Sir Malcolm Campbell Breaks World Land-Speed Record in 1935

.History.
Sir Malcolm Campbell was a British pilot during World War I who later went on to break 9 world land-speed records before taking to the sea to break several water-speed records. One of his most notable world records was breaking 300 miles per hour in his Bluebird in 1935 at the Boneville Salt Flats of Utah. 

Sir Malcolm Campbell (photo: Rolex)
His preference for Rolex wristwatches made him a fixture in Rolex advertisements of the 1930's, though he never accepted payment for an endorsement of the company.

"Rolex watch worn during record attempt and still going splendidly notwithstanding rough usage received," Campbell was quoted as saying in the Rolex ad below. This ad bears resemblance to the ad taken out by the company after Mercedes Gleitze's crossing of the English Channel in 1927.

Based on the historical references on their current website and vintage ads, it would seem that Rolex has always associated their brand with world record breakers. This makes logical sense, as the company has itself broken records with their innovations in wristwatch manufacturing.

Vintage Rolex Ad featuring Sir Malcolm Campbell (photo: rolexencyclopedie.nl)
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Rolex Z-Blue Milgauss

.Rolex Models.
Capable of withstanding a magnetic field of up to 1,000 Gauss, the Rolex Milgauss (mille is the French word for 1,000, Gauss a unit of measurement of a magnetic field) was introduced in 1956 to meet the needs of professionals in the scientific and medical fields who are exposed to magnetism at their work sites. 

Rolex Z-Blue Milgauss
Monochrome offers a history of the Milgauss model on their blog, noting that the electric blue dial of the current model is coated with Zirconium, giving it an iridescent aqua-blue look. The contrast between the electric blue dial and the orange lightning bolt shaped second hand gives this version a vibrant look. 

The current Rolex Milgauss model features a 40mm case, a 3131 movement with patented anti-magnetic technology, blue parachrom hairspring, 904L stainless steal case and Oyster bracelet. This Superlative Chronometer also features a Chromalight display. The suggested retail price for the 116400 GV configuration shown above is 7800 Swiss Francs, or $8,181 US. 

In the photo below model Sean O'Pry shows off the Z-Blue Milgauss in an ad for Americana Manhasset, a high end shopping center in New York. It doesn't look like he has to be too concerned about magnetic fields affecting the timepiece at the beach, but the ad does provide a youthful take on the scientific instrument.

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Model Sean O'Pry wearing Rolex Milgauss in Americana Manhasset Ad (photo: covermenmag.com)

How Does a Mechanical Watch Work?

.Rolex Shopping Guide.
In doing research before purchasing a luxury mechanical watch, I was overwhelmed by the jargon used to describe all of the working parts of a wristwatch movement. Aside from style and aesthetic, most watchmakers differentiate their products from one another based on what, quite literally, makes them tick. 

Parts of a Rolex Movement
After I figured out what a movement was, I became curious as to how the inner workings of the movement manage to precisely keep track of time. I poured over diagrams and blog posts, but I was still confused about what each part of the movement does.

Why does Rolex advertise their blue Parachrom hairspring technology? What is an escapement and why do they need to make it better? How do you power a self-winding mechanical movement without a battery?

Though I still consider myself a novice when it comes to horology, I do feel that I now have a basic understanding of how a mechanical watch works. The inner workings of a mechanical wristwatch are quite impressive, even in a time where most technology is based on silicon chips and global positioning systems.

The video below was produced by Hamilton Watch Company in 1949 to explain how a watch works. Much of what the video presents is still a part of how mechanical watches work today. It is the most comprehensive, detailed demonstration that I've found on YouTube to explain the mechanics of a watch movement in layman's terms.

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UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor Wears a Rolex Sky-Dweller

.Celebrities.
Irishman Conor McGregor is one of the most popular UFC fighters because of his sense of humor and his memorable takedowns, including his history-making 13 second knock out of Jose Aldo last year. 

UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor Wearing a Rolex Skydweller (photo: Second Hand Time Shop)

The featherweight champ is also known for his dapper style at press conferences and talk show appearances. He is photographed above wearing a yellow gold Rolex Sky-Dweller paired nicely with a navy vest and purple pocket square.

Unselfish with the millions he has raked in for his fights, McGregor gifted girlfriend Dee Devlin a Rolex Datejust with a diamond bezel last Christmas.

TMZ caught up with Mixed Martial Artist leaving a Rolex store in March of 2016, just after his loss to welterweight Nate Diaz in Las Vegas on March 5, 2016. Unfortunately, the cameraman seemed more interested in talking to him about Justin Bieber than asking what he may have purchased at Rolex. Watch the video below.

