There are macro shots, and then there are Amazing Macro shots—and this is one of them. The only weird thing is this stunning Rolex macro shot comes directly from Rolex!!?! Rolex recently posted this stunner on its Official Rolex Instagram page, and it blows me away. Particularly the level of magnificent engineering that is visible when you get this close up.
Alfonso Cuarón was nominated for five Academy Awards and won three at the 91st Oscars. Alfonso won the awards for Best Director, Foreign Language Film and Best Cinematography. His movie "Roma" was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Rolex congratulated Cuarón on its Instagram account as seen below.
Alfonso Cuarón is a member of Rolex's Mentor & Protégé Arts initiative which creates valuable relationships between talented mentors and protégés. Alfonso Cuarón recently mentored Chaitanya Tamhane who is a young filmmaker from India. Cuarón and Tamhane are pictured below on stage at a Rolex Mentor & Protégé event that took place last year in Berlin, Germany.
You can watch the trailer for Alfonso Cuarón's Academy Award winning movie "Roma" above, as well as his acceptance speech for Best Director below.
Alfonso Cuarón
Won 2014 Academy Award For Best Director
Rolex Submariner
Alfonso Cuarón won the Oscar for Best Director in 2014, and the photo below shows him at the Academy Awards, and you see he is wearing his Rolex Submariner. Alfonso Cuarón's movie "Gravity" swept the 2014 Oscars by winning a total of seven Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.
Tudor Ambassador Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooperripped it up at the 91st Oscars Sunday night when they shocked the world with their absolute command performance of their song "Shallow" from the movie they co-starred in named "A Star Is Born."
Lady Gaga was nominated for three Oscars at the 91st Academy Awards including Best Actress, and twice for Best Original Song, for which she won the Academy Award.
Lady Gaga was decked out in an Alexander McQueen dress and was wearing a 128-carat canary yellow diamond Tiffany & Company necklace which was last worn by Audrey Hepburn in 1961 as seen below. Gaga’s dress and beehive hairstyle also appear to be inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s timeless and classic ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s’ look...
Audrey Hepburn is pictured above and below with the legendary 130-carat canary yellow Tiffany & Company diamond which was discovered in 1878. This stone remains the largest known canary yellow diamond in the world today, and it's worth around $30 million!!!
Lady Gaga is pictured below at an Academy Awards after-party in Los Angeles with Madonna and her Oscar Trophy.
Bradley Cooper is one cool dude and was voted to be The Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine back in 2011. In the photo below we see Bradley Cooper rockin' a vintage RootBeer Rolex GMT-Master as he shares a smile with fellow actor, Dennis Quaid.
Bradley Cooper has a daughter with the famous Russian supermodel, Irina Shayk, and they are pictured together at the 2019 Oscars.
Bradley Cooper's girlfriend, Irina Shayk, is pictured below wearing her yellow gold Rolex Daytona.
Special thanks to Nick Gould who turned me on to this image of Sam Elliot who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in "A Star Is Born." Notice Sam Elliot is wearing a yellow-gold Rolex Day-Date in this photo from Vanity Fair.
In the video below we see Lady Gaga performing Always Remember Us This Way (From "A Star Is Born").
I remember the last "A Star Is Born" movie which came out in 1976 when I was a kid. The movie starred Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson and it was a huge hit. My parents had the soundtrack to the movie which was amazing!!!
Ironically, the 'A Star Is Born' starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga is the third remake. The first 'A Star Is Born' movie was released in 1937 and was also nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
In 1954 Judy Garland and James Mason starred in the second version of "A Star Is Born." As Mark Twain once quipped, "History may not repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme."
It Doesn't Just Tell Time. It Tells History.
Rolex congratulated Lady GaGa for her well deserved Academy Award as seen in the picture below.
...Getting To The Heart of an Academy Award Controversy...
Kevin Hart
Rolex Daytona
Vintage Reference 6263
I have to admit—perhaps like so many others—I heard about this Kevin Hart Oscar hosting controversy, but didn't know much about it before I researched and wrote this story today. Hopefully we can all learn something valuable from this cause célèbre. Comedian and actor Kevin Hart was supposed to host the 91st Oscars which aired last night. Due to controversy and backlash from homophobic tweets he posted ten years ago, he decided to step down from hosting the Academy Awards last night—against the advice of his friend and extremely supportive advocate, Ellen DeGeneres.
Ellen DeGeneres is one of the most successful women in the world today. Ellen came out in 1997 as a lesbian which became major tabloid fodder. Ellen's openness about her sexual orientation resulted in a contentious media frenzy that caused Ellen to become very depressed—which took a lot of time for her to overcome. Ellen DeGeneres hosted the 2007 and 2014 Academy Awards which made her the first openly gay person to serve as an Oscar host. Ellen is also a major advocate for LGBTQ rights.
