Over the seven years I have been publishing Jake's Rolex World, there have been certain famous people who I have seen, and thought, why don't they wear a Rolex? They would look great with a Rolex! One such person, I always hoped to see wearing a Rolex was Charlie Rose, but he always only wore skinny dress watches with his Ralph Lauren suits. Recently, I was watching Charlie Rose, and I was shocked to see him rockin' a Rolex DEEP-SEA SEA-DWELLER, D-Blue Dial Edition!!!
Charlie Rose is not only one of my role-models, but is arguably the greatest interview in history! Now if I could just find a photo of Cary Grant wearing a Rolex, I would feel like I chronicled every super-cool guy in history that ever wore a Rolex!
I was watching Charlie Rose interview Apple CEO Tim Cook, and in the second part of the interview, when he is done interviewing Tim Cook, he next interviews industrial designer Yves Behar, which was where I noticed Charlie wearing his Rolex DEEP-SEA.
In the photo below we see Charlie Rose interviewing Yves Behar, and in this photo you can see the unmistakably unique side profile of the Rolex DEEP-SEA on Charlie Rose's wrist.
In these detailed articles I argued Apple just upset the horological apple cart and potentially poses a significant threat to the entire Swiss watch industry, and particularly Rolex.
In the seven years I have been publishing Jake's Rolex World, this has likely been the most controversial subject topic. I received many emails from readers, and other chimed in with comments. I believe the advent of the Apple watch is a seminal event in horology, so much so, I quietly started Jake's Apple Watch World which I intend to make the definitive Apple Watch Online Magazine.
So obviously I am fascinated with the Apple Watch and think it is a serious game-changer. Does this mean I have lost my passion for Rolex and Rolex History? Absolutely not!!! Rolex always has been and always will be my favorite watch brand, and you can rest assured I have a great deal of passion for the Rolex brand, and in the future, I will be publishing much more fascinate Rolex history and insight.
So what is the this article all about? John Brownlee from CultOfMac.com recently published a story named "The Apple Watch is thin as a Rolex."What does this have to do with anything? This illustrates my original point, that Rolex is the standard by which all others are judged and measured. This is just the beginning. In the months and years to come I believe we we will see more and more comparisons between Apple and Rolex watches. I don't intend to cover much more Apple Watch news on Jake's Rolex World, so if you are interested, I recommend following Jake's Apple Watch World.
The article below is fascinating as it compares the thickness of the new Apple Watch to the Thickness of Rolex Watches. Once again, Rolex being the "Gold Standard" by which all other are typically judged.
Historically, Rolex has been considered to be the International Mark Of Success. The real question is what does "Success" mean, and how will it be measured as we progress into the digital age in the opening decades of the 21st Century? As previously mentioned, there has been much controversy around my opinion on the potential effect the Apple watch could have in the long-term with Rolex. It almost seems like I became a naysayer when it came to Rolex. The reality is that I have been completely straight-forward about my opinions, and in the time since I published the previous articles I have had some more epiphanies. I realized that Apple's success in the marketplace could actually benefit Rolex, since whole new generations will grow to appreciated the value proposition of wristwatches. Also, my fellow blogger, Maria pointed out that she caries her iPhone everywhere she goes, and thus she does not need an Apple watch, since her iPhone will do everything the watch will but better. As they say, time will tell, so it will be interesting to see how things play themselves out. Jake's Apple Watch Worldis still in its infancy, but I intend to continue covering all things Apple Watch, which should be fascinating!!! I added the banner below to all of my Online Magazines which you can always find at the bottom of all my blogs. You can click on the banner below to visit Jake's Apple Watch World:
A few years ago Tom Cruise starred in Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol, which was the fourth in the series of Mission Impossible movies. Basically, Tom Cruise plays an American James Bond kind-of-guy. I actually really enjoyed watching the movie because it was so well done, and the special effects were great!
Dan Pierce took a photo of his Tudor Heritage Chronograh which is pictured below. This is the same watch Tom Cruise is wearing in the photos above and below.
Jeremy Renner is picture above on the right and in the photo below sporting his stainless steel Rolex Submariner.
Philippe Cousteau's Double Red Rolex SEA-DWELLER. which is about to be auctioned is pictured below.
In this next photo of Philippe-Pierre Cousteau taken during a Jacques Cousteau documentary named "Voyage To The End Of The World", he is wearing his trademark Rolex SEA-DWELLER in stainless steel.
Philippe Cousteau's father, Jacques Cousteau conducted DEEP-SEA testing on prototype Rolex Submariner watches back in 1953, as seen in the photo below.
Jacques Cousteau not only invented SCUBA diving but taught his wife and two sons how to dive which you see in the photo below. Jacques Cousteau's oldest son, Jean-Michel is pictured on the far left; Jacques wife, Simone is pictured in the center; then Jacques Cousteau with his younger son Philippe pictured on the far right exploring in the Mediterranean Sea.
To Light Up The Darkness And Show Us The Way
Jacques-Yves Cousteau brought both of his sons with him on the Calypso when he shot The Silent World. In the photo below taken in 1953 onboard the Calypso by Harold Eugene Edgerton we see a young Jean-Michel Cousteau, with Philippe Cousteau in between his Father, Jacques-Yves & brother Jean-Michel.
In this next image also taken in 1954 onboard the Calypso by Harold Edgerton we see Jacques-Yves with his son Philippe.
I have written extensively about Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and his children, and grandchildren's achievements as stewards of the ocean. The photo below is from a Rolex SEA-DWELLER story I am still working on, and have not published yet, about Philippe Cousteau's involvement as a diver on the U.S. Navy SEA-LAB III expedition. Suffice it to say that the Rolex SEA-DWELLER was developed as part of that program as a venture between the U.S. Navy SEA-LAB and Rolex. The photo below of Philippe Cousteau preparing to dive as part of SEA-LAB III would have been taken just around the time he obtained his Double Red SEA-DWELLER which will soon be auctioned.
The photo below of Philippe Cousteau with the sun behind him was taken by John Harding. The location was Seal Rocks in New South Wales where Philippe spent a few days diving and conducting an interview for John Harding's magazine which was named Fathom.
Philippe-Piere Cousteau was quite an explorer and risk taker. Unfortunately in 1979 Philippe was attempting to land the Cousteau amphibious Flying Calypso airplane boat (seen below) and he crashed in in the Tagus River in Portugal and lost his life. His father Jacques-Yves Cousteau was completely devastated by the supreme tragedy.
Philippe Cousteau Jr.
At the time of Philippe Cousteau's death, his American wife, Jan, was seven months pregnant with their son Philippe Cousteau Jr. who is pictured below. Philippe Cousteau followed in his father and grandfather's footsteps.
"I'll never be able to fill my father's or grandfather's shoes, but hopefully I can stand on their shoulders and reach farther." –Philippe Cousteau Jr.
Philippe Cousteau was born in Santa Monica, California, U.S.A. on January 20, 1980 and is 34 years old today. He has followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by educating the public about environmental and conservation issues as well as encouraging people to take better care of planet earth. Philippe Cousteau Jr. grew up in France and the U.S. and in 2000, he co-founded EarthEcho International with his older sister Alexandra Cousteau.
Philippe is also the Chief Ocean Correspondent for Animal Planet, where he is producing a series of ocean documentary programs.
In the next three photos of Philippe Cousteau Jr., he is testifying before the United States Congress in a hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee on Capital Hill on February 11, 2009 in Washington D.C. The hearing examined the environmental and commercial aspects of offshore oil drilling.
Philippe Cousteau Jr., wears a Rolex SEA-DWELLER which looks similar to the Submariner his father, uncle and grandfather wore–as you can see in the photo above and the two photos below. As Scott pointed out in the comment section, Philippe's mother, Jan gave him his Rolex SEA-DWELLER when he graduated from Saint Andrews University.
Philippe Cousteau Jr., gave a TED Talk on which you can view below. At the end of his talk, he quoted his grandfather, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who once profoundly said:
“We can find happiness in protecting the world around us, not only because we cherish it for its awesome beauty, power and mystery, but because we cherish our fellow humans. Those who live today, and those who will come tomorrow. Human beings, who like ourselves, will increasingly depend on the environment for happiness and for health.“ –Jacques Cousteau
As we can see in the video above and in the photo below, we see Philippe Cousteau sporting his Rolex SEA-DWELLER.
Philippe Cousteau is pictured below with his older sister, Alexandra Cousteau in a recent photo. Alexandra was born in 1976. Alexandra is an achieved environmentalist and advocate of the importance of conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of water resources for a healthy planet earth.
Philippe Cousteau was also survived by his older brother, Jean-Michel Cousteau. Jacques-Yves Cousteau is pictured below in 1989 in Papaua, New Guinea with Philipe Cousteau's older brother, Jean-Michel Cousteau. Jean-Michel produced all of his father's TV shows. Notice Jean-Michel is also wearing a stainless steel Rolex Sea-Dweller.
Below is a recent Jean-Michel Cousteau TED Talk, which is fascinating...
Jean-Michel Cousteau's son, who is another one of Jaques Cousteau's grandsons, is Fabien Cousteau who is featured below in a superb TED Talk he recently gave.
Philippe Cousteau is pictured board the Calypso with his Father Jacques Cousteau in 1978.
The First SEA-DWELLER's In History
Have you ever wondered why a Rolex SEA-DWELLER is named SEA-DWELLER? In other words, what is a SEA-DWELLER and where did the name come from? It is a fact, that Jacques Cousteau was responsible for creating the first underwater house/structure/habitats, as part of Operation Conshelf in September of 1962. The objective of Operation Conshelf was to create underwater habitats for saturation divers to "DWELL" in, on the "SEA" floor.
Albert Falco and Claude Wesly of the Calypso diving team (pictured below wearing red caps) swam into history when they became the first "Oceanauts [French]" or "Aquanauts [American]" or "SEA-DWELLERS [ROLEX]" to live or "DWELL" under the sea. Also in the photo below we see Jacques Cousteau visiting with Falco and Wesly inside the Conshelf I habitat.
