Bob Woodward is one of the most famous Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalists in history. He has written 21 books, of which 13 have topped the best seller list. He is most famous for uncovering the Watergate scandal that resulted in the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974.
Bob Woodward recently published a book about his interviews with President Donald Trump named "Rage", and is now launching a follow-up audio book named "The Trump Tapes: 20 Hours of Interviews with President Donald Trump", which was recorded during Trump's former Presidential administration. Ironically, despite the title, Woodward recorded with Trump for 8 hours. These private "on-the-record" eavesdrop recordings offer an unprecedented perspective into Trump's personality coupled with a great deal of fascinating insight.
In Woodward's highlytolerative CBS News hit-piece video interview (seen below) he discusses the unprecedented access President Trump granted him—and yes, Bob is still rocking his Rolex Datejust. It is apparent Woodward seems to be uncomfortable with and has a great deal of disdain for former President Trump, whom he referred to as being "Singularly unfit to be President"...
All The President's Men
Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward were journalists for The Washington Post and we see them below during their Watergate investigation.
Carl & Bob wrote a famous book named All The President's Men which was made into a movie in 1976 that featured Robert Redford playing Bob Woodward, and Dustin Hoffman playing Carl Bernstein. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman were two of the top actors in Hollywood at the time.
All The President's Men was nominated for 8 Academy Awards, of which it won four. Notice Robert Redford was wearing his Single Red Rolex Submariner Reference 1680 in the movie.
I will point out there was a continuity error in All The President's Men where Robert Redford's Rolex Submariner had it's winding crown unscrewed all the way as seen in the photos below.
In the photo below we see Dustin Hoffman, Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward, and Robert Redford.
Deep Throat
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were contacted by a confidential and enigmatic source they refered to as "Deep Throat" in their book titled "All The President's Men." Deep Throat was a mole operating within the Nixon administration who fed them top-secret information which resulted in U.S. President Richard Nixon having to resign from office.
Deep Throat's identity was not revealed until May 31, 2005 when Vanity Fair ran an article on their website which revealed that Mark Felt who was the Associate Director of the FBI during the Nixon administration was indeed Deep Throat.
The photo below was taken on April 30, 1973, at the Washington Post headquarters in Washington D.C. The photo shows Bob Woodward sitting on the floor, with Carl Bernstein sitting in the chair as they watch Richard Nixon's speech addressing the Watergate scandal on a Sony Trinitron TV, and Nixon's speech can be seen above.
I have an interesting story to share with you regarding Richard Nixon's resignation. President Nixon resigned on August 9, 1973, at which time I was at a summer camp in Northern California named Forest Farms. Below is a picture of me with my Forest Farms counselor named Tom on June 24, 1973. I was wearing my harvest gold Hang-Ten crew neck T-Shirt with matching sock, with my Levi's jeans and my Keds.
5 weeks after the photo above was taken I watched President Nixon resign. I will never forget when the Forest Farms camp counselors rounded up all the campers, including myself, and brought us to the camp owners home so we could sit in front of the TV and watch Nixon resign. At the time I was seven years old and had no real idea of what I was witnessing, but only remember the counselors freaking-out saying that no President had ever resigned. Below is the Nixon's resignation speech.
Gerald Ford replaced Richard Nixon as President and in the photo below we see Ford wearing his Rolex President (Day-Date) in yellow Gold.
The photo below of Bob Woodward was taken on April 11, 1977, and shows him watching Richard Nixon on TV.
In the photo below we see Bob Woodward with Carl Bernstein on Meet The Press many years later and notice Bob is wearing a stainless steel Rolex Perpetual on an Oyster bracelet which is a different watch from the Rolex Datejust he wears. If you look closely it also appears Carl Berstein may be wearing a Pepsi GMT-Master...
The video below shows Bob Woodward's Master Class he teaches an in it we see many shots of his Datejust.
The photo below shows Bob Woodward at Trump Tower in an elevator and we get a clear shot of his Rolex Datejust.
