James Cameron Discusses The Making Of The Rolex DEEP-SEA Challenge

...Rolex Super Coolness...
James CameronDiscusses The Making Of The Rolex DEEP-SEA Challenge

Rolex just launched this superb video interview of James Cameron telling the story of how Rolex engineers in Geneva, were able to design and build the Rolex DEEP-SEA Challenge in only five weeks. It was actually underwater legend, Don Walsh who came up with the idea for Rolex to work with James Cameron in this very special Rolex project.
Chapter 18 of my series named The Complete History Of The Rolex Submariner & SEA-DWELLER, Rolex's Conquest Of The Ocean is titled "Part 18: The Return Of The Rolex DEEP-SEA", covers the entire background of this amazing feat.

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For the Love Of COMEX

For the Love Of COMEX

I received an email a few days ago, I would like to share with you:

Good day Jake

My name is Charl van der Merwe from South Africa. I have just read your article on Henri-Germain. What a interesting read. Thanks for posting it. I am a saturation diver myself (and a watch fanatic). Started diving when I was still a youngster with my dad, went to the South African Navy after school to become a Navy diver. 

After that I started my carrier in diving offshore. I since have been doing diving courses all around the world as well as working worldwide. I did my saturation course in Marseille France where I visited the Comex centre.

While I'm reading your article, I realize that my line of work, my profession would not have been possible if it was not for the likes of these men. I always say a timepiece will choose you, not the other way around. One day I will wear my Sea Dweller with pride.

I am currently on a saturation diving project off the west coast of Africa in Gabon and reading your article I can really relate to what these men achieved. I had the honer of meeting diving legend Claud Wesly during my saturation course in Marseille. He was telling us about project "pre continent 1" (1962) where himself and Albert Falco were living in a underwater habitat for a week, making history and becoming the first "saturation" divers. The project was overseen by Jacques Cousteau who was his close friend. More expeditions followed going deeper and deeper. It was great meeting him.

Kind Regards
Charl van der Merwe
South Africa

Henri-Germain Delauze was not only the founder of Comex, but also a man of amazing achievement. I became friends with him late in his life and completed a detailed podcast interview with him years ago, back in 2009. I just listened to part of it, and I will edit it and post it as soon as I can. In the mean-tine  if you have some time, check out the detailed story I wrote about Henri-Germain Delauze.

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Pierce Brosnan: Another James Bond Actor Wearing Rolex Stainless Steel Rolex Datejust...

...Rolex Coolness...

Pierce Brosnan

Another James Bond Actor Wearing Rolex

Stainless Steel Rolex Datejust

We seem to examine James Bond Rolex news and history so frequently on Jake's Rolex World, perhaps I should change the name to Jake's James Bond Rolex Blog!?!

If you are a regular reader of Jake's Rolex World, or a James Bond Rolex fan, you will really get a kick out of this photo of former James Bond Actor, Pierce Brosnan sporting a stainless steel Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet. After all, the supreme irony is Pierce Brosnan was the first James Bond to break the mold of James Bond wearing Rolex.

Instead Pierce Brosnan wore an Omega and Daniel Craig followed in his footsteps. Some die-hard Rolex/James Bond believed this move was sacrosanct. Well, the interesting news is that Pierce Brosnan went back to Rolex in 2007 when he posed for this Aquascutum ad. By the way, this photo makes it official, that EVERY ACTOR THAT PLAYED JAMES BOND HAS WORN A ROLEX AT SOME TIME IN THEIR LIFE!!!

Of course you can learn everything about James Bond Rolex History or learn just about Pierce Brosnan as James Bond on Jake's Rolex World. In the future on Jake's Rolex World, I will be publishing much, much, much more fascinating James Bond Rolex History, so stay tuned...

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Rolex History: The First Rolex President...

The First Rolex President

President Dwight Eisenhower

[1951 Yellow Gold Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet]

The 150,000th Officially Certified Rolex Swiss Chronometer

The first President Of The United States that I know of who wore a Rolex was President Dwight D. Eisenhower. One of the myths I busted said he wore a Rolex Day-Date and I believe I proved that to be untrue in my 10 part series named The History of The Rolex President.

In fact, President Eisenhower wore his trademark yellow gold Rolex Datejust which you can learn all about by clicking here.

