ANDY WARHOL Protege Painting Record

...2017 Story Preview...

ANDY WARHOL

Protégé Painting Record

I have been working on an epic, super-detailed story about the life and times of Andy Warhol for Jake's Rolex World, and I just learned that a painting from one of his Protégés—Jean-Michel Basquait—just sold a few minutes ago at a Sotheby's Auction for $110.5 Million, so I thought I would post this Rolex story preview. It seems quite apropos as I have been recently writing many stories about how Rolex watches have also been setting Auction records recently.

Andy Warhol pictured above wearing his Rolex Datejust with Protégé, Jean-Michel Basquait

Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 22, 1960, and died at the early age of only 28, on August 12, 1988. Today his paintings are considered to be some of the greatest pieces of modern art, and one of his paintings titled "Untitled", which was just auctioned moments ago, set a new public auction sales record for an American artist when it was sold by Sotheby's on May 18, 2017 for $110.5 Million!!!!

"Untitled," 1982 Jean-Michel Basquiat Painting sold for $110.5 Million on May 18, 2017

Jean-Michel Basquiat was the most talented protégé of Andy Warhol, and I cover Jean-Michel's career achievements in my article about Andy Warhol.

1955 Rolex Milgauss: Christies Sets Another Auction World Record

1955 Rolex Milgauss

Christies Sets Another Auction World Record

I usually don't get that excited about the Geneva Spring Auctions, but this Spring seemed to have brought with it a sea-change in the world of collectable vintage Rolex watches. In other words, the premium collectors paid this spring shot through the roof, like I have never witnessed. Especially for very high-quality vintage Rolex watches like the 1955 Rolex Milgauus Reference 6543 pictured below, which set an all-time record when it sold a few days ago, on May 15, 2017 for $272,500 in Geneva!!!!

So what exactly is going on with these crazy, over-the-top auction prices? I think it has a great deal to do with the fact the collectable world has been seriously catching onto the intense beauty and timeless nature of vintage Rolex watches. I believe the auction houses are also contributing to this intensity by holding special Rolex only auctions, which shines a strong light on the majesty of vintage Rolex. It's interesting to note that for many decades Rolex has been almost a watch company that had very little to do with the broader marketplace in the sense that Rolex is almost like it's own country, with its own unique form of currency—literally and figuratively. 

This is a seriously beautiful and timeless Rolex watch, and it is is superb condition, as seen in the photos above and below. You can learn more about this model by reading my story preview named, "The Complete History Of The Rolex Milgauss."

Christies Lot Essay

ROLEX MILGAUSS

One of the most fascinating models made by Rolex starting from the 1950s is the Milgauss, a watch made to withstand magnetic felds of up to 1000 Gauss.

Rolex’s ethos was to devote some of its production to the manufacture of watches for scientifc professionals working out in the feld. The most highly specialized watch devised for this purpose is the Milgauss, it works on the principle of the Faraday cage – a soft iron band bracing the movement on reference 6543 and a soft iron container enveloping the entire movement in the near contemporary reference 6541.

Lot 200 is an example of the very rare frst Milgauss reference 6543 – in production for three years from 1955 to 1957. Lot 201, shows the progression of the Milgauss design with reference 1019, the fnal vintage model originally launched in 1963.

The Milgauss was only ever sold in very small numbers, fnally being discontinued in 1988. Rolex reintroduced the model in 2007 to critical acclaim, the new model quickly became highly collectible. A rarer “green glass” version is ofered here as Lot 202.

In the 1950s, Rolex began to actively and intensively pursue the market for professional watches. Possibly the most specialized of the timepieces devised over that time is the Milgauss, dedicated to the extremely rarifed market of professionals working with high magnetic felds. Reference 6243 – in production for three years from ’55 to ’57 - is the frst Milgauss model released. It will be joined the same year by the longer-lived reference 6541.

Reference 6543 achieves very high anti-magnetic properties thanks to a very thick case back and a soft iron band bracing the movement. This is a diferent approach than the nearly contemporary reference 6543, which instead achieves the faraday cage efect (magnetic isolation) through an inner soft iron container enveloping the entire movement. The case features the typical Rolex revolving bezel. Early examples mounted a black insert with “Submariner-style” graphics, which will soon be modifed with the dagger markers typical of the Milgauss models.

