To clarify the world land speed record a bit; it’s divided into two categories. Wheel-driven cars and jet or rocket propelled cars. In this sense, as you may know, Rolex has an abundant and rich history, part of which is securely embedded in the world of motorsports. Nearly all replica rolex watches are classics among the classics. Whether you go for a Submariner, a Sea-Dweller, a GMT-Master or a Datejust, you can’t really be wrong. Of course, you’re not going to stand out of the crowd. We’ve all experienced this moment where you look at the wrist of the person in front of you. And even if you’re looking at your lawyer, your doctor, your banker or one of your colleagues, he/she might easily wear a Rolex.
Monochrome is all about watches, and not about going crazy-fast through a desert. It has been around for more than 60 years now (introduced in 1953 with the reference 6204). It has been constantly improved but it has never really changed. The Bloodhound Super Sonic Car has a Eurojet EJ200 jet engine and a Nammo hybrid rocket, producing the equivalent of 135,000 horsepower. In an uncharacteristically playful move from the Swiss giant, these are a breath of fresh, colorfully contrasting air.
Even though the entire machine relies heavily on computers, they’ve decided to incorporate a fail-safe instrument cluster including two specially developed Rolex units. The case nevertheless is not totally the same than in the stainless editions. The case bands are slimmer and the lugs are more curved, to better fit the wrist. It is running on its own power supply, and equipped with a GPS-system. Indicating speeds of up to 1.100 miles per hour, the speedometer also features a Mach 1 marker at 760 miles per hour. A major cool-factor is the steering wheel, including one very special button: the trigger for the ROCKET!
Some more facts that boggle the mind; a 5.0L Jaguar-V8 is used as a fuel pump, the entire vehicle is 14 meters long, and has more than 6 times the power of the entire Formula 1 grid put together. The Bloodhound SSC is calculated to speed up from 0 to 1000 in only 55 seconds. Even more amazingly, the Bloodhound will achieve half of the target speed (500 to 1000 mph) in just the last 17 seconds of acceleration! For a lower price than a new one (with its unalterable ceramic bezel and luminous indexes) you can choose the reliable, precise and very cool 1680. It was the first to come with the date feature, meaning that it has this emblematic cyclops lens on the crystal.
If the full exercise runs past an hour, all efforts have been in vain and the record will not be approved. No originality here. In addition to that if you are looking for one that has a history, a pedigree or a special feature. For those who will never face the issue of money, the easiest is to go for a Comex or a Military Submariner (the legendary Milsub). Bloodhound SSC, and Rolex for that matter, are chasing a romanticized ideal, something originating from the very core of our being; a record. Mankind has always sought out the fastest, strongest, highest, most powerful thing we could find and put that on a very clear pedestal. We have always laureled champions or record breakers, applauded people who push boundaries and explore limits.
These Baselworld 2015 additions to the Rolex are bringing some real good fresh air to a watch that used to be in the shadow of the Submariner. Without being an addict of gold best replcia watches, we have to admit that the contrast between the rose gold and the black accents – dial, bezel and strap – is pleasant and not too showy.