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Sean Connery & Ursula Andress Set of James Bond Dr. NO Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner

...Rolex Super-Coolness...

Sean Connery & Ursula Andress

Set of James Bond Dr. NO

Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner

The history of James Bond wearing Rolex on screen all began here with Sean Connery playing James Bond. This photo was taken on the set of Dr. No and shows Sean Connery hanging out with Ursula Andress.

I have also been working on updating the Sean Connery sections of The James Bond Rolex Story, and here is a new photo that shows Sean Connery on the set of Dr. No (1962) hugging Ursula Andres, and notice Sean is sporting his trademark big crown Rolex Submariner. In the future, I have a ton more amazing updates coming up on all things James Bond....

Click on image of Sean Connery to see his big crown Rolex Submariner in detail

If you are new to Jake's Rolex World, you can learn all about Sean Connery and The James Bond Rolex Story I wrote.

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1964 Magazine Ad Men who guide the destines of the world wear Rolex watches

1964 Magazine Ad

Men who guide the destines

of the world wear Rolex watches

This 1964 Rolex magazine ad really demonstrates that Rolex was really excited and proud to share with the world that many of the top leaders wore Rolex. The most interesting detail is that U.S. President Lyndon Johnson had recently begun wearing what became his trademark yellow-gold Rolex Day-Date in 1964, and it appears Rolex could not wait to indirectly let everybody know. You can always learn much more this subject by checking out my 11 part series on The Complete History Of The Rolex President.

I believe the hats on the table are symbolic of the actual men who wore them, so the obvious question, is who wore those hats? My best guess for who the hats belong to or symbolize would be U.S. General Eisenhower, French General de Gaulle, Swiss General Henri Guisan, U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Lord Mountbatten of the U.K. and U.S. President, Lyndon Johnson. I am a little confused by the unusual hat located closest to the front of the table? Does anybody know what kind of hat that is?

Update: A bunch of people wrote in to answer the question. It turns out it is a Russian Cossacks lambswool hat, which makes you wonder who the ad is referring to? It must be Nikita Khrushchev? I know Nikita's son, Sergei Khruschev wears a yellow gold Rolex. Hmmm!?!? 

Update 2: I am really embarrassed to admit this, but Jake's Rolex World reader, Karl wrote in from Austria and said:

"Have a look at Russian/Soviet Leaders and at Russian/Soviet Hats and your Blog Archive and you will see for what and whom this picture hat stands."

The hat was symbolic of Leonid Brezhnev, who became the General Secretary of the Communist Party in October of 1964. Leonid Brezhnev is pictured below with U.S. President Gerald Ford, and Ford is wearing a Soviet mink hat, which I tried on one, and was stunned with how luxurious, soft and warm it was.

Now that I think about it, that is a trip that in 1964-1968, then U.S. President Lyndon Johnson and U.S.S.R. leader, Leonid Brezhnev were both wearing yellow gold Rolex watches.

I thought I would share this next photo of me back in 1973 when I was 7 years old, and I am wearing a similar U.S. Presidential seal necktie as President Gerald Ford in the photo above...just saying...

Did I make you laugh, or at least smile?

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Paul Newman Birthday Surprise!!!

Paul Neman Birthday Surprise!!!

Red DAYTONA Designation Confirmed For First Time In Rolex History

Today is Paul Newman's birthday and I have some amazing Rolex history news to share with you. As time goes by, on Jake's Rolex World, I constantly research older story topics in the effort to complete all Rolex history puzzles, and today, on what would be Paul Newman's 88th birthday, I am happy to share that I have solved a huge mystery regarding Paul Newman's Exotic White Dial Daytona!!!

The photo above is not new to Jake's Rolex World, but the very high resolution nature of the image is, and it reveals a never before documented detail, which is that Paul Newman's White Dial Daytona had a Red DAYTONA designation, along with red micro-minute markers. Why is this such a big deal? In the past there was never a photo that had enough detail to prove one way or another whether Paul Newman's dial had the red Daytona designation or not? 

I recently discovered this image that confirms this to be a fact. I always assumed it to be true, because Paul Newman's wife, Joanne Woodward likely purchased Paul's exotic white dial Daytona in the U.S.A. in 1972, but over the years, some vintage Rolex experts have suggested there was no proof positive. 

