King Harald of Norway A Lifetime wearing a Rolex GMT-Master

King Harald 

of Norway

A Lifetime wearing a Rolex GMT-Master

King Harald of Norway is seen in the photo below with Queen Sonja taken back in 1968, and he is sporting his Pepsi GMT-Master. King Harald seems to fit into the category, much like legendary Golfer, Jack Nicklaus, who has been a one wife/one Rolex man for more than 50 years. 

Meaning he has exclusively depended on and worn the same Rolex for more than a half-century, while being married only once to the same wife. That makes him a "One Watch Man" literally and figuratively.

In the photo below we see Prince Harald and Princess Sonja, a half-century ago, attending the 1968 Olympics. Notice Prince Harald's wearing his Pepsi GMT-Master, which would go on to become his lifelong companion.

King Harald experienced a very unusual childhood as he moved to the United States as a small child to escape the German occupation of Denmark. He dated his future wife for 8 years before marrying her. The challenge is that she was a commoner, and thus he was not allowed to marry her. Finally, he gave his father an ultimatum and said that if he could not marry her he would not get married, thus leaving Norway without an heir apparent to the Norwegian throne.

King Harald Married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, and later then had two children, Mätha and Haakon.

Pespsi GMT-Master as a Constant Companion

King Harald is pictured below with his two children back in 1977. It is interesting to not that in every photo I have seen of him taken since 1968, if his watch is visible, he always and only wears his Pepsi GMT-Master.

Harald succeeded his father as king in 1991 with his son Haakon becoming his heir apparent. King Harald of Norway and Queen Sonja are pictured below in a recent photo.

King Harald was an Olympic sailor who competed in three summer Olympic games including Tokyo (1964), Mexico (1968), and Munich (1972). 

King Harald's father, King Olav won a gold medal for sailing in the 1928 Olympics. King Harald opened the Lillehammer, Norway Olympic games in 1994 when they were hosted in his country.

1968 Acapulco Summer Olympic Games 

Stainless Steel Reference 5513

Since King Harald competed in the 1968 Summer Olympic games in Acapulco, Mexico I thought I would include this Rolex ad. This first one is from the 1968 Summer Olympic Games which were held in Mexico City, Mexico. The boating events of the XIX Olympiad were held in Acapulco, Mexico, which is featured in the Rolex ad below.

King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway are in their early eighties today, and King Harald is still a sailing fanatic and still wears his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master as seen in the photos below.

As I mentioned earlier in this story, King Harald has not only been wearing his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master for a more than a half-century, but it is his constant companion—as I have not been able to find a photo of him wearing any other watch. In the photo below, taken on April 28, 2011, Prince Harald is attending a pre-wedding ceremony dinner in London being held for Prince William and Princess Kate of Britain, and King Harald is wearing a black tie-tuxedo while wearing his Pepsi GMT. I have also seen photos of King Harald wearing his Pepsi GMT-Master with a white tie and tails.

In the photo below we see that the Pepsi bezel insert on King Harald's Rolex GMT-Master has completely faded and turned into a 'Ghost' dial. In other words, it almost looks like he is wearing a stainless steel Rolex Yacht-Master with a platinum bezel, but indeed it is the original Pepsi bezel that has faded over the past half-century or regular wear. 

With the new Pespsi Rolex GMT-Master that Rolex just introduced at Basel World 2018, if King Harald began with one of them, the Pepsi bezel would obviously never have faded. Some people like the fact the annodized aluminum bezels fade over time to five a more patinad look, while others, including Rolex today, with the shift to cermamic bezel inserts, prefer a bezel that will not be affected by UV light or change in appearance over the decades of wear.

For the record, the photo below shows what King Harald's Pespsi bezel would have look liked when he first started wearing it.

You can learn much more about the Rolex GMT-Master by checking out my story titled, "The Complete History Of The Rolex GMT-Master: The Birth Of A True Icon."

Alden Ehrenreich is the new Han Solo...

...Rolex Super-Coolness...

Han Solo

Alden Ehrenreich

Rolex Oyster Transitional Cushion Case

Everybody's favorite scoundrel is back!!! Disney recently released the first official trailer for the highly anticipated upcoming Han Solo prequel movie titled, "Solo: A Star Wars Story" which was directed by Ron Howard. This new movie covers the adventures of young Han Solo in the years prior to the events in the original 1977 'Star Wars' movie. This includes how he met his co-pilot, Chewbacca, as well as the notorious gambler, Lando Calrissian. Alden Ehrenreich is playing Han Solo which was originally played by Harrison Ford.

