Original GMT Master Coke From Stefano Mazzariol...

Nothing Like The Real Thing

Original GMT Master Coke From

Stefano Mazzariol

I guess today ended up being Vintage Rolex Monday, which may be a good idea!?! What better way to start your week off than with some cool vintage Rolex shots!?!

My pal, Stefano from Italy sent in this stunning photo of an original GMT with the translucent clear, see through bezel. We looked at a similar GMT Reference 6542 from the 1950s last Thursday, and you if you go back to the post, you can see what one of these bezels look like up really close.

I believe this watch is all original and notice the red date and that the 24-hour hand has a tiny arrow and the lack of a depth designation on the rail dial. Also notice the way the Jubilee bracelet attaches to the watch without full springbar and lug coverage as well as the lack of crown guards.

Thanks for sharing this great image Stefano!!!

Wrist Shot of the Day: Superdome Submariner...

Superdome Submariner

Alejandro took this great shot of his Rolex Submariner [Reference 5513] with the Superdome acrylic crystal. I have to say that one of the most intriguing and confusing vintage Rolex watches for me to understand are the Rolex Submariner 5512, 5513, 5514 and 5517, particularly when it comes to the acrylic crystals.

The Dividing Line Of Distinction

Between a vintage Rolex and a modern Rolex

Many would argue the dividing line between a vintage Rolex and modern Rolex is whether the crystal is Acrylic (Vintage) or Synthetic Sapphire (Modern). One thing is for certain, and that is the acrylic crystal Rolex watches have a definite and distinctly different aesthetic and vintage vibe.

For almost 25 years, I disliked the vintage acrylic crystal Rolex watches, but I must admit they have really grown on me and I really like them now. I have said many times, that often I have to hate something before I can love it. I don't know why life is that way, but that seems to be the way it works ;-)

The 551x series was the first model line of Rolex Submariner watches that were the larger 40mm. All the Submariner watches before the 551x series, like the Reference 6200, 6204, 6205, 6536, 6538, had no crown guards and were 37mm. In 1958 Rolex introduced the 5508 and 5510 that grew 1mm to 38mm, but still lacked crown guards.

To the best of my understanding, Rolex began making the 5512 in 1959, but it did not have the COSC designation on the dial for the first few years. Rolex made the 5512 until 1966, and then replaced it with the Reference 1680 in 1966, which ran until 1981. The key difference between the 5512 and 1680 was that the 1680 was the first Rolex Submariner that had a date–and the only Submariner to have a RED Submariner designation on the dial. The RED designation on the dial was rare and most were white and that is what makes the RED designation Reference 1680 rare.

Rolex started making the 5513, which never had a COSC designation, from 1962 to 1989. The difference between the 5513 and 5512 is that the 5512 was a Officially Certified Swiss Chronometer (COSC) and the 5513 was not. Externally they looked almost identical with the exception of the third and fourth line COSC designation on the 5512, but on the inside the movements were different. The 5513 (Non COSC) has one of those old-fashioned, adjustable on the movement levers, for fine-tuning the "+" and "–" of the speed at which the movement ran.

The 5512 (COSC) had the adjustable weights on the balance wheel to fine tune the precision of the accuracy of the timing. Sorry if your head is spinning, mine is to!!!

Back to the Crystals, I am confused because I have seen three different crystals on the 5512 and 5513. I have seen a flat raised one, a domed one that is also raised and the rarest which is called a Superdome. I believe the Superdome is pictured above. If anybody wants to help clarify this, please send me an email to RolexBlog@Gmail.com or post in the comment section of this story.

BTW, A 5514 is a 5512 Submariner with a helium release valve and they are very rare. The 5517 Submariner was a Military Submariner made only for the British Royal Navy and to confuse things even further, Rolex also made a 5513 Milsub.

The other interesting fact is that Rolex started selling the first Rolex Submariner with a date and synthetic sapphire crystal in 1981 which replaced the 1680, but they sold the 5513 as the non-date Submariner alongside it until 1989. I remember when I bought my first Rolex Submariner [Reference 16800] in 1982 with the synthetic sapphire crystal, thinking it looked so much more refined than the 5513. Now I like simplicity of the 5513 better in many ways.

One of these days, I will write a definitive story with photos showing the evolution of the Rolex Submariner, model by model, as well as for the GMT, Daytona, Explorer, Datejust, Day-Date and Milgauss.

Presidential Watch Sunday: An Unprecedented Look At The Presidency ...

Presidential Watch Sunday

An Unprecedented Look At The Presidency

History never looks like history when you are living through it. –John Gardner

Welcome to the second installment of Presidential Watch Sunday. I would like to thank the White House and Pete Souza (The Official White House Photographer) for giving us unprecedented access to photos of the United States Presidency.