So today, on Paul Newman's birthday, I am happy to separate the fact from the fiction on another Rolex mystery. You can learn much, much more about Paul Newman and his Rolex Daytona collection in The Complete History Of The Paul Newman Datyona story on Jake's Rolex World. Happy Birthday Paul Newman!!!! Of course I will update the Paul Newman story with this information in the future, but for now, remember you saw it first on Jake's Rolex World!!!

The Paul Newman Daytona wrist shot above confirms my prior speculation that this is the same dial Paul Newman wore. Just to be crystal clear (no pun intended) Rolex made this same model with out the red micro-minute markers, and without any Daytona designation. 

Of course, the version with the Daytona Designation and the red micro-minute markers is the most desirable because of its superior aesthetics. 2013 represents the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex Daytona model, so let's hope at the 2013 BaselWorld Watch Fair, in Basel, Switzerland, Rolex surprises us by bringing back the coolest Rolex Daytona model that ever existed!!!

"I would like it if people would think that beyond Newman, there`s a spirit that takes action, a heart, and a talent that doesn't come from my blue eyes." –Paul Newman

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Sean Connery as James Bond Dr. No Rolex Submariner

Sean Connery as James Bond

Dr. No Rolex Submariner

We are only 10 days away from the launch of the all-new James Bond movie named Skyfall starring Daniel Craig, and at the same time, I will be publishing a major update to the already huge James Bond Series on Jake's Rolex World named "The Complete History Of James Bond Watches–The Definitive Guide." This next image of Sean Connery is just a preview of images I will be adding soon.

Below we have a clip from the all-new Everything Or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007, where former James Bond actor, George Lazenby tells the story about how he tried so hard to mimic Sean Connery, all the way down to wearing the same Rolex Submariner.



Nobody Does It Better
So who is the best 007 of all time? Some would say Sean Connery, and some would say Roger Moore. Daniel Craig is also superb, with a twist ;-) Here is the Official Trailer for Skyfall, which hits theaters on October 25th, 2012.

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The Complete History Of The Rolex President [Part 11]

2013 Preview Story

Note: I am working on Part 11 of my Complete History of The Rolex President series, and I thought I would share this fascinating preview with you. Once I officially complete this chapter I will remove this note.

Part 11

The Complete History Of The Rolex President

Origins Of "The Rolex President" Watch Name

Part 11 of The History Of The Rolex President series, focuses on exploring origin of the term The Rolex President, and part 12 will focus on the evolution of the Rolex Day-Date models.

The Rolex President

U.S. President Lyndon Johnson

Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date

White House Oval Office

Washington D.C. 1965

Have you ever wondered where the term The Rolex President came from? It has taken me many years to finally solve the mystery of how, when and where exactly the name The Rolex President came from. The Rolex President Watch for many decades has symbolized and been equated with being The International Mark Of Success and Achievement.

Rolex marketing, in the United States has always been handled through the adroit marketing firm of J.Walter Thompson. In 1966, J. Walter Thompson came up with the Rolex magazine ad pictured below, which ran in the United States.

1966 Rolex President's Watch Ad

The Presidents' Watch

It is amazing when you think about it, how remarkably timeless this vintage 1966 Rolex Day-Date ad is. It features a wrist shot of a man wearing a yellow gold Day-Date holding a red phone in his hand. Kind of reminds me of Commissioner Gordon talking on the red Batphone ;-) 

It is interesting to note, in this 1966 Rolex Day-Date watch ad, how the title says "The presidents' watch." This of course, is referring to then elected, U.S. President, Lyndon Johnson. This moment in Rolex history represented a high-water-mark–having the sitting U.S. President wearing Rolex's flagship watch model.

Men Who Guide The Destinies Of The World Wear Rolex Watches

Magazine ad from the mid 1960s

I think I love vintage Rolex magazine ads as much as I love vintage Rolex watches. Historically, Rolex tends to run themed ads for long periods of time, and one of the most remarkable is the "Men Who Guide The Destinies Of The World Wear Rolex Watches" which ran from 1956, during the Dwight Eisenhower Presidential administration, through the Lyndon Johnson administration. 

This particular magazine ad ads another dimension or piece of the puzzle to The Complete History Of The Rolex President. In particular, it is fascinating to see how much Rolex went out of their way to prove themselves 50 years ago. Today, Rolex has little to prove, since they have successfully become the international mark of success, but learning how Rolex achieved this is just fascinating.

