Thursday, March 24, 2011

It's Time to Tighten Up!!!


It's Time to Tighten Up!!!

I can't seem to help myself!?!?!? I seem to be having another "Tighten-Up" moment, just trippin' on all the Rolex Explorer II Supercase pics, and I couldn't let this rare moment pass without sharing it with you!!!

If you are a true WIS or RIS, or just a daily reader of Jake's Rolex World, you know what time it is!!! Time to Tighten Up!!!!

If you don't have any idea what I am talking about, all you have to do is:

Step 1: Scroll down to the "Tighten Up" video in this post and hit the play button, and turn the volume way up!!!!!!

Step 2: Slowly scroll down the page and stare and trip on each photo of the Rolex Explorer from the BaselWorld coverage so far this year.

Step 3: There is no step three. Just enjoy the passage of time ;-)

Step 4: Do it all over again, but don't try to explain the "Tighten Up" experience because people will respond by looking at you funny ;-) It only works if you are starring at pics on Jake's Rolex World!!!!

Step 5: This is an advanced bonus step. If you are really getting carried away, you can use your mouse or trackpad and move it up and down like a DJ scratchin' records, to make the screen quickly jump up and down. Doing so will allow you to make the photos quickly jump around to the music...

Enjoy!!!!!!






Incoming Rolex Explorer II v. Outgoing Explorer II Design Analysis and Comparison


Incoming Rolex Explorer II v. Outgoing Explorer II
Design Analysis and Comparison

Night & Day Design Detail

Bravo Rolex!!!!!!!

The incoming all-new 2011 Rolex Explorer "Orange Hand" really is Night and Day compared to it outgoing predecessor as you can clearly see in the photo comparison below. Rolex changed the dated "Logan's Run" typeface on the bezel and made it smaller and bolder, which gives the watch a much more streamlined look.



The 2011 version has the much fatter and bolder hour and minute hands, and the "retro" safety orange arrow hand is also bolder and more outstanding that the classic version. To my design mind, the hands and markers on the outgoing Explorer II look skinny, feminine and anemic. The new hands and markers look bold, masculine and strong. It is really amazing how such subtle design changes, complete change the vibe and look of the watch!!!!

It is really not until you examine the incoming v. the outgoing images that you realize just how different these watches look. You also really can't help but notice how much bolder the Maxi-Markers look, and it looks like Rolex also fattened up the twin-lock winding crown. Also, the all-new 2011 Explorer II has its "EXPLORER II" designation printed in orange on the dial, which give it a bolder, sportier look!!!

The Return Of The Tool Watch: Day & Night Rolex Explorer II Supercase


...The Return Of The Tool Watch...

Day & Night Rolex Explorer II Supercase

Vintage Meets Modern

The all-new Rolex Explorer II is 100% Tool Watch. No polished center links, this watch is meant to take a licking and keep on ticking. Yesterday we took a look at the "Polar Phantom" Explorer II, meaning the white dial version. Today we are going to take a look at it's twin, which I am dubbing the "Midnight Phantom" meaning it has a black dial (as seen below).

In This story we are also going to take a look at the design ethos of the Rolex Explorer II.


This next image from my pal, Eric Ku is of the first Rolex Explorer II from 1971, which had an Orange Hand and black dial.

Original Rolex Explorer II (Orange Hand) Reference 1655

This Explorer II "Orange Hand" watch has a fascinating history. Unfortunately is was falesy dubbed a the Steve McQueen Explorer, despite the fact Steve McQueen NEVER wore won. On Jake's Rolex World, one of the thing I do is myth-busting and I busted the "Steve McQueen Explorer" Myth, and proved he only wore his trademark Rolex Submariner.

Here is a rare vintage Rolex advertisement for the Rolex Explorer II "Orange Hand."


The History Of The Polar Explorer

We have seen Rolex ads for the original Rolex Explorer like the one below that features the standard 3,6,9 dial.


Even though most people think Sir Edmund Hillary wore a black dial Rolex Explorer when he conquered Everest, he actually wore a white dialed Rolex Oyster Perpetual. The Polar (White) dial Rolex Explorer II really owes its genesis to the actual Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sir Edmund Hillary wore when he conquered Mount Everest in 1953, which is pictured below, and of course you can learn the entire history of the Rolex Explorer by reading The Complete History Of Rolex Conquering Everest.


The first generation Rolex watches that had the 3,6,9 dial markers as well as the "Explorer" dial designation were offered with a white dial, and a black dial. They were introduced in early 1954, and Rolex discontinued the use of white dials on the standard Explorer around 1958. In the photo we see below from Stafano Mazzariol, we see an original white dial "Polar" Rolex Explorer.



The Modern Rolex Explorer II
Rolex Coolness: Ed Viesturs

Ed Viesturs is on of the most accomplished high-altitude climbers in history and he is also a Rolex Ambassador. Ed Viesturs typically wears his now trademark Polar Rolex Explorer II, but he also wears other sports Rolex models.



"Getting to the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory." –Ed Viesturs