Minka Kelly: Yellow Gold Rolex Lady Date

...Rolex Hotness...

Minka Kelly

Yellow Gold Rolex Lady Date

Rolex Revolutionary: Fidel Castro No Crown-Guard GMT Master

...Rolex Revolutionaries...

Fidel Castro & Che Guevara

A Story of A Lawyer & A Doctor

Rolex GMT-Master Watches

Over the years, I have written extensively about, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara and their Rolex watches. 

Today, I am really excited to share many new images with you that help put together more pieces of the Fidel Castro and Che Guevara Rolex collection puzzle, and at the same time, I decided to consolidate all Fidel Castro and Che Guevara content into this one story on Jake's Rolex World.

We begin by examining this all-new, stunningly high-resolution image of Fidel Castro. This photo is arguably "The OG G-Money shot" of Fidel Castro. On Jake's Rolex World, we are so used to seeing lower resolution historical photos, that when you see something this high-resolution it almost looks like CGI, but it is real. This image is also significant, because as we put together the pieces of the Fidel Castro Rolex puzzle, we learn more about which Rolex watches he wore and when.

In the past I have published many images of Fidel Castro wearing his Rolex GMT-Master Reference 6542 with no crown guard, but in this image Fidel is clearly wearing a Rolex GMT-Master Reference 1675 with crown guards. It also has an all-black bezel insert.

Castro Took Cuba While Wearing His Rolex

Fidel Castro wore a sport Rolex Submariner when he overthrew dictator Fulgencio Batista during the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

In this first image from the LIFE Magazine archives we see Fidel Castro standing on the balcony of the Hilton Hotel with friends after his triumphant entry into the Havana, Cuba.

In both the images you clearly see Castro wearing his Rolex and if you click on the images you can see more detail. In this next photos of Castro, also taken in 1959 in Cienfuegos, Cuba you see Castro being cheered by crowds on his victorious march to Havana after successfully ousting Batista. One unanswered question, is what Rolex sport model was Castro wearing when he took Cuba? I have spent much time evaluating this image, and it appears to be a Rolex Submariner, but it could also be a GMT-Master.

Fidel Castro

Stainless Steel Rolex GMT Master

In the images below, we see Fidel Castro wearing a no-crown guard Rolex GMT-Master Reference 6542. This first image was taken in 1964, and we clearly see Fidel is wearing a "COKE" GMT-Master.

When Castro overthrew Fulgencio Batista on January 1, 1959 in Cuba, Rolex had some kind of headquarters in Cuba. You see "Habana" on many magazine ads prior to 1959. It is not clear what kind of presence Rolex had in Cuba before Castro overthrew Batista? It could have been anything between having an AD, to having their South American headquarters.

It has been suggested, Castro looted Rolex headquarters and confiscated all the Rolex watches, but I have never seen any direct proof of this.

Communism for the masses. Capitalism for the bosses.

I kid around and say "Communism for the masses and capitalism for the bosses" but it makes sense that in 1959 and through the 1960s that Fidel Castro and Che Guevara wore their Rolex watches as sturdy tool watches, because they were precise timing instruments. Remember this was before quartz watches. Also, in the early 1960s Rolex watches were not nearly as much of a status symbol or "Luxury Watch" as they are today.

"I'm the one who is going to tell you how it is going to be!!!"

Below, is an interesting photo of Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winning author, Ernest Hemingway, meeting with Fidel Castro in Cuba. Hemingway lived in and had a home in Cuba from the 1930s to 1959.

Fidel Castro 

Rolex Watch Fanatic

Is Fidel Castro more of a Rolex Fanatic than you? He must be, unless you also regularly wear a Rolex Day-Date and a Rolex Submariner on the same wrist at the same time...

But my obvious question is, why wouldn't he just wear a GMT Master since it can keep time in two places? Maybe he was keeping time in 3 places!?! Maybe the dude is just confused!?!

Castro Rockin' Rolexes in The Kremlin

When I first noticed the fact Fidel Castro was regularly wearing two Rolex watches on his left wrist, I wondered why he would do such a thing?  I think it was symbolic, because he wanted everybody to know he was keeping local time as well as the time at the Kremlin, in Moscow. In the photos below, we see Castro meeting with Nikita Khruschev at the Kremlin. 

