Mystery Solved: Fidel Castro Submariner

Mystery Solved

Fidel Castro

1959 Rolex Submariner

Exclusive Photo Proves

First Rolex Sport Watch Was A Submariner

If you are a regular reader of Jake's Rolex World, you are likely aware Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro wore multiple Rolex watch models. This first photo below—which is exclusive to Jake's Rolex World—of Fidel Castro was taken when he was 32 years old. It was taken in Houston, Texas in April of 1959 and it's deeply profound as is the first photo that proves, as a matter of fact (with 100% Positive ID) Fidel's first Rolex sports watch was a Submariner and NOT a GMT-Master. 

In the photo above we see Fidel Castro signing a letter of intent with Texas Oil Millionaire, Frank B. Waters for the film rights to his life as the leader of Cuba. Marlon Brando was chosen to play Castro, but the movie was never made.

The photo below is a tight close up of Castro's Rolex Submariner and it reveals some interesting details. In particular, his winding crown is NOT screwed down? Castro's Rolex Submariner is an early Reference 6536, and is probably a 1956 model.

Castro Took Cuba Wearing His Submariner

Fidel Castro wore a sport Rolex Submariner when he overthrew dictator Fulgencio Batista during the Cuban Revolution in late 1958. In this image from the LIFE Magazine archives we see Fidel Castro standing on the balcony of the Hilton Hotel with friends after his triumphant entry into the Havana, Cuba wearing his Rolex Submariner.

I originally published the image seen above and below more than 10 years ago, and in the images we can clearly see Castro wearing his Rolex and at the time I assumed it was a Submariner, but realized it could be a GMT, but it was not as the first image in this story now proves unequivocally. 

The Habana Hilton Hotel-Casino is pictured above in 1958 just after it opened. After taking over Cuba in late 1958 Fidel Castro made the Habana Hilton his headquarters. The photo below was taken in January of 1959 and shows the Habana Hilton Foyer filled with armed Cuban revolutionary soldiers.

In this next photo seen below of Castro, also taken in 1958 in Cienfuegos, Cuba you see Castro being cheered by crowds on his victorious march to Havana after successfully ousting Batista. 

Fidelito Castro 

Fidel Castro's First Son

Fidel Castro's oldest son is named Fidelito Castro, and he is pictured below with his father Fidel Castro in 1959 at the Havana Hilton Hotel in Cuba.  In the photo below Fidelito is inspecting his father's Rolex what was previously assumed to be a Rolex Day-Date with an early Rolex 'President' bracelet, but Nick Gould from Quill & Pad recently figured out it was a Datejust on a Rolex President bracelet. We also see Fidel wearing his Rolex Submariner on his left wrist along with another watch that is flipped-around out of view. 

The photo below is the same as the one above, just zoomed-in on Castro and we see he is wearing his Submariner with the crown in the unscrewed winding position.

In the photo below, we see Castro in 1964 wearing an early Coke Rolex GMT-Master with no crown guards [Reference 6542].

Communism for the masses. 

Capitalism for the Bosses. 

Fidel Castro also wore a Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master [Reference 1675] with crown guards as pictured below on the cover of TIME Magazine. 

Castro's Legacy

Castro remains a highly polarizing figure in the world today. Some people see him as a hero, or David who stood up to Goliath (Batista and the Imperialist Americans). Others see Castro as being a stone cold killer and hypocrite. I received an email which include the photo seen below in response to this story from a reader who shared his insightful perspective:

Hi, Jake

I have been a fan of Rolex watches for many years and a fan of your website and therefore your post.  However, I hate to see guys like Fidel Castro and Che Guevara wearing Rolex watches and given credit for wearing them despite their atrocities and crimes against humanity.  These two guys, were criminals just like Hitler and lately Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.  They killed thousand of peoples and destroyed thousands of families, some of them my friends families, just to please themselves and their relatives with money. 

To me they are all cowards hiding behind a political ideology to become billionaires. The Castro family is well worth over 10 billion dollars at the expense of the Cuban people which still live in misery.  The same is with Maduro in Venezuela. Well, Guevara didn’t get that lucky, he got what he deserved. I guess the guys who captured him were better Rolex ambassadors, perhaps and I hope they had the chance to wear Guavara’s GMT.

Jose

History is filled with all kinds of atrocities, and hopefully as mankind moves forward we can all learn from these mistakes so they are not repeated. In the Chess game of life, Che Guevara was hunted down like a dog in Bolivia and brutally executed.

Phillips Spring Auction Results...

Phillips Auction Results

1950 Rolex Moonphase

38MM Reference 8171

Sells for $973,975

If you are a regular reader of Jake's Rolex World you know I am a huge fan of the vintage Rolex Moonphase models. Over this last weekend in Geneva, Switzerland Phillips held its Spring auction which was dubbed "The Geneva Watch Auction: Nine". Phillips successfully auctioned this magnificently beautiful Rolex Moonphase for 980,000 Swiss Francs.

