Channeling Che!

[Grumpy Badger]

With all Dr. Robert's curmudgeonlyness and calls to "bring back lug holes" I've been thinking about what makes me love Old Skool Rolex, despite being relatively young, at 32.

I came to the conclusion that it was due to the iconic images that burned the brand onto my mind from a young age. I'm not talking about Rolex sponsorships or Brand Ambassadors. We all know Rolex are great at that game but what really got under my skin were the shots of really cool guys wearing Rolex, not because they were paid to but because they wanted to!

Maybe in thirty years there will be the same feeling about some of the new models. I doubt it though, since the world has got so much more commercial and the "celebrities" so much more non-descript and so much less cool!

What do you guys think?

How cool is this pic?



With this in mind, with the help of the photography skills of The Long Haired General, I've made a homage to one of the most iconic images of a Rolex "in the wild".

Forgive me Che and TRF!

[moviefreak]

[terrenceterrence]

noice....................... :)

[Sky-Dweller]

Very nice

[wrxsti]

awesome!

[Grumpy Badger]

Thanks guys! The LHG takes a mean photo!

So what do you guys think, is it images like these (the original, not me!) that make the old style Rolexes just so cool?

[larrysb]

I'm not real crazy about Che's image. Wonder how one washes the blood of murdered victims out of a metal bracelet?

[capote]

That is an iconic pic (at least the top one). As far as washing blood out of a bracelet, more presidents with more blood on their hands has worn Rolexes.

[Explorer 2011]

Spot the difference number 1 = No Beard....

Nice effort Grumpy I like the pic!

[BH13GMT]

Cool pics, are you going for the beard and tash to finish of the look ?

I will be honest I thought the thread was about the chinese art of turning your mind off to pain

A pleasant surprise nonetheless

[Grumpy Badger]

I'm temped to say a damned sight easier than washing it out of a NATO!

I know that's a flippant response, but I didn't mean for this to become a political debate. One mans hero is another mans murderer...

I don't think anyone would doubt that images of Che became iconic in twentieth century culture. I doubt you could walk onto any University campus and not see images of Che on t-shirts and posters.

I didn't post this to offend anyone's political sensibilities, mearly to highlight the marketing effect of unpaid, sometimes unknowing, famous ambassadors of the Rolex brand.

[Grissom]

The photo aside......this issue in general (Che) has provoked some rather vitriolic commentary, in the past, that ultimately ends up at a bad place. It is an iconic photo of a Rolex, no doubt, to photographers and Rolex aficionados, alike.....but if we venture into the political arena, that might not be so good......just my two cents worth.

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by Grissom

The photo aside......this issue in general (Che) has provoked some rather vitriolic commentary, in the past, that ultimately ends up at a bad place. It is an iconic photo of a Rolex, no doubt, to photographers and Rolex aficionados, alike.....but if we venture into the political arena, that might not be so good......just my two cents worth.

I've maybe made a mistake.

I've been a member of this forum for less than a month and was unaware that there had been trouble over this in the past.

As you say, it is an iconic photo, to me as a Rolex aficionado and to my girlfriend as a photographer.

I hope that this thread can remain on track as intended and stay off the politics.

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by BH13GMT

Cool pics, are you going for the beard and tash to finish of the look ?

I will be honest I thought the thread was about the chinese art of turning your mind off to pain

A pleasant surprise nonetheless

Thanks, man!

I was planning to get sponsored to grow a moustache in November for "Mo-vember"! As UK members will probably know this is a month long charity drive to raise money for research into male cancers.

[larrysb]

Originally Posted by capote

That is an iconic pic (at least the top one). As far as washing blood out of a bracelet, more presidents with more blood on their hands has worn Rolexes.

Not the blood of my family, unlike Che.

Imagine any number of other serial killers with a Rolex. Wonder who's body he took the watch off of.

Might as well show off Himmler in a Mercedes.

[Paulie 50]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Badger

I've maybe made a mistake.

I've been a member of this forum for less than a month and was unaware that there had been trouble over this in the past.

As you say, it is an iconic photo, to me as a Rolex aficionado and to my girlfriend as a photographer.

I hope that this thread can remain on track as intended and stay off the politics.

Listen laddie, you have injected a bit of humour, and wanted a bit of banter, i would urge our fellow WIS to enter into that spirit. Life's a bitch, and then you die, Think about it. As usual my regards to you all.

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by Paulie 50

Listen laddie, you have injected a bit of humour, and wanted a bit of banter, i would urge our fellow WIS to enter into that spirit. Life's a bitch, and then you die, Think about it. As usual my regards to you all.

'ppreciate it, mate! I guess I should have posed as Steve McQueen though!

[kareemthedream33]

That picture is awesome! Really good job.

[kareemthedream33]

Originally Posted by larrysb

Not the blood of my family, unlike Che.

Imagine any number of other serial killers with a Rolex. Wonder who's body he took the watch off of.

Might as well show off Himmler in a Mercedes.

I can see this thread is about to get locked. One man's murderer is another's hero, and I can see both sides of the Che debate. But there is only one side to Heinrich Himmler, and thats the twisted, evil, disgusting thing that he was. That is not a fair comparison. Nobody walks around wearing Himmler t-shirts.

[bscepter]

amazing pic.

[zeuloa]

This is a great picture of an iconic figure wearing a very iconic watch. Guevara was a very passionate man, whether you agree with his passions or not. I don't, but admire his will to fight until the end for what he believed in.

Now the watch... What a classic timepiece the GMT is! Rumor is the very same one in the picture lives somewhere in Miami!

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Originally Posted by Explorer 2011

Spot the difference number 1 = No Beard....

Nice effort Grumpy I like the pic!

#2 - No bangs hanging over forehead.

[tkc324]

nice nice~

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by zeuloa

Now the watch... What a classic timepiece the GMT is! Rumor is the very same one in the picture lives somewhere in Miami!

I'm afraid I'm wearing sub in my photo.

I told The Long Haired General that I needed to buy a GMT, purely for authenticity you understand, but she wasn't to be convinced!

[Dweller of the Sea]

Originally Posted by Explorer 2011

Spot the difference number 1 = No Beard....

Its probably one of them poisoned CIA cigars

[Dweller of the Sea]

Originally Posted by larrysb

I'm not real crazy about Che's image. Wonder how one washes the blood of murdered victims out of a metal bracelet?

Probably the same way as the US backed dictators of Latin- and South America.

I´m not that keen on Che either, just found the statement stupid.

[Z-Sub]

Nice picture there!

How about another with a 16710 GMT Master ll?

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by Z-Sub

Nice picture there!

How about another with a 16710 GMT Master ll?

I tried, I tried! The LHG was having none of it!

So come on guys, who else loves their classic Rolexes because of the images you grew up with in history books rather than glossy advertising?

[capote]

Originally Posted by Dweller of the Sea

Probably the same way as the US backed dictators of Latin- and South America.

I´m not that keen on Che either, just found the statement stupid.

You might want to read that again

[zeuloa]

Originally Posted by larrysb

Not the blood of my family, unlike Che.

Imagine any number of other serial killers with a Rolex. Wonder who's body he took the watch off of.

Might as well show off Himmler in a Mercedes.

Actually... It's beleived that when Castro and his army took over Habana, they raided the Rolex AD and he gave the watches to his high commanders, including Guevara.

Let's not forget Batista was no saint as his ambition took many lives as well, all for power and money. Castro and Guevara left their very confortable lives to fight for a cause, although power later twisted Castro's ultimate goals.

Anyways... Lets get back to Rolex!