Watches

May 29, 1953 After an arduous journey starting on March 10th of 1953, and an extremely difficult assault on the summit, Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary became the first people to successfully summit Mt. Everest. On their wrist? NOT a Rolex Explorer. Whoops. Well, to be fair the Rolex Explorer wasn’t created yet. So why the hullabaloo about Sir Edmund Hillary? Well - he was wearing a Rolex. A Rolex Oyster Perpetual. After hearing of the success of this expedition and ruggedness of the watch - the decision was made to replace the Oyster Perpetual with a new model named in Hillary’s honor - The Explorer. Or so the story goes. Either way, the Rolex Explorer I was introduced in 1953 but like many Rolex models, the first series was not considered ‘the best’ reference. For many collectors - the ultimate Explorer I is the reference 1016. It’s clean, highly legible and still tough enough for use in modern day wear. While using the same case as a Datejust, the smooth bezel and applied luminous Arabic 3,6,9 lend a more rugged and utilitarian aesthetic to the watch. Early models, like this, were made with gilt dials. Gilt dials are when the lettering and fonts are punched out of the dial so that the brass ‘gilt’ color shows through creating a golden text appearance. These are not very easy to produce and were ultimately discontinued by Rolex in the later half of the 1960s as they couldn’t be produced in the same quantity as a matte dial - but nothing shines and glows like a Rolex gilt dial. The example that we dating to circa 1966 is one of those gilt pieces. It's case remains very strong, showing honest wear throughout with a few blemishes on the top left case profile and bottom right lug visible under closer inspection. The smooth polished bezel matches the case condition nicely. It's 'Type 6' glossy black dial exhibit a beautiful 'tropical' patina — largely on the right side but does extend leftward with a deeper brown color. The resulting 'gradient-tropical' effect is unique and stunning to behold. There is a visible blemish on the left of the dial between the center post and 9 o'clock position, but is otherwise well-preserved. The luminous material is even in color throughout, with some loss at the 3, 5, 6, and 9 indices with a matching handset. It comes fitted to a period-correct 'rivet' Oyster bracelet in matching condition, with a signed blade clasp.  All in all, a stunning, unique, and well-rounded example of what many consider to be a perfect watch! Condition: Case: Likely-unpolished, remaining thick and strong with sleeve polish and honest signs of wear throughout. Some small impressions on the top left case profile as well as the bottom right lug. Caseback has small impression. Bezel: Shows normal signs of wear and matches the case. Dial: Exhibits a gradient 'tropical' patina, with a factory glossy black color on the left transitioning into a brown 'caramel' color on the right. Tooling mark/impression on the left between the 9 marker and center post and is otherwise well-preserved. Some loss of luminous material at the 3, 5, 6, and 9 positions. Handset matches nicely. Shipping: All watches will be shipped via FedEx Insured Priority Overnight shipping. International shipping will be shipped via FedEx International Priority Express, always fully insured. This service is included in the listed price and will not incur any additional fees. All watches are shipped 1-2 business days after receiving payment confirmation by Chrono24. We are unable to ship watches on Saturday or Sunday. Our Policy: We service or perform necessary maintenance to the extent necessary to all of our watches, unless otherwise noted. All watches are listed and sold running and functioning as intended. Our Guarantee: Through rigorous vetting of each watch offered, we’re able to guarantee authenticity of our pieces. Ultimately, your satisfaction is our mission, as is helping you get YOUR perfect watch. If you have any questions at all, we will get back to you ASAP. Each of our timepieces are vetted, evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our experienced team of experts and watchmakers prior to sale. We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise disclosed. We guarantee the authenticity of each watch in perpetuity.

The Rolex Explorer ref.214270 is a tribute to the spirit of adventure and the pivotal role watches have played in extreme expeditions. Its clean, highly legible dial, durable Oystersteel case, and robust self-winding movement make it a reliable companion for explorers. Featuring a 39mm case, this model combines Rolex’s commitment to excellence in precision, functionality, and sleek design, making it ideal for both adventurers and casual wearers alike.