that the Yellow Gold version is the only one with lume on the hands?

What do you think about the new 40mm Day-Date?  Do you like it better than the 36mm, and what do you think about the overall look of the watch?

Platinum Day-Date with Ice Blue Dial

Platinum Day-Date with Black Dial

White-Gold Day-Date with Roman Numerals

Yellow Gold Day-Date with Roman Numerals

Rose Gold Day-Date with Roman Numerals

Jake's Quote of the Day

I'd rather be a failure at something I enjoy than be a success at something I hate. —George Burns

Chuck Yeager with Glamorous Glen in Rolex GMT II Two-tone with Jubilee Bracelet Advertisement...

I am working on a Definitive Rolex Series on Chuck Yeager which you will love. Chuck Yeager has been wearing Rolex watches for over 56 years.

This 1992 Rolex Advertisement shows Chuck Yeager with his Glamorous Glen III P-51 Mustang. Chuck Yeager flew this P-51 Mustang in the USAAF, in the 357th Figher Group, 363rd Fighter Squadron during World War II.

Chuck Yeager flew 64 missions and shot down 13 German Aircraft during his tour. Yeager was also shot down over Germany and escaped capture and and went on to break the sound barrier.

I don't recall ever seeing a Two-tone GMT with a Jubilee bracelet. It looks unusual and interesting...


"If you want to grow old as a pilot, you've got to know when to push it, and when to back off." Chuck Yeager

Throughout his remarkable career, Chuch Yeager has shown an uncanny talent for what pilots call "pushing the edge of the envelope." At 21, only three years after boarding his first plane, Yeager was leading a squadron of fighter pilots in World War II. And at the age of 24, he became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound.

Attempting such dangerous feats is one thing. Living to describe them to your grandchildren is another. Displaying the enormous courage, skill and cool judgment needed to do both has made General Chuck Yeager an authentic American hero.

Although retired from the military, Yeager remains a man on the move. He's an avid sportsman with a lifelong love of the outdoors, a lecturer and a consulting test pilot who still loves to fly.

"Maybe I don't jump off 15-foot fences anymore," said Yeager, "but I can still pull 8 or 9 G's in a high-performance aircraft." And in all his exploits, Yeager depends on a rugged and reliable time-piece.

"I wore a Rolex 40 years ago when I broke the sound barrier and I still do today," says Yeager matter-of-factly.

"A pilot has to believe in his equipment. That's why I wear a Rolex."

If You Enjoy Jake's Rolex Watch Blog Please Make A Donation...

Please make a donation to help keep Jake's Rolex Watch Blog commercial free...

Ultra Rare Prototype Rolex Yachtmaster Chronograph...

This is an extremely rare Rolex Prototype that was once owned by Eric Clapton.

This watch was made in 1965 and measures 39.5mm, so it is the size of a current Daytona. This is unusual because the Daytona models at that time were only 36mm.


It is fascinating that Rolex experimented with creating a second watch with a Nautical theme, the first obviously being the Submariner. It took Rolex another 3 decades before they finally introduced that Yacht Master.

Some people refer to this prototype as the Daytona Yachtmaster because they look so similar. The watch is a Chronograph and has the Rolex proprietary designation for a Chronograph which is "Cosmograph."

Rolex Yachtmaster II in Yellow Gold...

Rolex introduced the Yachmaster II a few years ago and to date it is the biggest Rolex ever made at 43mm.  The Yacht-Master II has a specially designed movement that can be programmed to start between 1 and 10 minutes to accommodate sailing regattas that have varying start sequences.

According to Rolex "The Yacht-Master II is equipped with a Ring Command bezel designed and developed by Rolex, Rotatable 90 degrees, this innovation allows access to the programming funtion of the countdown, then to the locking of this programming.  Although is is very complex from a watchmaking point of view, this interaction between the bezel and the movment makes the Yacht-Master II extremely easy to use."

Rolex has a special site dedicated to the Yachmaster II that starts out with a great sailing film which you can visit by clicking here.

Rolex also has a site where you can not only about learn how the Yacht-Master II functions, but Rolex has a really cool interactive online demo that allows you to play with programming the Yacht-Master which you can visit by clicking here.

There is a downloadable users guide for the Yacht-Master II that includes an interactive demo that allows you to play with programing the Yacht-Master.  There is a Mac and PC version available here.



Design Fun: GMT II Ceramic with Pepsi Bezel...

Turns out PCS is not the only person craving a Pepsi Ceramic.  He was so curious, he put a Pepsi bezel on top of his Ceramic to simulate what a Supercase GMT would look like.

I really hope Rolex ads this bezel option...


Photo Credit: CX007

Rolex Day Date II Preview

Rolex showed off the upcoming all new Platinum Day-Date II in 40MM, which means it is the size of a Daytona or Submariner. The Day-Date has historically always been 36MM, so this is quite a design departure for Rolex.

I remember when I purchased my Rolex Submariner 25 years ago, thinking it was bizarre how big it was–it almost seemed to big.  Today is seems kind of small, particularly when compared to all the other watch brands.

The Datejust and the Day-Date today seem kind of small which is why Rolex is making the Day-Date larger.  Some people prefer the size of the current Day-Date.  Also, Rolex seems to have eliminated the beautiful domed bezel option and replaced it with a steeper, taller straight bezel.

I have not seen one of these in person, but I am curious.



Photo Credit: R-L-X.de

Rolex Explorer II White Dial Jungle Shot...

I love this color combo of the white dial Rolex Explorer II in front of a green leaf. It makes me want to go exploring in the Amazon Jungle.

Photo Credit: Heinz S

Jacques Costeau's sons Jean-Michel & Philippe-Pierre Cousteau Wearing Rolex Submariner Watches...

International explorer, Jacques Cousteau and his sons all wore Rolex watches.  

In this photo of Jean-Michel Cousteau he is wearing his trademark Rolex Submariner in Stainless Steel.


It is funny because in the photo below, Jacques Cousteau seems to be staring at his son Philippe-Pierre Cousteau's Rolex Submariner.

Rolex Water Shot: Explorer...

I love Rolex water shots and this is a great one from Jocke.  

Jocke is considered to be one of the best, and certainly most interesting Rolex Photographers.  

Jocke is from Sweden and is extremely creative.

Photo Credit: Jocke