A curious detail of this reference is the lugs width: it is slightly narrower than the canon 20 mm., thus preventing the attachment of a bracelet.

First Photos Of The All-New Single Red SEA-DWELLER In The Wild

...Wrist Shot Of The Year...

First Photos Of The All-New

Single Red SEA-DWELLER

In The Wild

Kevin Price is a reader of Jake's Rolex World and he just sent in an email with photos of his killer new Single Red SEA-DWELLER and said:

Hey Jake -

Just thought I would send along a couple of pics of my new 126600!

I have the Deep Sea D Blue and I absolutely love it but this one has a completely different feel...very solid and well balanced (which you can see in the 2nd pic)!

Anyway keep up the great work.

Thanks.
KP

I plan to do a detailed review on the all-new Single Red SEA-DWELLER in the not so distant future. In the meantime, Kevin, thanks so much for sending in your superb photos of your AMAZING all-new, super-fresh Single Red SEA-DWELLER!!!! Congratulations on being one of the first people on planet earth to obtain this super-cool new Rolex model!!!!! BTW: I believe Kevin's photos are the first ever published of the all new Single Red SEA-DWELLER in the wild!!!!

Rolex Moonphase Breaks All Previous Rolex Auction Records

Rolex Moonphase

Breaks All Previous Rolex Auction Records

Sells for over $5 Million!!!!!

Rolex Reference 6062

Phllips Aucton House in Geneva just set an all-time Rolex auction record when they sold this 1952 Black dial Rolex Moonphase for 5,065,594.75 today in Geneva!!! This particular Triple-Date Rolex Moonphase was once owned by Boa Dai, who was the Last Emperor of Vietnam.

PHILLIPS Catalogue Essay

Spring of 1954. Geneva. Following the Indochina war, the world powers meet in Switzerland to negotiate with the Viet Minh on the future of Vietnam. During a recess, a man steps out of the Hotel des Bergues where informal negotiations took place to stretch his legs and get some fresh air. He doesn't know it yet, but his country will soon be split in two and he will be known as the Last Emperor of Vietnam.

He decides to take a stroll but his footsteps take him only across the street to Chronomètrie Philippe Beguin, a famed Rolex retailer. The Emperor’s request to the staff is a simple one. He wants the rarest and most precious Rolex ever made. Before the numerous refusals of the different models presented to him, Rolex is called to the rescue and a clerk is rapidly dispatched from the Rolex workshops in the outskirts of Geneva, bringing with him a rare timepiece: the Rolex reference 6062 in yellow gold, with a black dial and diamond indexes. 

A timepiece that will forever be associated with the Last Emperor of Vietnam, even taking his name: Bao Dai

Born Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy, he was the 13th and last emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty. It was not until he ascended the throne in 1925 at age 12 that he was granted the title of Bao Dai – Keeper of Greatness. Bao Dai championed reforms in the judicial and educational systems, and tried to end the more outdated trappings of Vietnamese royalty. He ended the ancient mandarin custom that once required aides to touch their foreheads to the ground when addressing the Emperor. 

Not only a man of wealth, Bao Dai was also a man of taste. He commissioned the greatest artisans of the time to create superb unique creations fit for an Emperor, may it be a villa, private yacht or car (he notably owned a famed Ferrari 375 MM Spyder rebodied by Scaglietti to a blue/silver Tour de France). He wanted the best and had the eye and finesse to recognize it.

This elusive Rolex 6062, cased in yellow gold, is one of only three black dial models known to be set with diamond markers. While two examples feature six diamond markers for odd hour numbers, the present lot displays five diamond numerals for even numbers and a different dial layout, making this piece truly unique. It is interesting to note that due to the diamond numeral at 12 o'clock, the Rolex crown was moved down, consequently making it impossible to have the "Rolex Oyster Perpetual" above the day and month apertures. The "Officially Certified Chronometer" wording was also removed from the center of the dial and placed below the moonphase indication.