Bob Woodward was interviewed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and he was wearing his stainless steel Rolex Datejust. It appeared Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were in hot pursuit of President Trump and investigated him like fellow Republican, President Nixon.
The video interview below features Jeff Bezos who today owns the Washington time and he discusses its role in modern journalism. Jeff is now the wealthiest man on earth, and equally charismatic and intelligent.
A photo of the bar surmounted by lamps each in the shape of four giant Cyclops in the newly renovated Rolex boutique which reopened this month at the Galeries Lafayette in Paris.
The two-story location is 250 m2 (2691 sq. ft.) which makes it the largest Rolex authorized dealer ever in a department store. It won't be just a point of sale; watchmakers can repair or completely restore a watch in three weeks provided it is less than thirty years old, according to Eric Collombin, CEO France of Rolex. Paris is gearing up for an influx of tourists post-Covid. The city will host the Summer Olympics in 2024.
We are heading into Winter in the Northern Hemisphere again, and soon we should see some snow. So I thought it would make sense to take a look at Quentin's vintage Pepsi GMT-Master.
Even though this Pepsi GMT-Master is now considered a vintage Rolex it seems strange to me. I have been so used to seeing the new Pepsi with the Ceramic bezel and Jubilee bracelet that seeing a Rolex Oyster bracelet on a Pepsi looks almost foreign to me. Speaking of which; I wonder if Rolex will surprise us by bringing the Oyster back on the stainless Pepsi? I sure hope so as it is an amazing combo...
"Every EXPLORER has a packing list, the essential TOOLS for heading out into the unknown. We put as many of those TOOLS on your wrist as we could. The result is the new Apple Watch Ultra..."
—Apple
(Introduction to Apple Watch Ultra Introduction Video)
How Apple Borrowed
Rolex's CosPlay Book
When I watched the Apple Watch Ultra introduction video (seen below) I was not expecting to see a Rolex Exploration video, but that was what I strangely felt like I was seeing...This article enumerates in detail many of the bizarre similarities...But don't take my word for it, watch Apple's Ultra watch video and decide for yourself:
Before we dive in to this story let's get a few key definitions out of the way:
1. Cosplay: Rolex is the King of COSPLAY. As a matter of fact, I would argue Rolex invented watch cosplay back in the 1950s when they made dedicated tool watches for different objectives. If you wanted to emulate Jacques-Yves Cousteau or Sean Connery as James Bond, you might sport a Rolex Submariner. If you wanted to be Chuck Yeager, you might sport a GMT-Master. If you wanted to be Paul Newman, racing on a track, you might rock a Rolex Daytona. If you wanted to be Sir Edmund Hillary conquering Everest you might consider wearing a Rolex Explorer. Want to be a President like Eisenhower or a Civil Rights Leader like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? Rock a yellow gold Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet, or if you want to be LBJ or Trump, rock a Day-Date on a President Bracelet. You get the idea...
The term or word "COSPLAY" is a portmanteau of the words, COSTUME + PLAY. The term Kosupure which was anglicized to COSPLAY was coined by a Japanese reporter named Nobuyuki Takahashi of Studio Hard, from the Magazine, My Anime in 1984 when he was covering the World Science Fiction Convention held in Los Angeles, California. The meaning of COSPLAY is "dressing as a character". So for instance, if a man were to dress up like Captain Kirk or don some pointy ears with a Star Trek uniform, he would be Cosplaying as Mr. Spock. In the simplest sense, you could describe Cosplay as role-playing.
2. ULTRA means "beyond" in latin, and is typically used to describe an extreme, or carried to the furthest degree possible...
The Apple Ultra is pictured above on a Midnight Apple Braided Solo strap, and in the photo below we see the Midnight Ocean Band on an Ultra, which give it a 1980s Seiko dive watch/ Casio G-Shock kind of vibe/look...The Apple Watch Ultra could be described as the Tesla Cybertruck of watch world, in the sense that it is big and bold at 49MM, has ultra-modern simple lines, and has a huge battery that last twice as long as any Apple Watch model that came before it. It also incorporates a bit of a brutalist design language, coupled with a bunch of new fairly innovative features.
