Rolex's Commitment to a Perpetual Planet

Rolex's Commitment to a Perpetual Planet

Rolex Hotness: Jennifer Aniston Yellow Gold Day-Date

...Rolex Hotness...

Jennifer Aniston

Yellow Gold Day-Date

with Matching
Ray Ban 3025 Aviator Sunglasses

Rolex Leaves Baselworld

Rolex Leaves Baselworld

Rolex, along with Patek Philippe, Chanel, Chopard & Tudor announced they were leaving the BaselWorld Trade Show for a newly developed Trade show with the Foundation De La Haute Horlogerie as we see in the press release below which spells out all the details. The release says the show will be for “retailers, press, VIP customers.” So unlike Baselworld, the public—watch enthusiasts—won’t be able to attend the new show.

Rolex CEO, Jean-Frédéric Dufour, Chief Executive Officer of Rolex SA, and Board Member of Montres Tudor SA said:

"We have taken part in Baselworld since 1939. Unfortunately, given the way the event has evolved and the recent decisions make by MCH Group, an in spite of the great attachment we had to this watch show, we have decided to withdraw. Following discussions initiated by Rolex, it seemed only natural to create a new event with partners that share our vision and our endless, unwavering support for the Swiss watchmaking sector. This will allow us to present our new watches in line with our needs and expectations, to join forces and better defend the interests of the industry.

I have to say that my favorite response on this subject comes from @MisterRolex (James Dowling) who said:

"Those who do not choose to evolve are actually choosing to perish. RIP Baselworld, the dinosaurs will welcome you."

Rolex Release Cancellation: While We Wait

While We Wait

Enjoy this 1-minute video

 By DANNY CRIVELLO

The announcement from Rolex that it will postpone releasing its 2020 collection was a disappointment but understandable. The reaction I read the most in the watch community after learning the news was, "Makes sense!" Rolex has not announced a new date; the situation of this global pandemic, after all, is changing almost daily.

So while we wait a few months, or a year, I wanted to quickly post this video of two Rolex watches that don't exist, except virtually. Credit to Jenni Elle, a German watch lover, for making these two virtual watches through the magic of CGI. While this is by no means a prediction, it is still fun to look at; it ties us over and helps us get excited about the possibilities.

Jenni Elle, who made the video above, has a fun watch channel on YouTube.

Rolex to Postpone Collection Launch

ROLEX TO POSTPONE

COLLECTION LAUNCH

'In view of the continuing extremely

difficult context impacting the entire world'

 By DANNY CRIVELLO

We were looking forward to Rolex's new collection. But Rolex announced via press release on Monday that it made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 line-up indefinitely. The launch of Tudor's new models is also postponed, Rolex said. 

“Following the cancellation of Baselworld 2020 in March due to the Covid-19 situation, we had announced that we would unveil our new products at the end of April and scheduled a number of press briefings to showcase them.

“In view of the continuing extremely difficult context impacting the entire world, and in order to protect people by avoiding gatherings and one-to-one meetings, we have decided to postpone the announcements to a later date. We have presently not defined a new timing for our release; we will get back to you in due time with further information.”

Rolex said in its statement that it would focus on collaborating with several organizations that are working to fight Covid-19. "It is based on a fundamental belief in unlimited human potential, in continuous improvement, in always pushing the boundaries and taking the long-term view," Rolex said on its website Rolex.org. "Our watches are built to last. So is our contribution to future generations."

Rolex is not new to the support of innovations in medical research. The watchmaker in the past has sponsored Dr. Sara Saeed (pictured below, standing), the co-founder and Chief Executive of Sehat Kahani, a service that connects home-based female doctors to people in underserved communities with a low-cost service. Dr. Saeed today is providing her telemedicine service for free in the fight against Covid19.

Honor Blackman Belongs To The Ages

...Saying Goodbye to...

Honor Blackman

1925-2020

Belongs To The Ages

Honor Blackman passed away today at age 94. Honor was an English actress who was famous for her roles as Cathy Gale in The Avengers, as well as Pussy Galore in the James Bond movie, Goldfinger. 

Honor Blackman's role as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger is famous in the world of Rolex as she wore a mans Rolex GMT-Master, which became a harbinger as many women today wear larger men's Rolex Professional Sports models.

The Pussy & The James Bond

Honor Blackman costarred with Sean Connery in Goldfinger, with some bizarre plot twists. Groovy Baby, Yeah, Shagadelic!!!! Basically, Honor Blackman played a character named 'Pussy Galore" who was a lesbian pilot for Goldfinger. Speaking of Groovy, Baby Yeah, in the Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) movie which was a James Bond parody, the Bond girl was named 'Alotta Fagina" which was a play on "Pussy Galore".

Below are pictures of vintage Rolex watch models that were worn by Pussy Galore and James Bond in Goldfinger and vintage Rolex collectors commonly refer to their nickname of "The Pussy" (GMT-Master Reference 6541) and "The James Bond (Submariner Reference 6538)."

One of the interesting plot twists in Goldfinger is that James Bond forces himself on Pussy Galore and somehow flips Pussy Galore from being a lesbian to heterosexual, or technically bi-sexual as he forces her to kiss him which she seems to ends up loving.

Of course Pussy Galore is wearing a mans Rolex GMT-Master in the final kissing scene, which I discovered and published 12 yeas ago, back in 2008. 

The history of female aviators wearing men's Rolex tool watches is fascinating. This story of a radical real-life female pilot also reminds me of Honor Blackman wearing a man's Rolex GMT-Master in Goldfinger, which can be seen in my story titled, "How Women Began Wearing Men's Rolex Watches".

1960

Sheila Scott

It is interesting to note that Pussy Galore's character was actually based on Sheila Scott, who broke over 100 aviation records in her lifetime of flying airplanes. She was the first person to fly over the North Pole in a small aircraft. Sheila began was a British Actress who learned became an airplane pilot. This 1960 Rolex GMT-MASTER magazine ad is probably how Rolex adroitly first got women to wear men's Rolex watches.

In 1966 Sheila Scott set an world aviation record when she set a new record for her solo flight around the world in a light aircraft. She took off from Heathrow Airport in London, England and flew eastward to become the very first person to circumvent the globe in a solo flight. Sheila had some unusual habits when she flew. For instance she primarily flew barefoot, which she said helped her feel the airplane vibrations. 

Sheila Scott is pictured in the Rolex ad two images above, and in the photo above, we see her sporting her Rolex GMT-Master. I think it is very likely that Sheila Scott was the archetype for the Pussy Galore character in the 1964 James Bond movie, Goldfinger. The image below is a screen grab taken from the end of Goldfinger and is shows Honor Blackman, who plays Pussy Galore, sporting a Coke GMT-Master.

Rolex Coolness: Eric Clapton-Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date Ad

...Rolex Super Coolness...

Eric Clapton

A Brilliant Musical Career With Rolex Keeping His Time

Eric Clapton has enjoyed an amazing musical career. He is the only three-time Rock and Roll Hall of fame inductee, as a solo artist, as well as a member of the Yardbirds, as well as Cream. Eric Clapton is arguably one of the most influential and successful guitarists of all time.

Eric Clapton is a vintage Rolex collector as well as being a Rolex Ambassador. In the photo above and below we see Eric Clapton sporting his Paul Newman Rolex Daytona on a Fatstrap, the exact way Paul Newman wore his.



Just for frame of reference, I thought I would share this photo of Paul Newman wearing his trademark Exotic Dial Daytona on a Fatstrap. If you compare the photo above and below you see that Eric Clapton's Paul Newman Daytona is absolutely true to form.

Rolex Coolness: Eric Clapton

Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date Ad

Rolex Coolness: Eric Clapton

50th Anniversary Rolex GV Milgauss

Clapton Sporting a Rolex Submariner

Clapton Sporting a Rolex GMT-Master

Riding With The King

Eric Clapton is pictured below with B.B. King. Eric is wearing his Submariner and B.B. King is wearing his trademark yellow gold Rolex President which is not visible in this picture. B.B. Kings Rolex President is as much a part of his kit as his guitar–Lucille.

Speaking of Eric Clapton and B.B. King, here they are pictured above with John Mayer, and they are all wearing Rolex watches. B.B. King, Eric Clapton and John Mayer are considered to be the greatest guitarist of their respective generations.

Of course when B.B. King plays his trademark Gibson Lucille (Model ES 355) he wears his trademark Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date President.

In this photo Clapton is also wearing a Day Date and John Mayer is wearing one of his vintage Rolex Explorer II watches with the orange hand.

Eric's Great Buddy

Talk about a Mentor and Protege...Blues guitar legend Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton at a Crossroads Charity event. Crossroads is Eric Clapton's charity organization.

Buddy Guy is one of the greatest Blues and Rock guitarist that ever lived. If it was not for Buddy Guy's early innovation on the guitar playing style on the guitar there never would have been a Hendrix.

Buddy does not just play the guitar, he completely dominates it like I have NEVER seen anybody else do.

Eric Clapton's Rolex Watches At Auction

Eric Clapton was one of the first celebrities to get into collection vintage Rolex watches. Over the years he has auctioned many of them and donated the benefits to his charity foundation. This Stainless Steel Rolex Daytona set a world watch auction record a few years ago by selling for $505,000.

The watch is considered to be very rare because it has an "Albino" dial.

Eric Clapton's Albino Daytona

Eric Clapton once owned this Extremely Rare Rolex watch dubbed "The Yachtmaster Daytona which was a Prototype Rolex and was never offered to the public. It is fascinating to see how Rolex experimented with the nautical theme in the 60s and early 70s be creating a 39MM Yachtmaster. Of course, Rolex did not bring the current Yachtmaster to market until decades later.

Eric Clapton's Rolex Yacht-Master prototype sold at a Christie's Auction in 2003 for $125,000, and Eric Clapton donated the proceeds to his Crossroads Foundation. His Rolex Yacht-Master is picture below and appears courtesy of Christie's Auction House.

Here is another photo of Eric Clapton's Rolex Yacht-Master Prototype Reference 6239/6242. There are only 3 known examples of the Rolex Yacht-Master Prototype. The first is this one that was owned by Eric Clapton. The second one is owned by John Goldberger, and the last one is owned by Rolex and kept in their private collection and it has a special bezel [Reference 6542].

Phillips Watches Off The Record

Phillips Watches 

Off The Record

Michael Bublé Does Sinatra, Dean Martin, & Elvis Imatations

Michael Bublé

Does Sinatra, Dean Martin, & Elvis Imitations

If you are a regular reader of Jake's Rolex World you know I have been working on my Bob Barth article which is taking some time, so I decided to go back to regular publishing, and when the Barth article is done I will republish it. Below is a great video of Dan Rather interviewing Michael Bublé who cranks out some amazing impressions of legendary singers...BTW, Bublé is wearing is Rolex Platinum Daytona...