1969 Rolex Submariner "If you were working here..." Advertisement
1969 Rolex Submariner "If you were working here..." Advertisement
1969 Rolex Submariner "If you were working here..." Advertisement
1969 Rolex Submariner "If you were working here..." Advertisement
Page Dimensions
Approx. 7 3/4" x 11 1/4" (19cm x 28cm)
Story and Details
Perhaps the strongest run of Rolex advertisements were the "If you were... you’d wear a Rolex" series from the late 1960s. They all featured strangely compelling headlines in bold Helvetica typeface, often exotic pursuits undertaken by men of action, and the promises of individually tested watches hewn from a solid block of Swedish steel. Exactly what was so special about steel from Sweden was never explained, but that’s by the by... The testimonials from mountaineers, divers, pilots, race car drivers, and others unusually at risk of injuries in the workplace, should be all the quality control you need to have confidence in a Rolex. This 1969 Rolex advertisement features a wrist shot of the Submariner - arguably the most iconic tool watch of all-time. Likely the specific version shown is a Ref. 5513 with a "meters first" matte dial. And just like an Instagram post, this wrist shot has a caption, which acts as an endorsement... In this case, by the crew of Deepstar, an American Navy-civilian project operating a submersible designed by Jaques Cousteau, which saw service in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Caribbean. The hero image shows the actual Deepstar 4000 vessel. One of the wonderful aspects of vintage ads like this one is you can conduct your own research to get a deeper understanding of not only the role a watch played in an accomplishment, but also the technology, the people involved, and what life was like during a particular moment in time. For example, a rare "Single Red" Sea Dweller was gifted to Deepstar pilot Robert Palmer Bradley. Also, on one Deepstar dive, the ascent system and its backup failed - with the two man crew narrowly escaping death by hand-pumping hundreds of pounds of mercury ballast. What this advertisement won’t do is fail to lend an air of adventure to any home or office - whether you’re a Swedish steel magnate or not.
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 stars1 week 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 stars2 weeks 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 stars4 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 stars4 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 stars1 month 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.
Was this helpful?