In Search Of Hans Wilsdorf...

In Search Of 

Hans Wilsdorf

What an amazing week it has been in the world of Rolex. Seeing Rolex's founding father, Hans Wilsdorf almost come back to life on Rolex.org is so heartwarming and interesting! As a leading Rolex historian I have been in pursuit of unearthing and sharing Hans Wilsdorf's story for over a decade. Why? Because Hans Wilsdorf is one of the most successful and interesting entrepreneurs in the history of the world.

Hans Wilsdorf, Founder of Rolex in 1952

When I started Jake's Rolex World 11 years ago, there was almost zero information available anywhere on Hans Wilsdorf—and this frustrated me to no end. More than anything, it make me dig that much faster and deeper, and the result of all my research can be seen in my story titled, "The Complete History Of Rolex Leadership. Part 1: Founder Of Rolex—The Hans Wilsdorf Story, "Ghost In The Machine." 

Now Rolex seems to be more committed than ever to documenting his amazing story, and I hope they continue to share more details on what made him tick! In the coming years I hope to put even more puzzle pieces in place to complete my biography of Hans Wilsdorf!!! The single most inspirational detail about this endeavor is that I have only been able to put together so much detail based upon so many of my incredible international readers who constantly send in Hans Wilsdorf puzzle pieces.

As a matter of fact, the photo above just seemed to magically appear in my inbox minutes ago, and it came from a dedicated reader of mine named Alan who lives in Hong Kong, and is an AMAZING researcher!!! I have never seen the photo above of Hans Wilsdorf before today, and I am certain there is much more rich Wilsdorf content out there, and together we will find it and share it with the world!!!

LIEDL Jewelers

Linz, Austria

Founded in 1830

The source of this amazing Hans Wilsdorf photo is from the leading Rolex Authorized Dealer in Austria named LIEDL, which has been around since 1830. From what I understand, like with many of the Rolex authorized dealers in existence today, Hans Wilsdorf personally granted LIEDL their Rolex dealership, which made them the very first Rolex Authorized Dealer in Austria. LIEDL is the oldest jeweler in Linz and has was founded in 1830. As a matter of fact, Claudio Fallerini who was the chief architect of Rolex first took a look at the old LIEDL shop on Landstrasse, he said, "This can be really nice!"

LIEDL is pictured above in a recent photo and is located on Linzer Landstrasse. LIEDL has been offering high-quality mechanical watches for 188 years! Maximillian Carmann is the master watchmaker at LIEDL and has been a watchmaker for a quarter century. Maximillian is the only qualified master watchmaker in Upper Austria with all Rolex special training.

As an added bonus to this story I am including the only known video footage of Hans Wilsdorf which was filmed in 1959—one year before he passed away. Hans Wilsdorf speaks French in this interview and even if you don't speak French you get a good idea of his personality.

The Return of Hans Wilsdorf

The Return of The King of Rolex


Hans Wilsdorf

Welcome Home Old Boy!!!

Rolex.com just added links to Rolex.org as well as showcasing The Return Of Hans Wilsdorf to the front page of Rolex.com. It's heartwarming to see Rolex exploring and celebrating its brilliant Founding Father!!!

@ROLEX ROLEX'S FIRST TWEET ON TWITTER!

@ROLEX

ROLEX'S FIRST TWEET ON TWITTER!

I got so excited about Rolex.org I almost forgot to mention Rolex just posted their very first Tweet on their @ROLEX Twitter page. Rolex has been on Twitter since 2012 but never publicly tweeted until today. Rolex's first tweet was announcing Rolex.org and shows a video that talks about Rolex's founding father, Hans Wilsdorf's mission. Be sure to check-out Twitter.com/rolex and follow Rolex...

The Rockin' Robin rocks in the treetops all day long

Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song

All the little birds on Jaybird Street

Love to hear the robin go tweet-tweet-tweet

ROLEX.org Is Live!!!

ROLEX.org

Has Launched!!!

Rolex.org is just went live, so go check it out!!!!!

Below you can watch the all-new Rolex mini-documentary on Rolex's founding father, Hans Wilsdorf, which is included as part of the launch of Rolex.org. It's really interesting to see how different people are responding all over the web to Roles.org, which is mostly very positive. 

David Bredan from A Blog To Watch wrote a superb article that offers and excellent overview or Rolex.org, which I highly recommend reading. You can also get a good overview by reading my preview of Rolex.org article I published a few days ago.

FAKE NEWS!: BATMAN DIDN'T DIE

FAKE NEWS!!!

BATMAN DIDN'T DIE

Rolex Has NOT Discontinued The Batman GMT-Master!

If you are a regular reader of Jake's Rolex World you know I specialize in busting falsely perpetuated Rolex myths. Clyde (Clyve The Watch Wrangler) reached out to me yesterday and said he heard a rumor that is swirling around all over the internet that said Rolex discontinued the Batman GMT-Master (BLNR), which made no sense to me!?!! I did some deep research on this and found ZERO evidence to support this viscous rumor.

