Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: Rolex Explorer and Louis Vuitton

Timeless Classics

Rolex and Louis Vuitton

Dear Jake, Came across your website by accident, and truly enjoy reading thru the pages. I have a question if you don’t mind to share with me....

Stainless Rolex Daytona Insight

Khong from Malaysia wrote in and asked a few questions so I thought I would share the answer with everybody:

Dear Jake,

Came across your website by accident, and truly enjoy reading thru the pages.

I have a question if you don’t mind to share with me.

I recently bought a Daytona 116520, year 2007, Z serial, white dial, like new.

Then last week I came across another Daytona 16520, year 1999, probably the last batch before they move to the new 4130 movement, yes this one is Zenith Movement with white dia.

My question is if you have a choice to chose one of them, which one will you take?

My next question will be what is the valuation for the two, the current market average price: 1999 Zenith White and 2007 116520 White. Which is more expensive?

Should I sell away my 2007 white to buy this 1999 Zenith White? Thanks and much appreciate for your time.

Regards, Khong (Malaysia)

Thanks for writing in Khong. This is JUST my personal opinion:

I have owned both the Zenith Movement stainless steel Daytona as well as the in-house Rolex Daytona in stainless steel. Ten out of ten times I would choose the more modern in-house Rolex for the following reasons:

1. Subdials: The white gold subdials look much better to me on the in-house stainless steel Rolex. The Zenith subdials are black and kind of boring. The in-house subdials have little tracks that glisten in the light and ad significant depth and color to the watch.

2. Bracelet: The Zenith Daytona has the old fashioned janky clasp which I prefer because it works and cannot open by mistake. The in-house Rolex Daytona clasp looks better and feels more solid, but if you catch the back of the clasp on an edge it can pop the clasp open backwards. To my design mind this is a design flaw, but it is pretty unlikely it will ever open at the wrong time.

3. Movement: If I understand it correctly, the Zenith movement is much more complicated to work on and service, thus making the Rolex in-house movement more robust and easily serviceable. On a side note, one of the great benefits over the years is that Rolex movements have been robust, hardy and very simple and easy to service.

4. Hands: The Zenith Movement Daytona has thinner hands which look anemic to me. The early in-house Rolex Daytona also shared these anemic hands despite gaining much fatter 5 minute markers. I think the early in-house Daytona looks strange with skinny hands and fat markers. I am not certain what year Rolex updated this design feature, but I know for the last couple of years at least, the Daytona has Fat-Hands to match the Fat-Markers, which look great.

5. Valuation: On Jake's Rolex Watch Blog we don't speculate on value so I can't really say. In my opinion, I would keep the 2007 Daytona [Reference 116520] assuming it has Fat-Hands.

6. Intelligent Marketing: The stainless steel Rolex Daytona is a very interesting creature. Ironically the early Daytona models like the Paul Newman Exotic dial Daytona models did not sell very well. Today those same watches are worth a fortune. Often times up to $150k.

The Rolex Daytona became a very popular model in the 1990s and up until recently there were waiting lists to purchase these models from an AD. I think from a design perspective this was due to the fact that the stainless steel Daytona has a low-key aura, kind of like a stainless Submariner, but the Daytona did not look like any other sport Rolex.

It really has a vibe all its own, which makes it exotic looking. Part of this has to do with the subdials and the 2 extra pushbuttons. Most people who own a Rolex Daytona ironically never even use the Chronograph feature, primarily because they can't even figure out how it works–not to mention you have to unscrew the screw-down pushers in order to be able to push the buttons.

Rolex became keenly aware of the Mystique of the stainless steel Daytona in the early 1990's and intelligently marketed the watch by not doing any marketing. In other words, Rolex to the best of my knowledge, never ever advertised the modern Rolex Daytona model in Stainless Steel. They did in gold, but not is steel.

Also, I have heard that Rolex brilliantly only ever met 80% of the market-demand, which actually caused the market demand to significantly expand. Of course I have loved Rolex watches and history for over a quarter-century, but I have always been extremely impressed with how successful their marketing campaigns have been.

