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Thread: Rolex and the Great Escape

  1. #1
    Master mindforge's Avatar
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    Rolex and the Great Escape

    You probably know the story, but some entertaining detail here. At least it's a provenance I find more appealing than trying to buy Luftwaffe watches.

    https://www.revolution.watch/rolex-the-spoils-of-war/

  2. #2
    Thank you for sharing the article.

  3. #3
    Craftsman djjuk's Avatar
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    Fascinating read. Thanks for sharing.

  4. #4
    Grand Master
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    I didn't know that story. Interesting read thanks :)

  5. #5
    Master
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    A super article and very educational for me....thanks for posting.

  6. #6
    Master
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    What a great article.... very interesting read.

    Thanks for sharing

    Mike

  7. #7
    Grand Master Velorum's Avatar
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    Yes, great read - many thanks

  8. #8
    Craftsman Bluemoon7's Avatar
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    Wow..... That is something that I didn't know. Thanks for sharing that.

    Chris

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by mindforge View Post
    At least it's a provenance I find more appealing than trying to buy Luftwaffe watches.
    Why that Rolex promoting dig at fliegeruhr?

    You do know that the Italian X flotilla MAS, Italian and German sabotage divers wore Rolexi?

    There is footage of the latter very clearly wearing those on a mission in the Netherlands to blow up bridges over the rivers. An action which caused the hunger winter in the Netherlands.

    The UK admiralty was so much not amused by this Rolex contribution to the war efforts that they went to great expense to have their Chariot divers wear something else.


  10. #10
    Journeyman
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    Interesting article, thank you for sharing!!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  11. #11
    Journeyman submorstua's Avatar
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    Nice article. Very interesting.

  12. #12
    Craftsman Lauting's Avatar
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    Interesting read thanks for the post.

  13. #13
    Master mindforge's Avatar
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    Sigh. I wasn't Rolex promoting, as I said, I found the story entertaining. But yes, personally I think that is in poor taste to seek out watches worn by the Luftwaffe (and it puts me off IWC) but if that's your thing, on you go. And I don't think we need to be suprised at a Swiss company trying to make money from both sides...

    By the way, pretty sure Rolex is a made up word rather than a Latin noun requiring declension to Rolexi in the plural!

    Quote Originally Posted by Huertecilla View Post
    Why that Rolex promoting dig at fliegeruhr?

    You do know that the Italian X flotilla MAS, Italian and German sabotage divers wore Rolexi?

  14. #14
    Grand Master
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    Panerai.

  15. #15
    Grand Master Andyg's Avatar
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    Very interesting article. However are some folks have already pointed out Rolex provided parts to Panerai throughout the war, who in turn provided watches to Germany and Italy Military.

    But more interesting (to me anyway) was that Steve McQueen wore a Hanhart 417E - which was a re-issue of the Hanhart Cal 40 - which was the watch of choice for many of the Luftwaffe fighter pilots. He also wore a 5512 in later life, so I suppose he covered all bases.

    Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
    Friedrich Nietzsche


  16. #16
    Grand Master Andyg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Huertecilla View Post
    Why that Rolex promoting dig at fliegeruhr?

    You do know that the Italian X flotilla MAS, Italian and German sabotage divers wore Rolexi?

    There is footage of the latter very clearly wearing those on a mission in the Netherlands to blow up bridges over the rivers. An action which caused the hunger winter in the Netherlands.

    The UK admiralty was so much not amused by this Rolex contribution to the war efforts that they went to great expense to have their Chariot divers wear something else.

    What watch is that - looks like across between a Russian 191 and a Panerai egiziano (many of which were actually fitted with Angelus 240 movements).

    Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
    Friedrich Nietzsche


  17. #17
    Grand Master jwg663's Avatar
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    Longine Hydrographic Survey. Some starter info here:

    http://www.wristwatchnews.co.uk/2015...urope-in-wwii/
    ______

    ​Jim.

  18. #18
    Master
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    Interesting story. I was in my local Rolex AD last week and one of the owners was telling me his Grandfather spent most of WWII in a POW camp, as an officer he had some privileges and took advantage of owning a Rolex whilst in the POW camp, both he and the watch survived and lived to tell the tale.
    Quite remarkable

    G

  19. #19
    Craftsman Scott's Avatar
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    This is why I love watches. Every brand has their story. Some better than others..

  20. #20
    Grand Master Andyg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jwg663 View Post
    Longine Hydrographic Survey. Some starter info here:

    http://www.wristwatchnews.co.uk/2015...urope-in-wwii/
    Many thanks. Very cool.

    Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
    Friedrich Nietzsche


  21. #21
    Master
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    I wasn’t sure where to post this gem.

    https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/ph...riner-ref-5513


    As a follow up to last year's epic sale of Paul Newman's Paul Newman Daytona (and subsequent Daytona fever), Phillips has just announced that it will be selling yet another icon's iconic Rolex – the Submariner reference 5513 (not to be confused with his 5512, which sold in 2009 at Antiquorum for $234,000) that was purchased by Steve McQueen in the 1960s and gifted to his stuntman, Loren Janes, in the late '70s. McQueen and Janes started working together in 1958, and would go on to collaborate in more than a dozen movies, including Bullitt, The Getaway, and The Thomas Crown Affair. The caseback of the watch is engraved: LOREN, THE BEST DAMN STUNTMAN IN THE WORLD. STEVE.

  22. #22
    Master
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    Interesting - ta.

    Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

  23. #23
    Always an education here.... and so the rabbit hole for tonight’s reading begins.

    Had no idea Churchill had a DJ, only ever read about his Breguet. On a side note the gold speedy gifted to Nixon from omega and subsequently returned is in the Bienne museum. Got lucky to visit there on work trip a couple years back


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