The Rolex Explorer

Rolex has plenty of iconic timepieces, they have great marketing and they know how to create demand through scarcity. Sure they could increase production to sell more units, they are very aware they hold premium sales and they protect their market and retailers with much vigor.

The Explorer Reference 6350 was released in 1953 not that long after the 1953 Hillary/Norgay Everest expedition. Whilst there is still some conjecture as to what Hillary and Norgay actually wore on their wrists when they scaled the summit, there is no doubting that the Explorer is associated with Everest - this is certainly what Rolex advertising indicates.

While Hillary was apparently wearing a Smiths, Rolex was supporting and sponsoring expeditions testing the oyster perpetual series. Rolex was involved with prototypes leading up to the Explorer series, the Reference 6150 that was imprinted with Precision on the dial and not Explorer. The early series had a 36 mm case size that has increased over the years.

If I was to be a Rolex owner, then an Explorer would be my choice of timepiece. At 39 mm, the case isn't large by any means and the over-size watch style seems to be receding. Although I tend to prefer a 41 mm case diameter for my wrist size, I have had smaller watches in the past. The Mercedes hour hand is an iconic Rolex feature, although I am not personally thrilled by the hour hand.

A number of references have been produced over the past 65 years, the charm of Rolex is they pretty much don’t change their product. Whilst the vintage Rolex market is booming, the latest COSC certified 3132 movements with the parachrom hairspring are far superior to their predecessors with + 2 seconds a day precision.

I get nervous with vintage watches, the opportunity to create frankenwatches increases, that is watches using non-original parts. The movements already exhibit wear and you have to trust previous owners serviced their timepieces only at authorised dealers.

The older series watches didn't come with sapphire crystal so tend scratch easily although I'm told they buff out easily. Whilst not a feature of the Explorer, ceramic bezels don't scratch or fade, the stainless steel bezel ring can scratch.

The case is manufactured from 904L stainless steel, known by Rolex as Oystersteel and is more scratch resistant than competitors. For me, the Explorer is the quintessential Rolex timepiece and the model I would own.