Rolex GMT-Master with Chuck Yeager

2006 Rolex GMT-Master with Chuck Yeager

Some people need no lengthy introduction — and fighter and test pilot Chuck Yeager is one of them. After becoming an “ace in a day” when he downed five enemy aircraft in a single mission during World War II, Yeager became the first human being to break the sound barrier in the experimental Bell X-1 over the Mojave Desert in 1947. He subsequently rose up the ranks to brigadier general, retiring from the Air Force in 1975 and living until the age of 97. 

This color advertisement from the early 2000s perfectly captures Yeager’s swagger, though it does so not with some throwback image from the pilot’s heyday, but rather with a picture of him from 1997, when he flew in an F-15D Eagle at age 74 past Mach 1 in the 50th anniversary of his historic flight. Yeager was known as a lifelong Rolex wearer — there are images of him wearing Oysters, “big crown” Submariners, and more — but it was the GMT Master II with which he became most closely associated, a fitting, aeronautically-inspired choice for America’s most intrepid pilot. 

Although this is a “newer” ad, it’s actually quite difficult to source. But as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait! What’s more, this may be the best of the handful of Rolex ads that feature Brigadier General Yeager  — an intrepid soul, and the ultimate brand ambassador. 

About our collaboration with Ad Patina

We're thrilled to be collaborating once again with our longtime friend Nick at Ad Patina to bring you a selection of the most-popular and hard to find original vintage magazine advertisements curated specifically for Analog:Shift!

Scouring the world for forgotten marketing treasures, Ad Patina's raison de être very much mimics our own - to hunt down these wonderful bits of history, preserve and restore them as needed, and share them with an enthusiastic community.

These documents of horological and advertising history have entered the collecting conversation as the ultimate accompanying accessory to go along with hobbies and passions. They have found themselves framed in homes and offices around the world. 

Every one of these wonderful pieces is a genuine, vintage advertisement that has been professionally framed to ensure years of enjoyment to come - no reprints or reproductions here!

Much like a traditional piece of art - a painting or photograph - an original advertisement can be appreciated for its design as well as for its power to evoke nostalgia. Something vintage enthusiasts know all about!

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We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.