1969 Rolex Day Date Ref. 1803 "Taming oil well fires..." Advertisement
1969 Rolex Day Date Ref. 1803 "Taming oil well fires..." Advertisement
1969 Rolex Day Date Ref. 1803 "Taming oil well fires..." Advertisement
1969 Rolex Day Date Ref. 1803 "Taming oil well fires..." Advertisement
Page Dimensions
Approx. 7 5/8" x 11 1/4" (19cm x 28cm)
Story and Details
If there is a definitive genre of Rolex advertisements, it's the "If you were… you’d wear a Rolex" series predominately from the late 1960s.
Strangely compelling headlines in bold Helvetica typeface introduced the reader to men of action; ocean adventurers, race car drivers, mountain climbers, Concorde pilots - even big game hunters - have all been featured. The commonality among these individuals is their Rolex watch with the renowned Oyster case, which could "withstand extremes of heat and cold."
The main character in this unique, full-color "If you were..." ad is Red Adair, who would be more troubled by the former than the latter. In a career spanning decades he would wear a seemingly odd choice considering his line of work... a gold Day Date similar to the Ref. 1803 featured, whilst fighting Black Gold - extinguishing more than 2,000 oil well fires. He became famous in 1962 for putting out the "Devil’s Cigarette Lighter" in the Sahara - the nickname given to a 450-foot flame that burned for months. This incredible blaze, and Red Adair, would be featured in Rolex ads published in the 1970s and 1980s.
Back to this ad... As perfect a name as the "Devil's Cigarette Lighter" is for the inferno Red Adair battled, is the choice of printing this particular ad in color. The intensity of the environments Red and his team faced is captured through the amber and orange of the flames, especially against the signature black background of these ads. Merely looking at the illustration makes the brow bead with sweat - the heat and exhaustion perfectly conveyed.
Also, a gold watch is just more-enticing when shown in color. I know whenever I see the classic yellow gold Date Date with a champagne dial and "President" bracelet, I want one. It's arguably the most well-known Rolex that stands for the brand.
Condition
Condition
Pre-owned original magazine advertisement. Image shown is exactly the ad that you'll be receiving.
Framing
Framing
Framing is handcrafted in Chicago, IL, using acid-free materials for art preservation. The UV-protected, anti-reflective glass ensures optimal viewing. Frames are solid wood featuring a wire for easy hanging and felt pads for wall protection.
Shipping
Shipping
Free Shipping for all continental US orders.
Unframed orders ship by the next business day. You’ll receive an email with tracking info!
Framing is custom. Please allow me up to 2 weeks to finish your framing project. Before I start, I’ll email you to confirm the design and provide an estimated completion and shipping date.
Returns
Returns
Returns are accepted for unframed ads, if they are in new condition as you received it, within 30 days of purchase.
As all of my ads are highly curated, individually custom framed, and personalized, all sales for framed ads are final.
Questions
Questions
Please contact me if you need additional photos or have any questions!
advertisements
All advertisements and images are original – directly from magazines and other types of publications. These are vintage, pre-owned, original pages, so the paper quality and condition varies... I try to show accurate photos of the exact ad/image you'll be receiving.
framing
Framing is custom-designed and done by hand in Chicago, IL. Acid-free materials are used to preserve your art. Glass offers UV-protection and is anti-reflective for best viewing. Frames are solid wood with wire on back for easy hanging and felt pads to protect wall.
contact
I love my business and what I do!
Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or special requests... About pricing, condition, framing - ads or magazines you have to sell... I'll get back to you within 48 hours (usually much sooner!). Looking forward to chatting!
- NickVerified ReviewerReviewing1996 Omega Speedmaster MK40 w/ Schumacher AdvertisementI recommend this productRated 5 out of 5 stars9 minutes agoWhat a find, just wow!
I am so glad I found Ad Patina and had the pleasure of working with Nick. The level of attention and care Nick has for his customers is unfortunately rare in todays e-commerce experience. He truly brings his passion to what he does and it shines through. The selection of ads here is just incredible!
I was working on creating an ad wall in my home office and was delighted to find this specific ad. I personally have a connection with this ad (my first good watch was this exact model (3520.53.00)). I actually purchased it second hand from a Tourneau in the mid 00’s which makes the ad even more special (the ad I purchased was specifically a Tourneau advert).
Nick, thanks for helping me make my vision a reality and making it a special experience!
Was this helpful? - EmanuelVerified ReviewerReviewing1987 Ranger Rover "most beautiful vehicle..." Advertisement in Black Wood FrameI recommend this productRated 5 out of 5 stars1 week agoIncredible customer service & friendliness, make shoping ad Ad Patina a delight!
From the very first contact, Nick was super friendly and helpful, offering me to track down the ad that was currently out of stock. Within 2 weeks, he was successful and after a very uncomplicated payment process sent me the ad well packaged and it arrived in germany 2 days later. Well done! I will for sure be returning to this awesome site and ship again. You can feel Nicks love for what he does all the way! Thank you again!
Was this helpful? - MichaelVerified ReviewerReviewing1966 Rolex Submariner Ref. 5512 "Skate, the Shark, or the Nautilus..." AdvertisementI recommend this productRated 5 out of 5 stars2 weeks agoGreat guy, great products
I’ve purchase a few vintage watch ads from Nick of the years and it has always been an enjoyable experience. Nick is fantastic to deal with and his products are always top notch. Highly recommended to anyone looking for something special!
Was this helpful? - MattReviewing2013 Rolex "Why This Watch?" feat. Picasso AdvertisementI recommend this productRated 5 out of 5 stars2 weeks agoExcellent from start to finish
I’ve had the pleasure of being a customer of Ad Patina for 6 years, not quite since the start but I’d like to think Nick and I go a ways back now. He’s done several jobs for me and every single time he outdoes himself. It’s been incredible watching his business grow and look forward to many more years of patronage!
Was this helpful? - Tommy C.Verified ReviewerReviewing1968 Rolex Submariner "If you were looking for lost empires..." AdvertisementI recommend this productRated 5 out of 5 stars2 weeks agoA fantastic window to the Golden Age of advertising...
I purchased this from Ad Patina some years ago and it's hanging in my home office as a constant view into what many consider to be the Golden Age of advertising. It was a time when brands and ad agencies had big ideas and took bold swings at advertising that manifested into Rolex's famous "you'd wear a Rolex" print ad series and Porsche's bold print ads from the 1980's. As a marketer, these are professional goodness.
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