1951 ROLEX Magazine Datejust Ad...

1951 ROLEX Magazine Datejust Ad

BLUEPRINT OF Supremacy

Special 1988 International Olympic Committee Rolex

1988 International Olympic Committee ROLEX 

Back in May of 2014, Sotheby's auctioned off a very rare 36MM Rolex Datejust which was made for the International Olympic Committee in 1988. The watch achieved an auction sale price of $24,000. I have seen these models before, and of course it is always interesting to see something so fascinating with two great 20th Century icons together.  If I recall correctly, Olympic Skiing legend, Jean-Claude Killy wears this same model.

Rolex also made a Ladies International Olympic Committee Two-Tone Datejust Reference 69173 (pictured below) with a Caliber 2135 which appears below courtesy of Christie's Auction House. 

The Christie's lot essay reads:

The present ladies’ two-tone Datejust is quite a special watch that was made for the 1988 Olympic Committee. The Rolex guarantee confirms this by listing the buyer as “Comite Olympiques Geneve.” Both the Summer and Winter games were held in ’88 and the Winter games were hosted in Calgary, Alberta. 

The consignor of this watch purchased it from the estate of the former late Mayor of Calgary, Ralph Klein. Klein would later go on to serve as the Premier of Alberta. His wife was presented with this watch in 1988 from the Olympic Committee. 

Any Rolex with a unique dial is highly sought after. In addition to having this trait, the present watch is offered as complete and has a very nice history.

Rolex Worldwide Headquarters

Autumn Is Here

Rolex Worldwide Headquarters

Geneva, Switzerland 

1995

Summer is gone in the northern hemisphere and leaves are changing color and falling off the trees. The photo below of Rolex Worldwide Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland was taken in Fall of 1995 before Rolex increased the number of floors and changed the color from gold and brown to green. 

Under certain lighting conditions, the building could take on an orange look as seen below. If you want to learn much more about the history of Rolex headquarters architecture you can check out my story named, "Inside Rolex. Exploring What Makes Rolex Tick."

The Autumn Equinox

The autumn equinox occurs when the sun approaches the Southern Hemisphere, marking the start of the astronomical autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. The  Autumn Equinox occurs around September 22nd, during which daylight occurs everywhere for 12 hours straight.

Moondance

I love adding great songs to stories, that encapsulate and offer better contextualization. In this story I added Van Morrision singing his epic hit, "Moondance", which has some great lyrics:

Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance

With the stars up above in your eyes...

A fantabulous night to make romance

'Neath the cover of October skies...

And all the leaves on the trees are falling

To the sound of the breezes that blow...

You know I'm tryin' to please to the calling

Of your heartstrings that play soft and low...

You know the night's magic seems to whisper and hush

You know the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush...

Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?

Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love?

Culture can be described as acquainting ourselves with the best the world has ever known, and that's exactly what we witness with this this virtuoso command performance. 

Keep in mind, the music video below is no ordinary version of "Moondance", as it features legendary guitarists, Geroge Benson, and Carlos Santana, rocking out with a number of amazing musicians including Dr. John, Etta James and Tom Scott. If you have never seen this version of Moondance, turn up the volume and fasten your seatbelt, as you are in for an otherworldly treat!!!

Vintage Rolex Milgauss Rolex Magazine Ad

Vintage Rolex Milgauss 

LIVE FOR GREATNESS 

ROLEX MAGAZINE AD

Rolex TwinLock Winding Crown

...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day...

Rolex TwinLock Crown

Arnold Schwarzenegger Yellow Gold Rolex GMT-Master

Arnold

Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrated his 79th birthday by working out, and he took this cool selfie, and we see he is still rocking his Mocha GMT-Master after all these years. 

NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY

Several years ago, back in 2023 NETFLIX came out with a full lengthdocumentary on his amazing lifetime achievements and it will debut on June 7, 2023. Below is the trailer, and notice he is still rocking his yellow gold Rolex GMT-Master...

The Arnold Schwarzenegger Netflix Documentary poster below could read:

One Man. Three Lifetimes. One Rolex.

...Vintage Rolex Coolness...

Arnold

Schwarzenegger

Yellow Gold Rootbeer GMT-Master

I Want To Pump You Up!!!

