I was chatting with Nick Gould and he observed "King Harald has to be the oldest single owner of a GMT-Master!"
King Harald is pictured above and below with his wife, Queen Sonja, and in the photo below taken in 1968 he is rocking the exact same Pepsi GMT-Master pictured above on his wrist. Of course, the fundamental difference in appearance is back in 1968 his Pepsi Bezel was still bright blue and red, and today the patina is so faded, it looks like its silver, almost looking like he is wearing a stainless steel and platinum YACHT-MASTER!
In the 1970s and 1980s Rolex went crazy making all kinds of fascinatingly beautiful Rolex Day-Date and Datejust models with very colorful exotic dials, and the watch pictured below is no exception. The green Rolex dial is known as a Malachite dial, which is very cool looking.
If you are a reader of Jake's Rolex World, you know I consider many vintage Rolex ads to be works of art, in and of themselves. This 2012 Rolex Milgauss ad, in particular, strikes me as having magnificent composition. The GV Milgauss model (pictured below), was recently discontinued and featured the innovative, unique Rolex trademark green edged sapphire crystal, is so un-Rolexy in so many ways, but that is what makes it so interesting. The orange 3, 6, & 9 markers, coupled with the orange lighting bolt second hand, really set it apart. GV is French and means "Green Crystal." I still can't believe Rolex actually discontinued this amazingly iconic model???
Arthur C. Clarke is considered to be one of the top science-fiction writers, and futurists in history. During his brilliant career he wrote more than 100 books! Clarke is probably most famous for co-writing the screenplay for the movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey, which is considered to be one of the most influential films of the 20th Century. Arthur C. Clarke is pictured below wearing his yellow gold Rolex Submariner, as he speaks with Prince Claus of The Netherlands, as he receives the Marconi International Fellowship in 1982.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is
indistinguishable from magic."
—Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke was British and is considered to be on of the "Big 3" of Science-Fiction, along with Issac Asimov, and Robert Heinlein. Arthur C. Clarke wore a Rolex Submariner as a serious tool-watch, as he was an early pioneer in the world of Scuba Diving.
Arthur C. Clarke was a brilliant futurist, and in the photo below we see him pictured at home in Washington D.C. 1952, holding his book titled The Exploration Of Space.
In the videos below from 1964 and 1974, Arthur C. Clarke predicts that in the future we will live in a highly computerized, and connected world.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
—Arthur C. Clarke
Science Fiction Writer & Inventor of the Communication Satellite
The photo below of Arthur C. Clarke was taken in 1984 in his office in Sri Lanka and shows him in from of his Kaypro II computer he was using to send his script for 2010 to Hollywood. Notice his Rolex Submariner on his wrist.
2001 A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey was released in 1968 and is considered by many to be the ultimate science-fiction movie of all time. In the photo below we see Director, Stanley Kubrick on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey, with Arthur C. Clark who co-wrote the scrips with Kubrick.
Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clark picture above on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1967
I want to draw an analogy that keeps popping into my head as I write this story. I keep thinking about how similar Arthur C. Clarke was to Ian Fleming in the sense they were both born and raised in England, and both later fell in love with tropical worlds, and spent much of their later year writing in beautiful warm climates.
Sean Connery and Ian Fleming pictured above on the set of Goldfinger in 1964
Arthur C. Clarke having moved to Sri Lanka in 1955, and Ian Fleming living in his Golden Eye villa in Jamaica. In the photo we see Ian Fleming on the set of Goldfinger, where he served as a consultant for making the movie. Of course, Ian Fleming and Arthur C. Clark both wore Rolex watches when they wrote their seminal books that were turned into blockbuster movies.
Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clark picture above on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1967
In the photo below we see Arthur C. Clarke in Sri Lanka, posing with Stephen Spielberg, and Harrison Ford, who stopped by his home to see him in 1983, while they were filming Indiana Jones and The Temple Of Doom. Notice Arthur is wearing his Rolex Submariner.
The video below was shot in 1995 by the BBC and covers Arthur C. Clarke sharing his top Seven Wonders Of The World, and we see him wearing his yellow-gold Rolex Submariner.
This is a most unusual Rolex Submariner Rolex, and certainly one of the rarest in the world. Why? Because it has a white dial. This watch has been confirmed by Rolex in Geneva to be completely authentic. So how does it have a white dial? It was likely a prototype dial. Not a prototype in the sense that Rolex thought about making the watch with a white dial, but apparently Rolex used to make first generation prototype dials in white, and this is likely one of them. This image appears courtesy of Eric Ku from 10PastTen.com.
It's getting warmer in the northern hemisphere and summer is around the corner so I think it is time for some Rolex Hotness!!! @NadineMirada is gorgeous and she is a top Guess model. As we see in the photos below Nadine rocks a beautiful two-tone Rolex Datejust with a black dial with raised yellow gold Rolex markers.
"Photography for me is not looking, it's feeling. If you can't feel what you're looking at, then you're never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures"
—Don McCullin
In the pantheon of vintage Rolex, few watches stir the soul like the Explorer II [Reference 1655]. It’s a rugged beast, born for the wild, with a design that screams purpose over polish. But what elevates this watch from mere tool to myth? Look no further than Don McCullin, the war photographer who strapped it to his wrist and plunged into the heart of history. In 1978, Rolex ran an ad featuring McCullin, his steely gaze fixed on the horizon, that orange-handed 1655 ticking away as bullets flew. That image alone cemented its legacy—and today, it’s a holy grail for collectors who chase the stories behind the steel.
Let’s unpack this. Who was Don McCullin, and why does his Explorer II still have us obsessed decades later? Grab a coffee, because this is a tale of courage, conflict, and a watch that refused to quit.
