Rolex Coolness: Richard Leakey 1985 Polar Explorer with White Gold Indice

...Rolex Coolness...

Richard Leakey

1985 Polar Explorer with White Gold Indices

Matthew Weiner Vintage Rolex Explorer

....Rolex Super Coolness...

Matthew Weiner

MAD MEN Producer

Vintage Rolex Explorer

Matthew Weiner is an American writer, director and producer who is best known as the creator of the TV Show MAD MEN, which is on the AMC Channel. MAD MEN is one of the most successful TV series in history and to date it has won 15 Emmy Awards!!!

Matthew was also a writer and producer for the HBO mega-hit, The Sopranos. Matthew Weiner is pictured sbovr wearing his vintage Rolex Explorer.

Back in September of 2010, I documented how the star of MAD MEN, Jon Hamm's character, Donald Draper was wearing a vintage Rolex Explorer as seen in the images below. If you look closely, it appears it is the exact same watch!!!

By the way, the sixth season of MAD MEN debuted last night on AMC.

In the photo below, we see the watch in the photo above, zoomed-in significantly and we can make a positive I.D., and confirm it is a Rolex Explorer since we can make out the 3, 6, and 9 Arabic markers on the dial.

Rolex Studio Shot Of The Month: Ryan's United Arab Emirates GMT

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

Ryan's United Arab Emirates GMT

Very Rare Blueberry Bezel on a NATO

Rolex Coolness: Adam Scott Rolex Golf Ambassador Two Tone Datejust

...Rolex Coolness...

Adam Scott

Rolex Golf Ambassador

Two-Tone Rolex Datejust

1959 National Geographic Mystery Man Identified in a 1976 Luis Marden Rolex Ad

...From the Archives...

  NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC  

1959 National Geographic Rolex Mystery Finally Solved

Several months ago, I saw a photo on the last page inside National Geographic magazine, and I included it below. It was a photo of a hand replacing a light bulb, and I could not help but notice he was wearing a big crown Submariner. The inscription said "A metal-mesh glove protected a photographer’s hand while he changed flashbulbs during a shoot in Mexico’s Yucatan, 1959. PHOTOGRAPH BY LUIS MARDEN, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC."

1976 Luis Marden Rolex Ad

Of course, I thought this was curious, mysterious and wondered who the photo was of, and what the context was behind the photo, and today, I am proud to announce I figured it out and put together the pieces of the puzzle. The vintage Rolex ad below offers all the answers to the National Geographic mystery photo. So Luis Marden was not only a treasure hunter, but also a famous National Geographic photographer. There is nothing cooler than to see a Rolex photo from the 1950s, seeing the Submariner being used as a Tool watch in the field!!!

The photo below is a self-portrait that explorer Luis Marden took of himself standing in front of the ancient Mayan pyramid in Chichen Itza, Mexico, in 1936.

Another Rolex at Chichen Itza

Sam, who goes by Fremstar on the RolexForums sent in this message with his great image of his GMT in front of the Mayan pyramid at Chichen Itza:

Jake,

Hope my email finds you well.  I was pleasantly surprised to see the picture of my 1655 posted on your site.  The recent post of Luis Marden you posted struck a cord with me as I was at Chichen Itza about a year ago and had to snap this pic with my 116718. 

Keep up the great work!

Best Regards,

Sam

1956 Luis Marden & Jacques Cousteau

My pal, Eduardo Raffaelli from Argentina is not only a huge fan of Jake's Rolex World, but has also been a great supporter over the years, sent in an email after I published the story above, which added more valuable pieces to this fascinating story. Eduardo wrote:

Hi Jake,

I was just enjoying your work on the identification of Mr. Marden's hand with the Big Crown Submariner, as I recalled I had read the article many years ago, when I started diving.

So I browsed the bookcase of the old National Geographics, to attach some pictures you might like.

The Bones of the Bounty was published in the December 1957 NG. The photo, which was later used in the ad, is not very good.

Then, there is the well known picture of Luis Marden sharing experiences on board the Calypso. This is the February 1956 issue of the NG. The Rolex is clearly visible on Mr.Marden's wrist. In the same article, a picture of Marden is captioned with explanation that he is wearing a special waterproof watch, etc. The issue of imploding flashlight bulbs is also explained.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau & Luis Marden wearing a Rolex Submariner Pictured Above in 1956

Finally, there  is a picture of marden being hoisted out of a cenote in Mexico's Yucatan. Marden was probably the first to dare into these new places. On his wrist, there is the same combo of Rolex + Depthmeter. The article was published in the January 1959 issue. 

Best Wishes for the incoming 2014!

