B.B. King: The Greatest Blues Guitarist In History

B.B. King

King Of The Blues

1925-2015

The Greatest Blues Guitarist In History

A King And His President

B.B. King passed away in May of 2015, but he will likely always be remembered as the greatest blues guitarist in history a. B.B. King, commonly referred to as "The King Of The Blues" left behind an amazing career legacy that spanned seven decades. 

B.B. King is pictured below with his trademark guitar named Lucille by his side, with his trademark yellow gold Rolex President on his wrist. It's interesting to note B.B. King always wore his Rolex Day-Date in reverse, like the King of race car driving, Richard Petty, who wears his Daytona flipped around.

B.B. King's Rolex Day-Date almost looks like a bracelet from the front and his ring looks like a Rolex President bracelet style ring. Also, Peter who is a reader of Jake's Rolex Watch Blog pointed out (in the comments section) that B.B. King's guitar has two coronets on it that look very similar to the Rolex coronet/crown/logo. This could explain why B.B. King wore his Rolex Day-Date with the coronet where the watch usually goes!!!


B.B. King is posing below in 1949, at age 24 for a photo for his band named The Hooks Brothers.

In this next photo, we see B.B. King with Elvis Presley. 

"I remember Elvis as a young man, hanging around Sun Studio. Even then, I knew this kid had a tremendous talent. He was a dynamic young boy. His phraseology, his way of looking at a song, was as unique as Sinatra's. I was a tremendous fan of Elvis, and had he lived, there would have been no limit to his inventiveness." –B.B. King.

In this next photo, we see B.B. King jamming with a young Eric Clapton. B.B. King inspired many generations of musicians with his amazing blues guitar style.

When Love Comes To Town

In these next two videos we see John Mayer going off with B.B. King–both playing some very serious blues guitar!!!

Blues Brothers Riding With The King
This next photo of the cover of Riding With The King is really cool with Clapton driving The King in an old Cadillac and Clapton is wearing a Rolex Explorer II. Eric Clapton is also a big Rolex collector and you can learn more about him in the Eric Clapton Rolex Story I wrote.

In these next two photos, we also see B. B. King wearing his trademark Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date.

Below is the video of Riding With The King. What is cooler than Eric Clapton and B.B. King riding around in an old Caddy while they sing, while wearing Rolex watches!?!?



In what had to be a highlight of his career, we see B.B. King below singing "Sweet Home Chicago" with B.B. King, and many other stars.

Sultan of Oman Rolex Day-Date Models

Sultan of Oman Rolex Day-Date Models

Record Setting Price Results at Christies Auction

Christies auctioned off some amazing Rolex watches on May 12, 2014, in Geneva, Switzerland that were made for the Sultan of Oman, and this auction included a number of Rolex Day-Date "Presidential" models that shattered previous records. Let's begin by examining this platinum Rolex Day-Date made which was made in 1974, and features a blue dial with a red Omani crest, coupled with diamond dial markers and with matching diamonds running around the bezel. This watch was estimated to sell for between $51,000 and $79,000, and it ended up selling for more than four times the estimate at $352,119!!! 

The next watch pictured below which features baguette cut baton markers cut from rubies on a yellow gold Rolex Day-Date [Made in 1984 Reference 18038, Caliber 3055], as well as the Omani crest on the dial. This watch was estimated to sell from between $42,000 to $82,000 and it ended up selling for $182,287!!!

On a side note, watches that were made by Rolex that feature Arab logos on the dial are typically know as "Arabic Rolex Watches."

Next up we see another yellow gold Rolex Day-Date made for the Sultan Of Oman, and this one was made in 1979, and it sold also had an estimate selling price of between $42,000 and $68,000, but sold for more than double at $168,700.

Vintage Rolex Submariner

...Rolex Hotness...

Vintage Rolex Submariner

1960 Rolex Submariner Ad

1960 Rolex Submariner Ad

Pierre-Jean who is researcher for Jake's Rolex World sent me this French Rolex Submariner ad from 1960 which is AMAZING!!!

The Men who Developed The Rolex Submariner...

