Rolex Explorer

The summit of Everest and the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Only Rolex has sent watches to the the highest altitudes and lowest depths on the planet, and from these exploits they have created some of the most technically reliable watches ever produced.  

Edmund Hillary and Tenzig Norgay began their final ascent of Everest on May 29, 1953, reaching the summit, 29,028 feet above sea level.  They checked the Rolexes on their wrists and marked the time: 11:30 a.m.

While the exact dial variants have been lost to history, one member of the Everest expedition, if not Norgay himself, likely had a proto-Explorer on his wrist, and the 3-6-9-dialed Oyster Precision is the watch that Rolex chose to rechristen as the Explorer in honor of Hillary and Norgay’s historic accomplishment.

True to its name, the Explorer has pretty much defined badassery for the over 5 decades it's been in production, seeing only minor changes until 2011 when Rolex increased the case size to 39mm.

While the size change leaves many vintage collectors cringing, we believe there is a place in the Rolex pantheon for this modern expression of a timeless classic. This particular example dates to 2011 and features all of the hallmarks of the Explorer name - the distinctive 3-6-9-12 dial, a workhorse movement, and a nicely proportioned stainless steel case.

Fresh from a professional refinish, the case and bracelet are in stunning shape, and with its original box and papers, you’d be hard pressed to find a nicer Explorer for your collection.