This timepiece is not only extremely desirable due to its imperial provenance, but is also a condensate of Rolex's genetic code: the iconic Oyster case, a Rolex "perpetual" in-house movement and of course the ultimate rarity of a full calendar complication featuring a moonphase display. The reference 6062 embodies what Rolex stands for without a shred of compromise. 

The “Bao Dai” first appeared on the market in 2002, consigned by the family of the Emperor, where it was already sold by Phillips for a record breaking CHF 370’000, making it the most expensive Rolex ever sold at the time. We are delighted to offer this Rolex milestone 15 years later, from the collection of the second owner. The watch is still in spectacular, untouched and unrestored condition.

Its imperial provenance, rarity and superb condition make the "Bao Dai" one of the most valuable timepieces ever produced regardless of the brand.

Below is an awesome photo of the Boa Dai Rolex Moonphase from Hodinkee.com, which was included in their coverage this same story. I am so stoked to see they had the WISdom to take the excellent wrist show below, as it really gives you and idea of what this watch looks like in real-life, being worn on a wrist.

The photo below is from John Goldberger's book, 100 Superlative Rolex Watches, and shows the Boa Dai in a photo taken many years ago.

This next tripled date moonphase with the black dial is also from John Goldberger's book, and it is my favorite Rolex Triple-Date Moonphase of all time. I differs from the Boa Dai, in that it features lumed star indices. 

In the photo below we see another Rolex 6062 Moonphase with the rare black dial that was auctioned by Phillips a year ago on May 15, 2016 for close to a Million Dollars. I think I prefer it over the one pictured above, as its date hand has a red arrow, which ads that awesome "Rolex Touch Of Red".

The Rolex catalog picture below from 1947 features the 6062 triple date moon phase.

Rolex Lady Datejust Diamond Laden Bezel

...Rolex Macro Shot Of The Day...

Rolex Lady Datejust 

Diamond Laden Bezel

Celebrating the 10th Year Of Publishing Jake's Rolex World

...Time Flies When You Are Having Fun...

10th Year Celebration

Publishing Jake's Rolex World

I began publishing Jake's Rolex World back on May 7, 2008, and It's hard to believe I am entering my 10th year of publishing!?!! So I thought I would take this opportunity to reflect back on the past decade, as well as to look forward to the future. If you want a good laugh, you can take a look at what Jake's Rolex World looked like on the first day I publish it back on May 7, 2008. I started Jake's Rolex World for several reasons. My love for Rolex began thirty-five years ago, when I fell madly in love with the Rolex Submariner. Don't ask me how, but  I figured out how to purchase a Rolex Submariner when I was 16 years old. 

Once I had my Rolex Submariner, I spent countless hours studying its timeless beauty, and for the next quarter-century, I tried to learn as much as I could about Rolex and its history. Learning anything really meaningful about Rolex's history was a challenge, as there was not much out there in the way of quality historical material. This was ironic in the sense Rolex really hit its Apex or Zenith point on the reputation curve in the 1980s. In other words, Rolex went from being a company that struggled to reach the top—up until the early 1980s—to a company that had arrived. The irony is that somehow Rolex managed to become one of the top brands in the world, while almost remaining in stealth mode. Of course, this all occurred in a pre-internet world, but looking back in the rear-view mirror of history, it appears Rolex was just kind of shy in a typically Swiss kind of way.

Over the quarter-century prior to publishing Jake's Rolex World (ten years ago), I had owned eight different Rolex watches. [That means I typically got a new Rolex every three years.] Ten years ago, I bought a 50th Anniversary LV Submariner, which featured the green bezel insert, and marked the return of the maxi marker. The wrist shot above shows my LV Submariner on my wrist.

When I purchased my LV Submariner, I did a lot of research about the model on the web, and I kept wandering into posts on RolexForums.com. I remember being shocked with how many pathetic men there were on RolexForums.com, who were incessantly talking about Rolex watches. I remember feeling bad for all these men, who had nothing better to do with their time than talk about Rolex. I remember I kept running into threads that had posts from a guy named J.J. Irani, and I could not help but notice he had more than 50,000 posts on RolexForums.com!!??!! The small photo below was J.J. Irani's avatar picture which seriously Deja Vu's me out when I look at it today.

