Zizou v. Roger

Zizou v. Roger

Welcome To Switzerland

Roger Federer is not only one of the longest standing Rolex ambassadors, but one of the coolest guys that ever lived. Instead of commenting on this video, just watch and see what makes Ranking Roger an amazing man!!!

 

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Rolex Explorer II 1655 and 226570

 

...Rolex Studio Shot of the Day...

Rolex Explorer II

Old Meets New

The Rolex Explorer II 1655 becomes the reflection of the newest model, the Rolex Explorer II 226570 released in April 2021.

Captain Danny, is testing a beta version of iOS16 on his iPhone, and he shared this image with me where he brilliantly used the image above as his wallpaper. As you can see Captain Danny is taking advantage of the new unlock screen widget to keep track in 4 times zones, which is amazing for a pilot.

Rolex Giraglia

 

ROLEX GIRAGLIA

Founded in 1953, the Rolex Giraglia is one of the Mediterranean’s most adored regattas, renowned for the camaraderie among its competitors. Following the disruptions of recent years, the 2022 edition returned to its traditional format: an arrival race from Sanremo, three days of inshore races off Saint-Tropez, followed by the headline offshore race to Genoa via the fabled Giraglia Rock. Light winds prompted the 241-nautical mile (446km) course to be reduced by some 35nm to help the majority of the 141-strong international fleet finish before the cut-off time. 

Ker 46 boat Lisa R was overall winner on handicap while Magic Carpet Cubed took line honours for a third time in the race after a fascinating duel with fellow 100-ft (30.48m) maxi ARCA SGR. Rolex has partnered this event – organized by the Yacht Club Italiano in collaboration with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez – since 1998 as part of its decades-long support for yachting.

A White Gold Pepsi GMT-MASTER

...Rolex Wrist Shot Of The Day...

A White Gold Pepsi GMT-MASTER

Rolex Coolness: Michael Kors Women's Wear Designer

...Rolex Coolness...


Michael Kors

Women's Wear Designer

Michael Kors is one of the top designers in the world today, and Vogue Magazine just published a fascinating episode of 73 Questions with Michael Kors which showcases his New York apartment which is fascinating. In the video we see his wearing his stainless steel Rolex Datejust which he wears on a Jubilee Bracelet. 

 

Michael Kors also is pictured below wearing a stainless steel Rolex Submariner, and he also wears a Yellow Gold Rolex Submariner which can be seen in the last video at the end of this story which also features an apartment tour with Architectural Digest.

More than 60 Years of Rolex and Equestrianism

More than 60 Years of Rolex and Equestrianism 


Through its support of the finest international riders, competitions and institutions, Rolex has been a long-standing supporter of equestrianism, encouraging the global development of the sport. This enduring commitment is based on a rich heritage stretching back more than 60 years, starting with Rolex’s relationship with pioneering British Olympian Pat Smythe. 

The brand is a founding partner of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, the sport’s ultimate prize, which is awarded to any rider who, consecutively, wins the Grand Prix at three of the four Majors: The Dutch Masters, the CHIO Aachen, the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, and the CHI Geneva. Rolex’s partnerships with key figures in the equestrian community – Steve Guerdat, Scott Brash, Kent Farrington, Rodrigo Pessoa and Isabell Werth to name a few – run across generations and span the globe, enabling knowledge and experience to be shared. 

As part of this perpetual process of growth and constant improvement, Rolex supports the Young Riders Academy which nurtures future talent.

Rolex Submariner Surfing Safari

 Rolex Submariner

Surfing Safari

What's as cool/rad as a Rolex Submariner in the life aquatic? Is this a trick question, you ask!?!! Nope. The answer is SURFING. As The Beach Boys sang: 

Let's go surfing now, everybody's learning how, come on and safari with me...

Rolex's history with surfing is fascinating. In the past they used to give out Rolex watches for participants who won Surfing championships. Nick Gould did some research and discovered they used to give lady surfers Datejust models, and men Submariner models as we see below with World Champion Surfer, Shaun Tomson.

A Rolex Submariner is the ultimate Surfing watch, and even though it was originally intended to be a diving watch, it is the ULTIMATE all-around watch for the life aquatic. Below is a fascinating Rolex Surfing ad from 1972 featuring a single red Submariner, which I recently discovered. Notice it is from Buenos Aires, Argentina...The two Rolex Surfing ads below are the ONLY ones I have ever seen, which leads me to believe that Rolex didn't think it was a lucrative market to advertise to, but damn they are COOL :-) In particular, I LOVE the illustration of the surfer on this first vintage Rolex ad...

A reader on the @Rolex.Magazine Instagram page mentioned the surfer in the add looks like Tom Cruise, with a short neck.

 Single Red Submariner 

[Reference 1680]

Rolex made the Single Red Submariner from 1967 to 1976. The Single Red designation came from the Single Red SEA-DWELLER which was developed to be tested in prototype for early 1967. Below we see another Rolex Submariner ad from the 1970s.

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The Complete History Of The Rolex Cyclops

The Complete History 

The Rolex Cyclops

Date Window Magnifier

One of Rolex's biggest surprises this year—and the most controversial among Rolex enthusiasts—was the addition of a magnifying glass, or Cyclops, to its new Sea-Dweller model. Since we are on the subject, have you ever wondered what the history of the Rolex Cyclops magnifier date window lens was? 

The Rolex Cyclops represents one of the most iconic and quintessential trademark Rolex design language characteristics. 