.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in December of 1994 wearing his Mocha GMT-Master

Arnold Schwarzenegger has many nicknames; The Oak, The Austrian Oak, The Olympian, Oak, The King, Champ, Arnie, Schwarzie, Arnold Strong, Mr. Universe, Mr. Olympia and The Governator. 

What a life he has lived. From Mister Universe, to Mega Movie Star to the Governor of California.

I am working on my upcoming Andy Warhol story, and I thought I would offer a preview of some of the great Polaroid images from the story. These Warhol Polaroids feature a barechested Arnold Schwarzenneger sporting his GMT-Master. One of the amazing details in my upcoming story has to do with how prescient and relevant Warhol's polaroids are today as an analog to Instagram, and Pinterest. Today, with an iPhone in hand, we are all now potentially Andy Warhol.

It doesn't just tell time

It tells history

ARNOLD IS

NUMERO UNO

Arnold looks a bit like Elon Musk in these photos as Schwarzenegger is smoking a joint back in 1975 while he enjoys some fried chicken along with a glass of white wine, and he is hilariously wearing a t-shirt that says "ARNOLD IS NUMERO UNO". 

1988

Hotel Meurice, Paris, France

Yellow Gold Rolex GMT-Master

These classic images of Arnold were taken in a hotel room in Paris in 1988. In the photos, we see him wearing his yellow gold Rolex GMT-Master, on a Jubilee bracelet.

...All In The Family...

Arnold, Maria & Patrick Schwarzenegger

Like Father & Mother—Like Son

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver were married and have four children—two girls and two boys. Patrick Schwarzenegger is the oldest boy and we see him pictured below in a recent shot sporting his Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner with a Ceramic bezel.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is pictured below with Maria Shriver when then first started dating, and we see him wearing his Yellow-Gold Rolex GMT-Master.

So far as I can tell, it appears Arnold may have first started wearing his GMT-Master after he started dating Maria Shriver in 1977, so that means in a few months he will become a member of the Rolex 50+ Year Club.

Like Mother—Like Son: In the photo below, we see Arnold Schwarzenegger with his wife, Maria Shriver, who is wearing a 36MM Rolex Day-Date. Maria Shriver is a Kennedy, and many of her fellow Kennedy relatives also wear Rolex.

Who You Callin' Girlyman!?!

Hasta La Vista Baby!!!

Studio Shot Of The Day... Milgauss GV

...Studio Shot Of The Day...

MILGAUSS GV

Tom Seaver

...Baseball Legend...

Tom Seaver

1990

I love this vintage Rolex ad from 1990 that features legendary baseball pitcher, Tom Seaver, along with some really cool vintage Rolex watches, including a Rolex Oyster Quartz Datejust...

Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: Eye of the Tiger Bejeweled Cosmograph Daytona

...Rolex Studio Shot of the Day...

Eye of the Tiger

Bejeweled Cosmograph Daytona

Rolex released this magnificent bejeweled at Basel World 2019 and I have to say it is a really stunning work of art. The level of detail and craftsmanship is awe-inspiring!!! 

WATCHES TV 15th Anniversary

WATCHES TV

15th Anniversary

HoroPedia.Org Announcement 

In the video below, we hear from Marc André Deschoux, founder of  WATCHES TV. I’ve been a huge fan of Marc’s amazing YouTube channel for many years, and I continue to be impressed by the extraordinary depth of knowledge and insight he has shared with the watch community over the years. His contributions have been truly invaluable, particularly when it comes to understanding the people, history, craftsmanship, and inner workings of the entire Swiss watch industry.

In this video, Marc outlines his latest project, HoroPedia.org—WATCHMAKING CULTURE, a broad platform that might be called a Wikipedia focused solely on global watchmaking. In effect, HoroPedia.org is totally impartial in the way it addresses not only brands but the full ecosystem of the watch world.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland—the epicenter of Swiss watchmaking—HoroPedia is devoted to documenting, preserving, and sharing the extraordinary history, knowledge, craftsmanship, people, and culture that have shaped the world of horology. HoroPedia describes its mission as follows:

    Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the Horopedia Foundation was established in February 2023 and obtained public interest status. Its mission is to contribute to the preservation, transmission, and sharing of watchmaking knowledge and know-how, while promoting the technical, artistic, and cultural skills that shape watchmaking and its evolution.