What do you think?

Do any of you have an opinion you would like to share with Khong? If so please click on the comment link and share your insight.

My pal Seth Chandler seems to have disagreed with me because he sent me this message:

"Well, first of all its comparing apples and oranges. The modern is a better watch, technically speaking. The bracelet kicks ass. About fine time, Rolex! The new ones will always be better. Every 10/15 years we will see improvements. But the key with each previous generation is the simplicity. It’s pure….genuine. It’s the reason why a 5513 is the all time great.

"Personally I like the black sub dials on the white dial Zenith. Just like my Daytona. I hate the silver on white like the modern Daytona. From what I’ve read, the Zenith is a kick ass movement. Long term, I think it’s a winner, and the market clearly feels that way now. Lots of price support. Really nice ones full set, trade 10 to 12k, I’ve seen them higher. Avg. no papers 9k. I think it’s a 15k watch at some point, because it’s got a few interesting twists.

BTW, in one of those magazines we got a the Carmel GTG, there was a great article comparing the two. Informative."

Rolex Coolness: Lance Armstrong

Rolex Coolness: Lance Armstrong

Stainless Steel Daytona

Rolex Macro Shot of the Day: Javier's Triple-Date Chronograph

Javier's Triple-Date Chronograph

The Most Complicated Rolex Ever Made

This Rolex Triple Date is particularly sharp looking with its dauphine hands. Dauphine hands are probably my favorite hands.

Rolex Hotness: Lauren. The Real San Francisco Treat

Rolex Hotness: Lauren

The Real San Francisco Treat

[Reference: Oucchhh!!!!!]

Checking out the photos from Mad Men of January Jones reminded me of a JAKEeJEANS model I shot these photos of named Lauren. Lauren seems hotter to me than January. Lauren is sporting my yellow-gold Rolex Yachtmaster with a blue dial which matches her JAKEeJEANS.

In these next photos Lauren is wearing my stainless steel Rolex Daytona. Nice!!!!!!! If Heaven exists, it could not be much more beautiful than San Francisco, California, U.S.A., Planet Earth!!!!

Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: CSY's All New Platinum Rolex Day-Date II

GSY's All New Platinum Rolex Day-Date II

GSY took this amazing photo of his great looking all-new Rolex Day-Date. GSY wrote in and said "I Love This Watch!" and it is easy to see why. Congratulations GSY on this beauty and wear it well!!!

10 PAST TEN Launches 2.0 Website...

10 PAST TEN Launches 2.0 Website

My pal, Eric Ku at 10PASTTEN.com just let me know he just completed an overhaul of his already great webiste.

If you are not familiar with Eric Ku, he is one of the top vintage Rolex dealers on earth. I love hanging out with Eric because he has an encyclopedic knowledge of Rolex watches and Rolex history.

Eric is pictured above behind the counter at Fourtané Jewelers in Carmel during the First Annual Vintage Rolex Concours Exhibition and Carmel GTG which takes place the same week as the Car Concours de Elegance in Carmel California. I remember Eric had an ultra-rare Rolex Explorer II Prototype I had never seen before which blew my mind. Unfortunately he would not let me photograph it :-(((

Eric Ku has an amazing Rolex fixture collection which includes the brass point of sale display pictured below.

Eric Ku somehow is able to get ahold of ultra-rare vintage Rolex watches most people have never even seen before like the Rolex Thunderbird [Reference 6609] seen below. Also whenever you see a photo with the background as seen in the photo above and below, you know it is Eric's.

The Real Single Red

The SEA-LAB SEA-DWELLER

[Rolex Reference 1665. Circa 1967]

Eric also had this crazy-rare Rolex Single-Red SEA LAB SEA-DWELLER which is one of several in existence. Definitely check our Eric's all new 10PastTen.com website by clicking here.

To see all the post we have done on Eric Ku's watches, just click on the Label below named "ERIC KU."