Update on September 17, 2014 @ 12:20PM: The auction for President Eisenhower's Rolex just concluded. The highest offer was $475,000 which did not meet the reserve of $1 Million. They say that you never really know the value of something until you try to sell it, so I imagine this auction came pretty close to determining the fair-market value of the watch. Close to a half-million dollars is still an impressive number for one of the most historically significant Rolex watches!
"The" First Rolex President Coming To Auction!!!
The International Mark Of Success & Achievement
The First Rolex President
President Dwight Eisenhower's Rolex
[1951 Yellow Gold Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet]
The 150,000th Officially Certified Rolex Swiss Chronometer
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower pictured above wearing his yellow gold Rolex Datejust in the 1950s
This is no ordinary Rolex Presidential watch, but the one that Rolex gave to then Supreme NATO Commander of Europe, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, after he successfully freed Europe from the shackles of Nazi tyranny. Essentially, General Eisenhower was the architect of D-Day, under which he assembled the largest armada in history and sailed across the Atlantic, and stormed the beaches of Normandy to defeat the Nazi's. After winning World War II in Europe, General Eisenhower was appointed Supreme Commander of NATO, under which command, he got everything straightened out and oversaw the rebuilding of Europe.
It Doesn't Just Tell Time. It Tells History.
"Why this watch? This watch is witness. To words that moved nations. It's dared men faster. further. Worn by luminaries. Visionaries. Champions. It doesn't Just tell time. It tells History.
A recent Rolex ad campaign slogan says "It doesn't just tell time. It tells history." I can think of no other Rolex where this statement would be more true with, than with President Eisenhower's Rolex Datejust. In the photo below taken on January 20, 1953 we see outgoing U.S. President, Harry Truman in the back of the Presidential Limousine with President Elect, Dwight Eisenhower as they leave for Eisenhower's inauguration. In this photo we get a clear shot of President Eisenhower's Rolex Datejust jubilee bracelet.
In the photo below taken under the White House portico, we see then Senator Hubert Humphrey in the presidential limousine turned around looking at outgoing U.S. President Truman.
An Unprecedented Rolex President
It is obvious President Eisenhower's Rolex is arguably the most historically significant Rolex watch. It has seen and witnessed a tremendous amount of history!
It has been said, that every Rolex tells a story, and when a Rolex is engraved on its case back, also know as a "verso" it adds a unique characteristic, that tells a story.
The back of President Eisenhower's Rolex is engraved with Eisenhower's 5 Stars, which form a pentagon–in the middle of the stars. The engraving also has his initials DDE, as well as the date he was appointed Supreme Commander Of NATO. I would argue that if every Rolex tells a story, that President Eisenhower's yellow gold Rolex Datejust offers the most dynamic, and wonderful, ultra-succesful story. After all, it really was President Eisenower's Rolex that made Rolex The International Mark Of Success and Achievement. What is your Rolex story?
The Complete History Of The Rolex President
In 2008, I wrote a super detailed 11 Part story named The Complete History Of The Rolex President, which covers President Eisenhower's Rolex, and exactly how he obtained it from Rolex. The story is absolutely fascinating, and I would have never been able to write nearly such a detailed story had it not been for the kind assistance I received from the Eisenhower Presidential Library staff members and archivists who help me discover the entire paper-trail of correspondence that offers a flawless history of every step of the process. Some of these historical documents I originally published are seen below, and to read the entire story, click on the green link above in this paragraph.
The next two documents also came from the Eisenhower Presidential Library archives, and feature a Rolex Datejust booklet with care instructions.
A Crowning Achievement for Rolex
On July 21, 1952, Dwight Eisenhower appeared on the cover of LIFE Magazine, wearing his yellow gold Rolex Datejust, which must have blown the mind of all Rolex executives, including Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf. Rolex had officially arrived as the world-wide horological leader...
Rolex promised never to commercialize the fact that President Eisenhower wore a Rolex, which is a promise they kept. However, this did not keep them from being extremely proud of this achievement, which resulted in the following ad campaign that began in 1956 titled, "Men who guide the destinies of the world wear Rolex watches."
1956 Rolex President's Watch Ad
Men Who Guide The Destinies Of The World Wear Rolex Watches
1957 Rolex President's Watch Ad
Men Who Guide The Destinies Of The World Wear Rolex Watches
In 1964, U.S. President Johnson began wearing a Rolex Day-Date model, which became known as The President's Rolex. Rolex was so impressed with this fact, they renamed the Day-Date bracelet, "The President Bracelet." In the photo below we see President Johnson conferring with Dwight Eisenhower–Both Rolex wearers.
Historically Rolex has always been extremely secretive and discreet, and no journalists in the past have ever been invited "INSIDE ROLEX" to explore and report on all four Rolex Manufacturing faclities in Switzerland.
In November 2013, this changed when Rolex invited Jake to take an unprecdented journey into the heart of Rolex to learn and report on everything he witnessed and learned.
This Super-Detailed 3 Part Story is a "MUST READ" story for anybody who wants to understand what really makes Rolex tick.