Don McCullin
The Eye of the Storm
Don McCullin didn’t stumble into greatness—he clawed his way there. Born in 1935 in London’s rough-and-tumble Finsbury Park, he grew up in a world of post-war grit. Life was no picnic, but McCullin had an eye for more than just survival. Photography found him almost by accident—snapping shots of his local gang for a laugh—until The Observer took notice in 1959. That was the spark that lit the fuse. Before long, he was on a plane to Berlin, capturing the Wall’s rise, and then to Cyprus, documenting civil unrest. The kid from the streets had become a lens on the world.
"I wanted my images to contaminate your thoughts—because they contaminated mine"
—Don McCullin
But McCullin’s real legacy was forged in war. Vietnam, Cambodia, Biafra, Beirut—he didn’t just cover conflict; he lived it. His camera caught the raw, unfiltered truth: soldiers in the mud, civilians in despair, the haunting stillness after the gunfire stopped. This wasn’t about pretty pictures; it was about bearing witness. “I’ve been in some tight spots,” he said in that 1978 Rolex ad, “but my Rolex has always come through.” And come through it did—through jungles, deserts, and urban battlegrounds, the Explorer II was his constant.
McCullin’s work earned him a shelf full of awards—World Press Photo honors, a CBE, even a knighthood in 2017. But he’d tell you the accolades don’t matter. What matters is the truth he captured, frame by frame. And on his wrist, that Reference 1655 was more than a watch—it was a companion that saw it all.
The Explorer II [Reference 1655]
A Tool for the Fearless
Now, let’s talk about the watch itself. Rolex dropped the Explorer II in 1971, and it was a different breed from the get-go. Built for adventurers—cavers, polar explorers, and yes, photographers like McCullin—it was all about surviving the extremes. The Reference 1655, with its 39mm Oyster case and that unmistakable orange 24-hour hand, was designed to tackle the unknown. That hand wasn’t just a pop of color; it was a lifeline, letting wearers track day and night in places where the sun played tricks—like the Arctic or deep underground.
The fixed steel bezel, engraved with 24-hour markers, paired with the automatic Caliber 1575 movement to make this thing a tank. Dust, water, shocks? The Explorer II laughed it off. At a time when most watches were still primping for the boardroom, this one was ready for the battlefield. And for McCullin, who often found himself ducking shrapnel, that durability was everything.
But it’s not just the toughness that makes the 1655 special—it’s the vibe. The matte black dial, the Mercedes hands, the no-nonsense steel case—it’s got a quiet swagger that doesn’t need to shout. Nicknamed the “Freccione” (Italian for “big arrow”) for that bold orange hand, it’s a watch that stands out by not trying too hard. And while some call it the “Steve McQueen” (even though he never wore one), it’s McCullin’s story that gives it real weight.
A Collector’s Grail
Why the 1655 Rules Today
Fast forward to 2023, and the Explorer II [Reference 1655] is a vintage Rolex unicorn. Why? Start with the numbers: Rolex only made about 10,000 of these from ’71 to ’85. Finding one that’s not beaten to hell—or worse, “restored” into oblivion—is a treasure hunt. But rarity’s just the half of it. This watch has soul.
Collectors lose their minds over the 1655 because it’s a time capsule. It’s not some polished-up dress watch—it’s a tool that lived hard. When you hold one, you’re holding history: the expeditions, the battles, the moments of quiet defiance. McCullin’s connection only amps that up. Knowing his Explorer II was there, strapped on as he framed shots that changed how we see war, adds a layer of provenance that’s pure catnip for watch nerds.
Then there’s the design. That orange hand pops like a flare against the black dial, and the steel bezel’s got a rugged charm that’s aged like fine whiskey. It’s not perfect—it’s better than perfect. It’s real. And in a world where vintage Rolex prices are soaring, the 1655’s mix of scarcity, style, and story has made it a heavyweight. Today, a clean example can easily fetch five figures, and if it’s got a documented past? Name your price.
McCullin and the 1655
A Bond Beyond Time
So why did McCullin pick the Explorer II? Because it didn’t flinch. In the chaos of war, you don’t need a watch that’s going to choke under pressure—you need one that’s as tough as you are. The 1655 was that watch. It didn’t care about mud or blood or heat; it just kept going. In that 1978 ad, McCullin’s words say it all: “My Rolex has always come through.” That’s not a sales pitch—that’s a battlefield truth.
For McCullin, the Explorer II wasn’t a status symbol; it was a tool, a witness to the madness he captured through his lens. And that’s what makes it resonate today. Collectors don’t just want the watch—they want the story, the grit, the legacy of a man who stared down history and clicked the shutter anyway.
A Watch That Tells More Than Time
The Rolex Explorer II [Reference 1655] isn’t just a vintage classic—it’s a monument to the fearless. Through Don McCullin’s lens, we see how it earned its stripes, ticking through the darkest corners of the 20th century. For collectors, it’s a prize worth chasing: rare, beautiful, and dripping with history. But beyond the auctions and the hype, it’s a reminder of what a watch can be—a silent partner in the pursuit of something bigger.
So here’s to McCullin, the man who showed us war’s true face, and to the Explorer II that stood by him. In a world obsessed with flash, this watch keeps it real: a rugged, orange-handed testament to adventure, survival, and the stories that time can’t erase.
If you are a reader of Jake's Rolex Watch you probably know the original Rolex 50th Anniversary LV Submariner is one of my favorite Rolex watches.
To my way of thinking The LV Submariner has the perfect balance of timeless Rolex design language and a colorful, charismatic vibe. I think the green bezel insert is fun, sporty, novel and aquatic–and I love the Maxi-Markers and Fat Hands. This is a really cool color combination–assuming you are not afraid of color.
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.
