Stainless Steel GMT Black and Blue Ceramic Bezel

...BaselWorld 2013 Introduction...

Stainless Steel GMT

Black and Blue Ceramic Bezel

40MM Reference 116710BLNR

Platinum Rolex Daytona Ice Blue Dial with Ceramic Bezel

...BaselWorld 2013 Introduction...

Platinum Rolex Daytona 

Ice Blue Dial with Ceramic Bezel

40MM Reference 116506

...Rolex BaselWorld 2013 Coverage Begins...

...Rolex BaselWorld 2013 Coverage Begins...

Tudor Introduces
New Retro Heritage Colorburst Chrono
42MM Blues Brother

It's hard to believe that it is already that time of the year for Rolex introductions as BaselWorld in Switzerland. Rolex has not officially introduced any new models yet, but we have this crazy all-new retro 42MM Tudor "Monte Carlo" model to report. Rolex famously re-intoduced the Tudor Heritage Chrono at BaselWorld 2010 to critical acclaim.

Rolex Lume Shot of the Day: Yachtmaster II

Rolex Lume Shot of the Day: Yachtmaster II

Peter took this excellent lume shot of his white gold Rolex Yachtmaster II which is a very interesting watch. Thanks for sharing Peter!!!

Wrist Shot of the Day: Very Early Submariner from the early 1950s...

...Wrist Shot Of The Day...

Flawless "Big Crown" 1954 Rolex Submariner

Reference 6200

This is where it all really got started. This Rolex is the first model made that had the Submariner designation on the dial. This watch is in flawless mint-condition and the hands and markers developed a beautiful copper colored patina that makes it that much more beautiful. It also has the rare 3, 6, 9 Rolex Explorer-like dial. This watch is crazy!!!!

Rose Gold Rolex Daytona

...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day...

Rose Gold Rolex Daytona

Chevy Chase Two-Tone Rolex Yacht-Master

...Rolex Coolness...

Chevy Chase

Two-Tone Rolex Yacht-Master

Comedian Chevy Chase was born Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase on October 8, 1943. Chevy Chase's comedy career began with National Lampoon, and he went on to become a founding member of the Saturday Night Live cast. He has also been in some ultra-succesful comedy movies, including Vacation, Caddyshack, Fletch and The Three Amigos.

Chevy Chase was an original member of the Saturday Night Live case which debuted in 1975. Pictured below, from left to right are Laraine Newman, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Garret Morris and Chevy Chase.

This next photo of John Belushi and Chevy Chase on the set of Saturday Night Live is one of my favorites.

Chevy Chase is probably best known for his Saturday Night Live performances on Weekend Update, which continues to date on the show.

Rolex Studio Shot of the day: Rolex GMT Pepsi

Rolex GMT Pepsi

Black Dial "Padellone"Rolex MoonPhase

...A Unique Rolex...

1951 Black Dial "Padellone"Rolex MoonPhase

38MM Stainless Steel: Reference 8171

There is nothing in the world like seeing a unique (ultra-rare, one-of-a-kind) Rolex model that is also stunningly beautiful (that you never new existed), for the first time. Such experiences are extremely rare in-and-of-themselves, but here it is...A Rolex "Padellone" (as the Italian's refer to this Rolex Moonphase Reference 8171), with a Black dial. Wait a minute!?!?! A Black dial Padellone!?!?!?!

Yes. This is the first time you have ever seen a black dial Rolex Padellone, and is she crazy beautiful or what!?!?! I am speechless... The watch was came from the family of a military officer, and the black pock marks in the stainless steel case are the result of exposure to salt water. This crazy patina is the result of the case never being cleaned for approximately 40 years. I am feeling verklempt and gobsmacked at this moment!!! This watch is insane!!! 

Remember, you saw this unique and mesmerizing Rolex Moonphase pictured and documented for the very first time on Jake's Rolex World...

There are many examples of the Rolex triple-date moon phase, Reference 8171 with a white, or silvered dial, and you can see many of them by clicking on the  Label below that says "Reference 8171." That being said, I have never previously seen or know of anybody documenting an 8171 with a black dial. 

The black dial is stunning, as it gives the watch a whole different vibe, which is more upscale, formal, nighttime. Also the red arrow pointer coupled with the blue moonphase dial, with the gold moon and stars, as well as the the gold date markers, coupled with the silver 5 minute markers gives the watch and American military flag kind of look.

Keeping Things In Context

The watch is also really unusual, because Rolex only ever made two different complicated Rolex models with a moonphase. The other Rolex moonphase model, known as a Reference 6062, has been documented with black dials but they are very rare, meaning I have only seen between 5-10, but they always have a Rolex trademark matching black ground moonphase disk, whereas the one pictured above looks more like a Patek Philippe, since it has a navy blue ground moonphase disk.

Pictured below is another ultra-rare Rolex Moonphase Reference 6062 in New Old Stock (NOS) condition. Rolex came out with the The Reference 6062 right after the Reference 8171, and one big difference, is the 6062 (pictured below) came with a waterproof Rolex Oyster case. 

Notice the Moonphase disk ground color is black on the 6062 (pictured above), and not blue like on the 8171. I assume Rolex came up with this design language to differentiate their Moonphase models from other brands? Hmmmm!?!?

Seeing uber-rare Rolex watches like these make me wonder how many other crazy/rare Rolex watches are lost away in drawers and safety deposit boxes collecting dust?

Rolex Foundry Ad: A Commitment To Excellence...

Rolex Foundry Ad

A Commitment To Excellence