Can something be the same and the opposite at the same time?
Rolex and Apple have a lot in common, as they are two of the most successful and respected iconic brands on earth. In the past, I wrote 3 different articles covering Apple's launch of their new Apple Watch Ultra. I first began writing about the Apple Watch on RolexMagazine.com before it even came out. I believe EXPLORING the dichotomy between Apple and Rolex is a fascinatingly worthwhile endeavor.
BATTLE of THE GIANTS
Point / Counterpoint
One perhaps not so obvious question is: "Are Rolex and Apple watches on a potential collision course?" I will answer this question from both sides of the coin:
One side of the coin would say:
"Nope. If anything Apple helped make Rolex even way more successful when they introduced the Apple Watch as it caused a new generation to become preoccupied with the wrist, by calling so much attention to it. Essentially, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
If you closely study the facts you will recognize just after Apple originally launched their Apple Watch in April 2015, Rolex's success went next-level. This was due to the fact many people got sick of their Apple watches and sought to EXPLORE more options for the wrist. I mean everybody and their mother is wearing an Apple Watch these days. You walk down any street and you see people on their iPhones wearing Apple watches. Rolex is a luxury watch brand, catering to a completely different market segment, so they have nothing to worry about. Also, Rolexes are way better as you don't have to charge them every day!"
Apple added Rolex style crown guards to their Apple Watch Ultra as well as a flat sapphire crystal
The inverse flip-side-of-the-coin argument would say:
"Apple initially tried to compete with Rolex when they introduced their yellow gold Apple Watch at a price point starting at $10k, but nobody bought them since Apple watches become obsolete so quickly—but we see Apple was obviously gunning for Rolex. It's just a matter of time before Apple eats Rolex's lunch—if they can figure out how to, not to mention, look at how far Apple has already come in 7 short years! Imagine where they will be in 20 years, since technology years can be measured like dog years, where each year is the equivalent of 7 years. (Think Interstellar Reference ;-)"
So what do I think? What is my personal opinion as how this will ultimately play out? In other words, 20 years from now, in 2042 when we look back in the rear view mirror of life what will we see? As somebody once said, "It's impossible to know the number of angels dancing on the head of a pin." I think if Apple can make their watches so over-the-top useful and necessary, they could do damage to Rolex. But, maybe Rolex will just keep doing what they do best, and will be able to weather any storms and prevail as they always have. The kinkiest potential outcome would be if at some point Apple and Rolex were to collaborate and make a smart Rolex!?!!
BTW: The Apple Watch Ultra also really reminds me of the Rolex DEEPSEA as far as its thickness and heft, as seen below. Also, the DEEPSEA has a very low sapphire crystal, which also kind of reminds me of the Ultra.
A few weeks ago, when I first saw the brand new Apple Rolex Explorer, Ooooops, I meant Apple Watch Ultra, I was shocked at how much it reminded me of the Rolex Explorer II, and I wrote an article named "Apple Titanium 49MM Beast/Apple's Ultra-DEEP-SEA/Explorer."
Captain Danny's photo above of his Rolex Explorer next to the Apple Watch Ultra perfectly illustrates my initial Deja Vu response
A Borrowed 6, or 9?
My understanding is Apple's internal codename for the Apple Watch Ultra development was "The Explorer," and it is apparent the Apple Ultra is a nod to the Rolex Explorer in MANY ways!
This article goes into far more detail on how Apple carefully studied Rolex's CosPlay book when bringing their Apple Watch Ultra to market than my article from September 9, 2022 titled "More on Apple Copying Rolex..." Let's begin with this first example:
Below we see a photo of the"9" marker on the Rolex Explorer next to the Apple Ultra Alpine loop buckle which looks remarkably similar to the 6 and 9 Typeface [Fifteen minute markers] on the Rolex Explorer dial which is pictured above. Hmnnn!?!!
