Rolex Lume Shot of the Day: Yachtmaster II

Yachtmaster II Lumeshot by Husi

Presidential Watch Sunday An Unprecedented Look At The Presidency

Presidential Watch Sunday

An Unprecedented Look At The Presidency

"Elegance knows no pain." –Morley Safer

Welcome to the third installment of Presidential Watch Sunday. I would like to thank the White House and Pete Souza (The Official White House Photographer) for giving us unprecedented access to photos of the United States Presidency.

This first shot was taken on March 25, 2009 during the Domestic Policy Council Meeting in the Oval Office. President Obama is a huge sportsman in terms of spectating with professional teams as well as participating himself.

Tip: Click on images to see much more detail:

This next photo of President Obama shows off Pete Souza's great artistic talent as he takes the photo of the President's reflection in the window with the beautiful winter background.

This next shot taken on January 27, 2009 of President Obama with his Legislative Affairs Director, Phil Shiliro as they leave to go to the U.S. Capitol to meet with Republican members of Congress.

President Obama runs with his new family dog, Bo down the East Colonnade on the dog's initial visit to the White House on March 15, 2009.

President Obama is seen below on April 8, 2009 as he walks down the stairs of Air Force One upon his arrival to Andrews Air Force Base upon returning from Baghdad, Iraq.

This next shot is fascinating. President Obama is seen practicing his golf swing at an outdoor hold prior to attending an event at the Miguel Contreras Learning Center, located in Los Angeles, California on March 19, 2009.

The following video of President Obama is really interesting and it shows President Obama going out to get some burgers in Washington D.C. with Brian Williams who was interviewing him that day, and you see Brain Williams of NBC appear briefly, and Brian is wearing a Rolex Daytona.

I think one of the appealing characteristics of President Obama is that he even though he is the President, he seems extremely down to earth and unpretentious.

I Spy Saturday Returns (Kinda) Season 1 [Episode 7 : Danny Was A Million Laughs]

I Spy Saturday Returns (Kinda)

Season 1 [Episode 7 : Danny Was A Million Laughs]

Original Air Date: October 27, 1965

There is a great difference between knowledge and understanding. You can know a lot about something without understanding it. –Charles Kettering

So, here is the deal: I stopped publishing I Spy Saturday, a few weeks ago because I thought some of the episodes were so bad, that they were unwatchable and I did not want to subject, you (my readers) to them.

Just out of curiosity and for historical sake–to make certain I leave no stone unturned–I still watch them on Saturday anyway, hoping the show will get better, hoping for some cool Rolex screen captures and hoping to gain more historical insight.

I decided to bring I Spy back because this episode is alright and there are some cool Rolex shots. Also, Bill Cosby is pretty funny–plus I kinda missed our favorite Rolex Spies. I mean, two cool, mod dudes, both wearing vintage GMT Pepsi watches!!!

I know I Spy is kind or campy, kitchy and stupid, kind of like the original Batman TV series, but for some reason I like it...I am hoping as they move away from Hong Kong and get more familiar with their roles that they get better...Let's keep our fingers crossed...

Rolex Coolness: Daniel Craig...

Rolex Coolness: Daniel Craig

James Bond Daytona ;-)

Daniel Craig is the current James Bond but in his private life he wears Rolex watches and I believe in this photo he is wearing a vintage Big Red Panda, Rolex Daytona [Reference 6263]

Flipper Friday Season 1 [Episode 6: Dolphin For Sale]

Flipper Friday

Season 1 [Episode 6: Dolphin For Sale]

Original Air Date: October 24, 1964

In this episode of Flipper Friday I would say we definately have a 100% Positive ID (Short of a dial shot, which I hope to find in the future) on Porter Ricks Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner which appears to be a Reference 5512 or 5513.

I also noticed the other Warden who Porter Ricks has a conversation with has the same uniform and he is also wearing a stainless steel Rolex Submariner. Pretty cool that it was standard issue.

Sandy Submariner

I was watching the episode of Flipper from last week again, and I was tripping on Sandy's watch. At first, I assumed it was not a Submariner because it is not on an Oyster bracelet, and it seems smaller, but when I took a closer look, it appears to be an older 37mm No Crown Guard, Rolex Submariner. I also think I remember seeing a photo from a later season of Sandy wearing a Submariner on an Oyster bracelet.

When we zoom in and look closer, it seems to have all the characteristics of an older, and smaller Rolex Submariner. What do you think?

It appears the watch has a cyclops date lens at 3pm, but I believe that is just a drop of water since he just got out of the water. There also appears to be a drop of water at 12.

Rolex Submariner Next To The New DEEP-SEA...