I ended up lurking on RolexForums.com for several months. I was fascinated with much of the content, but kept feeling bad for all these poor souls, whose lives seemed to revolve around their relationships with other dudes on the forum. Then one day, somebody created a post on RolexForums that I knew the answer to, but nobody else answered it. Next thing you know, I created an account, signed in, and proudly answered the question. The next thing you know, I became one of these men who was going crazy chatting non-stop about Rolex on the Rolex Forum. As time went by, I ended up becoming pals with J.J. Irani, who is pictured below.

J.J. Irani is pictured above, was the most loved man on RolexForums.com

J.J. Irani was an amazing man!!! In many ways he was almost the mascot for RolexForums.com. J.J. Irani was a really funny dude. He was from New Zealand, and had a very boisterous personality. He was always kidding around with forum members like Jocke, who was from Sweden. I used to kid around with J.J., and I put together the image below that put J.J., in a photo from a Twilight Zone episode that featured William Shatner, which was titled "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." If you are familiar with that Twilight Zone Episode, you will recall that William Shatner's character (Pre Star-Trek), kept seeing a crazy creature out on the airplanes wing, who was chewing on power cables. I superimposed J.J.'s image in place, giving the thumbs-up while drinking a beer, wearing his beloved two-tone Rolex Submariner.

Several years after I joined the RolexForums.com, J.J. Irani became ill and died, leaving so many forum members, including me, in complete shock. To this day, whenever I think about or see a photo of J.J. it is bittersweet. Looking at him, makes me happy and sad at the same time. More than anything, looking at him cheers me up, as I remember how upbeat and positive his personality was. The image below ironically shows a post from J.J. Irani, in a thread about the Every Rolex Tells a Story booklet: 

I use the word 'ironic', as I am not only sharing my Rolex story, but J.J.'s as well. Notice in the screen shot above, that by the time J.J. passed away, he had posted almost 75,000 times on RolexForums.com!!!! Of course, the memory and posts of J.J. Irani, will likely remain forever on RolexForums.com. On a positive note, this kind of illustrates the power of the internet as a story-telling platform, as well as a social networking platform. In other words, the web opened up a whole new world of possibilities for fans of Rolex...

As a member of RolexForums.com, I became kind of obsessed with checking out photos of famous people wearing Rolex watches, so I started a thread named, "Definitive Famous People Wearing Rolex Photo Collection." The thread became a huge overnight success, and forum members got really into it, as did I. I went crazy posting photos of famous people wearing Rolex watches, and my first image was this classic image of Paul Newman wearing his trademark Rolex Daytona.

My thread about famous people wearing Rolex garnered much attention, and there was a moderator on RolexForums.com, who kept messing with me, telling me I was getting too carried away with posting photos of famous people as well as images of how I thought Rolex watches should look. He told me I needed to slow my roll. He told me I made myself the center of attention, but that since I was so new to the forum, I needed to curb my enthusiasm. He literally drove me nuts, constantly haranguing me for no apparent reason. I thought he was ridiculous, and we ended getting in a confrontation, which resulted in my telling him to stop bothering me in a somewhat forceful way. To make a long story short, the powers that be banned me!?!!

I though they were crazy. I made all these great friends on the RolexForums, and created one of the best and most intriguing threads, and they ban me!?!?! I remember begging them to lift my ban, and they refused. I even reached out to J.J. Irani, and spoke with him on the phone, but even he could not help me. I was frustrated beyond belief, and after a few days, I got an idea. I thought, why not create my own Rolex blog, where I could post whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, without having to deal with a bizarre political structure that made no sense to me. Thus I started publishing Jake's Rolex World on May 8, 2008.

I remember wondering to myself at the time if it was such a good idea to try and create blog about a company that only had 5 or 6 trademark watches? But I thought, to myself, why not give it a try, and if I  run out of content, then that would be o.k. I also wanted to start Jake's Rolex World to get all the Rolex information I had stored in my head, onto metaphorical paper, so I could share it with the world. On a positive note, about six months after I started Jake's Rolex World, RolexForums.com ended up lifting my ban...

