A Rolex Explorer in Paris

 

 A Rolex Explorer in Paris 

    Our Captain Danny recently sent me the photo below and he said: "Taking my "Orange Hand" Explorer 2 everywhere I go..." I would say that Captain Danny is an American in Paris, but Danny is originally from France...

 

Luxury Beliefs are Status Symbols...

Luxury Beliefs are Status Symbols

If you are a regular reader of Jake's Rolex World you know I have always been super-fascinated with the psychology behind luxury brands, as Rolex has remained one of the great status symbols of both the 20th and 21st centuries. While this video does not discuss Rolex, I find it to be really interesting on many levels.

Rolex Middle Sea Race 2023 – Preview

Rolex Middle Sea Race 2023 – Preview

Renowned for its beautiful course, the Rolex Middle Sea Race is one of several 600-mile races supported by Rolex as part of its near 70-year partnership with the sport of yachting. As with historic counterparts the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the Rolex Middle Sea Race is a compelling and relentless challenge. The 44th edition of the race, first held in 1968, starts from Valletta, the capital of Malta on Saturday 21 October. Encompassing a 606-nautical mile (1,122 kilometres) anticlockwise loop of Sicily the race is stringent examination for all crews, whether professional or Corinthian. Another impressive international fleet of over 100 yachts representing 25 countries are expected to grace the annual event.

Rolex Lume Shot of the Day...

ROLEX SEA-DWELLER GLOWPOWER

Photo Credit: Daveathall

NASA Astronaut: Loral O'Hara

...Rolex Space Station Hotness...

NASA Astronaut

Loral O'Hara

In 2017, Loral O'Hara, a native of Texas, was selected by NASA to join the Astronaut Candidate Class and recently traveled to the International Space Station aboard the Russian Soyuz Rocket on Friday, September 12, 2023. Both Nick Gould and MoonWatchUniverse share the fact with me that Loral was rocking a platinum and stainless steel Rolex Yacht-Master as seen peeking out.

 

According to NASA, prior to joining NASA, Loral O'Hara worked and focused on the engineering and operations of deep-ocean research scientific submersibles and robots, and she worked at the Woods Hole Institution  at Woods Hole in Massachusetts. 

Expedition 70 Launch. Above we see the Soyuz rocket launched during Expedition 70. Photo appears courtesy of NASA/Bill Ingalls.

The radical photos below also appear courtesy of NASA, and say: 

The Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 70 NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, and Nikolai Chub are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft on Sept. 15. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Soyuz rocket is seen after being rolled out by train to the launch pad at Site 31, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 70 NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, and Nikolai Chub are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft on Sept. 15. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The 2023 Submariner LV Brightens Up

...70-Year Anniversary...

Old vs. New LV. Photo Credit: Mr. Nice Watch.

THE NEW 2023

SUBMARINER LV

BRIGHTENS UP

Captain Danny originally published this article back on June 6, 2023, and we were just talking about how we both noticed how remarkably popular it still is so I decided to share it again. —Jake

Ceramic bezels respond to light in a playful way, and sometimes it's hard to tell if the color of the ceramic itself has a brighter tone or whether it is the environment. Rolex hasn't mentioned any changes in the Submariner LV's bezel color on its website since the start of Watches & Wonders and the launch of the 2023 collection.

But a representative at Rolex in Geneva confirmed to Jake's Rolex World our suspicions: The 2023 Submariner 126610LV, known also as the Kermit or Starbucks, has a slightly brighter bezel. The change in color was first reported by Adrian Barker.

2023 Submariner LV. Photo Credit: Adrian Barker.

"Starting this year, it is another green that equips the green bezel of the Submariner," the Rolex rep told me. "A more yellow green in fact which is closer to the color we had on this model when it was introduced in 2003. The change will be effective in May." 

Rolex is bringing back the green of the original Kermit, the one released for the 50-year anniversary of the Submariner. The new ceramic bezel will mimic better the color of the aluminum bezel that was on the Kermit in 2003. 

In 2010, Rolex unveiled the Hulk, a Submariner with a green ceramic bezel and starburst green dial. The tone of the green on the bezel was different than the OG Kermit of 2003. In 2020, when Rolex released the Submariner 41 mm with the updated movement, it kept the Hulk's bezel for its 126610LV, or Starbucks.

Starting in May 2023, the Starbucks will sport a brighter green, a more "yellow-green" as the Rolex rep told me. The reference number will stay the same. The green will be different from the LHD GMT.

As the world got distracted by bubble OPs and emoji Day-Dates, I love when Rolex makes a subtle change without fanfare. The anniversary editions are so overdone, so trumpeted in the watch industry, it's a breath of fresh air to see Rolex make a change — albeit small — while remaining discreet about it.

 

...Rolex Golf Coolness... Phil Mickelson

...Rolex Golf Coolness...

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson is considered to be one of the great golfers in PGA history and has been a Rolex ambassador for many years. He won the Masters 3 times and in the photo below, we see him sporting a platinum Rolex Day-Date II with a ice blue dial back in 2011.

Hannes Orange Hand Rolex Explorer: Reference 1655 on a Jubilee Bracelet

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

Hannes Orange Hand Rolex Explorer

Reference 1655 on a Jubilee Bracelet

Studio Shot Of The Day: Tropical Italian Chocolate Rolex Daytona

...Studio Shot Of The Day...

Tropical Italian Chocolate Rolex Daytona

Marlon, who lives in Roma, Italia, took this amazing photo of his Tropical dial vintage Rolex Daytona. Some vintage Rolex dials change color over many years and develop an amazing patina.

This particular Rolex Daytona, which is now 40 years old, originally had a black dial, that has faded to this beautiful shade of brown. When dials, or dial elements turn brown, they are referred to as tropical dials by collectors.

I am not 100% certain why they are called "tropical" but I think it is because in a "tropical" environment the air is moist, and the moisture in the air saturates the dial and kind of almost "rusts" the dial. It could also be because when a tropical fruit, like a banana sits in the sun for a while it turns brown.

Roberto, who is also from Italy, shared this image that matches Marlon's chocolate tropical dial Rolex Daytona, which is funny and accurate.

...The Greatest Motorcycle Racer In The World... Rolex Super Coolness: Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi: Life of a Legend Book Cover pictured above

...The Greatest Motorcycle Racer In The World...

Rolex Super Coolness

Valentino Rossi

9 Time Moto GP World Champion

A Brilliant Career Wearing Rolex

TEAM DUCATI

Italian born, Valentino 'The Doctor' Rossi was born in 1979 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest Motorcycle racers in the world and in history. Some say he is the best in history. Valentino used to race for Ducati, and then went back with Yahama before retiring. In the photos below we see Valentino on his Ducati Desmodicci RR.

Italian born, Valentino Rossi is widely regarded as the greatest Motorcycle racer in the world and in history, having won 9 Moto GP World Championships. In the image below we see Valentino smoking Marc Márquez @ Sepang back on October 25, 2015. This event was highly controversial, as Valentino Rossi claimed that he was just defending himself.

You tryna' flex on me!!?! Don't be silly!!!

Commenting on the Sepand event above Valentino Rossi said: 

"You know unfortunately I lost a lot of time with Marc and in turn 14, I tried to go wide to get a better line to make him slow because he just rides to cause me some problems. Unfortunately he came to me and I think he crashed in that moment. It’s a shame because I think that in a normal race we can stay and fight with Jorge and we lost some more points. Valencia will be more difficult."

In this next photos we see Valentino Rossi sporting his Supercase Ceramic Rolex Submariner back in the day.

Valentino Rossi is pictured below with some of his pals, including Fernando Alonso, the Spanish Formula One racing driver (far left, with facial hair), and Felippe Massa, who is also a world-class formula 1 racer is located between them.

Rolex Submariner Standard @ Ducati

Not only does Valentino Rossi wear a Rolex Submariner, but many of his Ducati team member wear Rolex Submariner watches, as seen in the next two photos.

In the photo above, we see Valentino Rossi applying his bulldog stickers to his Ducati and in this next shot we get a close up of his Supercase Submariner.

In this next shot we see Valentino Rossi preparing his Ducati and we see another Ducati team member sporting a Rolex Submariner. I think it is fair to say that Rolex Submariner watches about in the world of Ducati.

Next, let's go to the track to see the magic of Valentino Rossi. These images just completely blow my mind!!!!!

Valentino Rossi Interview
Motorcycle News interviewed Valentino Rossi recently, and if you look closely, Valentino is wearing a now vintage, Red hand Explorer II. It sounds so funny to say "Red Hand Explorer II" because I am so used to saying "Orange Hand Explorer II."

In the following screen grabs you can see Valentino Rossi's Red Hand Rolex Explorer II.