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Rolex 3255 Movement

.Tech.
One of the most talked about innovations revealed by Rolex at Baselworld 2015 was the Calibre 3255. The self-winding mechanical movement powers the Day-Date 40, a clean, modern take on their classic Day-Date model with a 40mm case. 

rolex calibre 3255
Rolex 3255 Movement (Photo: Rolex)

The watchmaker had to develop their own test protocol to evaluate the movement's performance. Protected by 14 patents, it is twice as precise as an officially certified chronometer and has a 70 hour power reserve. It also has their blue Parachrom hairspring fitted into the oscillator.

Another new feature is the Rolex Chronergy escapement, which accounts for a 15% increase in energy efficiency. Improvements were also made to the oscillating weight and the setting mechanism, which allows you to more easily feel each position when setting the watch.

Perpétuelle's blog offers a illustrated guide to this movement, for those who are interested in an organized, in-depth look at the new features and their functions.

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Rolex 3187 Movement

.Tech.
The Rolex Calibre 3187 is a self-winding mechanical movement developed by Rolex for the Explorer II model in 2011. All of the elements of the movement were manufactured by the watchmaker, including the Parachrom Blue Hairspring. 

Rolex 3187 Movement
The certified Swiss Chronometer is slightly larger and thicker than its predecessor, the 3186 movement found in previous models, to fit into the 42mm case of the Explorer II. This movement features a 24 hour hand that displays a second time zone, one of the main features of the Explorer II. 

One of the crowning features of this movement is the addition of Rolex's Paraflex shock absorber. Replacing the KIT shock absorber in the 3186, the Paraflex shock absorber is manufactured by Rolex and is said to absorb up to 50% more shock than other shock protection systems.

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Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Royal Black

.Rolex Models.
The Rolex Datejust Royal Black (116199 SANR) is a flashy take on the traditionally simple Datejust model. Featuring a unique black dial with paves diamonds in a zebra pattern and diamond hour markers, this model goes for about $69,000 these days, making it a valuable and unique addition to any Rolex collection - if you can find one.

photo of Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Royal Black
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Royal Black

This is the ideal Rolex model for anyone who has a thing for bling. The black stingray rubber strap is decorated with 10 diamonds and the bezel contains 60 black sapphires. With a 36mm 18 karat white gold case, this timepiece looks best on a woman's wrist. Iconic model Carmen Dell'Orefice was tapped for Rolex print ads featuring the Royal Black in 2009.

I was surprised by this Rolex model when I first came across it. While I don't generally hate animal prints, I find the zebra pattern on the dial of this model a bit lowbrow for the luxury watchmaker. And the excess of diamonds makes it seem like it was designed for British social climber Edina Monsoon, the hilariously tacky main character of Jennifer Saunder's Absolutely Fabulous.

Tory Lanez Wearing Rolex During Jimmy Kimmel Performance

.Celebrities.
Tory Lanez, a young Hip Hop and R&B talent hailing from Toronto, performed his Billboard Hot 100 single 'Say It' on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday January 28, 2016. The hit song features a hook from the 1993 Brownstone hit "If You Love Me" and Lanez invited the group to perform with him during the live set.

Tory Lanez Rolex
Tory Lanez Wearing a Gold Rolex with a Diamond Bezel on Jimmy Kimmel Live
Lanez sported a gold Rolex Datejust with a jubilee bracelet and diamond bezel for this televised performance. He styled it with white high top sneakers, black jeans, a white tee and a black leather jacket, which he removed to perform his new single, LA Confidential.

Many view Rolex as an aspirational brand and the purchase of one of their timepieces usually follows a major life event, including a successful career move. In this case, it seems likely that Lanez purchased the wristwatch to commemorate his success over the past couple of years.

Considering that the up and coming talent spent some of his youth living on the streets, it seems fitting that he honor his recent achievement with a blinged out Rolex. Check out his Kimmel set below.

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Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II

.Rolex Models.
First released in 1971, the Explorer II built upon the legacy of the original Explorer model. In the spirit of exploration, Rolex added additional features to this model to aid in polar exploration and cave expeditions. 

The watchmaker debuted the latest model (ref 216570) at Baselworld 2011, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Explorer II. New features include an orange 24 hour hand, large hour markers outlined in black with blue luminescence and a 24 hour fixed bezel.

The oyster bracelet and the 42 mm case (larger than the 40mm case of the previous model) come in 904L steel, brushed to give them a modern finish. The watch contains a 3187 movement, manufactured entirely by Rolex. 
Rolex Explorer II 216570
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II
The marketing for this Explorer II model boasts superior luminosity and legibility. The 24 hour hand is also an important component, allowing one to distinguish between day and night in places that may lack daylight. 

A 24 hour hand may seem like a superfluous feature for those who live in areas with regular daylight cycles, however, for those who live or work in latitudes where there is night for several days at a time, this feature would appear to be more useful. It would also help those who may be conducting research underground or in caves, where there is no natural light.

The suggested retail price for the stainless steel Explorer II model shown above is 7,700 Swiss Francs, or $8,076 US. 

The brochure for the Explorer II contains several pages featuring explorers and mountain climbers using the world as a laboratory to test the features of the timepiece over the past decades.

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