Rolex Wrist Shot of the Day: A Ceramic Supercase GMT...

...Wrist Shot Of The Day...

A Ceramic Supercase GMT 
from Vienna, Austria

Hyphophyse took this stunning wrist shot of his ceramic supercase GMT Master.

People Who Wear Two Rolex Watches @ The Same Time

Rolex Two-Timers

People Who Wear Two Rolex Watches 

@ The Same Time 

Over the past decade, of publishing Jake's Rolex World, I couldn't help but notice a phenomenon captured in photos and video of people wearing two Rolex watches at the same time. I call these people 'Rolex Two-Timers', as they wear two Rolex watches at the same time. Sometimes they wear one watch on each wrist, or two watches on one wrist like my great pal Stan Barrett who is pictured below in 1979 as he prepares to become the first man to ever drive a vehicle on the land past the speed of sound.

I asked Stan Barrett why he chose to wear a Rolex Daytona and Pepsi GMT-Master on the same wrist when he drove his epic Budweiser Rocket Car into the history books, and he responded:

"My best friend, Paul Newman gave me both of these Rolex watches as good luck charms—not to mention, I just like wearing a Rolex. So I figured wearing two Rolex watches would give me twice the luck—and they did!"

Over the years, I noticed other people wearing two or more Rolex watches at the same time and wondered if there was a common reason or purpose for such behavior?

The photo below was taken of Cuban President, Fidel Castro's first visit to the USSR on April 27th, 1963, which resulted in Castro spending 40 days touring the Soviet Union.

Just to add some context, Catro is meeting with the Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschcev and notice there is photo on the back wall of another famous bearded fellow, who seems to be watching this event. Ironically that other bearded fellow is non other than Karl Marx. How ironic if you think about it?

In the cropped photo below we see that Castro is wearing a Rolex Day-Date and a GMT-Master on the same wrist.

In the next photo below taken years later, again we see Castro wearing the same two Rolex watches, and I assume he wore two watches to keep time in both Moscow and Cuba, or maybe he really just likes wearing two Rolex watches :-)

Rolex Moon Watches

One of the first people I ever noticed wearing two Rolex watches was NASA Apollo Astronaut, Dr. Edgar Mitchell who is pictured below calibrating two Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master models as he prepares to take off on his way to the moon aboard Apollo 14. When I first saw this photo I was curious as to what he was doing with two GMT-Master watches?

In the video below from Apollo 14 Launch Day, you can see Dr. Edgar Mitchell putting on his two Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master models @ 4:58.

Before I started Jake's Rolex World, like many other people, I was under the impression that NASA Astronauts ONLY wore Omega Speedmaster watches to the moon and back, so I was really surprised— actually shocked is more like it—when I began discovering all these photos in NASA archives of Apollo Astronauts wearing Rolex watches!?!! In the photo below we see NASA Astronaut and fellow Apollo 14 crew member Alan Sheppar wearing his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master.

Next, I discovered the photo below that shows Dr. Edgar Mitchell with his Apollo 14 crewmate, Alan Sheppard during a training session in a NASA simulator. I belive it is/was common for NASA Astronauts to wear two watches to keep time on earth at Cape Canaveral in Florida, and at Houston Control at the same time. Or it is possible they wore them to keep track on multiple things they were timing.

The next photo below, shows Edgar Mitchell as he is leaving the moon surface in the LM to return to Apollo 14 before he returns back to earth and he is wearing his Rolex GMT-Master. According to Dr. Edgar Mitchell he wore his trusted Rolex GMT-Master on the longest moonwalk in history.

Next up we see Sharon Stone from a photo shoot back in the 1980s, and she is wearing 3 Rolex Watches on her right wrist. I think this is because at the time she was a top actress and model and she was keeping time in London, Paris and Tokyo. Just kidding :-) I have no idea what she is rockin' three Rolex watches, but whatever the reason, she looked georgous!

Wearing Two GMT-Masters

Marlon Brando is considered by many people to be the greatest actor that ever lived. The two next photos of Brando are screen grabs from the 1989  Connie Chung interview during which Brando was clowning around while wearing his two-tone GMT-Master on this right wrist, along with his Pepsi GMT-Master on his left wrist. 

Why was Marlon Brando wearing two Rolex watches? Keeping time in Tahiti, where he owned an island, while keeping local time in Los Angeles where the interview took place. But hey, wait a minute!?!! He could easliy keep time in two places with just one GMT-Master, cause that is what a GMT-Master does. Right!?? Hmmmmn...