The image above of Alden Ehrenreich appears courtesy of British GQ, and in the photo below we see a close-up of the detail of his Rolex Oyster.

Alden Ehrenreich is pictured above wearing an early Rolex Oyster with a transitional case. The photo below is of a very similar transitional 32MM Rolex Oyster model, which I am including for frame of reference. It features the same case, hands, winding crown, and dial. It appears his dial differs in the sense it says 'Rolex Oyster' below the 12 O'clock marker, with the words 'Ultra Prima' surrounding the top of the seconds subdial.

What makes this watch 'transitional'? The first Rolex Oyster cases featured soldiered skinny lugs, and the transitional cushion case on this watch was the first one that soldiered thicker lugs that featured a spring bar. The next and final version of this cushion case came later and featured lugs that were machined as part of the case.

The New Han Solo

The new 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' will answer many questions, like how did Han Solo complete the Kessel run in the Millennium Falcon at less than twelve parsecs? It will also cover how Han met his future copilot, Chewie, and Lando, as well as how he got indebted to the interstellar gangster, Jabba the Hutt.

In the photo below, we see Alden Ehrenreich playing the role of Han Solo.

The new 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' official teaser trailer, as well as the official movie trailer, are featured below, which I highly recommend watching. Solo: A Star Wars Story is scheduled to debut at the Cannes film festival on May 15th, and will be in theaters this summer around the world on May 25, which is Memorial Day in the United States.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is the first in a series of upcoming Disney movies that are based upon the earlier history of Star Wars figures. Disney is also working on a Star Wars story movie about young Obi-Won Kenobi, as well as a movie about Boba Fett, which are scheduled to be released in 2019.

Alden Ehrenreich is featured below in an interview before he was chosen to play the role of Han Solo, and he seems like a really cool dude...

It is interesting to note that Alden Ehrenreich wears what I would consider to be a very small Rolex watch by today's standards, which is 32MM in diameter. In an interesting twist of fate, Ryan Gossling who costarred with Harrison Ford in the recently released Blade Runner 2049 also wears a smaller vintage Rolex which is a Rolex Air King, which is 34MM.

Han Solo

Harrison Ford

Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet

Alden Ehrenreich has big shoes to fill in following Harrison Ford in the role of Han Solo, and from what I have seen, he seems to be doing a great job.

Harrison Ford's role as Han Solo in the original Star Wars movies is beyond iconic, and as we see in the picture below, he is holding Carie Fisher in his arms, off-set, while he is wearing his stainless steel Rolex Datejust.

In the photo below we see Harrison Ford's wearing his stainless steel Rolex Datejust off-set when he was filming the original Blade Runner movie. 

It's profoundly ironic that both men who play Han Solo on-screen wear silver Rolex watches off-screen!!!

Rolex Hotness: Irina Shayk Super-Leggy-Model-Stainless Steel Rolex Milgauss

...Rolex Hotness...


Irina Shayk

Super-Leggy-Model

Irina Shayk is a famous Russian actress and model and as we see below she wears a yellow gold Rolex Daytona as well as a GV Rolex Milgauss. If you get a chance, you can check out Irina's Instagram page.

In the photo below we see Irina Shayk sporting a Rolex GV Milgauss which features a very cool looking green crystal.

Irina is married to actor Bradley Cooper and they recently had a daughter.

Stefano Mazzariol: Rolex Macro Shot Of The Day

Stefano Mazzariol

Rolex Macro Shot Of The Day

1957 Rolex Submariner Ad Proof...

The Evolution Of The Revolution

1957 Rolex Submariner Ad Proof

This 1957 Rolex advertisement proof from Asia is very similar to a 1955 version which you can see by clicking here. If you click on the link and see the original version of this ad you see the first known Rolex advertisement I know of for the Rolex Submariner. Click on the image below to be able to read it more clearly.

If you read this ad and then think about the historical significance of a watch we take for granted today, it is really profound. It is also profoundly interesting to understand that at the time of this advertisement, which has Hans Wilsdorf's name on it, that Hans Wilsdorf (The Founder of Rolex) had started Rolex 51 years earlier and was three years away from his death. Hans Wilsdorf must have been one proud man and his achievements to this day are astounding!!!