The Locking slip-through Buckle on the Apple Alpine Loop looks remarkably similar to the 6 & 9 on the Rolex Explorer Dial
Below we see a Rolex Explorer with its iconic 3, 6, 9 dial, and notice the buckle pictured above on the Apple Ultra looks very similar to the 6 and 9 on the Rolex Explorer dial. Is this a not-so-obvious clue hiding in plain sight, or just a coincidence? I will let you be the judge of this seemingly bizarre 'coincidence'.
So why do I even care? Why am I writing this article? Because I believe Rolex and Apple are THE two most relevant watchmakers today. This really can be seen as a battle of the two giants if watchmaking. Rolex being the old-school incumbent disruptive innovator, and Apple being the disruptive new-school innovator.
If you think Apple is not obsessed with displacing/crushing Rolex, take a look at the screenshots above and below that show Apple CEO, Tim Cook in 2017 saying the Apple Watch Surpassed Rolex to become the Number 1 watch in the world. The bizarre detail is Tim never mentioned which metric he was referring to?!! Do I think Rolex feels threatened by Apple? Nope. I have very little evidence to suggest Rolex even took much notice. Also, Rolex is so committed to the perfection of analog watches, there is no turning back even if the wanted to as it would be way too late in the future. I know many, many collectors are very happy and content with this stance...
In the video below we see Apple Co-Founder, Steve Jobs mention "We (Apple) have always been shameless about stealing great ideas". Hmmmmmn!?!! BTW: This is an age-old argument, as one could argue there is no such thing as as an original idea or concept, as everything is derivative in-one-way-or-another of everything else...I am not defending Steve's statement, but pointing out the converse argument...I would add to that by saying:if Good artists copy, and Great artists steal, then true artists CREATE!!!!!
"We (Apple) have always been shameless about stealing great ideas!"
—Steve Jobs
Because It's There
The image below is a Rolex.com screen grab from a story I published in 2010 when Rolex introduced the 39MM Explorer. This ad asked "What's your Everest?" This featured a quote from mountaineer, George Mallory, who was once asked: "Why do you climb Mount Everest?" to which he simply responded "Because it's there!"
Below we see Rolex's original "Because It's There" video from 2010:
The image below is a screen grab from Apple's Ultra introduction video and they ask "What will your anything be?"
Apple Watch Ultra Video Introduction Image
Even the Apple Watch Ultra packaging—which is pictured below—reminds me of the 2010 Apple ad.
Another super-iconic Rolex identity piece Apple seems to have (ahem!?!!) 'borrowed' from Rolex is seen below. Maybe I'm hallucinating and my hypothesis is inaccurate, but the similarities are uncanny. Back in 2019, I published a story named "Rolex Dial Comes To Apple Watch", in which I pointed out Apple had borrowedRolex's Error Proof Dial, also known as The California Dial...
Apple Watch Launch Video with Classic Rolex Error Proof 'California Dial'
Above we see Apple Watch Lead Kevin Lynch at the Apple Watch event showcase the new Apple Watch with a simulated Rolex Error-Proof dial, for which Apple failed to acknowledge as having been borrowed from Rolex.
Apple Watch Launch Video with Classic Rolex Error Proof 'California Dial'
We see Rolex's Error Proof dial in a magnificent Art-Deco poster below from 1943.
Rolex Patent Application
California Dial
June 15, 1942
In the past, I have written extensively about the art deco Rolex California Dial. The significance of this dial is it's the basis of the dial on the Rolex Submariner, SEA-DWELLER and GMT-Master. I also made its way onto some of the vintage Panerai models Rolex made for the Italian Royal Navy back in the 1940s. As far as I am concerned this patented dial is a historical trademark of Rolex...
The 1943 Swiss Rolex ad below shows a Rolex with what is now commonly referred to as a "California Dial."
Conquering The Rolex Matterhorn
When I first saw the Apple Watch Ultra photo below bells and alarms starting ringing in my head...I had a serious Deja Vu moment, as I was certain I had seen this image somewhere in the past!?!! Hmnnnn!?!!
