Live wrist shot of the new Rolex Daytona, taken by Eric Collombin who is President of Rolex France. He took the picture at Le Mans, France, this weekend, chronograph running, while watching the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
A Special Cosmograph Daytona
100TH Anniversary of Le Mans Model
Rolex surprised the watch world today with their introduction of a fascinating new Rolex Daytona model, which many Rolex collectors and enthusiasts are praising as a new "Paul Newman" Daytona due to it's hyper-retro subdial markers, which are ironically reminiscent of Paul Newman's exotic white dial Daytona. I will have more coverage over this weekend, and you can be certain you will get "JAKE'S TAKE" on this new puppy!
Rolex Wrote:
"Rolex is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race with an original version of its legendary chronograph. Crafted in 18 kt white gold, this new watch sports a Cerachrom bezel in black ceramic; on the tachymetric scale, the number ‘100’ in red ceramic evokes the race’s centenary."
"Standing out against the bright black dial are intense white counters whose graphic design is inspired by a traditional Rolex dial. The Oyster case is fitted with a transparent back and an Oyster bracelet. This original timepiece is equipped with an exclusive movement, calibre 4132, which allows the hours of the chronograph function to be counted over twenty-four hours – another nod to the race – instead of the model’s usual twelve.
"This movement incorporates the Chronergy escapement, Paraflex shock absorbers, and bridges decorated with Rolex Côtes de Genève. The cut-out oscillating weight in 18 kt yellow gold is fitted with an optimized ball bearing. Like all Rolex watches, this special version of the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist."
The 1964 Rolex Le Mans
It's fascinating to note that Rolex initially planed to call the Rolex Daytona model, the Rolex Le Mans as we witness in this 1964 Rolex ad—which ironically kind of looks like the 100th Anniversary Rolex Daytona Le Mans Editon.
The first and incredible live wrist shot of the new Rolex Daytona, taken by Eric Collombin who is President of Rolex France. He took the picture at Le Mans, France, this weekend, chronograph running, while watching the race.
"Geneva, 1 June 2023 – One hundred years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has come to this moment. The culmination of a century of technological advancements, extraordinary human endeavour and heroic performances, which Rolex has supported as the Official Timepiece since 2001. In just over a week’s time, from Saturday 10–Sunday 11 June, the oldest and most prestigious endurance race will celebrate its centenary at Circuit de la Sarthe in north-west France, witnessed by an expected record-breaking crowd of 300,000 people. With renowned manufacturers returning to the sport, all attempting to cover the greatest distance in this ultimate race against time, global interest in the 24 Hours of Le Mans has never been stronger."
ENGRAVED OYSTER PERPETUAL COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA PRESENTED TO THE
WINNERS OF THE CENTENARY EDITION OF THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2023
Le Mans, in France, is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year, and Rolex decided to pay homage to this time-tested miracle of motorsport racing. Many famous Formula 1 (F1) champion racers have worn Rolex Daytona models at Le Mans, as we see below on F1 legend, Michael Schumacher in 1993.
Formula 1 Racing Legend, Michael Schumacher rocking his
stainless steel Daytona [Reference 16520] back in 1993
Rolex—as a speed machine—along with airplanes and the automobile have grown up together on parallel tracks that often intersect. This is a timeless tale of Man and hid machines:
Rolex just dropped a magnificent series of new videos that pay homage to and showcase their long standing relationship with Le Mans, which can be seen below:
In the first episode of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, a series presented by Rolex and Warner Bros. Discovery about an event like no other, we take a look at the “toughest challenge in motor sport”, with Tom Kristensen, the most successful driver in the race’s history, narrating.
In episode 2 of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, we take a look at the numbers behind the toughest challenge in motor sport.
In the third installment of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, a series building up to the 2023 edition of the race, we hear from legendary British driver Jenson Button as he explains to us his long-standing admiration for the race.
In the fourth episode of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, the so-called Mr. Le Mans, Tom Kristensen, talks about the very special nature of the world’s oldest active endurance racing event.
In episode 5 of the series building up to the centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the race’s most successful driver, Tom Kristensen, explains how tough it is to drive through the night.
In the sixth episode of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, we hear from Sir Jackie Stewart, one of the icons of motor sport, as he recalls his favorite memories of the race.
