The level of detail, quality and sophistication in Rolex watches is truly amazing as we see with this close-up macro shot of the Pepsi GMT-Master with the ceramic bezel insert...
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.
Meaning he has exclusively depended on and wore the same Rolex for more than a half-century, while being married only once to the same wife. That makes him a "One Watch Man" literally and figuratively.
It's waterproof, shock resistant, and everything. In a boat that is very valueable." After 65 years on the wrist the characteristic blue and read color of the bezel almost worn off. King Harald: "I received it as a gift. Interviewer: "From King Olav?" King Harald: "No. It was one of my godparents that gave the watch to me." Only two of King Haralds godparents was still alive in 1962. King Leopold III of Belgia and Queen Ingrid of Denmark. King Harald: It has become a collectors item now." The two images at the top of this article appear courtesy of D2magasin.
--------end of update------------
So essentially King Harald wore his Pepsi GMT-Master for 64 or 65 years, which must be a record.
In the photo below we see Prince Harald and Princess Sonja, a half-century ago, attending the 1968 Olympics. Notice Prince Harald's wearing his Pepsi GMT-Master, which would go on to become his lifelong companion.
King Harald experienced a very unusual childhood as he moved to the United States as a small child to escape the German occupation of Norway. He dated his future wife for 8 years before marrying her. The challenge is that she was a commoner, and thus he was not allowed to marry her. Finally, he gave his father an ultimatum and said that if he could not marry her he would not get married, thus leaving Norway without an heir apparent to the Norwegian throne.
King Harald Married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, and later then had two children, Mätha and Haakon.
Pepsi GMT-Masteras a Constant Companion
King Harald is pictured below with his two children back in 1977. It is interesting to not that in every photo I have seen of him taken since 1968, if his watch is visible, he always and only wears his Pepsi GMT-Master.
Harald succeeded his father as king in 1991 with his son Haakon becoming his heir apparent. King Harald of Norway and Queen Sonja are pictured below in a recent photo.
King Harald was an Olympic sailor who competed in three summer Olympic games including Tokyo (1964), Mexico (1968), and Munich (1972).
King Harald's father, King Olav won a gold medal for sailing in the 1928 Olympics. King Harald opened the Lillehammer, Norway Olympic games in 1994 when they were hosted in his country.
1968 Acapulco Summer Olympic Games
Stainless Steel Reference 5513
Since King Harald competed in the 1968 Summer Olympic games in Acapulco, Mexico I thought I would include this Rolex ad. This first one is from the 1968 Summer Olympic Games which were held in Mexico City, Mexico. The boating events of the XIX Olympiad were held in Acapulco, Mexico, which is featured in the Rolex ad below.
So what initially attracted Crown Prince Harald to his Pepsi GMT-Master? I can't help but wonder if it has to do with the fact that the red and blue Pepsi GMT-Master bezel insert matched the classic Nordic Cross Danish Flag colors, of red, bright sliver (reads like white) and blue? Also, the dial markers and date wheel on the Pepsi GMT-Master are also white, so it really does match the color way on the Norwegian flag. I took the image pictured above and superimposed the Norwegian flag behind him just to show how similar his Rolex Pepsi GMT-Master matches the vibe of the Norwegian flag.
King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway were in their early eighties when he passed away, and King Harald remained a sailing fanatic and wore his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master up until he passed away as seen in the photos below. It's also interesting to notice King Harald switched wearing his watch when he was younger on his left wrist to his right wrist when he got older.
As I mentioned earlier in this story, King Harald has not only been wearing his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master for a more than a half-century, but it is his constant companion—as I have not been able to find a photo of him wearing any other watch. In the photo below, taken on April 28, 2011, Prince Harald is attending a pre-wedding ceremony dinner in London being held for Prince William and Princess Kate of Britain, and King Harald is wearing a black tie-tuxedo while wearing his Pepsi GMT. I have also seen photos of King Harald wearing his Pepsi GMT-Master with a white tie and tails.
In the photo below we see that the Pepsi bezel insert on King Harald's Rolex GMT-Master has completely faded and turned into a 'Ghost' dial. In other words, it almost looks like he is wearing a stainless steel Rolex Yacht-Master with a platinum bezel, but indeed it is the original Pepsi bezel that has faded over the past half-century or regular wear.
With the new Pespsi Rolex GMT-Master that Rolex just introduced at Basel World 2018, if King Harald began with one of them, the Pepsi bezel would obviously never have faded. Some people like the fact the annodized aluminum bezels fade over time to five a more patinad look, while others, including Rolex today, with the shift to cermamic bezel inserts, prefer a bezel that will not be affected by UV light or change in appearance over the decades of wear. For the record, the photo below shows what King Harald's Pepsi bezel would have look liked when he first started wearing it.
They say if you live long enough you will see everything. I remember the first time Rolex discontinued the stainless steel Pepsi GMT-Master back in 2008, which completely freaked me out!!!
So what is going on exactly? Why on earth world Rolex discontinue one of it's most successful and iconic models?
I don't know, but several sources I have spoken with have suggested that Rolex plans to reintroduce a new model of the Pepsi GMT that is significantly updated, including an updated movement. Rolex has a special event coming up in several weeks on May 12, and who knows? Maybe Rolex will surprise us by launching an all new GMT-Master? Hopefully...
We are heading into winter in the Northern Hemisphere again, and soon we should see some snow. So I thought it would make sense to take a look at Quentin's vintage Pepsi GMT-Master.
Amanico is an amazing Rolex photographer. He has taken some stunning images and this is definitely one of my favorites for several reasons. Amanico's Pepsi GMT is a Rolex Reference 1675 and in my opinion the 1675 with Maxi-Markers is one of the coolest and most timeless vintage Rolex watches.
It is with deep regret I report the passing of James Lovell, who was one of the most accomplished and beloved NASA Astronauts who depended on Rolex to keep the time of this life for 6 decades. This article offers a historical overview of many of Lovell's lifetime achievements.
Explorer Club Medal Award
My pal, David Concannon, who among other things is a fellow Rolex fanatic of the highest order, sent in some great photos from the Explorers Club in New York that show legendary NASA Astronaut James Lovell at a special luncheon in his honor, that took place before the awards ceremony that presented Captian James Lovell with the Explorers Club medal back in March of 2018. In the photo below we see James Lovell, David Concannon and Mike Massimino who was a U.S. Space Shuttle Astronaut.
David Concannon snapped the photo below during the Explorers Club luncheon of NASA Astronaut, James Lovel showing off his vintage Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master.
David Concannon took this close-up wrist shot of James Lovell's Pepsi GMT, and notice on the left side of the dial, there is a U.S. Naval Academy Crest. Another Rolex mystery has been solved, and the mystery question was: "Where did James Lovell get this interesting Rolex with the unusual Naval Academy Crest." David Concannon just solved that mystery and the answer is that James Lovell confirmed that his Rolex was a gift from the Naval Academy to honor him after his first Gemini Flight. Notice Lovell ended up rocking his Pepsi GMT-Master on a Rolex Jubilee bracelet, despite the fact he originally wore it on a Rolex Oyster bracelet.
Apollo 8 crew members Bill Anders and Frank Bormanare pictured below on the left wearing their MA-1 flight jackets, which became the standard issue for the U.S. Air Force and Navy Pilots, and ground crew. These flight jackets were designed to be worn in temperatures of 15 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit and featured a knitted wool collar with matching cuffs.
James Lovell who was a fighter pilot and test pilot in the U.S. Navy is pictured below with fellow Apollo 8 crew members, Bill Anders and Frank Borman. Notice James Lovell is wearing the exact same Rolex GMT Master in the photo below, as in the photos above.
In the photo below we see James Lovell on the far left wearing his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master standing with Apollo 8 crew mission members, Bill Anders and Frank Borman in front of their Apollo 8 Rocket. Frank Boarman is pictured wearing a classic Omega Speedmaster Chronograph, which is very cool.
In the photo below we get a closer look at James Lovell's GMT-Master. It's interesting to note when he first started wearing his PEPSI GMT-Master back in the 1960s, he wore it on an Oyster Bracelet, and in recent years, we changed his bracelet to a Rolex Jubilee bracelet.
Real Astronauts & Test Pilots Wear Rolex
NASA Rolex Coolness: Captain James Lovell
[Pepsi GMT-Master On A Rolex Jubilee Bracelet]
Just in-case you are new to Jake's Rolex World, I will give you some detail on why this first photo is so profound. As most people know Omega was chosen to be the official watch of NASA during the Apollo program, but the really strange thing, is that years ago, when I started digging through the NASA Archives, I kept finding photos of Test Pilots as well as NASA Apollo Astronauts wearing Rolex GMT-Master watches to the Moon and back!!! Of course, I was shocked at first, but not surprised!!!
