People ask me all the time which Rolex I think is the most beautiful? I would say the 1950 Rolex Oyster Moonphase triple-date pictured below is definitely one of the most beautiful complicated Rolex watches ever made! This model is ULTRA-RARE for many reasons. First and foremost because it has a black dial with star and pyramid indices. This beauty is also in flawless New Old Stock (NOS) condition. What a magnificent work absolute work of art!!!
"In the twilight of the deep waters one of the most vital items of a diver's equipment is his watch. The "Submariner" was the world's first watch designed especially for skin and deep sea divers, 100% waterproof to a depth of 660 feet, is has a calibrated outer bezel which allows the accurate and correct timing of decompression periods."
It’s intriguing to note that according to the Federal Reserve, Goldman Sachs, UBS, and Deutsche Bank, approximately 85-90% of the tariff costs are borne by American consumers. I recall when President Trump, during his initial administration, imposed tariffs on China, he expressed his determination to exert pressure on the Chinese economy. He suggested that the Chinese companies would be adversely affected by having to pay the tariff. However, the reality was that the Chinese economy remained largely unaffected, as the burden was passed on to consumers and manufacturers who had to bear the cost. In essence, tariffs act as an invisible tax on American consumers, significantly increasing the prices of goods.
Tariffs are a form of Taxation
As we recently learned, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned President Trump’s tariff scheme, resulting in companies being refunded $133 billion. This begs the question: what is the impact of this on the price of Rolex watches? While it’s uncertain, it seems unlikely that new Rolex prices will be significantly affected. President Trump initially reduced Swiss tariffs to 15%, but these have been overturned. If his new tariff scheme is successful, Switzerland will end up imposing a 10% tariff on all imports, which is favorable news for Rolex brand purchasers.
The second Rolex I ever owned, when I was 18 was a stainless steel Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet with a blue dial with baton markers and a fluted white gold bezel. I updated it to a white porcelain dial with white gold san serif markers, which you can see in the photo below that was taken 39 years ago!?!! My point is I have never been into the Datejust since then, but I have to admit I LOVE this new 41MM with the crazy-beautiful blue dial!!!! What a Magnificent design Rolex! Man it kind of freaks me out when I look at this photo of myself from close to 42 years ago wearing my second Rolex I ever owned and wore. Talk about a Rolex Time Machine!?!!
For many people, including myself there is only ONE TRUE Batman, and that was Adam West. Adam West passed away back on June 10, 2017 at the age of 88. As we will see and learn in this story, Adam West wore a yellow gold Rolex Day-Date for many decades as we see on his wrist in the photo below that shows him sitting on his mid-engine 1973 Dino Ferrari 308 GT4.
When I was kid, I LOVED watching Adam West as Batman on TV, and today Adam West remains a significant piece of the collective cultural consciousness of humanity as one of the leading super hero's and pop culture icon.
I recently discovered and watched an amazing eye-opening documentary on the life of Adam West named "Starring Adam West" which was released in 2013 and featured many candid interview scenes with Adam West. Learning Adam's history, told by him and his close family members blew my mind.
The Dynamic Duo
In the photo below we see Adam West, playing the role of the Caped Crusader, Batman, with his costar, Burt Ward, who played his loyal sidekick, Robin.
The Batman TV Series was a cultural phenomenon that ran from January 12, 1966 to March 14, 1968. The LIFE Magazine cover below was part of an enormous marketing campaign for the Batman TV show, and featured Adam West on the cover.
Batman was kind of like the Apple story, long before Apple stores existed, in the sense that Batman had the coolest toys and tools, and had an app for everything. Think about it, he had a BatMobile, a BatPhone, a BatCave, a BatCopter, and a BatCycle. Perhaps the most iconic Batman tool was the Batmobile, as seen in the photo above and below.
Adam West played the ultra-handsome, distinguished eccentric, multimillionaire Bruce Wayne, who lived in Wayne Manor, and was extremely well tailored, as we see in the photo below that shows Adam West wearing a sports coat with slacks and an ascot. Of course, Bruce Wayne was Batman's alter-ego.
Iconic Characters
Batman took place in the fictional Gotham City, and there were so many iconic characters that were part of the Batman TV show. In the photo below we see Commissioner Gordon of the Gotham City Police Department who was played by Neil Hamilton.
In the photo below we see Alfred the Butler of the stately Wayne Manor, with Bruce Wayne. I have so many childhood memories of Alfred calling Batman on the red Batphone. Adam West's Bruce Wayne really was kind of like a young Cary Grant character, who wore aristocratic Ralph Lauren clothing as we see with Bruce Wayne wearing his family crest on his sports coat in the photo below.
In the photo below we see Adam West in between Van Williams and Bruce Lee, who starred on the TV show, The Green Hornet. Van Williams and Bruce Lee played the roles of The Green Hornet and Kato. The Green Hornet and Kato appeared in an episode of Batman which aired on September 28, 1966, as well as on a another later episode of Batman which aired on March 1-2 of 1967.
One of the part I remember the most about the Batman TV show, were the four key villains which consisted of Catwoman, played by the gorgeous Julie Newman; The Riddler, played by Frank Gorshin; The Penguin Played by Burgess Meredith, and The Joker who was played by Cesar Romero.
Catwoman was certainly one of the most interesting characters on Batman, as we see in the photo and video below.
As we see in the photos below, Adam West wore a Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date in real life, as well as on-screen. In this first AP photo taken by Wally Fong on August 10, 1983, we see Adam West hanging out at he Beverly Hills Hotel.