Kind Regards,

Eduardo Raffaelli

I would like to thank Eduardo Raffaelli for sending in the great scans from the 1950s National Geographic Magainze. Notice Eduardo is rockin' his Rolex DEEPSEA in the photo above. Eduardo, like myself is a hardcore Rolex enthusiast, with an immense respect and fascination for all Rolex history as well as the history of diving, and anything Jacques Cousteau. Jacques-Yves Cousteau was the greatest explorer that ever lived!!!

Leonardo Dicaprio The Wolf Of Wall Street

...Rolex Coolness...

Leonardo Dicaprio The Wolf Of Wall Street

In Theaters Now

Rolex Ambassador, Martin Scorsese has teamed up again with leading actor, Leonardo Dicaprio for a movie named The Wolf Of Wall Street, which is based upon the memoirs of Jordan Belfort which detail his over-the-top experiences as a shady Wall Street banker in the 1990s. Leonardo Dicaprio has been sporting Rolex watches for years. 

I originally thought Leonardo Dicaprio was sporting a yellow gold Rolex GMT-Master in the movie poster, as pictured above and in the photos below, but a reader wrote in to let me know he thought it was a TAG Heuer Series 1000, which I was not familiar with, but after looking it up, I think it appears to be a TAG, which was basically a very close copy of a Rolex GMT.

I haven't seen The Wolf Of Wall Street yet, but I heard it is a really good movie, and there are many characters in the movie that wear Rolex watches.

...Rolex Super Coolness...

Martin Scorsese The Wolf Of Wall Street Director

As I mentioned earlier, Martin Scorsese not only directed the movie, The Wold Of Wall Street, but he is also a Rolex Ambassador, who also participates in the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. In the future, I plan to write a much more detailed story on Martin Scorsese's amazing career achievements.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Jean-François PERNETTE From Nepal

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from

Jean-François Pernette

On The Ponker Glacier in Nepal @ 4650m

I just received a really cool Christmas Card from my pal, Jean-François Pernette, who is one of the greatest Rolex Explorers in history, and his Christmas card has a recent photo of him in Nepal, in the Himalayas, on the Ponker Glacier, which is located at 4650m so I thought I would share it with you.

Jean-François Pernette pictured above in December 2013 wearing his Orange Hand Rolex Explorer II

Jean-François Pernette pictured above in 1981 wearing his Orange Hand Rolex Explorer II

Merry Christmas from Stefano Mazzariol

Merry Christmas from

Stefano Mazzariol

The Batman Rolex GMT-Master

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

The BATMAN

Rolex GMT-Master

Rolex surprised the world when they introduced an all-new Rolex GMT-Master color combination earlier this year when they introduced the new GMT-Master with a "Night & Day" Ceramic bezel that is black and blue.

Rolex collectors and enthusiasts love to use nicknames for different Rolex models, like The Pepsi, or Coke GMT-Master or the 7up Submariner for the original LV Submariner. The all Green LV Submariner is nicknamed The Hulk, and Rolex collectors have affectionally nicknamed the new Night & Day Rolex GMT-Master as "The Batman" since it is silver, black and blue like Batman's uniform. Very cool!

If You Were Negotiating Here Tomorrow You'd Wear A Rolex

If You Were Negotiating Here Tomorrow 

You'd Wear A Rolex

Geneva's Palais des Nations

This vintage Rolex ad showcases what is now referred to as UNOG, which stands for The United Nations Office At Geneva. The "Palace Of Nations" was built in Geneva between 1929 and 1936 as the headquarters for the League of Nations, which later evolved into the Geneva headquarters for the United Nations in 1946. Today, The United Nations In Geneva is busier than ever with international diplomats, and it primarily deals with social issues around the world.

Vintage Rolex Ad Appears Courtesy of The Concannon Collection

The First Rolex President

Former U.S. General Eisenhower was the architect of D-Day, where he assembled the greatest armada in history and successfully set sail to free Europe from Nazi tyranny. 

After World War II, President Eisenhower became the Supreme Commander of NATO in Europe where he oversaw rebuilding many parts of Europe, and that is when Rolex gave him their 150,000th Officially Certified Swiss Chronometer, which was a yellow gold Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet, as pictured below. General Eisenhower returned to the U.S., where he was elected President and served for two very successful full terms.

Back in 2008, I worked with the Eisenhower Presidential Library archivist to dig up all the historical documents that shared the beautiful story of his relationship with Rolex. President Eisenhower was one of the worlds first iconic world leaders, along with Sir Winston Churchill who made the Rolex Datejust "The International Mark Of Success." In other words, when the vintage Rolex ad suggests "The Rolex they wear is the Datejust, in 18ct gold, with matching Jubilee bracelet", they are referring to this man.