Milgauss Madness

[Reference 6541]

Philipp, the great Dutch vintage Rolex collector and dealer took this incredible shot of his vintage anti-magnetic Rolex Milgauss on a textured strap which matches the black honeycomb dial. The watch also features dauphin hands and the red "0" bezel marker. Amazing photo and amazing watch Philipp!!!

Rolex Studio Shot of the Week: Rolex Golf By Jocke...

Rolex Golf Anybody?

Single Red Submariner

Made From Swedish Steel

[Rolex Reference 1680]

Jocke, the super-talented Rolex photographer/nutter from Sweden took this crazy-cool shot of his Single Red Submariner made from Swedish Steel.

Let's hope when Rolex introduces the all-new stainless steel Supercase/Ceramic Submariner at Basel-World 2010 they have the wisdom to bring back the Red Submariner designation. The Single Red Submariner is impossible to beat!!! Maxi Markers and all...

MAD MEN & Rolex: The Number 1 TV Show Today

"History may not repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme." –Mark Twain

MAD MEN & Rolex

The Number 1 TV Show Today

In case you are not familiar with MAD MEN, it is probably the best TV show I have ever seen with the exception of The Sopranos–but that should come as no surprise because MAD MEN is produced by Mathew Weiner who was a writer and executive producer on the Sopranos. MAD MEN just completed its third season this last Sunday and to date it has won many Emmy and Golden Globe Awards.

In 2008 and 2009 MAD MEN won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series Drama and in 2008 Jon Hamm won the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series for his performance as Donald Draper. In 2008 MAD MEN received 16 Emmy Award nominations total.

So what makes MAD MEN the hottest TV show today? Many things. By the way, on a side note, it just so happens the star of MAD MEN, Jon Hamm who plays the character of Donald Draper (pictured below sitting down) is currently filming a movie in which he plays my namesake grandfather, Jake Ehrlich Sr. You can learn more about Jon Hamm playing Jake Ehrlich Sr., by clicking here.

MAD MEN is an American period drama TV series set in the early 1960s. It is about the early days of American advertising on New York's Madison Avenue. [Think: Madison Ad Men=MAD MEN].


MAD MEN is amazing because of the tremendous attention to detail. The Donald Draper character played by Jon Ham is married to his wife Betty Draper who is played by the amazingly beautiful January Jones. Betty & Donald Drapper are kind of like Ward & June Cleaver meet Bonnie & Clyde.

MAD MEN explores the deeper, darker side of human character in the most fascinating ways. January Jones character, Betty Draper is simple and complex at the same time. Once you think you have figured her out, you realize you know nothing about her.

Rolex Hotness: January Jones

Yellow-Gold Rolex Daytona

Betty Draper is played by January Jones who began her career as a fashion model. She is pictured below in a recent photo shoot wearing a Rolex Daytona on her wrist. Obviously not from the TV Show.

January Jones is also featured on this months cover of GQ Magazine.

There are Rolex watches all over MAD MEN and we see a yellow gold Rolex Day-Date on a character in the screen shot below. They even mention at the end of Season 2 they want to get Rolex as an account.

Also the character who plays the art director named Salvatore "Sal" Romano (played by Bryan Batt) wears a two-tone Rolex Datejust in seasons 1 through 3. Sal's character is pictured standing up third from the left side of the photo.

Despite the fact that January Jones is the definite hotness, the show also has a character named Joan Harris-Holloway played by Christina Hendricks who, at least in my mind is the super-hotness!!! She is pictured below with Jon Hamm. Ouwwwwchh!!!!!!

I think Christina Hendricks plays her role to the T, and did I mention she is gorgeous!?!!!!

Since MAD MEN takes place in the early sixties, it has a kind of male-chauvinist, Archie Bunker, "When girls were girls and men were men" kind of vibe. If you have no idea what I am talking about, then you have no idea what I am talking about ;-))))

MAD MEN just blows my mind and if you have watched it over the last three seasons you know what I am talking about. If you have not watched it over the last three years, you are in for a great treat because you can watch the episodes back to back to back–kind of like how you can spend a weekend watching the Sopranos.