Recent Kennedy Space Center Photo Of NASA Apollo 13 Mission Commander James Lovell Wearing His Vintage Pepsi GMT Master
James Lovell is a member of the 50 Years wearing a Rolex Club, and from what I have observed, he wore it for at least 59 years—minimum, but more than likely wore it over 7 decades.
Real Astronauts & Test Pilots Prefer Pepsi
And An Occasional Mocha And Lacoste Alligators
One thing led to another and I found out that many, many of the Apollo astronauts were not only wearing their personal Rolex GMT-Master watches to the moon and back, but in their personal lives. So far, I have documented the following NASA Astronauts wearing Rolex Watches:
Chuck Yeager of Edwards Air Force Base was first to break sound barrier in 1947 while wearing a Rolex Perpetual Oyster.
William Knight of Edwards Air Force Base Fastest manned flight of Mach 6.7 (4,250 Miles Per Hour ins X-15 which is nearly 7 times the speed of sound) in 1967.
Scott Carpenter of Mercury 7.
Walter Schirra of Mercury 8, Gemini 6A & Apollo 7.
Michael Collins of Gemini 10 & Apollo 11.
Jack Swigert of Apollo 13 (Wore to Moon).
James Lovell was a U.S. Navy Test Pilot and went onto NASA to participate in Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 & Apollo 13 (Pictured Above).
Stuart Roosa of Apollo 14 (Wore to Moon).
Dr. Edgar Mitchell of Apollo 14 (Wore to Moon).
Alan Sheppard of Mercury 3 & Apollo 14 (Worn On Cape Canaveral & Possibly To The Moon).
Ronald Evans of Apollo 17 (Wore to Moon).
Eugene Cernan of Gemini 9A, Apollo 10 & Apollo 17 (Worn Outside Space Suit and Possible To The Moon).
Dr. Leroy Chaio (Wore on 3 Space Shuttle Missions and while Commander of the International Space Station Expedition 10).
The list above is not complete, and I am aware of more Rolex Moon Watch history which I will be publishing in the future. I also intend to do a future series named "The Complete History Of Rolex Watches In Space" which will tie everything together and give a holistic overview of this fascinating subject.
Below we see an image of James Lovell with Buzz Aldrin, of Apollo 11 fame, taken on November 23, 1966 at the Gemini XII post-flight press conference, taken at the Manned Spaceflight Center located in Houston, Texas, and we see Lovell rocking his Pepsi GMT-Master.
In this next image below, we see a younger NASA Apollo 13 Mission Commander, James Lovell speaking with his Apollo 13 mission astronaut, Jack Swigert who is wearing his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master in the photo. James Lovell is picture second from the left wearing the light blue Lacoste polo shirt with an alligator on it. Jack Swigert is on the far right.
In the photo below we see Apollo 13 Mission Commander, James Lovell with his fellow Apollo 13 flight crew members, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert during their Steak & Eggs breakfast as they prepare to leave for the moon.
Jack Swigert was born John Leonard Swigert on August 30, 1931 and passed away on December 27, 1982 at the young age of 51 years old. Jack was a test pilot, aerospace engineer, and U.S. Air force pilot before becoming a NASA Apollo Astronaut. Jack is one of only 24 astronauts who flew to the moon. After retiring from NASA Jack ran for Congress and won but died from cancer before being sworn in to office. Jack Swigert is pictured below as he prepared to leave for the moon wearing his Pepsi GMT-Master.
Jack Swigert's Pepsi GMT-Master he wore to the moon is pictured below as he returned it to Rolex in Geneva after his mission aboard NASAs Apollo 13.
In this next photo below, we see a close-up of Jack Swigert wearing a Lacoste polo shirt with an alligator on it and sporting his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master during the steak and eggs breakfast just before they took off for the Moon.
In the photo below we see the Apollo 13 flight team after they had returned safely to Earth. Not that Jack Swigert is wearing a yellow gold Rolex Mocha GMT on a Jubilee Bracelet. James Lovell is pictured on the far right.
In this next image we see Jack Swigert's official NASA photo and he is sporting the same yellow gold Rolex Mocha GMT-Master on a Rolex Jubilee bracelet as in the photo above.
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.