This first shot was taken on the White House lawn of President Obama running away from the family dog, named Bo, while he is taking a break from meetings–on the South Lawn of the White House on May 12, 2009.

Tip: I highly recommend clicking on each image to see all the great detail

The next two photos were taken on April 7, 2009 during a visit by President Obama to Camp Victory in Iraq.

This photo above is of President Obama receiving a fist-bump from a United States soldier while he greets hundreds of United States soldiers during his April 7, 2009 visit to Camp Victory in Iraq.

This next shot was taken of Marine One as it sets down at Winfield House in London, England on March 31, 2009 with President Obama and the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.

U.S. President Obama is being welcomed to 10 Downing Street in London by British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown on April 1, 2009.

President Obama chats with Tonight Show host, Jay Leno off-set in Burbank, California on March 19, 2009.

You can watch Jay Leno interview President Oboma by clicking the play button below:

President Obama observes a portrait of former U.S. President, John F. Kennedy on a tour of the State Floor of the White House on January 24, 2009. Of course, that is the White House Red Room on the left side of the photograph.

Wrist Shot of the Month: New Gold Dream Supercase Submariner...

Introducing The First In-The-Wild Photos Of

The All-New Yellow Gold ROLEX Supercase Submariner

From le port de Beaulieu

Summer has arrived in the northern hemisphere and my pal, Francesco (who lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco) took this photo of his new yellow gold Rolex Submariner Supercase with the ceramic bezel.

This is the first photo I have seen of the all-new yellow gold Supercase Submariner with the blue ceramic bezel and matching blue dial in-the-wild. [In-the-wild meaning not a Rolex publicity shot, or a Basel photo, but an actual watch on a persons wrist who bought the watch.]

This all-new Rolex submariner is different in many ways. First, it has the fatter Supercase; it has a ceramic bezel with yellow-gold inlaid numbers and markers on the ceramic bezel. It also has the fatter hour hand and MAXI Markers. The Rolex Oyster clasp also has the new easy-glide feature, which allows you to micro-adjust the size of the bracelet without even having to take off the bracelet.

Francesco took this superb shot from le port de Beaulieu (cote azure) France. Thanks for sharing your great shot with us Francesco!!!! [Francesco mentioned he is taking some more photos of his Yellow Gold Supercase Submariner, and as soon as he sends them in, I will put them up!!!]

Rolex Hotness: Jennifer Aniston...

Rolex Hotness: Jennifer Aniston

Stainless Steel Datejust

What Makes A Fine Watch Video...

What Makes A Fine Watch Fine?

Last week we looked at a video about how a watch works from the Hamilton Watch Company that was shot in 1949. This fascinating video appeared two years earlier in 1947. As I mentioned last week, the United States used to be a big watch producer up until World War II.

Rolex.com Congratulates Roger Federer...

Rolex.com Congratulates Roger Federer

Madrid Masters Winner

Rolex.com has a great image on their website congratulation tennis superstar and Rolex spokesman, Roger Federer for his win at the Madrid Masters in Spain played at the Magic Box.

Roger Federer who is from Switzerland, won in the final match against Spain born, Rafeal Nadal. Roger Federer appears to be wearing a stainless steel Rolex Milgauss GV as he accepts the award.

This was a big win for Federer as he prepares to continue on to the French Open in Paris which is coming up. You can watch the highlights of the 2009 Madrid Masters in the video below:

Flipper Friday Season 1 [Episode 5: City Boy]

Flipper Friday

Season 1 [Episode 5: City Boy]

Original Air Date: October 17, 1964

In this episode of Flipper Friday it definitely appears that Porter Ricks is wearing his stainless steel Rolex Submariner again.

In the close-up screen capture below I think we have our first positive ID or close to it. My best guess is that Porter Ricks is wearing a Rolex Submariner Reference 5512 because I think I can see four lines on the bottom of the watch.

This is just my best guess, but when I zoom in Photoshop, it sure looks like a like a confirmation to me. I assume, and hope we will eventually get a close enough shot to positively confirm with 100% certainty that Porter Ricks is wearing a Rolex Submariner, although, at this point I would say there is a 99.8% chance.

I guess this means Porter Ricks suffers from WISitus!?! Pretty Cool!!!

Last week I mentioned that if you were a kid in 1964 actually watching when this episode was originally aired, it would have probably blown your mind. The whole swimming and Scuba diving with a dolphin, childhood fantasy is amazing!!! From a historical perspective, it is interesting to note that in 1964, Scuba diving was still in its infancy and many people had no idea what it was. In the shot below of Porter Ricks saving Sandy underwater, we see him apparently wearing his Submariner again.

As always you can watch the episode by clicking the play button. If you want to watch it full screen, hit the button in the upper right hand corner once the episode starts playing. Enjoy!!!