RAINBOW
Daytona
Everose Reference 116595 RBOW
Kevin Hart is a Rolex fanatic of the highest order—as is former Oscar host, Ellen DeGeneres who interviewed Kevin Hart about this controversy.
In the photo above from the video interviews below on the Ellen Show, you will notice Kevin Hart is wearing a bejeweled Rainbow Rolex Daytona and Ellen DeGenerous is also wearing a white gold Rolex Daytona.
The Rolex Everose Rainbow Daytona Kevin Hart wearing is not only one of the rarest and most sought after Rolex models made today, but are in such high demand they sell for around double the retail price, which makes them around $250,000—if you can find one.
If you watch the two interviews episodes below you can gain both their perspectives on this issue, as well as check out their Rolex Daytona watches they are both wearing.
I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscar's....this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.
I'm sorry that I hurt people.. I am evolving and want to continue to do so. My goal is to bring people together not tear us apart. Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again.
Sam Rockwell is pictured below rocking his Coffee GMT-Master to Chris Connelly. Sam is nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
Nick Gould was first out of the gate to ID-spot a Rolex at the 2019 Oscars. Also, Captain Danny sent me a text that said, "Blown away by Seacrest's vintage Daytona!"
ROLEX 2019 Oscar Commercials Future Filmmaker Messages
Rolex is a proud sponsor of the Academy Awards, and at this years Academy Awards, Rolex will be airing 4 new commercials which feature a theme of top directors writing a message to future generations of directors.
As we see in the Rolex photo above, this years Academy Award commercials with feature legendary directors, James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, Kathryn Bigelow and Alejandro Iñárritu.
Before I started publishing Jake's Rolex World eleven years ago, I was always into Rolex Spotting. In other words, ever since I was fourteen or so, I would notice when people were wearing Rolex watches, both in my personal life, and on TV, and in the movies. I would even notice in books and magazines, and later on the internet.
When I started Jake's Rolex World, I did so as I thought seeing real people wearing Rolex watches was fascinating—especially, seeing famous, iconic movie stars. Thus, I became obsessed with Rolex Spotting (in case you didn't notice :-). It seems Rolex itself, became a bit fascinated with Rolex Spotting as we witness in the Rolex "Celebrating Cinema" video that appears below, which aired during the 89th Academy Awards.
"In the art of film-making, it’s the smallest details that bring a world to life. Only when every detail is just right can the audience be truly immersed. Rolex is proud to recognize the art and craft of film-making, and to have played a part in some of cinema’s most iconic moments." —ROLEX
Rolex Spotting
Rolex Celebrating Cinema Video
After the 'Rolex Watches In Cinema' commercial aired I identified all the movies, actors and actresses in the video above, which you can learn about below:
Peter Sellers
Pink Panther: A Shot In The Dark
Yellow Gold Rolex GMT-Master
1964
The opening scene I believe is from The Pink Panther series comedy movie titled, A Shot In The Dark, which featured Peter Sellers, as Inspector Jacques Clouseau, which is obviously a play on Jacques Cousteau. A Shot In The Dark was written, directed and produced by Academy Award winner, Blake Edwards, who later wrote, produced and directedthe 1979 movie "10" which starred Bo Derek and Dudley Moore.
Three years after Peter Sellers wore a Rolex GMT-Master in the first Pink Panther movie, in 1967, he went on to play James Bond in the original Bond spoof titled "Casino Royal".
The reason I metaphorically refer to Paul Newman as a "Rolex High Priest" is because he wore his exotic white dial Daytona, as seen below, which is considered among vintage Rolex collectors to be one of the coolest and most collectable Rolex watches ever made.
Fay Dunaway
Network
Yellow Gold & Stainless Ladies Datejust
1976
The next scene is of Fay Dunaway from the 1976 movie titled "Network". In the scene we see Fay Dunaway wearing her yellow gold and stainless steel Rolex ladies Datejust.
Of course the most famous line from Network, was "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore."
The next image seen below of Fay Dunaway was taken the morning after she won the 1976 Academy Awards Oscar for Best Actress In a Leading Role, for her performance in Network.
Harrison Ford
Frantic
Stainless Steel Rolex Datejust
1988
Next up we see Harrison Ford, starring in the 1988 movie titled, "Frantic", and he is wearing his stainless steel Rolex Datejust with a white dial with back Roman numerals.
If you think about it, a persons choice of watch is a very good extension of their personality, and Harrison Ford's choice is a very accurate example. The watch is not blingy, but super classic, and masculine in a streamlined kind of way...just like Harrison Ford.
