Rolex Explorer Ultimate Guide

In this video we discuss the Rolex Explorer and the key features of Rolex’s original sports watch. Click here to shop all Rolex Explorer watches: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-explorer-1.html

Click here for our Rolex Explorer Ultimate Buying Guide: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/buying-guides/rolex-explorer-ultimate-buying-guide.html

First launched in 1953 to celebrate the first successful summit of Mount Everest, the Explorer was Rolex’s very first sports watch, laying the groundwork for the range of legendary tool watches that would follow, such as the Submariner, Sea-Dweller, and Milgauss.

The Rolex Explorer is a durable and highly legible time-only watch. Rolex had more-or-less been producing these watches as its Oyster Perpetual series for a number of years, and models such as the ref. 6098 and ref. 6298 are often considered to be ‘Pre-Explorer’ models.

The first Explorer references to have the black 3-6-9 dials that now define the collection are the ref. 6150 and ref. 6350. However, not all of these watches featured the ‘Explorer’ name on their dials. These models were replaced by the reference 6610, and by the time the ref. 6610 was released, the vast majority of the Explorer’s core design was set. Its black dial featured large luminous hour markers with 3-6-9 Arabic numerals, and the ‘Explorer’ name and Mercedes hands were both present.

Despite the variation and number of early Explorer references, Rolex released the reference 1016 in 1959, which would go on to become the longest-running model from the collection’s history. Like the ref. 6610, the Explorer 1016 featured a 36mm stainless steel case fitted with a thick acrylic crystal and a black gilt dial.

While the first ref. 1016 watches were fitted with gilt dials, Rolex switched to matte dials around 1967, so later-era 1016 Explorers will have matte back dials with white text. In addition to gilt vs. matte dials, there are also other small differences, and the earliest gilt Explorer dials will feature radium rather than tritium lume, along with chapter ring markings.

The ref. 1016 Explorer would remain in production for about 30 years, finally replaced in 1989 by the reference 14270. The Explorer was still a 36mm time-only watch but much had changed. Internally, it had the new Cal. 3000 movement and its dial was now protected by a sapphire crystal. Rather than having a matte dial, the ref. 14270 was fitted with a gloss black dial with white text and applied 18k white gold hour markers filled with lume.

By 2001, Rolex had replaced the ref. 14270 with the reference 114270, and although the new model was largely identical to its predecessor, it did feature the upgraded Cal. 3130 movement and a bracelet with solid end-links. Beyond the new movement and revised bracelet, the new ref. 114270 was largely the same watch.

Production of the ref. 114270 would last until 2010, when Rolex replaced it with the ref. 214270. The watch saw a movement upgrade to the Cal. 3132, but the biggest update was its larger, 39mm case. Rolex also fitted the ref. 214270 Explorer with a redesigned Oyster bracelet that featured solid links and a more substantial clasp. The dial was still black with white text and applied white gold hour marker, but the one in the ref. 214270 is larger and overall more modern-looking, along with featuring Rolex’s blue-glowing Chromalight.

Originally, the dial of the ref. 214270 featured Arabic 3-6-9 numerals with fully polished white gold surfaces; however in 2016, Rolex updated the dial to feature Arabic numerals that were filled in with Chromalight. Along with the update to the dial, the hands of the ref. 214270 Explorer also received an update, with the minute hand becoming longer to be more proportional with the dial. The early style with solid white gold Arabic numerals and short minute hands are known as the MK1, while the MK2 are the current version with luminous Arabic numerals and a long minute hand.

The current-production ref. 214270 Explorer retails for $6,550; however like all stainless steel Rolex sports watches, the secondary market price of the Explorer is higher than its original retail values, with most trading hands for around $7k to $8k.

Without a doubt, the most expensive Rolex Explorer watches are the vintage models with gilt dials. Matte dial ref. 1016 watches start out at around $10k; however plan on spending around 2 to 3 times that, should you want a nice example with a gilt dial.

The overall design of the Rolex Explorer has changed less than almost any other Rolex sports watch, and regardless of whether you go for a vintage or modern reference, you will be getting a true classic and Rolex’s original sports watch.

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Видео Rolex Explorer Ultimate Guide канала Bob's Watches - Buy & Sell Rolex