Autumn Story Preview Teaser

The Men who Developed The Rolex Submariner

Rebikoff & Jeanneret

Book Previews

The Untold Story of the Birth of the

ROLEX SUBMARINER TOOL WATCH

For years, I've been immersed in crafting a 25-volume series, THE ROLEX CHRONICLES: A FASCINATING JOURNEY THROUGH TIME. My latest book volume is titled "Rolex Submariner: The Real History", which represents a monumental leap forward, and I'm thrilled to share a glimpse of the in-depth preview Nick Gould and I are preparing for RolexMagazine.com.

Countless books, articles, and blogs have attempted to unravel the genesis of the Rolex Submariner, the iconic diving tool watch. Yet, none have fully pieced together the puzzle—until now.

Nick Gould and I have spent years meticulously researching and constantly reexamining and scrutinizing every detail, and we're confident we've cracked the Submariner's origin story code in its entirety. This largely untold chapter in Rolex history reveals groundbreaking insights, including the pivotal role of Dimitri Rebikoff, an inventor and Director of the Submarine Research Institute. Rebikoff not only collaborated with Rolex to design the Submariner diving tool watch, but also rigorously tested its early prototypes, proudly wearing one on his wrist, as captured in the stunning, never before seen photo on the cover of my upcoming book (pictured above).

This upcoming story is filled with unexpected game-changing revelations on the relationship between Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Dimitri Rebikoff, as was discovered in two different recent interviews I conducted with close friends of Rebikoff who dove with him as young men. Jacques-Yves Cousteau is pictured below back in the mid 1950s wearing an early version of the Rolex Submariner diving watch.

While the final publication date is still in the works, we aim to share this captivating book preview story within the next month. Stay tuned for a deep dive journey into the heart of the Submariner's legacy as it's never been told or seen before!

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet! 

The 1974 Bachman-Turner Overdrive hit "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" perfectly captures the excitement I feel about unveiling this groundbreaking, untold chapter of Rolex Submariner history. Get ready for revelations that will redefine the legacy of this magnificently iconic timepiece!:

Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: Amanico's Pepsi GMT Master

...Rolex Studio Shot of the Day...

Amanico's 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.

Patrick Swayze: Kept the time of his life with Rolex

...Rolex Coolness...

Patrick Swayze 

Rolex Kept The Time Of His Life

1952-2009

I first discovered and documented Patrick Swayze wearing a Rolex Daytona back in 2008 no so long after I stared Jake's Rolex World. In the superb photo above taken by Javan Schaller which was published on the cover of Arabian Horse World Magazine we see Patrick on his horse named Tammen and he is wearing his Rolex Submariner.

Over the decades I have noticed many images of Patrick Swayze rocking Rolex watches, including the one below which Nick Gould discovered.

It's hard to believe Patrick Swayze has been gone for sixteen years now. Actor Patrick Swayze starred in many 'chick-flicks' including "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost" and died when he was only 57, so if you have any dreams you have put off, now is the time to live them since we are all on the same conveyer belt of life. So, have the time of your life!!!!

I Had The Time Of My Life!!!

Patrick Swayze is pictured above wearing a stainless steel Rolex Submariner and is pictured below wearing his yellow gold Rolex Daytona which illustrates that Rolex kept the time of his life and that Swayze lived-it-up. As Saroyan so articulately put it "In the time of your life–live!!!"

Below we see a cool image of Patrick with Brook Shields who is wearing here Rolex Lady Date.

Yacht-Master Glow Power

 ...Rolex Lume Shot of the Day...

Yacht-Master Glow Power

Lord Norman Foster...

The Mozart of Modernism

Lord Norman Foster

Top International Architect 

One of my absolute favorite things to do on Jake's Rolex World is to explore Rolex testimonees who have been featured in vintage Rolex ads, as they are always a source of fascination and inspiration.

Hugh Austin, who is a regular reader of RolexMagazine.com recently sent in the image below of a 1980s Rolex Magazine ad featuring Sir Norman Foster, and said "A watch collector who also designed the Apple Headquarters." Norman Foster is now "Lord Norman Foster", and is considered to be one of the greatest living architects alive today.

Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona

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

Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona