Johnny Carson is probably one of the most famous & beloved people that ever wore a Rolex—certainly in the United States. The photo below shows Johnny Carson sporting his yellow gold Rolex Day-Date back in 1979.
The photo above is screen-shot from The Tonight Show interview below where Johnny Carson interviews Bo Derek, just after her blockbuster movie, titled "10" was released back in 1979. The interview is really funny as we see Johnny drooling all over Bo...and he is flashing his Rolex President quite a bit...
So when it come to Hot, there is Hot, then there is Bo Derek HOT...Youch!!!! I remember seeing the original "10" movie back when I was 12 years old and it completely blew my mind. I remember it was the first Rated "R" movie I ever saw :-0
In the two photos below of Johnny Carson we see him wearing his Rolex Day-Date while hanging out with John DeLorean on February 8, 1981, at the launch event for the DeLorean DMC-12. Johnny Carson was just one of many Hollywood celebrities that invested in The DeLorean Motor Company...
My Grandfather, Jake Ehrlich Sr, was a guest on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson back in 1964, and you can check out his interview below:
This Time Magazine Rolex magazine ad for the Rolex Datejust appeared in the September 18, 1950 edition and features David Sarnoff. David Sarnoff was and amazing pioneer in American commercial radio and TV and founded NBC (National Broadcasting Company) in 1925 which was the first radio network in the U.S.A.
At the beginning of World War II, David Sarnoff served on General Eisenhower's communications staff and arranged expanded radio circuits for NBC to transmit news from the invasion of France in June of 1944. Once in France, Sarnoff restored the Radio France station in Paris, which had been destroyed by the Germans and replaced it with a powerful radio transmitter that was able to reach all allied forces in Europe, and this all-new station was dubbed Radio Free Europe. General Eisenhower rewarded David Sarnoff by appointing him a Brigadier General and giving him a star for his participation in World War II.
When Rolex published this ad in 1950, David Sarnoff was in the process of pioneering the all-new color TV standard in the U.S.
Introduced in 1970 on the Sea-Dweller, our Triplock winding crown, with a triple lock that creates three sealed zones. As early as 1926, our Oyster case came with a screw-down crown to stop water, sweat or dust entering. In 1954, we devised the Twinlock winding crown and its added waterproof barrier to counter any incident that could harm a gasket on a dive. As for our Triplock winding crown, it is a further safeguard in the unlikely event of the crown unscrewing itself 11,000 metres (36,090 ft) down.
Rolex is launching a free watchmaking school in Dallas, Texas, and will give each student $1,800 in stipend, in the latest sign of the swiss-watch industry's demand for qualified watchmakers despite record employment.
No prior watchmaking knowledge or experience is required to apply, the brand said.
“We are accepting 15 students in the fall (September) and another 15 students in the spring (March). We have already received more than 40 applicants for our September 2024 cohort,” a representative at the Rolex Training Center said via email.
The new Rolex watchmaking school, its second in the U.S. after the Lititz Watch Technicum in Pennsylvania, will hold its inaugural class in Sept. 2024. “Our program is the only one in the United States to focus a full six months on Rolex watches,” Rolex said.
Each course culminates with a final exam at Rolex headquarters in Geneva.
More than 4,400 new jobs were created in the Swiss watch industry last year. Rolex alone is listing over 250 job openings on its career website. The Crown counts over 9,000 employees, according to estimates.
Rolex launched a recruitment center in Bulle in December to staff a new production facility. The Swiss watch industry now totals more than 65,000 employees, a level that has not been reached since the 1970s.
To learn more or to apply to Rolex's new watchmaking training center, click here.
I recently published the first story in a series named "The Kings Of Country Music Wearing Rolex Series", which covered the amazing career of Johnny Cash. Today, I am excited to share this story on Willie Nelson, and his brilliant career, which has included him him wearing multiple Rolex watches, including this yellow gold Rolex Day Date as pictured below.
Willie Nelson was born on April 30, 1933 in Abbott, Texas, and is an Country Music Legend who has written legendary hit songs like "Crazy" and "On The Road Again." Willy Nelson is picture above and below with his favorite guitar, which in nicknamed Trigger.
Willie Nelson has had many country mega-hits, and has worked with many other famous country music legends in his life. In the future, I will extent this story to cover much more of his amazing career achievements, as well as covering other Rolex watches he has worn in his life.
This next song was recorded on Willie Nelson's 70th Birthday, and it features Leon Russell, and most importantly the legendary Ray Charles. This is one of my favorite songs, and if you watch the facial expressions on Willie Nelson's face, you will notice he is extremely emotionally moved. I believe this is due to the fact he realizes that his great pal, Ray Charles is dying, and he is in awe of Ray's amazing command performance. Also the lyrics to "A Song For You" are also extremely emotionally moving and hauntingly prescient...
