Some of the world’s bravest scientists, explorers, and mountaineers in regions tested the tough-condition resistance, durability, and reliability of Rolex Professional Explorer. They confirmed that Rolex Explorer is solid as the brand’s new sports watch that set the foundation of Rolex tool watches. The watch is no doubt the foundation of the brand’s legendary reputation. Rolex specifically designed Explorer as the best standard and a simple time-only timepiece for individuals. Named as a homage to Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953 over their achievement on Mount Everest, Rolex Explorer is designed for any challenging situation.
History Of Rolex Explorer
In the mid-20th century, Rolex Oyster timepieces were famous for their durability, precision, waterproofness, and reliability. Rolex saw the need to equip explorers for mountaineering expeditions in the 1930s. The brand supports explorers and scientists with the best tools for historic journeys with self-winding Oyster Perpetual and waterproof Oyster timepieces. In 1953, Rolex supplied Colonel John Hunt-led British Everest expeditions team watches. In May the same year, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay surprised the world with their historic climb to the top of Mount Everest. In 1953, Rolex rolled out Oyster Perpetual Explorer watch to honor the duo for their achievement in reaching the summit of the tallest mount. Designed for adventurers, Rolex built the watch with shock-resistant self-winding mechanical movement and a legible black dial containing luminous details. In 1971, because of the success of the first version of Explorer, Rolex introduced a second model featuring a complex, bolder, and more oversized watch with excellent reliability and durability, which is designed mainly for volcanologists, polar explorers, and others.
Cost Of Rolex Explorer
The retail price of Rolex Explorer II is $8,250, while the cost of the original Explorer stands at $6,550. In the pre-owned market, the watch price begins at around $5000 and increases depending on age, condition, and model. The timepiece is a rare collectible that’s worth thousands of dollars.
Rolex Explorer Features
Rolex Explorer is a professional/sports watch designed with stainless steel to withstand the toughest of any imagined situations. The stainless material evolved from 316L to 904L stainless steel, which is reputable for its superalloy resistance to corrosion.
Rolex Explorer Sizes
Rolex Explorer and its upgraded version have two varying cases, with the Explorer II having a bigger size. Over the years, the dimensions of both watches have increased. For instance, Rolex Explorer increased from 36mm to 39mm, while Rolex Explorer II grew from 39mm to 42mm. Yet, despite their size variations, both models feature Twinlock winding crowns with two sealed zones to check the intrusion of water or moisture. One solid point of the watch is its double waterproof check system that guarantees 100 meters as a standard for Rolex contemporary water resistance.
Rolex Explorer Dials
The Rolex Explorer dials come with unmistakable style distinguished by their baton markers integrated with 3, 6, and 9 Arabic numerals, black background, and Mercedes-styled hands. While its dials have retained their signature appearance evolved, features include a sequence of index styles such as manual white gold markers, which replaced painted tags and luminous materials. While there were few changes in the Explorer, there was a drastic change in the dials of Explorer II. The Rolex Explorer Ref. 1655 existed only in black dial while featuring 24 lume plots to excellent 24-hour display and important minute track. Subsequent references of Explorer II featured black and white dials, including lume-filled geometric indexes. The Explorer II dials are known as the “Polar” dials. There was also evolution in the luminescence as it applied to the original model, with the latest reference featuring Chromalight hour hands and markers.
Movements Of Rolex Explorer
Rolex Explorer and the Explorer II significantly differ in their complications. The original Explorer is time-only, while Explorer II features a dual time timepiece except for reference 1655, which has a night/day indicator together with a date window. Both Rolex Explorers have varying caliber sets with the latest models powering. Both models feature new Paraflex shock absorbers and high-tech blue para chrome hairspring for enhanced stability, shock resistance, and resistance to temperature variations and magnetism. The brand’s mechanical movement brags of -2/+2 seconds per day accuracy exceeded COSC-rated chronometers standards.
Finally, Rolex Explorer retains its credibility, just like other models. It is worth a significant investment as it possesses rare value, especially the vintage Explorer references, worth thousands of dollars.
