Rolex Hotness: Petra Ecclestone...

Rolex Hotness: Petra Ecclestone

Photo Credit: Ron Parker

Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: Turn-O-Graph...

Rolex Turn-O-Graph

My good pal, Michael W., took this superb shot of his Rolex Turn-O-Graph Datejust. Very cool color combination if you ask me.

How A Watch Works...

How A Watch Works

Hamilton Watch Company [Circa 1949]

Ever wonder how that mechanical masterpiece on your wrist actually works? Me too!!!

Many people don't know this, but the United States used to be a world leader in making watches up until World War II, when many of the watch manufacturers converted their facilities to manufacturing military components. After World War II, the United States of America went into manufacturing other things, but the Swiss kept going with making watches and watchmaking grew considerably in Japan.

This movie, from the Hamilton Watch Company, located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania shows how a mechanical watch works. The primary difference between what you see in this video and a Rolex Perpetual is that Rolex has an automatic winding rotor that winds the watch, otherwise they work very similarly. Enjoy!!!

Flipper Friday is Back!!! Season 1 [Episode 4: The Gulf Between]

Flipper Friday

Season 1 [Episode 4: The Gulf Between]

Original Air Date: October 10, 1964

Flipper Friday threw me a curve ball I was not expecting last week when Porter Ricks was not wearing his Rolex Submariner, but a brand I never heard of named Croton. It made me wonder if I was hallucinating about Porter Ricks wearing a Rolex Submariner to begin with? So I did some research and watched some later episodes and I confirmed (with 99%++ certainty) that he was wearing a Rolex Submariner.

Also, readers of Jake's Rolex Watch Blog have mentioned to me that they like watching Flipper. There is something so wholesome, clean-cut and cool about it. I talked with Mark yesterday and he said that he grew up watching Flipper as a kid and that it brings back great memories.

Mark also said for a kid at the time the whole theme of two boys growing up with their really cool dad and their pet dolphin was the ultimate childhood fantasy and I agree. Especially when they are towing on flipper through the ocean or as Mark pointed out, driving around in a single engine power boat.

I did notice a strange continuity error where Porter Ricks watch keeps moving back and forth from his left to right wrist which is kind of funny. It is also kind of fascinating to watch Flipper from a anthropological perspective, like examining the fashion and the way they speak and interact–like when bud tells Porter Ricks girlfriend she is twitch (never heard that before).

It is also interesting to note that when this episode originally aired 44 years ago, I was not even born yet. Even thought JFK had only been dead 11 months, this world was still a JFK kind of world–idealism and all.

Rolex Wrist Shot of the Day: Milos' (WatchFan1) Red Submariner

Milos' (WatchFan1) Red Submariner

[Reference 1680]

Lance Armstrong: The Greatest Cyclist In History

Lance Armstrong

The Greatest Cyclist In History

Rolex GMT Pepsi

Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: Submariner Yellow Gold...

Rolex Submariner Yellow Gold

Photo Credit: Rolex Enthusiast

Gianvittorio's Freccione Rolex Explorer II Big Arrow...

Gianvittorio's Freccione

Rolex Explorer II–Big Arrow

[Reference 1655, Caliber 1570, Made 1977]

Gianvittorio from Milano, Italia is a fan of Jake's Rolex Watch Blog and he sent in these superb studio shots of his Big Arrow Rolex Explorer II that his friend, Luciano Cipullo took. Gianvittorio points out that in Italia they call the Big Arrow, "Freccione."

Gianvittrio also points out that everything on the watch is original including the 78360 bracelet, 580 end links, and the rare clasp signed with "A" letter, which is the first heavy Rolex Oyster bracelet ever produced. The "A" Oyster bracelet is very rare. The serail number is 5,355,XXX.

Gianvittorio, thank you very much for sharing these excellent shots of your beautiful Rolex!!!

3rd Annual New York Watch Get Together (GTG)

3rd Annual New York Watch Get Together (GTG)

You Are Invited

The 3rd Annual New York Get Together will be held in New York City (NYC) this coming Saturday, May 16, 2009 and you are invited. If you are not familiar with a Watch Get Together, known as a GTG, it is a social event that includes a meal and is mostly for Rolex (RIS) and general watch collectors (WIS).

It is amazing how fun and interesting the GTGs are. The thing that blew my mind is if you have never been to a GTG you will meet a whole bunch of really cool people that you will get along with really, really well. Think of it as space camp for adult watch collectors!

While the formal event is on Saturday from 3-8 p.m., the fun starts on Thursday night as many people fly in Thursday and leave Sunday. So everybody hangs out and has fun and even if you can only make it Thursday or Friday or Sunday you can hang out and have fun.

James Dowling (Mr. Rolex), Milos (WatchFan1) and Leo (The Idle Swede) at a previous NYC GTG

The photo above of James Dowling, Milos (WatchFan1) and Leo (The Idle Swede) was taken at a previous NYC GTG and I know Leo will be attending, as well and Milos.

The NYC GTG has no affiliation with any online forum or Jake's Rolex Watch Blog and everyone is welcome to attend. People travel from all over the planet to attend this event in Manhattan. The NYC GTG is next Saturday and if you wish to attend, please contact Milos at (727) 365-2266.

For more information please click here.

Rolex Wrist Shot of the Day: Daytona in Hong Kong...

Daytona in Hong Kong

We may be done with I Spy on Jake's Rolex Watch Blog for at least a while, but nbTimes shot this great wrist shot of his Daytona in Hong Kong. (In case you did not get it, Bill Cosby and Robert Culp were running around Hong Kong wearing their Rolex GMTs).