If you think about it, why would Rolex discontinue one of the most popular new models in its history? It's a fact the original Batman, Adam West died last year, but so far as I can tell the Rolex Batman is still very much alive!! Long Live The Batman...

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 new Night & Day Rolex GMT-Master as "The Batman" since it is silver, black and blue like Batman's uniform. Very cool! 

If you want to learn much, much more about the history of The Rolex GMT-Master, check out my story titled "The Complete History Of The Rolex GMT-Master."

Rolex.Org Launch Preview!!!

Rolex.Org 

Launch Preview

This is such epic news, I had to borrow Hodinkee's Breaking News moniker again for this story!!! I am so excited to share that Rolex has some amazing news coming up this Holiday season!!! Rolex just gave my team a preview of some fascinating initiatives they are rolling out this Wednesday, December 12th and I am so excited to share them with you! On Wednesday Rolex will launch a brand new website @ Rolex.org. The screenshots below are from the soon to launch Rolex.org.

This overall them on Rolex.org revolves around the world "Perpetual": 

• Perpetual Planet
• Perpetual Knowledge
• Perpetual Spirit
• Perpetual Culture

Rolex.org Menu 

The screen grab below shows all the different menu options on Rolex.org. Despite how simple it looks, there is a lot of highly immersive content on each of these links.

Celebrating Hans Wilsdorf

Rolex also has a whole section on Rolex.org dedicated to its founder, Hans Wilsdorf. I am so happy to see Rolex diving into Hans Wilsdorf's brilliant history since he is one of the most successful and profound entrepreneurs in history.

Rolex included this super-high res image of Hans Wildorf, which I don't recall seeing before in such high-res.

Rolex also posted the image seen below which shows a young Hans Wilsdorf in 1906 and he is pictured third from the left, behind the tree, holding a cup of tea.

The Hans Wilsdorf section on Rolex.org also features a detailed documentary on Hans Wilsdorf's life and times.

Perpetual Culture

Somebody once defined culture by saying, 'Culture is acquainting ourselves with the best the world has known.' Rolex has always been committed to showcasing superb culture and Rolex.org does it in a truly magnificent way.

Rolex & Exploration

Rolex.org has a section dedicated to explorers who have achieved amazing things with Rolex watches on their wrists. This section is really inspirational and showcases Rolex history in all its glory!!!

Making The World A Better Place

Rolex has a section dedicated to all of its green initiatives, which is amazing. Below is a quote from this amazingly inspirational section:

"Whether this takes the form of fresh discoveries about the natural wonders of the Earth, the protection of its wild places and creatures, the safeguarding of our common cultural heritage or the development of technologies that shape our future, save and enhance lives and enrich our understanding, the unifying ingredient is the will to make a difference… to show that “anyone can change everything”.

In my mind Rolex.org offers a look 'Behind The Rolex Crown', while making a bold declarative statement about its commitment to protecting mother earth!!! 

One More Thing...

As previously mentioned, Rolex will be launching Rolex.org on Wednesday, December 12th so be sure to check it out. Also, Rolex will be formally launching its Twitter initiative. First a little background. Rolex has always been discreet in a typically Swiss kind of way, and despite their digital prowess and overall success, they have also be shy at times. Rolex has had a Twitter account for years, but they have NEVER TWEETED!?!! That's all about to change when Rolex publishes its first tweet on Wednesday! The only thing stopping Rolex from being 100% in the digital age is offering their watches for sale on Rolex.com, which hopefully we will see sooner than later...

I have to say I am blown-away with Rolex.org and if I understand it correctly, this is just the beginning. In other words, over the following months and years, Rolex will continue to expand the breadth and scope of Rolex.org. Jose took the Rolex.org image below and added the Rolex.org logo, which is RAD!!! 

HODINKEE 10TH Anniversary Celebration

HODINKEE
10TH Anniversary Celebration
Conversation with Aurel Bacs
—Embracing Controversy—
Hodinkee is celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend in New York, and Benjamin Clymer, interviewed Aurel Bacs from Phillips Auction House about the current state of the vintage watch market which you can watch below! 

I love listening to Aurel Bacs speak as he is so knowledgable and is always sharing profound insight into the collectable watch game. Benjamin Clymer also does a superb job of asking great questions. I highly recommend watching this great video. And congratulations to Benjamin and the excellent Hodinkee team on 10 great years of publishing!!! 
I just noticed there are way more videos including this fascinating on where how vintage watches are really bought:

Update: I just watched this interview with the always fascinating Jean-Claude Biver, which is amazing! Jean-Claude is probably the most interesting man in the watch industry and his insight is always profound!!! 

There are a whole bunch of great live videos from Hodinkee 10th Anniversary (H10) Event which you can find on the Hodinkee YouTube channel. 