So let's fast-forward to today. Over the course of the last nine years, I have posted more than 3500 Rolex Stories on Jake's Rolex World, which is pretty amazing if you think about it. In telling these Rolex stories, I have basically busted every major Rolex myth that has ever been falsely perpetuated over the past several decades. I have also written many in-depth multi-part stories about all the major Rolex models. As a matter of fact, my story named "The Complete History Of The Rolex Submariner & SEA-DWELLER: Rolex's Conquest Of The Ocean", is already 20 Chapters long. In other words, I have published the equivalent of a super-detailed Rolex Encyclopedia. Some people have even referred to Jake's Rolex World as the Wikipedia of Rolex...

Perhaps the obvious question, is what's next? What are the plans for this 10th year of publication, what about the next decade? I plan to keep going, and hope to expand the coverage, and scope of Jake's Rolex World, by bringing additional writers on-board, as well as completing a user-interface overhaul, which will make all of the amazing Rolex history content much more engaging to explore. I also plan to start publishing more detailed video interviews and documentaries on Rolex related topics.

I would also like to point out that over the years I have met many, many fine people and made many great friends as a result of publishing Jake's Rolex World. The Maurice Chevalier Rolex ad from 1964, pictured below, pretty much sums it all up...As Maurice points out, Rolex watches are not only great timepieces, but also great conversation pieces.

Also, I would like to personally thank all of my readers and supporters for helping to make Jake's Rolex World what it is today. Over the years so many readers have written in to help by providing valuable photos, insight, and often times to point out a typo I overlooked. In the final analysis, Jake's Rolex World is really about the readers, of which I am one. In other words, almost every day, after I get done publishing, I end-up wandering the whispers of Jake's Rolex World, which never ceases to engage me on so many different levels. 

I am working on many new fascinating Rolex stories that I look forward to publishing in the future. I also believe that despite the fact I have already published, so much, I think the best is yet to come!!!!

Warmest regards,

Jake ;-)

World In My Eyes

Let me take you on a trip
Around the world and back
And you won't have to move
You just sit still

Now let your mind do the walking
And let my body do the talking
Let me show you the world in my eyes

I'll take you to the highest mountain
To the depths of the deepest sea
We won't need a map, believe me
Let me show you the world in my eyes

That's all there is
Nothing more than you can feel now
That's all there is

Let me put you on a ship
On a long, long trip
All the islands in the ocean
All the heaven's in the motion

Let me show you the world in my eyes
That's all there is
Nothing more than you can touch now
That's all there is
Let me show you the world in my eyes

—Depeche Mode

Ryan Gosling: Blade Runner 2049 Trailer

...Rolex Super-Coolness...
Ryan Gosling
First Full-Length Movie Tailer
 Blade Runner 2049 
I am beyond excited to share the first FULL-LENGTH trailer just released this afternoon for Blade Runner 2049, which stars Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford. Blade Runner 2049 takes place 30 years after the events in the original Blade Runner movie, which was released in 1982 and famously starred Harrison Ford. Of course, the original Blade Runner movie, is considered to be one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time!

Watching this trailer Deja Vu's me out really hard—in an early 1980s kind of way. Seeing Harrison Ford in a 2017 Blade Runner movie makes me feel so nostalgic. I mean, what is more 80s than Blade Runner, Harrison Ford, Rolex and Vangelis music playing in the background. Oh, and speaking of the 1980s, I might point out that ironically Donald Trump, who is the epitome of the 1980s is the President. As Yogi Berra once famously said, "It's like deja-vu, all over again." It is ironic despite the fact the first Blade Runner movie was released in 1982, it was supposed to take place in 2019, which is less than two short years away.

In the original Blade Runner, it depicted 2019 to be quite different than it is today. There were not iPhones, or Google or Facebook, or Instagram or even UHD 77 inch OLED screens. Instead, flying cars were everywhere and Atari as a brand was still all the rage. Also it was raining like crazy in Los Angeles. Well, I guess that part came true :-) and Coca Cola is still going strong, as the original Blade Runner had the big neon Coca Cola sign in downtown Lost Angeles. Speaking of 1982 and Coca-Cola, the line from The Clash album, Combat Rock from the song, "Straight To Hell", also pops into my head, when they sing, "Let me tell you 'bout your blood bamboo kid. It ain't Coco-Cola, it's rice." I was 16 years old in 1982, and they say that our memories are usually clearest from that stage in our life, as we are metamorphosing from child to adult.

