It is very rare to see an original 1950s Rolex GMT Master [Reference 6542] with a bakelite bezel insert that still has the tritium glowing, but this no-crown guard beauty from the incomparable Stefano Mazzariol is still glowing. Great shot Stefano!!!!
If is fascinating to now that Dwight Eisenhower was the President Of The United States when this watch was made!?! Talk about timeless design!!! Also notice the red date and the 24 hour hand has a small arrow tip.
George Benson is one of the greatest Jazz Guitarists in history, and he is considered by many to be one of the great pioneers of Smooth Jazz. I would go so far as to say he is a living international treasure. Rick Beato just dropped this AMAZING interview with George Benson where he shares a great deal about his amazing life journey and lifetime achievements, which I cannot highly enough recommend!!!!:
George has recorded 36 studio albums to date, as well as 5 live albums. In the photo below he is sporting his two-tone Rolex Daytona.
George Benson is pictured below in a recent photo rockin' a yellow gold Rolex Submariner with a Ceramic Bezel.
George is pictured below, in 2011, wearing his yellow gold Rolex Submariner with the blue dial and bezel.
George Benson recently came out with an autobiography in August of 2014, and the photo below, is from his book shows him when he was a little kid playing the guitar.
George Benson
An Amazing Musical Career
George Benson is best known for his amazing smooth jazz and I included a bunch of videos below. George is truly Superlative...
This first video of George Benson performing his mega-hit, Masquerade was originally performed back in 1976, and it was just one of the amazing songs on his seminal Smooth Jazz album, titled Breezin' which was released in 1976, and went triple-platinum. As a matter of fact, Breezin' was the first Jazz album in history to go platinum!
This last video of George Benson was shot in 2012, and you can see him wearing his Rolex Submariner. What a fascinating and brilliant musician!!!!
It's interesting how certain Rolex watches I have seen and admired in the past stick my your soul and Deja Vu me out every time I see them, and the yellow gold Rolex Yacht-Master with the white mother of pearl dial with ruby markers is certainly one of them.
This is a fascinating Rolex magazine ad from 1929, which means Rolex had obviously already introduced their revolutionary "Oyster" waterproof case, but had not yet introduced their "Perpetual" automatic movement, which came along in 1931. I am always fascinated when I find and publish another aquatic themed vintage Rolex ad which completes another piece of the Rolex history puzzle!
In my mind the illustration above shows the ships captain with his first and second mate and they are tripping on how cool their waterproof Rolex watches are. If you were alive in 1929 and you were a ship captain and you tried on or wore a Rolex waterproof watch it would be shocking—like driving a Tesla for the first time when it first came out...just otherworldly!!!
When Rolex first mastered the production of the iconic Pepsi ceramic bezel insert, the excitement was palpable. They began with 'Cerachrom,' Rolex’s proprietary term for their high-tech ceramic bezels, initially crafting them in sleek black. Creating the vibrant red and blue combination, however, posed a formidable challenge, demanding innovative techniques to achieve the perfect color fidelity and durability. Through relentless ingenuity, Rolex triumphed, delivering the stunning two-tone Cerachrom bezel that has since become a hallmark of their GMT-MASTER craftsmanship.
This 1938 Rolex Magazine ad originally appeared in the Europa Star Magazine and the caption reads: "The locomotive and the Oyster Perpetual are hailed as "two masterpieces of technology". Typical of Rolex advertisements from the first half of the century, the text adopts an almost didactic tone, explaining the automatic movement offers exceptional regularity and that the Oyster case is water resistant to 6 atmospheres.
PHILLIPS TO OFFER A LANDMARK OF MOTORSPORT HISTORY
VIC ELFORD'S HISTORIC ROLEX DAYTONA FROM THE COLLECTION OF JERRY SEINFELD
Phillips just announced that coming this fall they will be auctioning off Vic Elford's famous Rolex Daytona he won following his victory at the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona Race, which is currently owned by legendary comedian, Jerry Seinfeld.
