1960 Rolex Submariner Ad

1960 Rolex Submariner Ad

Pierre-Jean who is researcher for Jake's Rolex World sent me this French Rolex Submariner ad from 1960 which is AMAZING!!!

The Men who Developed The Rolex Submariner...

Autumn Story Preview Teaser

The Men who Developed The Rolex Submariner

Rebikoff & Jeanneret

Book Previews

The Untold Story of the Birth of the

ROLEX SUBMARINER TOOL WATCH

For years, I've been immersed in crafting a 25-volume series, THE ROLEX CHRONICLES: A FASCINATING JOURNEY THROUGH TIME. My latest book volume is titled "Rolex Submariner: The Real History", which represents a monumental leap forward, and I'm thrilled to share a glimpse of the in-depth preview Nick Gould and I are preparing for RolexMagazine.com.

Countless books, articles, and blogs have attempted to unravel the genesis of the Rolex Submariner, the iconic diving tool watch. Yet, none have fully pieced together the puzzle—until now.

Nick Gould and I have spent years meticulously researching and constantly reexamining and scrutinizing every detail, and we're confident we've cracked the Submariner's origin story code in its entirety. This largely untold chapter in Rolex history reveals groundbreaking insights, including the pivotal role of Dimitri Rebikoff, an inventor and Director of the Submarine Research Institute. Rebikoff not only collaborated with Rolex to design the Submariner diving tool watch, but also rigorously tested its early prototypes, proudly wearing one on his wrist, as captured in the stunning, never before seen photo on the cover of my upcoming book (pictured above).

This upcoming story is filled with unexpected game-changing revelations on the relationship between Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Dimitri Rebikoff, as was discovered in two different recent interviews I conducted with close friends of Rebikoff who dove with him as young men. Jacques-Yves Cousteau is pictured below back in the mid 1950s wearing an early version of the Rolex Submariner diving watch.

While the final publication date is still in the works, we aim to share this captivating book preview story within the next month. Stay tuned for a deep dive journey into the heart of the Submariner's legacy as it's never been told or seen before!

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet! 

The 1974 Bachman-Turner Overdrive hit "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" perfectly captures the excitement I feel about unveiling this groundbreaking, untold chapter of Rolex Submariner history. Get ready for revelations that will redefine the legacy of this magnificently iconic timepiece!:

Rolex Studio Shot of the Day: Amanico's Pepsi GMT Master

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

Amanico's Pepsi GMT Master

Amanico is an amazing Rolex photographer. He has taken some stunning images and this is definitely one of my favorites for several reasons. Amanico's Pepsi GMT is a Rolex Reference 1675 and in my opinion the 1675 with Maxi-Markers is one of the coolest and most timeless vintage Rolex watches.

Patrick Swayze: Kept the time of his life with Rolex

...Rolex Coolness...

Patrick Swayze 

Rolex Kept The Time Of His Life

1952-2009

I first discovered and documented Patrick Swayze wearing a Rolex Daytona back in 2008 no so long after I stared Jake's Rolex World. In the superb photo above taken by Javan Schaller which was published on the cover of Arabian Horse World Magazine we see Patrick on his horse named Tammen and he is wearing his Rolex Submariner.

Over the decades I have noticed many images of Patrick Swayze rocking Rolex watches, including the one below which Nick Gould discovered.

It's hard to believe Patrick Swayze has been gone for sixteen years now. Actor Patrick Swayze starred in many 'chick-flicks' including "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost" and died when he was only 57, so if you have any dreams you have put off, now is the time to live them since we are all on the same conveyer belt of life. So, have the time of your life!!!!

I Had The Time Of My Life!!!

Patrick Swayze is pictured above wearing a stainless steel Rolex Submariner and is pictured below wearing his yellow gold Rolex Daytona which illustrates that Rolex kept the time of his life and that Swayze lived-it-up. As Saroyan so articulately put it "In the time of your life–live!!!"

Below we see a cool image of Patrick with Brook Shields who is wearing here Rolex Lady Date.

Yacht-Master Glow Power

 ...Rolex Lume Shot of the Day...

Yacht-Master Glow Power

Lord Norman Foster...

The Mozart of Modernism

Lord Norman Foster

Top International Architect 

One of my absolute favorite things to do on Jake's Rolex World is to explore Rolex testimonees who have been featured in vintage Rolex ads, as they are always a source of fascination and inspiration.

Hugh Austin, who is a regular reader of RolexMagazine.com recently sent in the image below of a 1980s Rolex Magazine ad featuring Sir Norman Foster, and said "A watch collector who also designed the Apple Headquarters." Norman Foster is now "Lord Norman Foster", and is considered to be one of the greatest living architects alive today.

Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona

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

Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona

The Complete History Of The Robert Redford Submariner [Part 1 of 4]

...Academy Award Winning Director & Actor...

