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Thursday, September 04, 2025

Giorgio Armani Belongs To The Ages

Giorgio Armani

The King of Italian Design

Belongs To The Ages

1934-2025

RolexMagazine.com mourns the loss of Giorgio Armani, the legendary Italian fashion designer, who passed away at 91. Armani’s timeless elegance and innovative vision redefined luxury, blending sophistication with simplicity. His iconic designs, from sharp tailoring to effortless chic, left an indelible mark on global fashion. A pioneer of red-carpet glamour and minimalist style, Armani’s legacy endures in every stitch of his creations. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the fashion world. Rest in peace, Maestro.

Armani wore and depended on Rolex watches throughout his career, and in the photo above we see him rocking a Datejust, as well as a vintage Oyster Perpetual in the photo below.

In the photo below we see him sporting a vintage Rolex Bubbleback in a polaroid photo taken by Andy Warhol.

When I started my own clothing design career back in the 1980s, I was, of course, inspired by Giorgio Armani, as well as Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein. Armani made some amazing colognes and some great sportswear, that I really enjoyed owning over the years. Armani was way more than a clothing designer who was always on the runway, as he was also a pioneer in creating a lifestyle brand that included Armani Casa home decor, luxury hotels, and many interesting accessories, including his A | X Armani Exchange.

One of my greatest Armani memories is how he outfitted Richard Gere in American Gigolo, which was a seminal early 1980s movie. The scene where Gere slides open his drawer filled with Armani shirts was perhaps one of the seminal fashion moments to grace the big screen. This really put Armani on the fashion map worldwide.

Wednesday, September 03, 2025

Captain Danny Is Back

Captain Danny Is Back

Our Captain Danny took a three month break from publishing his Coron.et Rolex Blog, but recently started it up again, which is great as he is an excellent writer and researcher. Hopefully he recharged his batteries and is ready to go full speed again (No Pressure Danny ;-)

Danny recently went for a magnificent early morning Kayak session up in the Utah mountains, up at 6390 Feet of Altitude, and snapped these great photos. Danny Quipped "I went kayaking this morning here in the Utah mountains, at 6390 ft altitude. It's life... elevated."

Monday, September 01, 2025

Chapter 2: Cary Grant Was The Real James Bond

Cary Grant

Discovered Wearing Rolex in Charade!!!

I was recently talking with a great old friend of mine about men's bespoke clothing. When I was a young man, I started my design career in clothing design and was more inspired by Cary Grant's personal style than anybody else. On June 9, 2020 I updated this story significantly, which is part of my 13 Part James Bond Rolex story, when a reader of Jake's Rolex World discovered Cary Grant rocking a Rolex in the seminal action adventure thriller named "Charade" which debuted in 1963.

This is such big news I had to borrow Hodinkee's BREAKING NEWS header again!?!! This is a really interesting story. Over the past decade the only person I was NEVER able to discover wearing a Rolex that I really wanted to see wearing a Rolex was Cary Grant. Why? In my opinion, Cary Grant is probably the greatest actor and comedian that ever lived!

Recently my dream came true when a reader of Jake's Rolex World wrote in and said:

Hello Jake,

In your excellent examination of Grant as Ian Fleming’s model for Bond, you ask “Can you imagine Cary Grant wearing a Rolex Submariner?.” I think he actually wore a Rolex in “Charade.”

"If you have a Hi-Def copy of that film, check out the scene around 4 minutes into the movie where Cary Grant kneels in the hotel to spool thread to the door."

It's hard to tell exactly what Rolex model Cary Grant is wearing in the screen shot above. At first my best guess from what we can see is Gary is wearing a 35MM 1962 Rolex Oyster Rolex Star Dial 'Galaxy' model [Reference 6426] with leaf/sword hands as pictured below which appears courtesy of Robert Maron.

Nick Gould shared his best guess and said he thought it might be the Rolex Oyster Royal seen below which makes sense at the 15 and 30 minute markers are clearly heavier in weight than the 5, 10, 20 & 25 minute markers.

The reader who discovered the watch also thought it might be a Rolex Oyster Royal as pictured below. If you look closely at the wrist shot of Cary Grant's watch pictured below notice the 5 minute marker seems to be elongated, so it is possible the 5, 10, 20 & 25 minute markers are all elongated but the way the light hit the watch over exposed them and blew them out.

I shared this amazing discovery with Jose and he pinged me back and said, "Cary Grant points to his Rolex when he is in the shower scene wearing his suit in the trailer and says "Waterproof!?!!", which you can see below at 2:20 into the trailer video.

It's interesting to note, as wee see in the movie poster below from the 1964 James Bond movie named "Goldfinger" which shows actors Sean Connery and Honor Blackman posing in an overlay over the woman painted in gold, that we see James Bond with his arm wrapped around the Pussy Galore character while he is pointing a gun.

Charade was filmed and premiered in 1963, a year earlier than Goldfinger which premiered in 1964, so once again we see that the James Bond franchise copied this identical pose.

I just updated this story with the revelation above that Cary Grant wore a Rolex which I just added to my original "Cary Grant Was The Real James Bond" story which can be seen below.

Kiss Them For ME

It's a small world—after all, as ironically, my mother, Barbara Ehrlich, was an actress and model who knew Cary Grant and appeared in a Cary Grant movie titled “Kiss Them for Me,” which was released in 1957. “Kiss Them for Me” was partially filmed in San Francisco at the Fairmont Hotel. Below is a screenshot from the movie showing my mother walking out of THE CIRQUE ROOM, while a number of soldiers look at her like lunch.

...The James Bond Rolex Story...

The Complete History Of James Bond Watches

Including ALL Watches Worn In All James Bond Movies

The Definitive Guide

Chapter 2: Cary Grant Was The Real James Bond

Some people will tell you that Sean Connery is the only real James Bond, but the truth is that Cary Grant was the first, best and only real James Bond! I probably just completely confused you, but bear with me.

Ian Fleming, the creator of and writer of the James Bond series said he based his character on Cary Grant. If you truly want to understand James Bond, you must understand the archetype for Bond, and that is Cary Grant.

Cary Grant made a movie in 1955, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, named North by Northwest which was an action, adventure, mystery, thriller—just like James Bond. In North by Northwest Cary Grant did many of his own stunts.

If James Bond was real what would he look like?

He would be tall, dark, handsome, debonaire, articulate, stylish, athletic, elegant and very masculine. Most of all, he would be a gentle man–and Cary Grant was the living manifestation of a gentle man. Many people mistake gentility for weakness, but the truth is that it takes great strength to be gentle. Anybody can be rough, but not everybody can be gentle.

Cary Grant is–to this day–the personification of masculine timeless style, grace, and elegance.

The Pre James Bond, James Bond Movies

There are 4 seminal Cary Grant movies that informally develop the foundation for the James Bond character. Let's take a look at each of these thrillers to best understand the genesis of the James Bond persona and character.

The first three Cary Grant movies were produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Alfred Hitchcock was the absolute master of suspense. In effect, Hitchcock really created the suspense genre, and certainly perfected it. The alchemy of Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock was incredible!!!

Notorious [1946]

Cary Grant started making highly suspenseful, action-thriller, mystery, adventure movies with Alfred Hitchcock, like Notorious in 1946. It has been speculated Ian Fleming was highly inspired to create the James Bond character based on Cary Grant playing Devlin in Notorious in 1946.

In Notorious, Cary Grant plays a government agent and you see him here looking suave and debonair in his tuxedo. (Think: Tall, Dark, Handsome and Debonair). Of course, you have a plot with espionage and a gorgeous woman played by Ingrid Bergman. Look familiar? Look like James Bond!?!?

Without doubt, the secret agent is a hardcore ladies man. Notorious, more than any else is perhaps the genesis for the James Bond character.

To Catch A Thief [1955]

In 1955, Cary Grant made another action-thriller with Hitchcock, named To Catch A Thief. Cary Grant played a retired jewel thief named John Robee, whose nickname was The Cat. The stunningly gorgeous Grace Kelly co-starred with Grant. In many ways, his role in this movie was also very James Bond-like.

The chemistry between Cary Grant and Grace Kelly was unmistakable and truly positioned the ultimate male with the ultimate female. To Catch A Thief has all the trappings of a James Bond movie, including suspense, intrigue, fast cars, romance and a lot of sneaking around in the dark.

The theme of the established, successful, debonaire older man with the younger female hotness is a constant theme in James Bond. Also, Cary Grant had a British accent, as do all the figures who played James Bond.

Believe it or not, Burt Reynolds was offered the role of James Bond after Sean Connery retired the role, and turned it down saying that he thought James Bond should have a British accent. Burt later went on to say turning down the role to play James Bond was the greatest blunder of his acting career.

Houseboat [1958]

Cary Grant starred in Houseboat with the strikingly gorgeous Sophia Loren in 1958. The movie was a comedy, but once again, you see Cary looking like Bond in the photo below. Cary Grant and Sophia Loren made a previous movie named The Pride & The Passion. While shooting The Pride & The Passion, Cary and Sophia had a whirlwind affair and fell in love.

Cary asked Sophia to marry him, but she decided to marry her longtime lover, Italian director, Carlo Ponti. Sophia later said she married Carlo because they were both Italian and she felt they were better culturally matched. Cary Grant was heartbroken and if you watch the scene closely in Houseboat where they get married, you can see it was a bittersweet experience for both of them.

As mentioned, Houseboat was a comedy. Cary Grant is considered by many to be the greatest actor that ever lived because he was so versatile. Some of Cary Grant's great comedies include, His Girl Friday, Arsenic & Old Lace, and Monkey Business—just to name a few. Cary modeled his comedic skills after W.C. Fields, who was very funny, but the exact opposite of Cary Grant in the looks department.