I love you in a place Where there's no space or time I love you for in my life You are a friend of mine And when my life is over Remember when we were together We were alone and I was singing this song for you
Back in June of 2014, Christies Auction house sold a unique 18KT gold Automatic Rolex watch, which featured a sweep center seconds hand, along with star numerals on a Cloisonné dial. This watch is believed to be the very first Rolex ever sold with a Cloisonné dial, and it sold for a record setting $1,242.040!!!
The Cloisonné dial depicts a whale and a frigate in full sail cruising through stormy seas. The watch is also unusual in that it has an applied Rolex cornet in the 6 O'Clock position.
Christie's Lot Notes
The present Rolex cloisonne enamel wristwatch can arguably be considered one of the most important Rolex watches ever manufactured. The watch was last seen at these sale rooms in 2005 and since then locked away from the public. The case, only slightly tarnished then has now become completely oxidized after its 8 years in a safety deposit box. Since the watch made its last appearance at public auction in 1998 there has been a significant development in scholarship.
Today we believe this present wristwatch is not only the earliest known Rolex cloisonne enamel watch, manufactured in 1949, but also the only known dial to be fitted with the sought after star-set numerals. Every aspect of this watch is exceptionally rare. The size of the case is a massive 36mm. The gold dial is fitted with a full cloisonne enamel scene which covers the entire dial, not just filling two-thirds like many Rolex and other cloisonne wristwatches have. The Rolex crown fitted at the 6 o'clock position is the exact crown made by Rolex in 1949. The Rolex signature is hard enamel underneath the enamel glazing. The dial itself is a Stern Freres dial, although not signed as later Stern dials came to be. The counter enamel on the reverse of the gold dial is completely free of any restoration and shows clearly that it is applied over the 624 Stern order number. The way in which the numerals are applied to the dial are placed in the way in which only Stern were known for at the time. The hand-cut star numerals are that of Stern Freres model number 453, the applied faceted baton numerals at the quarters, Stern model number 276 and Rolex crown, Stern model number 49.
The spectacular quality of this wristwatch is difficult to express in words. The cloisonne enamel dial is by Marguerite Koch a famous artist from Geneva who at the time was also designing and creating dials for Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. The reverse of the dial is almost identical to other known Patek Philippe dials numbered by Koch in a very similar way. The technique used to create the dial is very consistent with all other Koch's known dials. The colors and the exceptional miniature details that can be seen when examined under a microscope are mesmerizing. From the tiny specs of red and blue to the subtle shades of pinks and scarlet the colors blend harmoniously together creating a picture both mind blowing and stunningly beautiful. One can conclude that Rolex commissioned Marguerite Koch to design and create the dial and Stern then applied the Rolex signature and aspects such as the hand cut star numerals and Rolex crown at 6 o'clock.
Consigned by a prominent private collector the present watch is in outstanding condition and a true "Trophy Market" watch. There is no sign of any restoration to either side of the dial. The case has never been polished and supports beautifully the extraordinary and important cloisonne enamel creation. Cloisonne enamel dials are rare. Rolex cloisonne enamel dials are even rarer and to have an example covering the entire surface of the dial made by Marguerite Koch fitted with original star-set numerals and fitted into a 36mm case provides an exceptional opportunity to acquire a milestone in the history of watchmaking which will be treasured for eternity.
We are indebted to Eric Tortella for his assistance with the research of this incredible wristwatch.
Matt LeBlanc is best known for his role as the beloved Joey Tribbiani on the Superhit, Friends.
Matt starred in 236 episodes of Friends, which aired for 12 years from 1994-2006!!!
Matt LeBlanc has been wearing his trademark stainless steel Rolex SEA-DWELLER for more than a decade. Matt has also been successful in movies, and was in Lost In Space, and Charlie's Angels.
Above Photo appears courtesy of Kirk McKoy of the Los Angeles Times
In this next photo Matt LeBlanc is wearing a modern LV "Hulk" Submariner.
In this next photo Matt LeBlanc is wearing a two-tone Rolex Daytona.
Lift me, won't you lift me, above the old routine;
Make it nice, play it clean—Jazzman!!!
When the Jazzman's testifyin', a faithless man believes
He can sing you into paradise, or bring you to your knees.
It's a gospel kind of feelin', a touch of Georgia slide,
A song of pure revival, and a style that's sanctified.
Jazzman, take my blues away;
Make my pain the same as yours with every change you play.