Side by Side Comparison

Rolex Submariner Next To The New DEEP-SEA

SixGrand took this comparison shot of the new 43mm DEEP-SEA Sea Dweller next to the standard Submariner, to compare the different thicknesses.

Exotic Dial "Paul Newman" Daytona...

Exotic Dial "Paul Newman" Daytona

Roberto from Italy took this stunning shot of his stainless steel Rolex Daytona with the pushbutton chronograph buttons. This watch is a real stunner!!!

Original GMT Master Coke From Stefano Mazzariol...

Nothing Like The Real Thing

Original GMT Master Coke From

Stefano Mazzariol

I guess today ended up being Vintage Rolex Monday, which may be a good idea!?! What better way to start your week off than with some cool vintage Rolex shots!?!

My pal, Stefano from Italy sent in this stunning photo of an original GMT with the translucent clear, see through bezel. We looked at a similar GMT Reference 6542 from the 1950s last Thursday, and you if you go back to the post, you can see what one of these bezels look like up really close.

I believe this watch is all original and notice the red date and that the 24-hour hand has a tiny arrow and the lack of a depth designation on the rail dial. Also notice the way the Jubilee bracelet attaches to the watch without full springbar and lug coverage as well as the lack of crown guards.

Thanks for sharing this great image Stefano!!!

Wrist Shot of the Day: Superdome Submariner...

Superdome Submariner

Alejandro took this great shot of his Rolex Submariner [Reference 5513] with the Superdome acrylic crystal. I have to say that one of the most intriguing and confusing vintage Rolex watches for me to understand are the Rolex Submariner 5512, 5513, 5514 and 5517, particularly when it comes to the acrylic crystals.

The Dividing Line Of Distinction

Between a vintage Rolex and a modern Rolex

Many would argue the dividing line between a vintage Rolex and modern Rolex is whether the crystal is Acrylic (Vintage) or Synthetic Sapphire (Modern). One thing is for certain, and that is the acrylic crystal Rolex watches have a definite and distinctly different aesthetic and vintage vibe.

For almost 25 years, I disliked the vintage acrylic crystal Rolex watches, but I must admit they have really grown on me and I really like them now. I have said many times, that often I have to hate something before I can love it. I don't know why life is that way, but that seems to be the way it works ;-)

The 551x series was the first model line of Rolex Submariner watches that were the larger 40mm. All the Submariner watches before the 551x series, like the Reference 6200, 6204, 6205, 6536, 6538, had no crown guards and were 37mm. In 1958 Rolex introduced the 5508 and 5510 that grew 1mm to 38mm, but still lacked crown guards.

To the best of my understanding, Rolex began making the 5512 in 1959, but it did not have the COSC designation on the dial for the first few years. Rolex made the 5512 until 1966, and then replaced it with the Reference 1680 in 1966, which ran until 1981. The key difference between the 5512 and 1680 was that the 1680 was the first Rolex Submariner that had a date–and the only Submariner to have a RED Submariner designation on the dial. The RED designation on the dial was rare and most were white and that is what makes the RED designation Reference 1680 rare.

Rolex started making the 5513, which never had a COSC designation, from 1962 to 1989. The difference between the 5513 and 5512 is that the 5512 was a Officially Certified Swiss Chronometer (COSC) and the 5513 was not. Externally they looked almost identical with the exception of the third and fourth line COSC designation on the 5512, but on the inside the movements were different. The 5513 (Non COSC) has one of those old-fashioned, adjustable on the movement levers, for fine-tuning the "+" and "–" of the speed at which the movement ran.

The 5512 (COSC) had the adjustable weights on the balance wheel to fine tune the precision of the accuracy of the timing. Sorry if your head is spinning, mine is to!!!

Back to the Crystals, I am confused because I have seen three different crystals on the 5512 and 5513. I have seen a flat raised one, a domed one that is also raised and the rarest which is called a Superdome. I believe the Superdome is pictured above. If anybody wants to help clarify this, please send me an email to RolexBlog@Gmail.com or post in the comment section of this story.

BTW, A 5514 is a 5512 Submariner with a helium release valve and they are very rare. The 5517 Submariner was a Military Submariner made only for the British Royal Navy and to confuse things even further, Rolex also made a 5513 Milsub.

The other interesting fact is that Rolex started selling the first Rolex Submariner with a date and synthetic sapphire crystal in 1981 which replaced the 1680, but they sold the 5513 as the non-date Submariner alongside it until 1989. I remember when I bought my first Rolex Submariner [Reference 16800] in 1982 with the synthetic sapphire crystal, thinking it looked so much more refined than the 5513. Now I like simplicity of the 5513 better in many ways.

One of these days, I will write a definitive story with photos showing the evolution of the Rolex Submariner, model by model, as well as for the GMT, Daytona, Explorer, Datejust, Day-Date and Milgauss.