Below is the original article I published in the past on Vic Elford's Rolex Daytona:
Jerry Seinfeld's
Multimillion Dollar Rolex Daytona
A Historic Triumph
The First Daytona Awarded @ 24 Hours @ Daytona
In a rivetingly funny episode of Spike’s Car Radio, a fascinating tale unfolds, revealing the extraordinary journey of how comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld came to possess Vic Elford’s iconic Rolex Daytona. This captivating video not only delves into the watch’s storied provenance but also offers a vibrant glimpse into the male psyche, where passion for precision, machines, and legacy intertwines.
Seinfeld proudly shared that his collection boasts not only the Rolex Daytona awarded to racing icon Vic Elford at the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona but also the very Porsche that propelled Elford to victory in that legendary race. This remarkable duo of horological and automotive treasures elevates Seinfeld’s status as a connoisseur of mechanical artistry.
Widely regarded as the inaugural Rolex Daytona presented at the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona, Elford’s timepiece holds a hallowed place in motorsport history. Its timeless design and unparalleled significance make it a multimillion-dollar masterpiece, cherished by collectors and enthusiasts alike.
I originally published the article below on August 25, 2019, which offers much background on Jerry Seinfeld's Rolex Daytona:
If you can't believe what you are seeing, you are not alone! Jerry Seinfeld is one of the most beloved comedians in the world. I was watching Jerry on Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee and I thought I was hallucinating when I discovered him wearing a vintage Rolex Daytona!!!
I have an interesting backstory to share with you. As the head of the Rolex Fan Club I have spent my life staring at peoples wrists to see what watch they are wearing. Jerry has famously worn Breitling watches since his Seinfeld show. For some bizarre reason, over many years I keep expecting him to show up wearing a Rolex, but he never did—until yesterday, which blew my mind!!!!!!
If we look closely we see Jerry is wearing a vintage 1968 Rolex Daytona Reference 6239 with a stainless steel bezel.
It turns out this is no ordinary vintage Daytona, as it once belonged to Racing legend Vic Elford who won his 1968 Rolex Daytona as a prize for winning the 24 Hours of Daytona.
In the historic Rolex photo below from Porsche Motorsports, we see the 1968 Rolex Daytona winner, Vic Elford representing Great Britain, being presented with a stainless steel Rolex Daytona Cosmograph for his victory of the 24 At Dayona.
The vintage Rolex Daytona ad below is from 1965 and it introduces the Rolex Daytona Chronograph as the official watch of Daytona.
One of the most interesting historical sidenotes, is that in 1963, after Rolex began sponsoring the Rolex Continental Race, as well as at Sebring, Rolex would give away Milgauss models, instead of the new Daytona, as the Milgauss models were unpopular back them. Nick Gould made this amazing discovery and elaborated quite a bit in his stunning story named "Rolex's Road to Daytona: Rolex Racing Champions, The Evolution of the Rolex Racing Revolution".
Monday, October 12, 2026
...Studio Shot of the Day...
DATEJUST 41
Oyster Bracelet, Oystersteel and White Gold
Watches and Wonders is still about 6 months away. Speaking of which, I can't stop thinking about this super cool Rolex model that launched at Watches & Wonders in 2022. This beauty came and went without major fanfare and its the 41MM Datejust with a Bright Blue Fluted Motif dial, with a fluted white gold bezel. I LOVE this 41MM with the crazy-beautiful blue dial!!!! What a Magnificent design Rolex!
...Funny Rolex Moment In Time... Jon Cryer Alan Cousteau Submariner
Two & A Half Men
Rolex has been featured in many pop-culture contexts, and this is probably one of the funniest examples. Jon Cryer starred on the mega-hit comedy TV-Show Two and a Half Men from 2003 to 2015. Most of those years he co-starred with Charlie Sheen (WINNING!!!!!), and both of them wore Rolex watches on the show. Jon wore a Submariner and Charlie wore a medium size stainless steel and Platinum Yatch-Master.
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.