By the way, that is Karl Marx's portrait hanging on the wall, who was also a bearded fellow...It's kind of ironic Castro is smoking a Cuban Cigar and wearing two Rolex watches in the Kremlin while he chats with Khruschev, in front of a Karl Marx picture. 

The non-verbal body language in this photo is absolutely fascinating! Notice everybody in the room is staring at Castro's cigar, and that everybody sitting is smiling with their hands folded in front of them on the table, and the three guys standing below the portrait of Marx, have their arms behind their backs.

A Communist President

Rolex: The International Mark Of Success

Communist President sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? I imagine that the supreme irony is that Rolex also became The International Mark Of Success in the Communist world as well!!! For instance, the father of the Chinese Communist Revolution Moa Zedong wore yellow gold Rolex watches!!! So did fellow Cuban revolutionary Che Guivara, and even Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

It appears that Fidel Casto is wearing a Rolex Datejust on a President bracelet in the photo below. I don't recall ever seeing this combo before, but I can't see the day wheel?

Smoking Cuban takes on a whole new meaning with this next image. What a life!!! Hanging out as the King of Cuba, smoking the best Cuban cigars, having a harem of Rolex watches.  Does not get much better than that. Communism for the masses, Capitalism for the Bosses. Viva La revolución!!!

Fidel Castro Documentaries

These two full-length documentaries offer a superb overview of the history of Fidel Castro, and the Cuban revolution.

Che Guevara & Fidel Castro

Revolutionary Brothers In Arms

Che Guevara and Fidel Castro were fellow revolutionaries and long-time friends. After the Cuban revolution Che became the economic controller of Cuba before he wandered off to Bolivia. The photo below is the earliest known of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara together, and neither of them have what would later become their trademark beards. Fidel Castro was a lawyer, and Che Guevara was a doctor.

Che Guevara

Espresso GMT Master

[Reference 1675]

Che Guevara Documentary

Rolex From Generation to Generation

Vintage Rolex 
From Generation to Generation

Support American Wristwatches The Art Deco Series

Support American Wristwatches The Art Deco Series
Ty Albert Rulli has been working a a fascinating trilogy of books that explore Art Deco watches with a focus on American watches. His fascinating project is on Kickstarter, so be sure to watch the video below and check it out!!!

A French Beauty

A Parisian Beauty

I figured since it is Valentine's Day, I would publish this interesting email I recently received from Michael in Paris, France who sent in this great photo and said:

"Hello Jake. Congrats on Jake's Rolex World Blog, which I read every day. Here is a picture of my wife's Rolex GMT 1675, featuring a gorgeous pink/purple insert. I just love this color and it perfectly fits a woman's wrist.

All the best,

Michael Chatelais

Paris, France

Just in case you are not familiar with what is going on, Michael's wife's Rolex GMT pictured above began its life as a Pepsi GMT, meaning its bezel insert was originally a deep red and a navy/cobalt blue, but over the decades it faded/oxidized into a fuschia/pink with purple as seen above. Not all Pepsi bezel inserts fade this way. So what originally was seen as a defect in color shifting, has not become an appealing vintage patina that is sought out by women.

Is Apple Really Working On An iWatch?

...Apple Wrist Shot Of The Day...

Is Apple Working On A SmartWatch?

Fascinating Far-Reaching Implications of Silicon Valley v. Switzerland

Bloomberg reported yesterday that Apple has a 100 person team working on a smartwatch, known as an iWatch. Rolex and Apple have a lot in common, and who ever thought their paths might cross!?!

If Apple revolutionizes the wrist-watch, like they did with the iPhone, and tablet form-factors, what effect would this have on Rolex? It's hard to tell, but it looks like Apple may be working on delivering on the promise of a Dick-Tracy-like phone watch! The artist rendition below of what an Apple smartwatch might look like was created by Yrving Torrealba.

I am fascinated with the technical aspects of such a smartwatch. In particular, such a smartwatch would really kind of pick-up where quartz technology left off. Ironically, all the new Rolex watches now keep time almost as well as quartz watches, and it is a further irony that Rolex used to make quartz watches, but no longer does.

