Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1991 Reference No: 14270 Movement No: 4’525’066 Case No: E899’478 Model Name: Explorer, "Blackout" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3000, 27 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “78360”, endlinks stamped “558B”, max length 190mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “P8” Dimensions: 36mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Further accompanied by punched Rolex guarantee dated 16th January 1992 stamped Chinese Arts & Crafts (H.K.) LTD., Rolex Japan service guarantee, instruction manual, product literature, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
The ref. 14270 was introduced in 1989 replacing the former ref. 1016 and remained in production until 2001. With many admirers of the model, the Explorer boasts simplicity. Furthermore, retaining its iconic details featured in the very first ref. 6610 is the 3-6-9 dial. The present example features a desired "Blackout" dial with 3-6-9 filled with black enamel only witnessed in early examples of the reference bearing serials E or X.
The present example featuring a "Blackout" dial presented in excellent overall condition and is accompanied by the full set of accessories with a punched guarantee retailed by Chinese Arts & Crafts in 1992.
Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.