North By Northwest [1959]

North by Northwest was another James-Bond-like movie with secret government agents and lots of intrigue. The opening credits as seen below were designed by the famous graphic artist, Saul Bass. Saul Bass once offered what is arguably the most precise definition of Design when he said, "Design is thinking—made visual".

The famous airplane chase scene was pure James Bond with Cary Grant doing his own stunts. Cary Grant was part of a British gymnastic group when he was 18 that traveled to the United States. Cary Grant's given name was Archibald Leach and by the time he made it to Hollywood he was reborn and rebranded as Cary Grant.

Imagine that!!!?!?!? The single worst name a man could have–Archibald Leach–changed to the most elegant name in history–Cary Grant.

Cary Grant was great with doing his own stunts because he always maintained his athletic, trim physique by working-out regularly.

The photo below of Cary Grant with his beautiful co-star, Eva Marie Saint is pure James Bond. Notice he is kissing her while she is sticking him with the gun. My favorite line from North by Northwest was when Cary and Eva arrived in Chicago, and when they were in the hotel room, Cary Grant said" "Tell me something darling. How does a girl like you get to be like you?!"

Unfortunately, North by Northwest would be Cary Grant's last movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is pure James Bond and in the picture below you see fellow British actor, James Mason sitting next to Cary Grant.

James Mason was superb in his role as a bad guy in North by Northwest. It is supremely ironic, that after Cary Grant passed on being the first actor to play James Bond, the role was offered to James Mason, who also passed on it!!!

Charade [1963]

Cary Grant & Audrey Hepburn

So if Cary Grant had played James Bond in Dr. No, what would he have looked like? The movie he made with the unequaled Audrey Hepburn gives us a great clue. Charade premiered a year after Dr. No premiered with Sean Connery. As we learned earlier, Cary Grant passed on playing James Bond in Dr. No., because he did not want to commit to doing more than one James Bond movie, instead he played a somewhat similar character in Charade.

The video below really shows how brilliant Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn were together doing schtick.

Cary Grant's Legacy

Father Goose

As I previously mentioned, in my mind, Cary Grant was the only real James Bond, and it is a sad shame the he passed on playing James Bond in Dr. No. Can you imagine Cary Grant sporting a stainless Rolex Submariner!?!

In the mid 1960s Cary finally settled down and married actress Diane Cannon, who was 33 years younger. They had a daughter name Jennifer Grant in 1966 and she is pictured below.

As a teenager, I remember this GQ that came out with Carry Grant on the cover. I always wanted to meet him, but unfortunately Cary passed away in 1986. His legacy in so amazing that it is difficult to put into words just how remarkable he was. A reporter once asked Cary Grant, if he could trade places with anybody in the world was there anybody, and if so who? Cary thought about it for a long moment and replied, "Yes. I would like to be Cary Grant." The reported respond, "but you are Cary Grant?" Cary responded, "Well, they say if you live the like long enough, it becomes the truth, but the truth is that I am still just Archibald Leach, pretending to be Cary Grant."

Roger Moore, who played James Bond was very close pals with Cary Grant and you can see two old boys together below.

Archetype

Albert R. 'Cubby' Broccoli, producer of the James Bond movies once said:

"I first became aware of James Bond during the fifties. Like many thousands of others, I read the James Bond novels voraciously, devouring each new one as it was published, and it did not take me long to realize that they would make an excellent series of films.

"I recognized immediately that if transferred to the screen the Bond Charter would have universal appeal; men would want to be like him, and women would fantasize about him. I felt that Fleming wrote about life in a new way, as a man of the world, and captured the vigor and excitement of life as he experienced it; combining his tastes for living, exotic locations, sex, adventure—the good life."

Cary Grant was originally offered to play the role of James Bond in Dr. No by Cubby Broccoli, but Cary refused to sign a contract saying he would play Bond for more than one movie. Cubby Broccoli and Cary Grant were great friends for 50 years, as a matter of fact, Grant was the best man at Cubby's wedding to Dana Broccoli in 1959.

Since Cary Grant passed on playing James Bond, Sean Connery was chosen. This choice was based upon Sean Connery's likeness to Cary Grant–as you can clearly see in the collage I put together below. No, that is not a photo of Sean Connery & Cary Grant together.

The photo below is an actual photo of Cary Grant with Sean Connery, which was taken in England in 1957!!!! It turns out that reality can sometimes be stranger than fiction...As we will learn in the next Chapter, Sean Connery, went to to become the first actor to play James Bond on the big screen, despite the fact that there was a TV series in the United States that originally featured an American James Bond. As was mentioned in the movie Trainspotting, they said with that deep Scottish brogue, "That Sean Connery; he's a masculine actor!!!"