...Rolex Hotness...Designer Jen Insardi...Tribeca Getaway

...Rolex Hotness...
Designer Jen Insardi
Tribeca Getaway
Designer Jen Insardi takes us on a tour of her beautiful home in Tribeca. 

Notice Jen is wearing her gorgeous everose gold Daytona, which is similar to the model pictured below:

Steger International Polar Expedition: 1986 Rolex GMT Master II Ad

Steger International Polar Expedition

1986 Rolex GMT Master II Ad

Bernardo Bertolucci Belongs To The Ages

...Academy Award Winning Best Director...

Bernardo Bertolucci

Belongs To The Ages

1941-2018

Legendary Italian director and screenwriter, Bernardo Bertolucci passed away today at the age of 77. Bernardo was famous for movies like The Conformist; Last Tango In Paris, and The Last Emperor. Horological blogger and expert Nick Gould was the first person to discover Bernardo Bertolucci's GMT was indeed a Pepsi as we see in the image above.

"I left the ending ambiguous, because that is the way life is." —Bernardo Bertolucci

Bernardo Bertolucci pictured above recently wearing a bezeless Rolex GMT-Master 

This is a very strange Rolex story. When I first observed the photo above of director, Bernardo Bertolucci, it was clear he was wearing a Rolex professional model and I assumed it was an Explorer II. 

I kept staring at it—as something looked off to me. It kind of looked like a GMT-Master with its bezel missing, which reminded me instantly of how Marlon Brando wore a Rolex GMT-Master in Apocalypse Now sans a bezel. 

Upon Close Inspection, Nick Gould poined out the dial has the GMT-Master designation just above the COSC Designation. Explorer II models have the model designation on the top of the dial, under the Oyster Perpetual Date Designation.

I thought I must be hallucinating, but then Nick Gould mentioned to me he was thinking the same thing, and upon close inspection I believe that is likely the case (pun intended ;-) So the perhaps not-so-obvious-question, is if Bernardo Bertolucci is wearing the Marlon Brando's bezeless GMT-Master?

Marlon Brando pictured above wearing a bezeless Rolex GMT-Master in Apocalypse Now in 1979

In the picture below which was taken on the set of Last Tango In Paris in 1971, we see Bernardo Bertolucci wearing a Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet, with Marlon Brando standing in the background on the set in the restaurant. 

Ironically, Marlon Brando also wore a Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet in the movie Last Tango In Paris as seen below:

Today, Martin Scorsese, who is a Rolex brand ambassador made the following statement about his friend and inspiration, Bernardo Bertolucci: 

“In 1964, I went up to Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for the 2nd New York Film Festival to see a new film from Italy. It was called ‘Before the Revolution’ and it was by a young director named Bernardo Bertolucci. I came out of the theater in a daze, speechless. I was truly stunned and moved by the level of sheer artistry and talent up there on the screen, I was shocked by the freedom of the picture, I was somewhat mystified by so many of the cultural references and cross-references, and, as someone who wanted to make films, I was inspired. ‘Before the Revolution’ opened many doors for me, and for many other young filmmakers as well. And Bertolucci kept on opening doors–with ‘The Conformist,’ which had a profound influence on Hollywood moviemaking; with ‘Last Tango in Paris,’ an explosive cultural event; with ‘The Last Emperor’ and ‘The Sheltering Sky,’ which reinvented the historical epic."

Bernardo Bertolucci is pictured above with fellow legendary movie director, Martin Scorsese. 

"When I think of Bertolucci–the man, the artist–the word that comes to mind is refinement. Yes, he was flamboyant and provocative, but it was the mellifluousness and the grace with which he expressed himself, and his deep understanding of his own history and culture, that made his filmmaking and his presence so special, so magical."

"Bernardo was in a wheelchair for the last years of his life, and it was extremely difficult for him to get around. It saddened all of us who knew him, because he had so much more that he wanted to do, and probably so many more films to make. When I think of him, I will always see an eternally young man.”

In this next photo we see Bernardo Bertolucci wearing his Rolex GMT-Master, while chatting with his Academy Award winning cinematographer, Vittorio Storaro during a Retrospective Opening Reception.

"This is something that I dream about: to live films, to arrive at the point at which one can live for films, can think cinematographically, eat cinematographically, sleep cinematographically, as a poet, a painter, lives, eats, sleeps painting." —Bernardo Bertolucci

The Last Emperor

"I accept all interpretations of my films. The only reality is before the camera. Each film I make is kind of a return to poetry for me, or at least an attempt to create a poem." —Bernardo Bertolucci

In my opinion, The Last Emperor was Bertolucci's best movie, and one of the greatest movies ever made!!! The Academy Awards saw it the same way as it won 9 Academy Awards in 1987, including Best Picture and Best Director. Not only was The Last Emperor an absolute masterpiece, but so was the soundtrack. I recall President Ronald Reagan, back in the late 1980s saying The Last Emperor was the best movie he had ever seen.

"Film students should stay as far away from film schools and film teachers as possible. The only school for the cinema is the cinema." —Bernardo Bertolucci