Either way, whenever I watch the Original Blade Runner movie, it takes me back to the 1980s in a highly memorable, nostalgic way. Kind of like spending time with somebody you have not seen since your childhood...

Ryan Gosling is the new Blade Runner, which is an amazing choice. Ryan Gosling is pictured below wearing his vintage Rolex Air King, when he accepted the 2017 Golden Globes Award for Best Actor.

Blade Runner 2049

Philip K. Dick wrote a book that was published in 1968 named "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep", which Blade Runner was based upon. Unfortunately Philip K. Dick did not live to see the original Blade Runner, as he passed away on March 2, 1982 after suffering a major stroke. That being said, Ridley Scott was able to show Philip K. Dick some of the footage five months before he passed away, and he loved and endorsed it.

Ryan Gosling is costarring with Harrison Ford in Blade Runner 2049, and apparently Gosling will be playing a Bladerunner named "K". I really hope Blade Runner 2049 lives up to its full potential. I remember when Harrison Ford came back after decades to reprise his Role as Indiana Jones in Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, it was so disappointing. Harrison Ford looked great, but the movie was filled with way too much unrealistic CGI ridiculousness. I remember thinking, if they just dressed up Harrison Ford in his Indiana Jones outfit, and interviewed him for two hours, it would have bee more interesting than the movie. Why? In the final analysis one characteristic all great movies have in common is superb character development. That is what makes movie great, are its interesting an realistic characters, not super-fake, unrealistic special effects...

On a positive not, when Harrison Ford reprised his role in Hans Solo in The Force Awakens, he was pretty good, as was the movie. Unfortunately the latest Star Wars movie, Rouge One was beyond terrible. I love Star Wars, and the original Star Wars from 1977 is one of my favorite movies of all time, but Rouge One sucked!?!! The thing that give me hope (pun not intended ;-), is that Ridley Scott has been deeply involved in the development of Blade Runner 2049, and he is still incredible!!!!

In the photo above and below, we see Harrison Ford wearing his stainless steel Rolex Datejust, with the white gold fluted bezel. In the photo below we see Harrison Ford with the Dalai Lama.

Speaking of Ridley Scott, in the photo below, taken in Budapest, Hungary in October of 2016, we see, from left to right, Blade Runner 2049 Director, Denis Villeneuve, Ridgley Scott, Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, as they chat about details in the new Blade Runner movie. Notice Ryan Gosling is sporting a vintage Rolex Oyster Air-King with a white dial...

In the photo above it appears there are two guns on the bar, which seem to be the model Harrison Ford used in the original Blade Runner movie, sitting next to the updated model.

Blade Runner 2049 is scheduled to be released in theaters on October 6, 2017, and it has a lot to live up to. After all, the Original Blade Runner movie which was released in 1982, is considered to be one of the greatest Science Fiction Masterpiece movies of all time. Below is the first short movie trailer preview for Blade Runner 2049.

Blade Runner
1982

"You're in a desert, walking along in the sand, when all of a sudden you look down... "

The original Blade Runner movie was shot in 1981 and released in 1982. The movie itself was supposed to take place in Los Angeles, California in 2019, which is only two short years away. Ironically, the movie Blade Runner takes place in a Los Angeles that seems to have rainy weather all the time, unlike the LA of today, where it almost never rains...at least, until recently...

The photo below of Harrison Ford was taken in 1981 when he was filming Blade Runner. Notice he is sporting his stainless steel Rolex Datejust, with a white gold bezel, along with Dark Purple Converse All-Star Sneakers, with red shoelaces :-) He looks so early 80s, and so mod... I can almost hear Vangelis music playing in the background...

Ryan Gosling
2GQ4U
Ryan Gosling is one of the coolest and most successful actors in Hollywood today. The set of photos below are all from GQ, and feature Ryan wearing his vintage Rolex Air-King.