I wonder if we will ever see a Rolex smart watch? After all, Rolex is the greatest horological pioneer in history. Will Rolex pioneer, or rest on their laurels? Time will tell (pun intended ;-) 

Update: February 21, 2013. Apple was just granted a Patent for what appears to be an iWatch.

Retro Rolex Hotness: Judy Landers from the TV Show VEGA$

...Rolex Hotness...

Judy Landers
Yellow Gold Lady Date

Judy Landers was a really successful actress in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She appeared on episodes of The Love Boat, Happy Days, Charlie's Angels, Vega$, Night Court, The A-Team and The Fall Guy.

In the photo above from a magazine taken in 1983, we see Judy Landers wearing her yellow gold Rolex Lady Date, and in a recent photo below (33 years later) we see here still wearing her Rolex, and it still looks great! Talk about timeless femininity...

...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day...

Meters First Vintage Submariner

Stefan's Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner Reference 5512

Rolex Coolness: Steve McQueen The King Of Cool

...The King Of Cool...

Steve McQueen

McQueen at Sebring 1970

[Rolex Submariner: Reference 5512]

In this photo we see Steve McQueen at Sebring in 1970 wearing his trademark Rolex Submariner (Reference 5512). Of course, Steve McQueen is the King Of Cool, and I included a video interview of Steve McQueen at Sebring in 1970 talking about how he was racing with his broken foot!!!

"I'm not sure whether I'm an actor who races or a racer who acts."

-Steve McQueen

Notice in the photo below, that Steve McQueen is wearing his Rolex Submariner while racing during the 1970 Sebring race!!!

Steve McQueen's Secret Karate Career

Bruce Lee & Chuck Norris

"Those who are skilled in producing surprises will win."

–Sun Tzu, The Art Of War 500BC

Steve McQueen was an accomplished martial artist, but he kept it low key, and often denied it in interviews. Steve McQueen and Bruce Lee were close friends and Bruce Lee taught Steve McQueen, Jeet Kune Do which is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by Bruce Lee in 1967.

Chuck Norris with Bruce Lee Pictured Above

Fascinating Bruce Lee Interview

Be Like Water!

Chuck Norris was also a personal Karate instructor of Steve McQueen, and apparently, Steve McQueen earned a third degree black belt, but never tested for it because he did not want anybody to sue him and use it against him. Steve McQueen is pictured below with Chuck Norris, in a very rare photo taken in front of Chuck Norris' Karate Studio in the early 1970s, and Steve McQueen appears to be checking out a Karate magazine.

Steve McQueen encouraged, both of his martial arts teachers, Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris to pursue acting careers.

Bruce Lee said when he first met Steve McQueen "When I first saw him, I couldn't understand the guy. Steve was so suspicious of me and it took quite a while before I got to know him. But once he accepted me as a friend, we became real close."

Steve McQueen and Bruce Lee are pictured below, and they are certainly two of the coolest guys that ever lived. Bruce Lee once referred to himself as "The Oriental Steve McQueen."

Steve McQueen said "I'm not an expert or anything like that. I'm not involved in the martial arts to any degree. Bruce was just a very old personal friend of mine and I cared for him a lot. I thought he was a brilliant, fine philosopher about everyday living. He had good standards, and I have great respect for that."

This footage from "Way Of The Dragon" is mesmerizing and it shows how amazing of an athlete Bruce Lee was!!! Turn the volume way up!!!!!

Bruce Lee had many famous actors and athletes as students, including basketball legend, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bruce Lee had this amazing fight screen in "Game Of Death" which was filmed in 1973 just before he passed away. Game Of Death was not released until 1978, at which time it became an enormous success despite the campy 1970s Charlie's Angels soundtrack.

The world was shocked when Bruce Lee died. Steve McQueen was a lead pallbearer along with James Coburn at Bruce Lee's funeral which took place on July 31, 1973 on Capital Hill. Bruce Lee was only 33 years old when he stepped back into eternity. 7 years later, Steve McQueen at only 50 yeas of age, also stepped back into eternity. I don't know if it is true that only the good die young, but it would have been nice to see them both with grey hair.

"If you love life, don't waste time, because time is what life is made of." –Bruce Lee