It is interesting to note the Rolex Cyclops was an innovative feature, designed to enhance an innovative feature. The idea is that the small date aperture window was not so easy to see and that by adding a 2.5 times magnifier window to the crystal, it would be much easier to read.

Rolex is the greatest innovator in the history of the mechanical wristwatches. That being said, perhaps Rolex's most outstanding innovation was the advent of the Oyster case in 1926, which was the first truly waterproof wristwatch case. I can't emphasize how innovative figuring out how to make waterproof watches was. In doing so, Rolex revolutionized watches forever...

Rolex quickly followed up with patenting the Rolex Perpetual movement in 1931, which was the first wristwatch that automatically wound itself.

Genesis

One of Rolex's next major innovations came in the form of the Rolex Datejust model, which was the first watch in history to feature a date aperture window complication. The photo below shows the first Datejust model, which Rolex introduced in 1945. 

The 1945 Rolex Datejust pictured above and below was loaded with new Rolex innovations that went beyond the date window, including the Rolex Jubilee bracelet. The bracelet was named Jubilee, as it represented Rolex's 40th year in business. The term Jubilee in marriage parlance/nomenclature is typically referred to as the Ruby Jubilee. (FYI, this is the same as the 25th being referred to as the Silver Anniversary, or the 50th anniversary being referred to as the Golden Anniversary.)

There are some other interesting historical takeaway points to note in the photos above. The 1945 Datejust was the first Rolex to feature solid end-links. Also, notice the watch does NOT yet feature the "Datejust" dial designation. This first Datejust model was named  Datejust; it just didn't have the designation on the watch dial.

Notice the date wheel has the date printed in red to make it stand out better. Also, notice there is no Cyclops date magnifier on this first Datejust. Rolex first introduced the Cyclops magnifier lens feature on the Datejust model at Basel Fair in 1948. The name Cyclops came from the mythological Greek one-eyed monster. 

It is believed Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf developed the Cyclops as his second wife, Betty Wilsdorf-Mettler had a difficult time reading the date on his Datejust. 

Betty Wilsdorf-Mettler (Second Wife of Hans Wilsdorf)

Hans Wilsdorf was very fastidious and used to spend an unusual amount of time getting ready in his bathroom in the morning—sometimes more than an hour. As the story goes, Hans Wilsdorf's wife heard him shouting "I got it, I got it!!!" It turns out when Hans Wilsdorf was washing with his hands a drop of water landed on his Rolex Datejust crystal directly over the date aperture window and he noticed it magnified the date. Hans Wilsdorf went into work and had a watchmaker glue a small magnifying glass over the date wheel, and the Rolex Cyclops Date window magnifier was born. Below is copy of the Rolex Patent (CH 298953) which was originally filed in 1952.

In a letter written in 1953 Hans Wilsdorf wrote: 

"I am convinced that the new tropical case with the new crystal, and the optical magnification, will give us something new." —Hans Wilsdorf

In 1955 Rolex issued a press release that said:

"To all watchmakers: we draw your attention to the fact that the watch crystal with the specially shaped magnifying glass lens is a Rolex exclusivity protected in Switzerland and abroad. We will not hesitate to instigate legal proceedings against any counterfeiting."

Hans Wilsdorf is pictured below wearing his trusted Rolex Datejust. For the record, I have never seen a photo of Hans Wilsdorf wearing any Rolex model other than a Datejust, which makes me believe it was his crowning achievement and likely favorite Rolex watch.

This innovative feature made it much easier to view the date. This early Datejust was also the first to feature the now classic fluted bezel design. So let's get in the Rolex Time Machine and travel back to the late 1940s and take a look around.

Rolex gave General Eisenhower the 150th Officially Certified Swiss Chronometer Rolex, which is pictured below. When they gave it to him in 1948, it lacked a Cyclops date magnifier window. 

In 1953, when Eisenhower sent the watch in for servicing, it came back with not only the updated Cyclops magnifier window, as seen below, but also with an updated dial.

The Rolex Datejust brochure pictured below belonged to Dwight Eisenhower and I discovered it in the Eisenhower Presidential Library archives. Note there is no Cyclops date window on the crystal.

Vintage Rolex crystals were made out of acrylic had the Cyclops lens molded into the crystal structure, so it was not removable. 

When Rolex switched over to using synthetic sapphire crystal, the Cylops lens was manufactured separately and later glued to the sapphire crystal. In 2005 when Rolex introduced the 50th Anniversary GMT-Master, they added a new feature that used anti-reflective coating on the bottom of the Cyclops, which made it even easier to read.

Photo appears courtesy of Matthew Becker

Historically, all Rolex professional watches that featured the date function included a Cyclops date magnifier window, with the last holdout being the 40MM SEA-DWELLER, which was recently replaced with the 43MM Single Red SEA-DWELLER which added the Cyclops. As of this writing Rolex still makes the DEEPSEA SEA-DWELLER which also lacks a Cyclops.

Rolex Triple Date Chronograph The Most Complicated Rolex Ever Made

Rolex Triple Date Chronograph 

The Most Complicated Rolex Ever Made

[Reference 6236]

The Rolex 6236 Triple-Date Chronometer is a beautifully designed complicated Rolex. The thing that surprised me when I first saw one in person was how small it was!!! I was expecting it to me like a modern Rolex Daytona at 40mm but it could not have been more than 36mm. If Rolex were to bring this beauty back to life and add a moon phase, that would be one really cool watch!!!

Rolex Hotness

Rolex Hotness

I love this image of these beautiful women rockin' Rolex watches, and I love the brunette in front with her two-tone Rolex paired with her Coco Chanel Quilted Purse...