This next image is from the movie Apollo 13, and it shows two men wearing Rolex GMT-Master watches as they are watching for the Apollo 13 module to land in the ocean so it can be retrieved.
The photo below shows Apollo 13 crew member Jack Swigert wearing his Pepsi GMT-Master, as he prepares to take off to go to the moon.
The photo below shows Jack Swigert's actual GMT-Master he wore when he traveled to the moon and back aboard Apollo 13, which he gave to Rolex Director, Rene-Paul Jeanneret.
Rolex Director, Rene-Paul Jeanneret was so impressed with the gift Jack Swigert gave him, that in-turn he gave Jack Swigert a yellow gold Rolex GMT-Master on a matching Jubilee bracelet, as we see in the photo below.
Bill Paxton
Belongs To The Ages
1955-2017
Titanic
Yellow Gold Rolex Submariner
1997
The next piece of footage in the Rolex Celebrates Cinema is of Bill Paxton from the movie, "Titanic." In an ironic twist of fate, the Emmy Award-Winning actor, Bill Paxton passed away yesterday. His passing was shocking as he was only 61 years old, and also since I just completed the story on Titanic Director, James Cameron and Rolex. Bill Paxton wore a yellow gold Rolex Submariner in the movie, Titanic, as seen below.
Bill Paxton starred in many famous movie including Apollo 13, Titanic, The Terminator, True Lies, Twister, and Aliens. He was also the lead actor on the TV series Big Love, which ran from 2006-2011 on HBO. Bill Paxton's family released a statement today saying he dies as a result of surgery complication. Man...life is fragile...
Jim Carrey
I Love You Phillip Morris
Yellow Gold Rolex Submariner
2009
Next up we see Jim Carry from the movie, I Love Your Phillip Morris, from 2009. We see him giving a gift of a yellow gold Rolex Submariner.
Marlon Brando
The Fugitive Kind
1960
OK. This one is easy for me, as it is Marlon Brando starring in The Fugitive Kind in 1960, where he gives Joanne Woodward a Rolex.
Nick Nolte
The Deep
Rolex Submariner
1977
This next movie, The DEEP, is one that always brings back fantastic memories. I remember seeing The DEEP in movie theaters in 1977, and it blew my mind. Nick Nolte was so cool wearing his Rolex Submariner, and Jacqueline Bisset was gorgeous. There is something so fascinating about aquatic movies that feature an actor wearing a Submariner.
Terrence Howard
Dead Man Down
Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date?
2013
This next clip is from the movie, Dead Man Down, and features Terrence Howard wearing either a Rolex Day-Date in yellow gold, or a Datejust.
Gabriel Byrne
The Usual Suspects
Rolex Submariner
1995
This next photo shows Gabriel Byrne from the movie, The Usual Suspects wearing a Rolex Submariner.
Owen Wilson
The Life Aquatic
Rolex GMT-Master
2004
Next we see Owen Wilson in the movie titled, "The Life Aquatic", wearing a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master.
David Oyelowo
Selma
Yellow Gold Rolex Datejust
2014
Next up we see David Oyelowo portraying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the movie titled, "Selma".
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." –Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. [Letter from Birmingham, Alabama Jail, April 16, 1963]
In the two photos below we see Dr. Martin King Jr., along with fellow civil rights protestors as they are pushed backward by Mississippi state patrolmen on June 8, 1965. This was part of the 220-mile 'March Against Fear' that went from Memphis Tennesee to Jackson, Mississippi.
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." If you closely study the images above and below, you will see the living personification of these words from Rolex.
Marlon Brando
Apocalypse Now
Stainless Steel Rolex GMT-Master
1979
In the next scene in the Rolex Celebrating Cinema video we see Marlon Brando from the movie Apocalypse Now, as seen in the image below. In is interesting to note that Marlon Brando is the only actor that appears in twice in the Rolex Celebrating Cinema video.
In this next set of photos we seeMarlon Brando wearing his Rolex GMT Master in the movie Apocalypse Now. Apocalypse Now was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and Marlon Brando played Colonel Walter Kurtz. Notice his Rolex GMT Master is missing its bezel. The following set of photos were taken by Mary Ellen Mark from Apocalypse Now.
Guy Pearce
LA Confidential
Rolex Bubleback
1997
Next up we see Guy Pearce checking his Rolex Bubbleback to see what time it is.
Benecio Del Toro
Che: Part II
Rolex GMT-Master
2008
Next up we see Benecio Del Toro staring in the movie titled, "CHE: Part II: Guerrilla".
The last piece of footage in the Rolex Celebrates Cinema video is of Charles Bronson starring in the movie named "The Mechanic", where he wore a stainless steel Rolex Submariner.
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.