I scanned and restored this vintage Rolex ad, but the page had no date on it. So how do I know it is from the mid 1960s? For one, the Rolex Day-Date pictured is a more modern model, and in the description under the photo, Rolex refers to the "President President bracelet, designed by Rolex for the Day-Date." To the best of my knowledge, Rolex first began referring to the the Day-Date bracelet in 1965, which was a year after U.S. President, Lyndon Johnson began wearing what became his trademark yellow gold Rolex.

It's profoundly ironic, how in this ad, which was published around the time I was born, Rolex talks about how famous people you see everyday wear Rolex, and suggest that next time you see them, you should look to see if they are wearing a Rolex. Why is this ironic? Because I have been doing this now for almost 5 years straight, on Jake's Rolex World, and that is really one of the main signature features of Jake's Rolex World Blog, is that I find and showcase photos of famous, successful people wearing their Rolex watches ;-)

Another Red Phone

Speaking of Rolex ads with men wearing a Rolex Day-Date with a Red telephone in their office, if you scroll down the page to the Mark McCormack Rolex ad from 1986, you will notice he also has a Red phone, except his is push button instead of a dial phone like the one in the picture below.

A supreme irony is that if Rolex made this ad today the man in the ad would have an iPhone 4s in his hand. Part of the irony in this is that in the last 45 years since this ad was published, telephone technology has changed radically, and Rolex still makes this exact same model, and it looks identical–talk about timeless design!!!

The 1966 Rolex Day-Date ad above has a headline that reads "The presidents' watch." In 1965, just after U.S. President Lyndon Johnson had a gaul-bladder operation, he emerged and showed the press his scars, and there he was wearing his now trademark yellow gold Rolex Day-Date and he wore it very proudly.

Lyndon Johnson was the second U.S. President to wear a modern Rolex, and the first to wear a Day-Date, with a Rolex "President" bracelet.

1984 Rolex President Ad

Rolex Coolness: Mark McCormack

Another Rolex Myth Busted And Mystery Solved!!!

This is the quintessential 1980s Rolex ad. In 1986 Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States and Rolex was reaching new heights in status and popularity.

This cool vintage Rolex ad has a very interesting detail. One of the unanswered Rolex folklore questions (until today) always was:

Where did the term The Rolex President come from?

It has always been put forth that Rolex began referring to the bracelet on the Rolex Day-Date, as "The President" bracelet (around 1966) but never referred to the the actual Day-Date as The Rolex President. It was believed that people just started refering to the Rolex Day-Date as The President, but that Rolex never specifically referred to it as such.

It turns out that was a false myth and for the first time, as early as 1984 we have direct evidence of Rolex specifically referring to a watch model named:

"The Rolex President Day-Date Chronometer. Available in 18kt. gold, with matching bracelet."

This ad was very popular in the 1980s and I believe it clearly proves it was indeed Rolex that specifically coined the term: The Rolex President.

Wow!!!!! Rolex appears to have briefly referred to the watch as The Rolex President, then they stopped, and went back to calling it just The Day-Date, but the term "The Rolex President" stuck, and once the cat was out of the bag, that was it!!!!! Another fascinating Rolex mystery solved!!!!!!

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Paul Newman Daytona Fatstrap Revelations

Paul Newman Daytona Fatstrap Revelations

An Exclusive Look At Paul Newman's Fatstrap

If you are a daily reader of Jake's Rolex World, or if you have read my definitive "The Complete History Of The Paul Newman Daytona" story, you will be familiar with this first image. This image is exclusive to Jake's Rolex World and it is, as they say "The Money Shot." In other words, it is the most definitive shot of Paul Newman wearing his namesake, trademark Paul Newman Daytona with an exotic white dial. In this photo, Paul Newman is wearing his Paul Newman Daytona on an Alligator Fatstrap, but what kind of Fatstrap? Where did he get it? and most importantly, what is the actual shape of it?

For the first time ever, the answer to question has been delivered, as we see in the photo of Paul Newman below–sporting his now trademark Fatstrap. This is the clearest photo, that shows the EXACT shape of his fatstrap.

Here is another photo from the same photo shoot. I have not had a chance to add these to my definitive "The Complete History Of The Paul Newman Daytona" yet, but I will in the future. In the meantime, remember, you saw them on Jake's Rolex World first.