Catalogue Essay

Reference 8171 is lovingly dubbed "Padellone", which translates to "large frying pan" in Italian. Boasting a generous 38 mm case, it is slightly larger than its waterproof Oyster sibling, reference 6062. Both references 8171 and 6062 were the only two vintage Rolex models with moonphases, giving them a mythical reputation and cult-like following. Produced for a very short period of time in the early 1950s, reference 8171 and 6062 were available in yellow gold, pink gold, and stainless steel. 

Quite likely one of the greatest and best preserved yellow gold reference 8171s to surface on the market in recent years, this timepiece is an absolutely exceptional specimen. Displaying completely original lines, curves, and finishes, it best demonstrates the genesis and factory specifications of the mythical reference. The bezel is overwhelmingly crisp and displays a bevel at the base that would have instantly disappeared with polishing. Of particular note is that sharp Rolex coronet and case number that is visible and immediately legible on the caseback, attesting to the untouched nature of this timepiece. Furthermore, a deep and sharp hallmark is visible on the bottom of the lug. 

As with all "Padellone" watches, the beauty lies in the dial. Those in original condition, such as this one, are few and far between and appear infrequently on the market. This particular example is best characterized as extraordinary. The dial is undeniably original. The sharp track where the moonphase aperture meets the rim of the subsidiary dial is incredibly precise and correct. One would expect to see significant spotting to the dial considering that this watch is not waterproof and has a snap on caseback. Yet, it remains clear of blemishes. Furthermore, the two-tone design is unmistakable and the "Officially Certified Chronometer" script is visible and crisp. 

If these details and attributes have not already surpassed any collector's wildest expectations, this timepiece is furthermore accompanied by its original numbered hang tag and presentation box, adding yet another layer of collectibility. Interestingly, while the present watch has a snap-on caseback, the hangtag says "Rolex Oyster", showing how the retailers used whatever supplies and accessories they had in stock, at the time. Even the Rolex strap is the original to the timepiece, which is a marvelous feat in itself. 

To acquire a reference 8171 is a dream for many collectors today. Yet, to discover one fresh to the auction market and preserved in unpolished condition with an immaculate dial, is positively unheard of. It is unimaginable when a white whale of watch collecting comes to the market, and it is with great certainty that another will not appear soon

1952 Rolex Moonphase

36MM Reference 6062

Sells for $544,987

Phillips also successfully auctioned this beautiful "Little Star" Rolex moonphase which has a Super-Oyster Case. This is also one of my favorite Rolex models of all time.

Catalogue Essay

Launched at the Basel fair in 1950, reference 6062 was the first automatic wristwatch with date and moonphases to be housed in a waterproof case. Cased in stainless steel, yellow gold and pink gold, the model was fitted with a number of dial variants. One of the most iconic versions is without a doubt, one fitted with eight faceted stars in lieu of hour numerals, such as the present watch. Such is the desirability, and popularity of the watch, that collectors have dubbed it "Stelline", meaning "starlet" in Italian. Reference 6062 is one of two Rolex models to feature a triple calendar complication with a moon phase complication. While reference 6062 features a screw down Oyster caseback, reference 8171 features a snap-on caseback.

Few watches cause fervor and excitement among collectors like reference 6062 and 8171 can. While Rolex is particularly known for its sports models, such as the Submariner or Daytona, the manufacture has created some of the most sublime triple calendar wristwatches in the world. Over the years, these two models have garnered a cult-following, with condition being prized above all. 

The present "Stelline" is preserved in impressive condition. Most examples are spotted throughout, due to aging and exposure to environmental elements. Yet, this dial barely has any imperfections. The numerals on the outer track are inky blue, and the day and date apertures are sharp and angular, demonstrating the originality of the dial. The luminous dots have aged evenly with the numerals, both having aged with warm patina. The yellow gold case, preserved in excellent and sharp condition, displays a sharp hallmark to the bottom of the lug.

Of particular note is that caseback engraving bearing "S.W Levitan Wash. D.C." Research shows that Simon W. Levitan was an accountant for more than 50 years and the former president of the D.C. Board of Accountancy. On top of his many achievements, he was even a special agent during his lifetime.

Fresh to the auction market, the present watch has resided in a private collection for many years. Rarely does this model come at auction, no less in such desirable and impressive condition.

1958 Rolex Submariner

37MM Reference 5508

Sells for $497,032

One of the stars of Phillips auction was this 'Crispy' Submariner from 1958. I noticed collectors, especially on Instagram where tripping on how pristine this case was.

Catalogue Essay

The Submariner is one of Rolex's most iconic models. Still in production today, it has gone through multiple incarnations throughout its 65 years history. While early generation examples notably had either a "small" or "big" crown, Rolex gradually introduced crown guards in the mid-1960s to make the model more robust and durable. 

Reference 5508 was manufactured between 1958 and 1962. This Submariner model, nicknamed “small crown” is the last one to carry a 100m depth rating and no crown guards. The present example is presented in an impressively preserved condition. It seems that the watch has spent its life securely stored away from the ocean and worn less than occasionally. 

The case is as crisp as it was when it left the factory and the fragile bevels that run along the lugs are crisp and sharp. Fitted with a black glossy dial with gilt printings, the watch also displays a perfectly preserved bezel with red triangle and original pearl. It further impresses with a wonderfully firm and tight expandable riveted Oyster bracelet stamped 1.58. 

Directly coming from the family of the original owner, this 60 year plus Submariner is a preserved gem that could possibly be ready for some action.

1996 Rolex Day-Date

36MM Reference 18208

Sells for $22,380

I am including this very unusual looking Rolex Day-Date which features a white marble dial which I like in a strange way. This watch reminds me of Forest Gump saying 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get next." That is the interesting point about Rolex, is they always surprise me with how many different variants they have experimented with over time.

Catalogue Essay

The present timepiece is an extremely attractive example of how the Day-Date is used to express all of the unbridled creativity of the Rolex design department. The quintessential “luxury” Rolex timepiece, the Day-Date (and earlier, its sibling the Datejust) were conceived in the mid twentieth century as the most luxurious offering in the Rolex lineup. In fact, the President and Jubilee bracelets were originally created specifically for these two models and were intended to emphasize the luxury connotation of the watches.

Over the years, Rolex created an astoundingly varied series of dials for these pieces, such as dials in malachite, wood, coral, fossil, lacquer, and so on. One of the most unusual, rare and attractive iteration is indeed the one exemplified here: a dial realized with a very thin slab of marble, a material hardly ever used as a dial medium.

Fresh to the market and in superlative condition - unpolished and still retaining its original green Rolex sticker to the back - the present piece is a remarkable testament to Rolex’s creativity and design boldness, and one of the most collectible Day-Date iterations known. It is furthermore accompanied by its original guarantee and presentation box.

Hodinkee Radio Joe Thompson

Hodinkee Radio

Joe Thompson

Joe Thompson is a writer for Hodinkee.com, and I was not that familiar with him until I listened to this recently recorded HODINKEE RADIO interview which is SUPERB!!! Joe has been a passionate horological reporter for many decades, and his career insights are amazing, including the story he tells about an interview he had with former Rolex CEO, Patrick Heiniger.

2019 Rolex Awards & Anybody Can Vote Now!!!

2019 Rolex Awards

Anybody Can Vote Now!!!

A new chapter is being written for the Rolex Awards...This story is beyond exciting to me as it clearly demonstrates Rolex is going full-speed ahead in the digital age!!! While the Rolex Awards have been around since ????, this year Rolex is allowing ANYBODY, ANYWHERE to participate in the voting process!!!!

All you need to do to vote and learn about all the amazing award nominees is visit Rolex.org. 

Tiger Woods Awarded Medal of Freedom by President Trump

Tiger Woods

Receives Medal of Freedom

from President Trump

Today, U.S. President Donald Trump awarded Tiger Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the White House Rose Garden, and Tiger was sporting his D-Blue Rolex SEA-DWELLER as seen in the photo below.

Tiger is wearing his Rolex DEEPSEA D-Blue model seen below. This is the same watch Tiger was rocking when he won The 2019 Masters Tournament last month.

President Trump is no stranger to Rolex and in the photo below we see him sporting his Rolex 'President' Day-Date out on the golf course. 

Rolex & Roland Garros Paris Clay Court Grand Slam Coming Later This Month

Rolex & Roland Garros
Paris Clay Court Grand Slam  Coming Later This Month

"I am in Disbelief!?!!"

"I am in Disbelief!?!!"

PBS Antiques Roadshow Rolex Daytona Find

"I'm in disbelief." #antiquesroadshow #rolex pic.twitter.com/F7PZeoyxTD

— Antiques Roadshow (@RoadshowPBS) June 18, 2018

Rolex Founder...Hans Wilsdorf...

...Rolex Founder...

Hans Wilsdorf

April 30, 1946

This photo of Rolex Founder, Hans Wilsdorf was taken 73 years ago on April 30, 1946 in Geneva, Switzerland, when Hans was 65 years old and it was discovered by Philip. The thing that is so strikingly unusual about this image is it is the very first image I have seen of Hans Wilsdorf out in nature wearing sports clothes. In other words, he is wearing a sweater and ascot, as apposed to his normal attire of a suit with a necktie.

Brian Kelly Story Preview...

Story Preview

Brian Kelly

I am working on a really profound article that involves Brian Kelly who is pictured below wearing his Rolex Submariner Reference 5512 or 5513 with pointed crown guards, and I though I would share this great preview image with you. Full story coming soon!!!

Macro Shot of the Day: Rolex YACHT-MASTER II

Rolex YACHT-MASTER II