Simplicity is often the most elegant form of design, and Rolex’s Explorer is one of the brand’s most iconic and successful timepieces thanks to its minimalist, ‘3-6-9’ dial, robust, 36 mm Oyster case, and superb wearability. The Explorer was launched in 1953 to celebrate the ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzig Norgay. As with most iconic vintage watches today, the Explorer originated as a tool watch marketed to mountaineers with their strong, durable case and highly legible dial.
Rolex continued to evolve the design, and in the early 1960s introduced the reference 1016 with an upgraded movement, the caliber 1570, incorporating a hacking feature. This lovely reference 1016 from 1962 features its original and unrestored galvanic black dial retaining its wonderful glossy surface and gilt print. The luminous indexes have aged to a pleasing light brown hue, giving it an unmistakable vintage character. Combined with its well-preserved case and riveted Oyster bracelet, this watch is a highly collectible and attractive variant of the iconic Explorer that is sure to please.
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.