    As a non-profit organization, Horopedia is funded by donations in order to preserve its impartiality and independence.

Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day Savoy Truffle's Fuchsia Dial GMT Master

Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day

Savoy Truffle's Fuchsia Dial GMT Master

Rolex Lume Shot Of The Day...

...Rolex Lume Shot Of The Day...

Hourglass' Rolex DEEPSEA SEA-DWELLER

Art Deco Rolex Ad

Art Deco Rolex Ad

The Return Of The ROLEX PADELLONE

The Return Of The

ROLEX PADELLONE

Rolex just held a special event in Milano, Italia, introducing their new model named the "ROLEX PERPETUAL PADELLONE". The image below appears courtesy of Wei Koh from Revolution and shows the name Rolex chose for this new family of moonphase models. "Padellone" translated from Italian to English is "Large Frying Pan", which is a nickname Italian collectors used for referring to the original vintage Rolex Triple Date Moonphase watches made back in the late 1940s, and early 1950s, which carried a Rolex Reference number of 8171. It's interesting to see Rolex actually adopt a commonly used nickname to use as a formal name for a model, which demonstrates they are playful and fun.

The name "PERPETUAL PADELLONE" has already raised a few eyebrows in confusion, as the horological term "Perpetual" in the context of triple calendar moonphase models, like with Patek Philippe triple calendar models, has always been reserved for "Perpetual Calendar" models, of which the Rolex Perpetual Padellone" does not belong in, as it's an Annual Calendar, and NOT a Perpetual Calendar. I think it's safe to assume when Rolex refers to "Perpetual Padellone", the "perpetual" is referring to Rolex's automatic, self winding, automatic movement which they pioneered back in 1931, and have referred to ever since by that name.

The upside to the nickname "Perpetual Padellone" is it illiterates well, which may explain why Rolex chose this nomenclature. 

One could imagine it was just a matter of time before Rolex brought back their Triple-Calendar MoonPhase. In Milan, Rolex held a special event to show off three new Rolex models. 

Let's start with examining the rose gold model below which comes on an alligator strap. It features a really unusual for Rolex design language domed bezel with fluting.

18 kt Everose Gold Reference M53505-0002 $59,000

Next we see what is essentially the same rose gold model an a beautiful 7-link Rolex Jubilee style bracelet.

18 kt Everose Gold Reference M53505-0003

 on Settimo Bracelet $72,800

Next we see a platinum version with the ice blue dial, and notice the dial on all these new Rolex Moonphase models feature a micro bead blasted finish, which was an interesting choice.

Platinum Reference with Ice Blue Dial M53506-0002 $66,200

This new model features a fascinating new annual calendar movement.

I recently completed what is arguably one of my best and most comprehensive articles I have ever written to date, and it's it covers many of the parallels between Patek Philippe's Moonphase models, as well as Rolex's Moonphase models. This subject is covered in detail in my super detailed article on PatekMagazine.com named, "REMEMBERING The Godfather of Modern Horology, Philippe Stern: The Personification of Patek Philippe 1938-2026."

I would go so far as to say my story on Philippe Stern's passing is on par with my story about Rolex's brilliant founder, Hans Wilsdorf. Speaking of great articles I have recently written, I highly recommend my article titled, "ROLEX, The Oyster & The Mermaid."

Speaking of definitive articles, if you are interested in learning all about the history of Rolex Triple Date Calendar Moonphase watches, be sure to check out my article named, "The Complete History of The Rolex Moonphase."

I wasn't invited to the event in Milan or briefed on the details, so all I really know is based upon some of the interesting video reviews I have seen which I am sharing below.

There are many subtle nuances for the operation of the Perpetual Padellone that make it operate differently than standard Rolex Oyster Perpetual models. For instance, if the power reserve runs out, and you want to restart the watch, unlike a standard Rolex automatic, you can't just start winding it by spinning it around in your hand to force the rotor to spin and "wake-up" the watch. Instead, as Rolex points out, you must first wind it 25 turns manually: 

You can see the official Rolex PERPETUAL PADELLONE instruction manual by visiting Rolex.com to learn more about the intricacies of how this new model operates.