Typecast
In some ways, Adam West's story is a sad story of attempted reclamation. The photo below was shows Adam West and Burt Ward dressed in their Batman and Robin costumes in 1989. 1989, was the year the first Batman movie was came out that starred Michael Keaton. Basically, Adam West and Burt Ward had stayed in great physical shape so they could reprise their roles as Batman and Robin, which unfortunately never happened.
Adam West said he was typecast as Batman, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not break out of the typecasting. Another actor, who was also typecast in a similar fashion was Max Baer Jr., who played Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies. Adam West definitely had an interesting vibe which made him the King of Kitch. The Campy video below is an example of his unique sense of humor that combined serious with funny.
Mark Hamill who plays Luke Skywalker in Star Wars posted a photo on Twitter, of himself with Adam West in a recent photo before Adam West passed away which you can see below. Talk about two icons!!!
#AdamWest was such a wonderful actor & so kind, I'm so lucky to have worked w/ him & tell him how much he meant to me & millions of fans. pic.twitter.com/Bu0OOaRgX9
Back in 2013 Rolex surprised the world when they introduced an all-new Rolex GMT-Master color combination with a "Night & Day" Ceramic bezel that is black and blue.
Rolex collectors and enthusiasts love to use nicknames for different Rolex models, like The Pepsi, or Coke GMT-Master or the 7up Submariner for the original LV Submariner. The all Green LV Submariner is nicknamed The Hulk, and Rolex collectors have affectionally nicknamed the new Night & Day Rolex GMT-Master as "The Batman" since it is silver, black and blue like Batman's uniform. Very cool!
Pete took this great photo of his vintage Rolex Submariner with the fat glass sitting on his copy of John Goldberger's book titled 100 Superlative Rolex Watches...This super high style crystal from the late 1960 and early 1970s gives this vintage Rolex Submariner some collectors go crazy for!!!
My amazing researcher Alan from Hong Kong just surprised me when he sent in this amazing Japanese Tudor Submariner ad that features a Porsche 906. Very Cool!!! Ironically, the Porsche 906 was designed by Ferdinand Piëch, who was the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche.
The photo below is from 1969 and shows Japanese racecar driver Tomohiko Tsutsumi who was a member of the Tudor Watch Racing Team, and notice he is rocking a Tudor Submariner in this photo.
The box below is from 1968 and features the same Porsche 906. If you look carefully you will notice on the front hood of the car there is a 'ROLEX' logo just below the steering wheel, as well as a 'TUDOR' logo at the front of the hood.
This next image below shows Tomohiko Tsutsumi is the same Tudor branded car in 1969 and notice the Rolex logo has been removed from the front hood of the car.
The Rolex 6236 Triple-Date Chronometer is a beautifully designed complicated Rolex. The thing that surprised me when I first saw one in person was how small it was!!! I was expecting it to me like a modern Rolex Daytona at 40mm but it could not have been more than 36mm. If Rolex were to bring this beauty back to life and add a moon phase, that would be one really cool watch!!!
When I was a small child, I lived with my paternal grandparents, and I spent a TREMENDOUS amount of time watching TV, and I was a big fan of westerns. One of my favorite western TV shows was The Lone Ranger, which stared Clayton Moore. Of course, the westerns I watched then were primarily repeats, but I loved watching them anyway.
One of the things I remember was hearing all the time was the introduction to the Lone Ranger which said: A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty Hi-Yo Silver! The Lone Ranger! ... With his faithful Indian companion Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States! Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice! Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear! From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver! The Lone Ranger rides again! The video below is basically the 1949 TV pilot for the ABC show titled The Lone Ranger.
By the way, when I was around 9 years old, I also used to listen to radio episodes of The Lone Ranger that were originally aired back in the early 1930s.
Clayton Moore is pictured below later in his career wearing his yellow gold Rolex Day-Date.
Clayton Moore is pictured again below wearing his Rolex Day-Date, which was a Reference 1803.
Clayton Moore is pictured below with his sidekick, Tonto (played by Jay Silverheels), who used to commonly refer to The Lone Ranger as "Kemosabe."
Clayton Moore was quite an accomplished western horseback rider as we see in the photo below from 1956.
It's really interesting to see—just for frame of reference—the 1967 Explorer Rolex Magazine ad pictured below, from the same year.
Robert Mitchum wore Rolex watches for many years of his life. The photo below is from 1958, and shows Robert Mitchum rocking a Rolex his Rolex Datejust on an Oyster Bracelet, and the Cyclops magnifier window is clearly visible.
In 1962 he starred in the movie Cape Fear, and as we see below, he was wearing his Rolex Datejust. Steve McQueen is known for being the King Of Cool, and some would argue that Robert Mitchum was also the King Of Cool.
Robert Mitchum returned in the 1991 remake of Cape Fear, and in the photo below we see him wearing a stainless steel Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet. Robert Mitchum co-starred in the remake with Nick Nolte and Robert De Niro.
In the photo below we see Robert Mitchum wearing the same Rolex Datejust with a white dial on a Jubilee bracelet when he was younger.
Robert Mitchum is pictured below wearing a stainless steel Rolex Explorer.
Robert Mitchum's enjoyed an amazing career and starred in may famous movies. He is pictured below with Marylyn Monroe.
The video interview below features Robert Mitchum being interviewed by Dick Cavett in 1971, and if you look closely you see Robert Mitchum sporing his Rolex Explorer. I highly recommend watching this complete interview which is amazing!!!
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.
