[King of Rock] Elvis Presley's Favorite Watch - Actor's Watch #193

Elvis Presley died in 1977 at the young age of 42. His total record and CD sales exceed 500 million, biographical films are made every few years, and gossip magazines frequently report that "Presley was still alive." His popularity and charisma as the "King of Rock and Roll" show no signs of fading even more than 40 years after his death.

"Actor's Watch" focuses on the watches worn by actors active in movies, television, etc.
In this 193rd installment, we will be introducing the favorite watches of Elvis Presley, who was not only a singer but also a film actor who starred in numerous films.

Rolex

Submariner "Big Crown" [Ref.6538]

In the 1962 romance film Girl! Girl! Girl! starring Presley and the popular Playboy Playmate Stella Stevens, Elvis played a fishing boat captain who becomes a nightclub singer for money and quickly becomes popular. The watch he wore was a Rolex Submariner (Ref. 6538).

This Submariner, known as the "Big Crown" because it has no crown guards and a large crown , is the same model worn by Sean Connery in the well-known movie "Dr. No" (1962). Despite this, Presley's "Ref. 6538" is not well known, and I can't say it out loud, but I think it's because the movie was "that bad"...

Cellini King Midas [Ref.9630]

The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is a cowboy festival that is still held every year in Houston, Texas. In 1970, Elvis participated in this event and performed six shows at the Houston Astrodome, all of which were sold out. The show ended with great success.

The organizers gave Elvis, who had contributed greatly to the event, a gift as a token of their appreciation: a Rolex King Midas (Ref. 9630), a solid gold watch designed by Gerald Genta, known as the creator of the Patek Philippe Nautilus and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. This watch is limited to 1,000 pieces and has a serial number, and the serial number of the one given to him is "No. 343" (there is an engraving in the photo).

omega

Caliber 510 (Ref.-)

In February 1962, a charity concert was held to celebrate Elvis's record sales reaching 75 million copies. At that time, RCA, the record company he was with for the rest of his life, gave Elvis this OMEGA Caliber 510 (Ref. -). This gorgeous watch features a white gold case and 44 diamonds set in it.

This watch, which comes with a certificate from the founder of the Elvis Presley Museum and a photograph of Elvis Presley wearing it, was purchased by the Omega Museum at a Phillips Auction in 2018 for 160 million yen, the highest price ever paid for an Omega watch at the time. It is currently part of the museum's valuable collection.

Hamilton

Ventura [ Ref.- ]

The youth musical film "Blue Hawaii" (1961) features Elvis singing a number of hit songs as a tour guide against the backdrop of Hawaii's beautiful scenery. At the beginning of the film, the watch he is wearing while dressed as a soldier is a Hamilton Ventura (Ref.-).

Designed by Richard Arbib, known as the designer of the American luxury car Cadillac, the Ventura was not only the world's first battery-powered wristwatch, but also a very avant-garde watch at the time, with its "asymmetrical triangular" shape. The Ventura was loved by unconventional young people in the 1960s, and remains popular today as Hamilton's iconic watch.

Elvis loved this innovative watch, the Ventura, and wore it not only in movies but also in his private life, and sometimes even gave it as gifts to acquaintances.

summary

What did you think?

As the founder of "Rock and Roll" and a symbol of the American Dream, his life has been made into a number of biographical films, including "The Singer" (1977) with Kurt Russell as Elvis, and "Elvis" (2022) with Austin Butler as Elvis. Both films have been highly acclaimed.

Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock and Roll," popularized the innovative movement "rock and roll," which combined black music, blues, with white music, country and western, despite being criticized by conservative groups.

Just like his everlasting popularity, I believe that the watches he loved to wear will never be forgotten and will remain in people's hearts forever.

See you later!