Mad Men photoshoot in latest TV Guide (US)

[robsteve]

Originally Posted by delldeaton

Thought it might be helpful (as well as admittedly indulgent) to post this image of a 1960 IV Rolex Explorer 1016 with original radium dial.

As far as claims that most or even a majority of the Rolex watches we see on screen are fakes provided by prop departments, I'd have to see some serious documentation, evidence of that before taking any such allegation seriously.

It sounds outrageous.

Dell:

Does your dial still glow? I noticed the hands on my 1953 Explorer still glow if it is dark enough and my eyes have adjusted. The dial on my watch was refinished about twenty years ago, so there is no Radium left there.

Robert

[SCD]

Originally Posted by Nicko

Then......why do they do it? The prop department i mean. My original question was about the legality of the use of props.

Because they can. What is Rolex gonna do...make a stink and make it more difficult for Don Draper to be wearing a Rolex?

[marcinthemiddle]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Speaking of good looking men Marc (not sure how we got to this topic, but what the heck) you're significant other! Is he an actor? Model? If ever I was going to have a man crush...

Paul! He's mine! Actually he worked as an oil trader before he retired early this year. I keep trying to get him to join the Forum, but he just lurks under my profile sometimes....

[1HotBoss70]

his wife does pretty well as well...

january-jones-pamela-hanson-shoot-05.jpg

[TheVTCGuy]

Ok Joe, thanks for getting me off my man crush thoughts...

ROFL!!!!

[marcinthemiddle]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Ok Joe, thanks for getting me off my man crush thoughts...

ROFL!!!!

Nothing wrong with a little man-crushing, Paul....
I do it everytime I see your avatar-

[tomchicago]

Explorer is an awesome watch in any era.

[Puffy]

awesome. thanks for sharing!

[grew]

Thanks Joe I now have my new background!

My wife asked me "wtf is up with your background?"

I said "see how nice that watch is?"

she said "what watch?"

now I'm a little worried......

[grew]

FYI for those of you looking for a larger version

Click here

[SCD]

Originally Posted by grew

FYI for those of you looking for a larger version

Click here

Still too small, too flat, too immobile, and too stuck-inside-my-computer.

[snowbird]

One thing I've wondered about Mad Men is, would people really have worn steel sports watches (like the Explorer) in this kind of office environment in the mid 1960s?

I know it's common to see people wearing Subs, Explorers etc. with suits today even in pretty formal settings . . . wondering if people really would have worn these kinds of watches in a high end ad agency in the 1960s though?

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by snowbird

One thing I've wondered about Mad Men is, would people really have worn steel sports watches (like the Explorer) in this kind of office environment in the mid 1960s?

I know it's common to see people wearing Subs, Explorers etc. with suits today even in pretty formal settings . . . wondering if people really would have worn these kinds of watches in a high end ad agency in the 1960s though?

Absolutely not.

[robsteve]

Originally Posted by snowbird

One thing I've wondered about Mad Men is, would people really have worn steel sports watches (like the Explorer) in this kind of office environment in the mid 1960s?

I know it's common to see people wearing Subs, Explorers etc. with suits today even in pretty formal settings . . . wondering if people really would have worn these kinds of watches in a high end ad agency in the 1960s though?

My father did. Here is the 1953 Explorer he wore all his career, until he retired about ten years ago.

Robert

[snowbird]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Absolutely not.

Yes, that's what I thought too . . . for someone like a real-life Don Draper, either some kind of gold watch on a leather strap, or if he was wearing Rolex, probably a gold President.

[snowbird]

Originally Posted by robsteve

My father did. Here is the 1953 Explorer he wore all his career, until he retired about ten years ago.

Robert

Interesting - very nice watch too.

[delldeaton]

Originally Posted by robsteve

Dell:

Does your dial still glow? I noticed the hands on my 1953 Explorer still glow if it is dark enough and my eyes have adjusted. The dial on my watch was refinished about twenty years ago, so there is no Radium left there.

Robert

Funny you should ask.

During the same work effort when I was making the image above, I was in my darkened studio area taken lume photographs of my Rolex 16610 Submariner Date. I'd literally switched one watch from my wrist to the set, and put on the other.

Instinctively, I looked at this 1016 Explorer on my wrist, in total darkness, to get a time reference. I guess I"d sort of assumed there was no way it could be glowing, so I almost stopped myself. Glad I didn't, because it was bright enough to tell the time.

Not exactly "blazingly so," as one of the references goes to Ian Fleming's characterization of the 1016 Rolex Explorer on James Bond's wrist in one of the literary 007 stories.

But still quite admirable.

My 1016 is currently on exhibit at the "Bond Watches, James Bond Watches" exhibit next to Mr Fleming's, through at least next April. So you'll have to remind me to see about getting some lume shots of it when it comes home to me next summer.

[Rodmo]

Originally Posted by robsteve

My father did. Here is the 1953 Explorer he wore all his career, until he retired about ten years ago.

Robert

Sweet........

[Klokke]

Originally Posted by snowbird

One thing I've wondered about Mad Men is, would people really have worn steel sports watches (like the Explorer) in this kind of office environment in the mid 1960s?

I know it's common to see people wearing Subs, Explorers etc. with suits today even in pretty formal settings . . . wondering if people really would have worn these kinds of watches in a high end ad agency in the 1960s though?

If you talk to someone in the industry or just watch the show you'll realize the ad men in the 60's were not straight-laced bankers or IBM-ers. They were, indeed, Mad Men, with a creative streak. They are exactly the type who would wear Rolex sport watches.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by snowbird

Yes, that's what I thought too . . . for someone like a real-life Don Draper, either some kind of gold watch on a leather strap, or if he was wearing Rolex, probably a gold President.

If you look back a few seasons earlier, you'd have seen Hamm wearing a gold JLC Reverso. Sort of a downgrade, regardless of era or profession.

And while you may be correct about what Rolex a real-life Draper would choose, it wasn't actually called the President until post-LBJ, for whom it was nicknamed.

Now, back to the watch in the show, I noticed that it didn't have the rivet bracelet, but it also lacked the flip lock of modern Rolex Professionals. However, the fact that it's a fake also might explain why the watch looks way too large on Hamm to be an Explorer I. He's not a small guy yet that watch looks quite large on his wrist on the show. I'm curious if the prop was actually larger than 36mm.

[kareemthedream33]

I think this thread has convinced me to buy an Explorer. Stay tuned.

[rolexsweep]

thats class!!!

[threemonkeys]

Originally Posted by grew

FYI for those of you looking for a larger version

Click here

Um...I won't say what I was thinking of saying. Although I think it would have been pretty damn funny if I do say so myself. Yes, indeed...pretty damn funny.

[looking to buy]

Prop departments use replicas because if they used real items, the actors and cast would steal them. Seriously, they would.