In episode 7 of ’Le Mans: 24 for 24’, Tom Kristensen relives what many consider the greatest edition of the race – the 2008 event.
In the eighth episode of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, Jamie Chadwick, three-time champion of the all-women W Series, explains why the 24 Hours of Le Mans is “the one everyone wants to win”.
In the ninth installment of ‘Le Mans: 24 For 24’, the preview series of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, we take a look at some of the trailblazing women of the legendary race who are helping break down barriers in what has traditionally been an industry dominated by men.
Join us for a very special episode of ‘Le Mans: 24 For 24’ as we take you on a lap of Le Mans ahead of the 2023 edition of the race.
In the 11th episode of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, we hear from Sir Jackie Stewart as he recalls the 1965 edition of the legendary race. It is interesting to note Sir Jackie Stewart bought his own yellow gold Rolex Day-Date after he won his first big race, and later became a Rolex brand ambassador.
Anny-Charlotte Verney has competed in 10 editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans – a women’s record. In episode 12 of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, she speaks of her passion for the race co-founded by her grandfather.
In the 13th episode of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, the video series that previews the legendary motor endurance race, we look at the incredible atmosphere that surrounds Le Mans.
In the 14th episode of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, a video series produced in partnership with Rolex that delves deep into the iconic race, we hear from some of the trailblazing women of Le Mans as they discuss the level playing field within the race and the rise of all-women teams.
Between 1997 and 2013, Tom Kristensen won the 24 Hours of Le Mans a record nine times, including six in a row (2000 to 2005). In episode 15 of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, the Danish driver explains how no single victory stands out for him and that he “learned a lot from all of them”.
In episode 16 of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, the video series building up to the centenary edition of the legendary race, we look at the iconic rivalry between Ford and Ferrari, one for the ages.
Episode 17 of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’ takes a close look at the incredible career of Henri Pescarolo, a true legend of motor sport’s oldest, most prestigious endurance race.
Episode 18 of ‘Le Mans 24 for 24’ retraces Mark Webber’s experiences at Le Mans. The Australian driver was fortunate to escape a spectacular crash in 1999 and has also narrowly missed out on the top prize.
In episode 19 of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, legendary British driver Derek Bell relives some of his most memorable moments in the iconic endurance race.
Derek Bell is pictured below with The King of Cool, Steve McQueen at Le Mans in 1970.
In the 20th episode of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, the video series building up to the centenary edition of the legendary race, Mark Webber, Jamie Chadwick, Leena Gade, Henri Pescarolo and Jacky Ickx discuss the thrilling feeling they get from the start of 24 hours of Le Mans.
In episode 21 of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, former Formula 1 star and five-time Le Mans competitor Mark Webber explains why Tom Kristensen is his hero from motor sport’s oldest, most prestigious endurance race. Kristensen won Le Mans on a record nine occasions between 1997 and 2013, including six in a row (2000 to 2005).
In episode 22 of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, past winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans shed light on what attributes are needed to be successful in the world’s oldest and most prestigious endurance motor sport race.
In the penultimate episode of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, Howden Haynes, a nine-time winning race engineer with Audi, walks through the Le Mans centenary exhibition and explains some of the technological advancements and innovations that have been showcased at the prestigious race before making their way to production road cars.
In the final episode of ‘Le Mans: 24 for 24’, Joaquin Jiminez, the designer of the centenary trophy, explains the creative process behind this special piece of silverware. Tom Kristensen, Jacky Ickx and Henri Pescarolo discuss how it feels to lift the winner’s trophy.
Below is a new Rolex video that covers the 100th Anniversary of Le Mans.
"One of the coolest watch photos you will see in 2023. Saudi astronaut, Ali AlQarni took his ceramic @Rolex GMT-Master Pepsi with him for the Ax-2 mission. I spotted him wearing it during a video earlier in the week. On his return to Earth, he just posted this photo of the watch casually floating in zero gravity, aboard the International Space Station"
Science Fiction Becomes Reality
Ali Alqarni's photos totally remind me of the epic 1968 science fiction masterpiece, 2001 A Space Odyssey as his photos were taken aboard the Space Station which was just fantasy in 1968. So to see a Pepsi GMT-Master floating in zero-gravity in space onboard the real Space Station is a total trip.
Ali Alqarni who is a Saudi Astronaut took the photos above and below last week during his Ax-2 mission aboard the International Space Station. Nick reached out to Ali Alqarni recently and asked him to send me a high-res version of this stunning image, and Ali surprised me by sending in the additional image seen below in addition:
Ali Alqarni appears to posses a beautiful harem of Rolex models, as we see in the photo below he is wearing a two-tone bluesy Rolex Submariner.
Today is Memorial Day in the United States. My forefathers fought in every major war going all the way back to the Revolutionary war which began in 1775. My father fought in World War II, and came very close to dying. They fought so we would live in a free country. The U.S. citizenry is forever indebted for the sacrifices they made. Remember, you saw this brand-new revolutionary video here, which you won't find anywhere in the mainstream media...
"Del said we need an army and you are the beginning of that army. You give me that army, and you give me a sword, and some ground to stand on, and I will give your country back to you!!!"
—RFK Jr.
All I can say is that I have never been so proud to be an American as when I hear RFK Jr. speak. It is genuinely amazing how honest and transparent and erudite this man is. The United States of America is in desperate need of a complete governmental overhaul and I am certain, RFK Jr. is the best man to complete this mission. RFK Jr. just gave this speech today in San Diego, and notice he is NOT reading from a teleprompter, but speaking from his heart:
Speaking of which, assuming he's elected, he will have the opportunity to complete and fulfill his uncles dream which RFK's father, RFK Sr. also tried to fulfill. I was talking with a friend of mine who is at this event, and he and I both agreed we like RFK's juniors unusual voice now they were used to it. As Dr. Martin Luther King once famously said, "Let us learn not to judge people by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character", I would say, the same is true of their voice, and RFK Junior's character is truly miraculous.
I think Del Bigtree's speech is one of the greatest, most inspirational speeches I have EVER HEARD, and I was so impressed with his speech, I think he should be the Vice President under RFK Junior!!!
Story below originally published on May 26, 2023:
The Real Anthony Fauci
RFK Jr. Documentary
You won't find the video documentary seen below named The Real Anthony Faucion YouTube, or reviews on CNN, or ABC and you won't read about it in the New York Times (Despite the fact the book it is based upon by the same title is a New York Times Bestseller), or any Main Stream Media (MSM) publication, but then again Jake's Rolex World has NEVER been a part of the Main Stream Media, but has always been a member of the alternative media. A few weeks ago, I published a fascinating story on RolexMagazine.com about Tucker Carlson leaving or getting fired from Fox News because of his coverage and interview with RFK Jr. who is running against Joe Biden in the Democrat Primaries for the Presidency in 2024.
As a result, I got so inspired I decided to create a blog at www.RFKUSA.com dedicated to covering RFK Jr.'s journey to the Oval Office, and as a long-time presidential historian, I decided to also create a blog that explores the Presidency and Assassination of John F. Kennedy, who is RFK Jr.'s uncle, which you can find at www.JFKMagazine.org.
I must admit I thought I was aware of the controversy surrounding Dr. Anthony Fauci, but after having watched this new documentary based upon RFK Jr.'s best selling book titled, "The Real Anthony Fauci, my head is still spinning!!!!
If you are a blue pill kind of person, I recommend ignoring watching this documentary, as it will likely make you cry, but if you are a red pill kind of person, then I think you will learn a great deal about Big Pharma and Censorship, as well as being able to much better understand the state of current events and how we got here today.
Update on May 28, 2023:
I received the following email from a reader. I asked his permission to share his email, which he granted, but requested I keep his name anonymous:
Dear Mr. Ehrlich:
Just wanted to thank you for your most excellent blog and, most recently, for the RFK, Jr. “The Real Anthony Fauci“ documentary. My eyes were certainly opened wider than they had already been.
I had always distrusted government, particularly big government (remember President Reagan’s speeches where he said the nine most feared words in the English language were: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.“?), but watching this documentary really showed me that there is much to fear and Americans are quickly losing their grip on their government. Scary indeed.
Like you, I am fascinated by presidential history, and it will certainly be interesting to see how the presidential race shakes out next year and whether RFK, Jr. will be allowed to debate. It’s scary that I even have to write that and the fact that we are living in a time when a major candidate for president might not be allowed to debate his opponent. Shameful and scary.
As for the CROWN, I really like your posts and the wealth of information you share on Rolex. I have learned so much! I was able to buy my first Rolex (Submariner Bluesy 126613) recently as a 50th birthday gift to myself and my life thus far and I was lucky to get it direct from my local AD with no purchase history. I wrote a letter on my office letterhead and explained what I wanted, why I wanted it, that I was willing to wait and if I could visit the AD and just talk watches.
The AD responded by inviting me up to the store and the day I visited we had a nice chat. I guess I made a good impression with my passion for knowing the brand (thanks in large part to your website) and its products. He excused himself briefly, went into the vault and came out with a brand new bluesy that he told me had just arrived from Geneva the day before. It was still in it’s shipping “coffin“ case and he offered it to me on the spot. I was flabbergasted! I just couldn’t believe I could get one after hearing and reading about "waitlists“ (he told me they really do not exist) and the difficulty people had from getting Rolexes from their local AD’s.
I felt so, so fortunate I was able to procure one. My dad had 2 subs when I was a kid - that is where the seed was planted - but had to sell them later on to help pay household expenses, taxes, etc. and he could not pass them on to me. I always told myself that someday I was going to get one. When the day came I was so happy. One of the best things about the watch for me is that my wrist was the first the watch went on and it will only be my wrist that it will remain on until the end of my life. It is a great feeling. Not to knock grey market dealers or those who like to buy used watches, but there is a special satisfaction knowing that MY wrist is the FIRST wrist that watch went on.
Thanks again for letting me rant and brag a little bit and thanks again for your awesome blog.
Christian from Theo and Harris put together this heartwarming video in which his mother and father talk about their affinity for wearing gold Rolex watches. This video and their story brought tears to my eyes, and everything they said resonates well with me about Rolex as a symbol of personal achievement.
Brooks Koepka image appears courtesy of The Japan Times
Brooks Koepka
wins his 5th Major title
at the 2023 PGA Championship
Rolex congratulates Brooks Koepka on holding his incredible composure and unrivalled determination to win the PGA Championship. With all eyes on the American going into the final round, he played with a focus that only the supremely skilled possess, to ensure he claimed the title for a third time.
The PGA Championship stands out among golf’s four annual men’s Majors as the only one to be contested exclusively by professionals. By bringing together the strongest field, it ensures the highest level of competition. The tournament inspires players to constantly push back the limits of what they can achieve and places experience at a premium. Over the years, Rolex Testimonees have enjoyed regular success at the PGA Championship, with Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas among the champions whose names are inscribed on the Wanamaker Trophy.
olex is committed to the permanent quest for excellence in all its endeavours and has been a long-term supporter of golf in its pursuit of the same. The brand’s enduring relationship with the sport began more than 50 years ago, in 1967, when Arnold Palmer, joined by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, became the brand’s first golfing Testimonees. Known together as The Big Three, these legendary players changed the face of golf forever, and their partnership with Rolex marked the beginning of a relationship based on the shared commitment to continuous improvement and unwavering precision. Since then, the affiliation has grown and flourished, permeating every level of the game worldwide. From elite players and golf legends to all the game’s Major championships, where success represents the pinnacle of achievement in the sport, as well as the foremost professional tours and worldwide amateur championships, Rolex is ever-present. In 2021 Rolex further deepened its support by becoming a Worldwide Partner of The Ryder Cup, to act as Official Timekeeper at every iteration of the sport’s pre-eminent team competition. The Swiss manufacturer’s support for the game is built on a strong sense of integrity and respect for tradition that promote the continuity of expertise and transfer of knowledge, and an understanding of the importance of investing in the sport’s development for future generations.
It's fascinating to see how popular Rolex watches have become since I started publishing RolexMagazine.com 16 years ago!!! So much so that now The Wass Street Journal created this interesting video on the power of the secondary/used market:
First held in 1962 and organized by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the Rolex China Sea Race is Asia’s principal blue water event. The biannual offshore race held its 30th edition in 2023, with Nick Southward’s Whiskey Jack lifting the Rolex China Sea Race Trophy for corrected time on International Rating Certificate (IRC) handicap by completing the 565-nautical mile course in just over four days. History was made as Standard Insurance Centennial 5 became the first Philippines yacht to claim line honours. Rolex has partnered the race since 2008 as part of the brand’s wide-ranging support for yachting dating back almost 70 years.