Robert Redford

Belongs To The Ages

1936-2025

Rolex Submariner: Reference 1680

The Complete History Of The Robert Redford Submariner

[Part 1 of 4]

This is really sad, as Robert Redford has stepped back into infinity...but he left behind so many of his memories for us to cherish...  Robert Redford was one of the most successful and iconic actors in Hollywood history. Robert Redford was an Academy Award winning Director and actor, and I thought it would be a good time to explore his amazing career achievements.

On Jake's Rolex World I created a series named Profiles In Coolness which covered The King Of Cool, Steve McQueen, and Paul Newman, today we are going to take a look at another super-cool guy with an amazing career—Robert Redford.

Robert Redford was born Charles Robert Redford Jr., on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California and he has been in many famous classic films. When you think about it, Robert Redford is about as classic as it gets, and it should come as no surprise that he wears a Rolex Submariner.

Single Red Submariner 
[Reference 1680]

Robert Redford wears a Single-Red Submariner [Reference 1680] which was the first Rolex Submariner model to come with a date. It was COSC certified and essentially replaced the Reference 5512. 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.

Robert Redford

The Candidate
1972

Robert Redford starred in the 1972 political movie titled, The Candidate, in which he plays a lawyer who decides to run against an incumbent Senator. In the movie, Redford deals with the challenges of trying to be himself, while trying to satisfy his political party.

Justin Timberlake

The Candidate
2011

The photo below is from a W Magazine photo shoot in 2011 that Justin Timberlake posed for, in which he was paying homage to  Robert Redford, from the 1972 movie, The Candidate.

Somebody once offered Robert Redford a yellow gold Rolex Submariner as a gift and he refused it by responding, "I am not a gold kind of guy." This is kind of interesting because I think that a yellow-gold Submariner would have looked great on Robert Redford because it would match his hair.

One of the obvious questions, is why does it say ROLEX on the front of the newscaster desk that Robert Redford is sitting in front of in the picture below from the movie The Candidate? I have no idea. I assume it was obviously some kind of Rolex advertisement.

1972 Cannes Film Festival in France

In the photo below we see Robert Redford with fellow actor and director Sydney Pollack and Polish pianist Arthur Rubenstein and his wife Aniela Mlynarska to promote the movie Jeremiah Johnson in 1972 at the Cannes Film Festival. Sydney Pollack directed the movie Jeremiah Johnson which is considered to be one of his best films. Arthur Rubinstein is considered to be one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.

Three Days Of The Condor (1975)

All The President's Men (1976)

Robert Redford costarred with Dustin Hoffman in All The President's men which was about the Watergate conspiracy that ultimately forced U.S. President Nixon to resign.

It is interesting to note that Robert Redford's Rolex Submariner pictured above and in the next two photos from the movie, All The President's Men has the winding crown completely unscrewed and pulled out all the way!!! I have no idea why?

Update: Tim Parker-Chambers is a reader of Jake's Rolex World and he wrote in and said:

"Hi Jake,

I was reading your fantastic articles on the watches of Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and Robert Redford, and saw a comment you made about the crown of Robert Redford's Submariner being fully extended while filming a scene.

Something I have read elsewhere, which might be applicable to that situation, is that for continuity and editing ease, in some close up shots, or multiple takes, sometimes the director has the actor pull the crown on his watch, so the hands remain static and constant in all takes. 

Just thought I'd pass on what I'd heard, thanks for taking the time to put together such fantastic articles, they're a pleasure to read."

Best regards,

Tim

Tim's points make perfect sense!!!

1981

Next we see Robert Redford at the 33rd Annual Directors Guild Awards, which took place on March 14, 1981 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel located in Beverly Hills, California.

Table Of Contents

Chapter 1: Robert Redford's Submariner 1680

NEXT>>> Chapter 2: Iconic Redford Style

Chapter 3: The Sundance Kid

Chapter 4: The Way We Were

...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day... Grahame's Rolex Milsub

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

Grahame's Rolex Milsub

1970s Vintage Rolex Hotness

1970s Vintage Rolex Hotness

Rolex Lady-Date

I am pretty certain I recognize the model/actress in this vintage Rolex ad, but I can't seem to remember her name. She's rocking the Farah Fawcett Majors hairstyle, with her yellow gold Rolex Lady-Date, and he is gorgeous and has it going Bossa nova 4-Sure!!! It's so interesting how marketing messaging has changed and evolved over the past 50 years. I'm not certain, but I think the message this image is conveying is that the woman is professional, happy and on top of things as she is taking notes...

If this photo were taken today, she would be on her iPhone, wearing AirPods...I just love the super feminine vibe with the 28MM Lady Date, which has always been considered a major status symbol as the female Rolex President model...I had a girlfriend I dated several decades ago who wore this model and it always mesmerized and bedazzled me...