Apple Watch Launch Video
It took me a few days, but I figured out why it looked so familiar and where I had seen an extremely similar image!: Below we see a Rolex Explorer ad from 1964. Hmnnn...Basically, Apple copied a Rolex ad from 58 years ago, or at least 'borrowed' the vibe/mojo, including the super dirty/masculine climbers hands...
Apple Watch Launch Video
The image above is a screen grab from the official "Introducing Apple Watch Ultra | Apple" video seen below. Once again, it's uncanny how similar of a vibe this image has with the 1964 Rolex Explorer ad pictured above.
One funny thing I could not help but notice about the Apple Watch Ultra video above is the narrator has a nasally voice that is remarkablysimilar to former U.S. President Trump. Don't believe me, listen to it carefully and imagine The Donald is narrating, although I am certain he would use more superlatives: It's Yuge, The likes of which nobody has ever seen before...Believe Me, Believe Me!!!! :-)
Explorers, Exploration, Explorers, Explorers
Explore, Explorer, Explore, Explore, Explorer
So how preoccupied was Apple in their presentation with using the word Explorer? In this video clip below which our Captain Danny put together, we hear the word Explorer 9 times!!!
They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, which is profoundly true if you think about it...
1964 Rolex Explorer Ad v. 2022 Apple Explorer Ultra Ad
Apple Watch Ultra
v.
Rolex Explorer 'Orange Hand'
Rolex invented fantasy watch role-playing back in the mid 1950s, which today is known as watch cosplay. I would ague Apple Watch Ultra is the Rolex Tool watch of smartwatches as well as being the CyberTruck of watches with its over the top simple yet huge ultra-modern disruptive vibe. Apple clearly borrowed a number of tips from the Rolex Cosplay Playbook and has attempted to incorporate them into one next level ‘TOOL’ watch, and they named it Ultra.
Captain Danny took this brilliant photo in the Apple Store which perfectly captures the similarities between the Apple Watch & Rolex Explorer.
In many ways the Apple Ultra—due to its 49MM size and thickness—reminds me of the Rolex DEEP-SEA as well as some of the larger/chunkier/fatter 47MM Panerai models.
The Apple Ultra is much more masculine, if not more macho than the 45MM Apple Watch model, and its clean industrial looking lines give it a bolder/stronger vibe.
I believe Apple made one tool watch that is meant to incorporate all Rolex tool watches into one model. In other words, the Apple Ultra is a diving watch like the Rolex Submariner, but it's got a much fatter, bigger body like a 43MM SEA-DWELLER or DEEP SEA. It's also a GMT-Master, Explorer, Explorer II, Yacht-Master, and Daytona all mixed into one simple model.
One fascinating clue about the potential success of the Apple Watch Ultra may come from an experience I had when I was in the Apple store while checking out the Ultra. I met a dude named Jazzy. He walked over to the table where I was examining the Apple Watch Ultra, and we struck up a nice conversation. Jazzy @jazz1sanhu, said something really profound that stuck with me. He said:
"I am a watch collector. I love Rolex, and other brands. I never liked the Apple Watch as I thought it was too feminine—even at 45MM, but the Apple Watch Ultra changes that as it's much more masculine and macho! I wear a Tag/Heuer (seen in his photo below in his hand), and I was contemplating purchasing the Tag/Heuer smart watch which is $3k, but after seeing the Apple Watch Ultra, it completely blows away the Heuer, so I am going to buy an Ultra instead!!!"Hmnnnn!?!!
Don't Try This On A Rolex
If you were to destroy an $800 Apple Ultra, it probably wouldn't be the end of the world, but if you were to subject a Rolex to an endurance test like the one in the video below, it would cost much more than $800 to repair it...
It's interesting to note in the video above we see the Series 8 Apple Watch crystal fail almost immediately after being subject to damage, which is made out of some kind of plastic-like glass, while the Ultra which is features a synthetic sapphire crystal features glass that not only doesn't scratch, but seems to be unbreakable. It's worth noting Rolex has used ONLY sapphire crystals for many decades now, as they abandoned acrylic crystals a long time ago.
