Rolex Explorer - The outdoor watch that goes where few people venture!

When you hear the word “Explorer” the picture that first comes to mind is the great outdoors, extreme, tough but beautiful all the same. The Rolex Explorer is the beautiful result of over two decades worth of research in gruelling and extreme conditions. Realizing they could change the course of outdoor watches forever, Rolex had started to send watches on Himalayan and other expeditions as early as the 1930s, much before Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary conquered Mt. Everest.

Although a lot of people think it was the Explorer that Sir Edmund Hillary wore, it was actually a Rolex Oyster Perpetual, which was further modified into the Explorer soon after. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual that was worn by Sir Edmund Hillary was specially adapted to withstand harsh conditions but did not come with the classic black Explorer dial. 

The fact that the watch that accompanied Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on their first summit of  Mt Everest is still in working condition and being showcased at the Beyer Watch and Clock Museum in Zürich, showcases the meticulousness and expertise of Rolex’s watchmaking.

Ever since it’s debut, this beautiful watch has continued to remain unfazed by changes and has won the hearts of watch-lovers across the world for its reliability, robustness and clean-cut design.

Not many people know this, but the Rolex Bubbleback was released in models 6098 and 6150, which were prototypes of the Explorer. These watches had white dials and unique hands which were leaf-shaped. The following year, they were reintroduced as the 6298 and 6350, which displayed the famous 3-6-9 Arabic dial, typical of the Explorer. It was much later that the now-famous Mercedes hands were  added. 

The main selling point of this watch is its unmistakable black dial, which is super clean to read, given that the owner’s vision might not exactly be at the optimum best in extreme weather. The large numerals that denote the 3, 6 and 9 0’ clock are large and glow-in-the-dark. The most prominent feature in the dial is that the 2 o'clock marker is an upside-down triangle. This unique watch has always been a model that has been category-defining. The Explorer series continues to be an adventure in modern watchmaking that brilliantly highlights Rolex's commitment to technology and innovation while keeping the authenticity intact.

Top 3 reasons to own a Rolex Explorer: 

• A coveted and much-adored collector’s item, that can be passed on to the next generation. 
• Easy to read, simple and functional 
• Comes with a stainless steel Oyster case and also a Twinlock crown

How much does a Rolex Explorer cost?

The price of the Explorer depends largely on the particular model’s production year and also the condition. The most coveted pieces amongst collectors world-wide are the earlier models, like the ref 1016 and its predecessor the ref 6610. Although it is very difficult to tell the difference between the Explorer which was introduced in 1963 and its older sister model, there are some notable differences like the caliber, and the water resistance.  The price for this timepiece can range anywhere from $19,500 USD for a mint-condition piece, to $14,600 for a pre-owned model. 

.

Movement and case:

This watch is powered by the in-house caliber 3132, which only deviates from the reference time for only up to a maximum of 2 seconds per day! The movement also houses a balance spring that is made out of Parachrom which is a special alloy that remains unaffected by any magnetic field. The Rolex Milgauss comes with even more protection against any magnetic field because its movement is protected by a special shield that is made of ferromagnetic alloys. Although the Milgauss and the Explorer are quite similar to look at, the main difference is that the Rolex Milgauss is also available with a blue or white dial. 

The bright white numbers and indices make a drastic contrast against the black dial, making it super easy to tell the time in one look. The numerals, indices, and hands contain the material Chromalight which is luminous, making it easy to tell time even in the dark. The watch is even more unique because Chromalight glows blue, as opposed to Superlumninova, which is used by most other manufacturers, which glows green.  

The  Explorer's stainless steel case also features the famous Oyster design. While the case was always 36 mm in diameter prior to 2010, every Explorer produced since then has had a case that is three millimeters larger (ref 214270). Irrespective of the size of the dial, the Explorer is usually worn with a stainless steel Oyster bracelet these days, although there were textile and leather straps that were used earlier. 

Who is the Explorer meant for?

If you’re someone who loves weathering a good storm and believes in the great outdoors, this is the perfect watch for you. Built to endeavor the harshest of weather conditions, the Twinlock crown and the specially designed stainless steel Oyster case protect this watch brilliantly from the wrath of the elements, making the Explorer the perfect watch for outdoors.

Celebrities who love the Explorer: 

The first famous name that comes to mind when you think of the Explorer is obviously the mountaineering stalwart Sir Edmund Hillary but did you know that Sir Ian Fleming, the author of all the Bond classics owned an Explorer too? Royalty like Prince Harry also was spotted wearing it when he served his term in the British Army. Other famous fans include Matt Damon, Aziz Ansari, and even Orlando Bloom.

Is the Rolex Explorer a good investment?

The short answer is yes, it is.  The Explorer would also be a fun alternative when compared to your other types of investments, it holds its value very well and the price will only increase in value as time passes. 

The long-winded one would be, in the last 3 years or so the price and value of the Explorer have only been increasing. On an average, the price changed from $4,300 to $4,700, which is a good  9% jump, In a nutshell, this masterpiece is bound to increase in value even further, through the coming years!

Conclusion:

This is truly a watch that has been designed to live up to the implicit promise in its name, by being the companion on innumerable expeditions and other adventures. Although the  Explorer has undergone more improvements over the years it has only become even more luxurious with each one. Like the indices and numerals that are now made of gold, even though they are still inlaid with luminous material.  

Another beautiful thing about the Explorer is that watch, however, the numericals emit blue light as opposed to the traditional watches which glow green. The luminosity also lasts a very long time: with the dial remaining easy to read even after almost twelve hours in complete darkness.

If you are looking for a watch that has been vastly updated but is still a classic and can give you company as you ascend the peak of a mountain, and even in your day-to-day work meetings too, then the Explorer would be a perfect choice.