Next, we see legendary soccer player Diego Maradona wearing two stainless steel Rolex Daytona models.

Drake

Next up we see ultra-popular recording star, Drake wearing multiple Rolex watches on this left wrist.

Hunter Thompson

In this next photo, we see Hunter Thompson wearing a Pepsi and RootBeer GMT on his left wrist.

In the past, I have written stories about men who have only owned and worn one watch their entire adult life, which happened to be a Rolex. I call these men, a 'One Watch Man.' A One Watch Man is a person who only owns and wears one Rolex his entire life, and is kind of the opposite of a Rolex Two Timer.

Rune Gjeldnes 2007 Grand Slam Rolex Explorer Ad

...Rolex Coolness...


Rune Gjeldnes

2007 Grand Slam Rolex Explorer

Rune Gjeldnes is a Norwegian explorer/adventurer. He served on the Norwegian Naval Special Operations Command from 1992 to 1997. Rolex featured Rune in this 2007 Rolex ad, and they cover him on Rolex.com in the Rolex Explorer 'World As A Laboratory' section.

Rolex sums up Rune's career exploration achievements: "The Explorer symbolizes the privileged relationship that has always bound Rolex and exploration. Since the late 1920s, Rolex has been using the world as a laboratory to prove its watches under real-life conditions. This pioneering spirit prompted the company to equip numerous Himalayan expeditions, whose observations in the harshest environments have had a direct impact on the development of Oyster watches and the quest for greater precision, robustness and reliability."

Japanese Rolex Daytona Racing Leaflet 1972 Reference 6241

Japanese 

Rolex Daytona Racing Leaflet

1972 Reference 6241

John Goldberger recently published this 1972 Japanese Rolex Daytona leaflet that features the Reference 6241 with its exotic black Oreo Cookie dial in stainless steel watch. One of the reasons this is so cool is that official Rolex images that feature the exotic Daytona dials are very rare. I think the city with the port and buildings in the background is Port Hercules, in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Genie Bouchard Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona

...Rolex Tennis Hotness...

Genie Bouchard

Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona

Genie Bouchard is a top Canadian professional tennis player, as well as being a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model.

A Note From Vittorio: DEEP-SEA FUN under The Italian Sun

DEEP-SEA FUN

Under The Italian Sun

A Note From Vittorio

Vittorio from Taranto, Puglia, Italy sent in some really cool SEA-DWELLER photos with an announcement that he is creating a community for Rolex HEV enthusiasts. HEV refers to the Helium Escape Valve on every Rolex SEA-DWELLER. In the superb wrist shot seen below, we see Vittorio's Rolex DEEP-SEA.

Hi Jake! Hope you’re fine!

I’d like to tell you that I’ve created the 
‘BDV - Banda Della Valvola’ (The Band of the Valve). 

Starting from a Topic on our Forum Orologi & Passioni (where I’m Moderator, my nickname is Glauco) 

I’ve created an Instagram page, and a Facebook page.

The community for Rolex HEV enthusiasts!

It’s only about passion and history of Rolex Sea Dwellers, not for speculations or everything money-related.

We’re working toward creating an official logo (i got two ideas), when we realize it I think we’ll do some T-shirts and the money will be destinated for charity :)

In the future... we’re planning (we’d like to sooo much!) some ‘Band reunion’ in some Italian Navy saturation diving unit (Nave Anteo) or at the Submersible General Command, COM.FLOT.SOM, located in Taranto.

I Send you some pic of my beloved Sea-Dweller Deepsea in my beautiful Town, Taranto, Puglia, Italy.

Thanks in advance!
Ciao! 
Vittorio

Rolex Coolness: Tom Ford Super Stylish American Designer...

...Rolex Coolness... 

Tom Ford

Super Stylish American Clothing Designer

There are many different Ford's that wear Rolex. We have Harrison Ford, President Ford, and William Ford. Another famous Ford that is a Rolex fanatic is Tom Ford.

Tom Ford is a fashion designer, film director, film producer, and screenwriter. The Italian brand, Gucci did really well in the 1980s, but by the later 1980s sales started to slow. As a result, by the early 1990s, Gucci was on the verge of Bankruptcy. 

One of the lawyers who was handling the bankruptcy case decided they needed to hire a designer to come up with one last Gucci collection, which would give them time to liquidate more assets. That lawyer hired Tom Ford as Creative Director for Gucci in 1994, and Tom Ford shocked the fashion world with his first collection which received nothing by accolades from the fashion press. In other words, Tom Ford saved Gucci. By the end of the twentieth century, the Gucci brand was valued at more than $4 Billion.