Jazzman, oh Jazzman!
When the Jazzman's signifyin', and the band is windin' low.
It's the late night side of morning in the darkness of his soul.
He can fill a room with sadness as he fills his horn with tears.
He can cry like a fallen angel when risin' time is near.
Jazzman, take my blues away;
Make my pain the same as yours with every change you play.
Oh lift me, won't you lift me with ev'ry turn around;
Play it sweetly, take me down, oh Jazzman.
—Carol King (1974)
★Nine Time Grammy Winner★
...Rolex Super Coolness...
Miles Davis
1926-1991
Jazz Superstar & Legend
Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date
Jazz music began purely as an American art form. Jazz music, borders between being esoteric and arcane. Jazz, typically, is an art form appreciated by an older sound palette than a younger one. In the first image seen below, Jazz Legend Miles Davis is wearing his trademark diamond encrusted Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date.
Miles Davis Photos above and below Appear Courtesy of Anthony Barboza
The Birth Of Cool
Miles "Dewey" Davis III., was born into an affluent family, and his father was a Doctor and oral surgeon. Miles mother, was a lovely women who played the violin and sang. His parents recognized early on that Miles was very musically talented.
Miles and attended the Juilliard School in New York City, but spend a lot of time around his idols including Jazz legend, Dizzy Gillespie. Miles Davis would attend Juilliard by day, and was mentored by Dizzy Gillespie by night on the neon streets of Broadway in New York Jazz Clubs. Miles was the first Jazz musician to play and record and Carnegie Hall in New York.
The King of BeBop
Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis both started performing and recording with jazz legend Charlie Parker in 1945, and we see Dizzy Gillespie playing trumpet side by side with Miles Davis in 1952. Dizzy was 9 years older than Miles.
If you look closely at the photo below, taken in the late 1950s, you will notice Dizzy Gillespie wearing his Pepsi GMT-Master, as the Jazzman plays his trumpet in front of Miles Davis.
"Years from now and through time, when people hear the lonely sound of a horn, they will be hearing Miles Davis." —Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie is pictured below with Miles Davis, working on a composition in Paris, France in 1958.
In 1956, Dizzie Gillespie became the worlds first formal Jazz ambassador when the State Department sent him on the worlds first world Jazz tour. Dizzy Gillespie famously wore his trademark Rolex GMT-Master.
Dizzy Gillespie is picture below in 1961 with jazz saxophone legend, John Coltrane, and if you look closely, you see Dizzy's Rolex Jubilee bracelet. Jazz was cool, and so was Rolex with Jazz.
Dizzy Gillespie is picture below wearing his Rolex GMT-Master on an Oyster Bracelet.
Brooks Brother
Miles Davis personal fashion history is absolutely fascinating. Miles Davis' father, was a Doctor, and dressed very conservatively, as did most Americans in the era he grew up in. Miles Initially started out in the 1950s and early 1960s exclusively wearing Brooks Brothers, like his father, Dr. Davis.
Basically, Miles Davis style of dress would be considered to be timeless, elegant, and even preppy, as seen in the photo below where he is wearing a Brooks Brothers button-down shirt. The classic Brooks Brothers button-down is characterized by its very full cut, longer collar, and lack of places buttons on the sleeve.
Miles Davis style of dress could even be referred to as being kind of 'Mod' in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This of course would all change in due time, as he explored and evolved into his own eclectic style, but if you think about it, the way he dressed in his early career was super classic and timeless, with a sense of charisma—much like a Rolex watch.
The Cool Jazz Sound
The following video is considered to be a seminal, high-water-mark time in Jazz History. Some say this was Miles Davis at his best. When he was still in his strick Brooks Brothers phase, and Eisenhower was still President of the U.S. Before the heavy funk set in...
The next video of the Miles Davis Quintet was filmed live on October 11, 1964 at Teatro dell'Arte in Milano, Italia, and is amazing!!!
In the image below, from 1967 I originally thought Miles Davis was wearing a Paul Newman Rolex Daytona, but after close scrutiny, I realized he is wearing a Breitling Navitimer.
The famous photo below shows Miles Davis chatting with The King Of Cool, Steve McQueen, in 1963 at the Monterey Jazz Festival. This photo was taken by my lifelong friend, Jim Marshall. Ironically, it was Jim Marshall who taught me how to use a camera when I was a 11 years old...
In the this video we see Miles Davis wearing his Rolex Day Date on stage.
Miles Davis Photo Appears Courtesy of Anthony Barboza
In the videos below, all shot in 1985, we see Miles Davis sporting his yellow gold Rolex Day-Date.
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.
