Rolex posted this amazing Instagram short video of a Platinum ice-blue Day-Date striking midnight. I was able to turn 10 seconds of the video into the highest quality GIF possible. I love how the day and date change simultaneously and instantly at midnight in their respective windows.
The Day-Date is considered the emblem — nay, scratch that — the ultimate watch of prestige at Rolex. It was Hans Wilsdorf in 1956 who wanted a watch that displayed the day. The Day-Date was Rolex founder's brainchild, and it became the first wrist watch in the world to show both the day and the date in full letters, a feature widely considered a major innovation in horology worldwide.
The Day-Date, which is offered only in precious metal — yellow gold, white gold, Everose and platinum — is available in 26 languages, including Latin, as Latin is still spoken in the Vatican. The ice-blue dial is reserved exclusively for platinum watches at Rolex.
The technical feat achieved in 2022 was to offer a fluted bezel in platinum, something that was made possible only after years of research and development, Rolex told me. Platinum is soft and challenging to work with, especially when carrying out finishing.
The Rolex representative told me it was akin to scooping soft butter ("du beurre mou") without leaving any residue. The most challenging part was to create the sharp edges and smooth sides that are emblematic of the fluted bezel. And Rolex had to come up with a new manufacturing process.
Rolex is discontinuing the smooth bezel on the Day-Date, as the fluted bezel is the signature design of Rolex. I wrote last year about the fluted motif seen even in Rolex architecture throughout the world. So today the Day-Date in platinum — the quintessential watch of prestige — is getting the quintessential Rolex design. It is fascinating to see a brand whose watches sell themselves still invest in research and development to improve design, quality and manufacturing.
Bill Cosby is one of the biggest Rolex fans on earth and he has a huge collection of Rolex Day-Dates [a.k.a., The Rolex President]. Bill has been wearing Rolex watches for at least 45 years since he acted on the TV show, I Spy. Both Robert Culp and Bill Cosby both wore Pepsi GMTs on I Spy. If you want to learn much more about Bill Cosby and Rolex, you can on Jake's Rolex World.
On the Bill Cosby comedy album cover pictured above from 1965 named Why is there air? it shows Bill Cosby wearing his Rolex GMT 45 years ago. So this means he has been wearing Rolex for at least 45 years. This next shot is from I Spy, and shows Bill sporting his trademark Pepsi GMT Master.
In the next 2 photos below we see Bill Cosby during the Fat Albert & The Cosby Kids years, wearing a Yellow Gold Mocha GMT Master.
In this last image, we see Bill Cosby During the Cosby Show years, wearing a platinum Rolex Day-Date.
GSY took this amazing photo of his great looking all-new Rolex Day-Date. GSY wrote in and said "I Love This Watch!" and it is easy to see why. Congratulations GSY on this beauty and wear it well!!!
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.