So how into wearing Rolex is Tom Ford? Not only does he wear Rolex watches, but he insists that everybody close to him also wears Rolex watches, and if they don't already own a Rolex, he gives them one as a gift.




Many Hollywood actors, celebrities, and musicians wear Tom Ford clothing including Daniel Craig who is pictured below wearing a Tom Ford Tuxedo at a 007 movie premiere. Also, notice Daniel Craig is wearing his GV Rolex Milgauss. 

Brad Pitt is pictured below wearing Tom Ford glasses, which feature the sideways "T".

Legendary Tennis player, Roger Federer is pictured before rockin' Tom Ford in a recent photo from GQ.

The rapper, Jay-Z not only wears Tom Ford clothing but also wrote a song named "Tom Ford", which you can watch him perform below.

Rolex Explorer Movement

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

Rolex Explorer Movement

One of the strangest things about Rolex is they have never made watches for the public with exhibition case backs. The logic is that Rolex movements are not highly decorated, but I have to say I think Rolex movements are magnificently beautiful, and I hope one day Rolex starts showing them off.

Rolex Coolness- Placido Domingo: Rolex Day-Date II

...Rolex Coolness...

Placido Domingo

An Amazing Career with Rolex Keeping The Time Of His Life

Placido Domingo has been a Rolex Ambassador for four decades, and in this first image we see him sporing the Rolex Day-Date II in Rose Gold.

In this next Rolex ad we see Placido Domingo sporting a Platinum Rolex Day-Date II.

2007 Vintage Rolex Ad

Yellow Gold Day-Date

1995 Vintage Rolex Ad

Yellow Gold GMT-Master

1992 Vintage Rolex Ad

Yellow Gold Day-Date

1984 Vintage Rolex Ad

Mocha GMT Master

It is profound to think this vintage Rolex ad was published more thana quarter-century ago!?!

This was such a great color combo on the Rolex GMT Master. I think Rolex Should bring back the brown bezel and dial on the Yellow Gold GMT Master.

1983 Vintage Rolex Ad

Mocha GMT Master

In the video below we see Charlie Rose interviewing Placido Domingo in 1993.

In the following videos from 1994 (15 Years ago) shot in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., you can see and hear Placido Domingo singing with his fellow 3 tenors, Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavorotti, with Zubin Metha conducting. You could live a thousand lifetimes and it won't ever get better than this!!!!

The 3 Tenors singing "My Way" to Frank Sinatra!!!

I have an interesting story to share with you about Frank Sinatra's song, "My Way." One day, more than 20 years ago, I was in New York on business. I took a cab from the airport into Manhattan and I had this cab driver who who was a really nice gentleman. He was born and raised in New York and had a classic New York Accent. We had a nice conversation and I asked him what his favorite song was?

He responded by saying, "My Way, by Frank Sinatra." I asked him if he new the words to it and he said yes. Then I asked him if he would sing it for me and he said yes. So here I am in the back of this yellow taxi and in the most perfect voice, he starts singing My Way—flawlessly!!!

The thing I noticed about the way he sang it, was that he not only knew the words, but I could tell that he meant the words as he sang them. It was his anthem. He was a lot older than me, I would say he was in his mid to late sixties and he was wearing a sport coat and glasses and looked like a character out of a Leroy Nieman painting from the late 1960s.

If you ever listen carefully to the words to My Way, they give you a great perspective. In my mind's eye, I can still see and hear him singing My Way while driving me into Manhattan. What a song!!! What a Life!!!! What a World!!!

BTW, I am pretty certain at the time, I was wearing an all stainless Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet with a white dial with raised white gold Roman numerals or a yellow gold Day-Date with a white porcelain dial with raised yellow gold Roman numerals.

Revolution Watch Aurel Bacs Interview

Revolution Watch

Aurel Bacs Interview

Summit Nag, from Revolution Magazine, is a friend of mine and one of my favorite people in the horological world. Summit is an extremely gracious gentleman and a superb conversationalist and interviewer as we see in this interview with Aurel Bacs from Phillips Auction house. Aurel Bacs is also a brilliant conversationalist and gentleman, so we get a real treat with this fascinating interview.

In this video Summit and Aurel talk about the upcoming Phillips auction that will offer John Goldberger's unique white gold Daytona, the proceeds of which will be donated to a children's charity.