Hafez al-Assad Custom Arabic Rolex Explorer Dial...

A Different Kind Of 

Rolex President

Hafez al-Assad Custom Arabic Rolex Explorer Dial

[Reference 16550]

Back in 2010, Sotheby's auctioned this one-of-a-kind custom dial Rolex Explorer which belonged to Hafaz al-Assad, who was the President of Syria. It is a vintage 1989 Rolex Explorer II, and it is a very early version of the Polar dial Explorer II with white gold indices and matching white gold hands.

Out To Lunch @ Tiffany's

Out To Lunch @ Tiffany's

Forbes.com 

Compares Rolex to Tiffany & Company

Rolex Retains #1 Position with Reputation Institute

This is an interesting story. Actually, it's really three stories in one. It begins with a fascinating story by Forbes.com titled "Tiffany Fails Where Rolex Wins." This story tied-in their findings with the Reputation Institutes #1 ranking for Rolex, for the third year running. In other words, Rolex is again ranked number one in reputation throughout the world, which is the second story.

Rolex is on a roll today as one of the top brands in the world. As a matter of fact, most Rolex sports watches in stainless steel are so popular today they are almost impossible to find at retail. 

ROLEX V. TIFFANY & CO

Some of the key takeaway points from the Forbes.com article that compare Tiffany unfavorably to Rolex point out:

     • Rolex, by contrast, has successfully evolved into the digital world. “Rolex has successfully built a narrative outside the Rolex brand experience. It has transcended in its innovative use of the digital landscape and used digital assets to expand and enhance its story.

     • Whereas it used to be more aloof, opaque and secretive, today Rolex has inculcated a culture of greater openness and transparency, which has paid dividends in the quality of people it attracts.

     • Rolex’ bigger story is about redefining winning. To illustrate that, Rolex works with tennis champ Roger Federer as a role model for underprivileged kids to help them define winning in their own terms. “It is less about Federer as celebrity and more about how he gives back to the community as a spokesperson for Rolex.

     • Rolex, by comparison, has elegantly maintained its prestige at the same time achieved status as a good global citizen being both honest and altruistic. “Rolex has done an incredible job of telling its brand story, staying relevant, aligning with the changing world of the 21st century and truly building a brand experience that transcends the analog into the digital world.”

Below is a fascinating infographic from the Reputation Institute that show the top 100 companies for 2018, and we see Rolex is in the Number 1 position. 

Speaking of Rolex and Tiffany...this brings us to the thirds story here, which is that Tiffany & Company used to sell Rolex watches, and they would screen print the "TIFFANY & CO" logo on the dial as seen on the vintage Pepsi GMT-Master below. For some reason Tiffany stopped selling Rolex watches, and I think that was a mistake. Speaking of Tiffany & Company Rolex watches, I wrote a fascinating story on this subject back in 2010 I highly recommend checking out!

The Forbes.com story really kind of bashes Tiffany & Company, by comparing it to Rolex, although it makes some really good points. I think Tiffany & Company should bring back their super iconic Art-Nouveau table lamps, and sell them in their stores. Tiffany and Company lamps were so cool!

First Known Tiffany & CO. Rolex Submariner Ad

The Elusive Big-Crown 
James Bond Submariner

[Reference 5510]

I think this Tiffany & CO., Ad is from 1960 and it is the earliest one I have ever seen that showcases a Rolex Submariner. Very Cool!!! The Reference 5508 Submariner was rated to 100 meters, and the 5510 was the first to be rated to 200 meters.

1962

Breakfast At Tiffany's

Ladies Rolex Catalog 

Speaking of Rolex and Tiffany's, the following Rolex image comes from a 1962 Rolex catalog, and if you read the poetry, it is just amazing!!! It is so DIFFERENT than the Rolex of today...so interesting...

My best guess is this theme was inspired by the Audrey Hepburn's character she played in the 1961 movie titled, "Breakfast At Tiffany's."

This next image shows a ladies yellow gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual with a Tiffany Blue dial that has the Tiffany & Co. dial designation, which is very cool...

I was going through my archive of saved images, and I found this Hodinkee.com image of a vintage yellow gold Tiffany & Co. Rolex Datejust, which is awesome!!!