This is an open letter to Sotheby's Auction House:
Dear Sotheby's,
I am again formally bringing this false association to your attention and asking you to kindly fix this false association error. I acknowledge that perhaps you might have information that contradicts my premise of your false association, and if that is the case I invite you to contact me with such information that I will add to this story to refute my observation, and thus set the record straight.
If you are not able to produce evidence that associated Steve McQueen with the Rolex Explorer II, I request that you PLEASE REMOVE THE FALSE ASSOCIATION FROM YOUR UPCOMING AUCTION LOT, as doing so not only undermines your reputation as being an expert in the horological field, but also falsely perpetuates this FAKE NEWS myth.
I look forward to your response.
Jake Ehrlich
The Screenshot above from Sotheby's Auction House features a description
that states "Rolex. Explorer II 'Steve McQueen' Reference 1655."
Sotheby's Auction House is not alone in perpetuating this false Steve McQueen association as Antiquorum Auction House and Phillips Auction House, as well as others have done the same thing in the past. In all fairness, after I reached out to Phillips Auction House in the past and brought this false Steve McQueen association to their attention with an action lot they initially argued with me about, they reluctantly fixed it by removing the historically incorrect false association.
"What's the history to the nickname? Been Referred to that way for at least 25+ years of me being a watch enthusiast?"
I responded:
"@whiskeyrolex The best scholarship suggests an unscrupulous Italian auction house back in the 1990s wanted to try and get more money for Rolex Explorer ‘Orange Hand’ models at auction, and they saw how well the accurate ‘PAUL NEWMAN DAYTONA’ was performing, so they decided to try and do the same thing by falsely associating the Explorer with Steve McQueen.
Don’t forget this was in the pre/early internet days when they could get away with something so ridiculous. They kept falsely associating the watch and it caught on, so other auction houses saw the false association generating more $$$$$, so they followed in lockstep and perpetually followed in their footsteps.
BTW: They did the same thing by falsely associating the Triple-Date Rolex Chronograph with Jean-Claude Killy…"
Update 3: Somebody asked, "What about calling a Rolex GMT-Master a Batman or an LV Submariner a Kermit or Hulk?"
Those are nicknames made by watch enthusiasts in the collectors community based upon their color combination similarities, thus I have no challenge with them. Nobody thinks Kermit The Frog, Batman, Batgirl, or the Incredible Hulk wore an LV Submariner.
Falsely associating a celebrity with a Rolex model so you can sell it for more money at a public auction is different.
I will give you an example:
Let's say an auction house refers to a highland green 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback as a 'Bullit Mustang', or 'Steve McQueen Mustang', that might make sense as Steve McQueen famously drove such a car in the 1969 movie Bullit.
Steve McQueen driving a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback
on the Streets of San Francisco while filming Bullit
But what if an unethical auction house said, "Hey why don't we falsely associate Paul Newman with a 1966 Ford GT40 Mark II, which Paul Newman NEVER drove, and at auction started calling it the "Paul Newman GT40" that would clearly be an unethical false association!!!
Paul Newman wearing his trademark Rolex Daytona with
Exotic White Dial which is a Rolex Reference 6239 Chronograph
There really is something to be said for authenticity!!!
I rest my case your honor...
On a side note, the video below is what the auction houses remind me of in their relentless quest and unscrupulous pursuit for trying to make easy $$$$$$$$$$.
"Yeah, I have a Rolex Explorer II prototype for sale that my best friend, Steve McQueen wore his whole life!! Yeah! That's what happened! Then you know what happened next? 'Steveo' as I affectionately called him—in-fact—took it off his wrist and gave it to his favorite stuntman, who later gave it to me since I saved him from a pit viper snake attack!!! Yeah, that's what happened! That's the ticket!!! You bet it is...You can guarantee on that!" I'm not kidding you!:
Historically Rolex has always been extremely secretive and discreet, and no journalists in the past have ever been invited "INSIDE ROLEX" to explore and report on all four Rolex Manufacturing faclities in Switzerland.
In November 2013, this changed when Rolex invited Jake to take an unprecdented journey into the heart of Rolex to learn and report on everything he witnessed and learned.
This Super-Detailed 3 Part Story is a "MUST READ" story for anybody who wants to understand what really makes Rolex tick.