It also interesting to note that Rolex sapphire crystals are always proud of the bezel, if not close to flush, which means the crystal protects the bezel, whereas with the Apple Ultra, it's the opposite in the sense the bezel protects the crystal, this the bezel on the Apple Watch Ultra is more likely to get scratched. I am not saying one way is merely better than the other, this is just merely an observation.
In the future I plan to do a detailed review of the Apple Watch Ultra, and I will compare it to Rolex tool watches, so stay tuned...
Men & Their Machines
I realize some people will read this article and be like: "Why is Jake talking so much about Apple Watch on Jake's Rolex World!?!!" Therein lies the answer.
Men have always been fascinated by machines, mechanics and technology. There have been many famous men who started out wearing mechanical Rolex watches, then switched to digital, then back to mechanical Rolex. One great example would be Paul Newman. This is the nature of man, to explore all the options put before him. It's always been this way, and likely will remain this way indefinitely...
One More Thing
When I first saw the Apple Watch Ultra introduction video I really felt like I was watching a Rolex Explorer video. The Apple video features this dude who is an explorer climbing around on rocks:
Apple Watch Ultra Video Introduction Image
Hmnnnn!?!! I wonder where that idea came from?: It sure reminds me of Alain Hubert who is a Rolex exploration ambassador who is pictured below. To my way of thinking, it looks like the ad team at Apple just looked at old Rolex ads and made a video montage of them.
Once again, the dude from the Apple Ultra video below looks an awful lot like Alian Hubert.
Apple Watch Ultra Video Introduction Image
Again, we see the real Alain Hubert in a Rolex Explorer ad below.
This next black and white image is from The Apple Ultra video.
Apple Watch Ultra Video Introduction Image
The screen grab above from the Apple Ultra video reminds me of this vintage Rolex SEA-DWELLER Magazine ad.
Here again, is yet another pretty blatant example of Apple borrowing Rolex collateral material. The graphic below is from when Rolex launched Rolex.org back on December 12, 2018.
And notice it look like apple almost used the exact same image as seen below in the Apple Watch Ultra launch video image seen below.
Apple Watch Ultra Video Introduction Image
Just for the hell of it, I put the two images next to each other, and I made the Rolex.org one black and white, and it's difficult to tell hem apart if you ask me:
Apple Watch Ultra Video Introduction Image next to Rolex.org Image
And yet again, we see another screen grab from the Apple Ultra video that looks remarkably similar. I could keep going, with even more similarities, but I am certain you get the idea...
Apple Watch Ultra Video Introduction Image
Below, we see a screen grab form the Apple Ultra Promo of two mountain climbers that are tethered as they make their way up to the summit.
Apple Watch Ultra Video Introduction Image
To my way of thinking, it sure does look like a recreation of this "Everest Leader's Tribute to Rolex" Magazine add from the mid 1950s seen below. Doesn't it?
There was an image of a surfer in the Rolex Ultra Video, as seen below in the screen grab.
Apple Watch Ultra Video Introduction Image
When I saw the image above of the surfer rocking an Apple Watch Ultra, it reminded me of this vintage Rolex Submariner ad from Argentina.
When I saw this last image below of a cave diver in the Apple Ultra video, again it gave me a Deja Vu vibe.
Apple Watch Ultra Video Introduction Image
For some reason, the image above from the Apple Ultra video remind me of this Rolex SEA-DWELLER Ad:
Historically Rolex has always been extremely secretive and discreet, and no journalists in the past have ever been invited "INSIDE ROLEX" to explore and report on all four Rolex Manufacturing faclities in Switzerland.
In November 2013, this changed when Rolex invited Jake to take an unprecdented journey into the heart of Rolex to learn and report on everything he witnessed and learned.
This Super-Detailed 3 Part Story is a "MUST READ" story for anybody who wants to understand what really makes Rolex tick.