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1952 Hans Wilsdorf TUDOR Ad

Hans Wilsdorf TUDOR Ad

1952

Rolex history is absolutely fascinating. In my opinion, the most interesting figure in Rolex history is Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex. Prior to my definitive story named "The Hans Wilsdorf Story" there was very little documentation or photos of Hans Wilsdorf. I update the Hans Wildorf story all the time, and I just completed another major update to Hans Wilsdorf's amazing story. Among other things, I added the following 1952 TUDOR ad.

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1957 Frogman Rolex Submariner Ad

...Talk About Timeless Design...

1957 Frogman Rolex Submariner Ad

I was just about to put up this really cool 1957 Rolex Submariner "Frogman" magazine ad, and I just realized how remarkably similar the brand new "no-date" Rolex Submariner that Rolex introduced at BaselWorld this last week looks so similar to its great grandfather featured in this ad.

I just added the vintage Rolex Submariner ad pictured above to Part 7 of The Complete History Of The Rolex Submariner & SEA-DWELLER. Part 7 is named "The Rolex Submariner Through Time–Evolution Of The Revolutions" and it showcases the largest collection in the world of vintage Rolex Submariner ad, all in chronological order.

Notice how similar the design language is from the Rolex Submariner in the 1957 ad pictured above, versus the brand new "no-date" Rolex Submariner pictured below. It almost looks like the same watch!!! Talk about timeless!!!

As I mentioned, Rolex just unveiled this all new earlier this week at BaselWorld in Switzerland. Even though it is similar in many ways to the model it replaces, it is also like night and day better. The new model incorporates the Supercase, as well as gaining Maxi Markers, and Fat Hands, as well as a scratch-proof ceramic bezel insert, and the glide-lock diving bracelet extension.

The reason I expect this model will be extremely popular, is because many design purists prefer the simplicity and balance the "No Date" Submariner offers over its sibling that has the date. You an explore many images of this new model from my all-new Submariner "No Date" story on the BaselWorld introduction story I published on Wednesday.

If you want to learn about The Complete History Of The Rolex Submariner & SEA-DWELLER, you can begin with Chapter 1 of my 18 part series. The Rolex Submariner is the most iconic watch in history, and so many famous people have worn them, including James Bond, and Steve McQueen, as well as Robert Redford andJeff Bridges, and James Cameron.

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Sir Donald Pleasence: British Actor 1919-1995

Sir Donald Pleasence

1919-1995

Nothing more fun on Jake's Rolex World than exploring James Bond Rolex History, so it is cool to check out Sir Donald Pleasence.

Sir Donald Pleasence had an amazing acting career, and he is best known for his rolex in Holloween and James Bond. Pleasence played the villian Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the 1967 James Bond Classic, You Only Live Twice.

As we see in the photo above and below, Sir Donald Pleasence wore multiple Rolex watches. They both look like Rolex Datejust models to me.

Donald Pleasence is pictured below in his role as James Bond's enemy, Ernst Starvo Blofeld in the 1967 film, You Only Live Twice. The Dr. Evil character in Austin Powers movies was based on the Blofeld character. Mr. Bigglesworth!!!

Donald Pleasence is picture below with Sean Connery who he costarred with in You Only Live Twice.

Donald Pleasence's career achievements are amazing, and he enjoys more than 200 screen credits from his career which spanned over four decades. He also played Mr. Flute in the 1958 TV movie, I Spy. He also starred in the movie Fantastic Voyage (1966), The Great Escape, Escape From New York (1982).

Dr. Evil Character from Austin Powers

The Dr. Evil character from the Austin Powers series was based upon Sir Donald's Character he played in the James Bond Movie, You Only Live Twice. The Doctor Evil character was played by Mike Myers, and his character was almost identical to the James Bond character.

Every detail was paid attention to, including the Mao Zdung-like Nehru Jacket, along with the cat, known as Mr. Bigglesworth.

The Austin Powers character, Dr. Evil is pictured below with his counterpart, Mini Me, from the second Austin Powers movie, The Spy Who Shagged Me. Before Dr. Evil was sent back in a time-machinge to 1969, his minions made him a clone. The clone was identical in every way but was "one-eighth his size". Upon being introduced to his clone, Dr. Evil immediately declared, "Breathtaking. I shall call him... Mini-Me".

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