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The Explorer type watch has had quite a few names its its life including Space-dweller, some say it was introduced to Japan only in 1963 after the Mercury astronauts paid a visit,in todays market they would fetch in around $30.000 The explorer is one of Rolex longest production runs,a great Rolex classic.The vintage 1016 is now becoming very collectible and original dialled space-dwellers now telephone money.Now the large triangle at '12' was first used by Rolex on the mixed Roman and Arabic dials in the 1940s. Rolex registered the Explorer name before the Everest expedition in 1953.And the first Explorers 6350 model used what they call the large bubble-back 10-1/2" A296 movement.Most of the early 6350 dials were also unusual in the fact that they are honeycombed a Rolex first.In 1963 the Explorer changed again,and with a new 1560 cal movement it was renamed the 1016 and it became the longest running explorer from 1963 right up to 1989.
Twenty six years without a much of a change ,the second version of the 1016 was really the second version of the 1560 calibre now called 1570 basically the same but now a hacking movement.Now these 15XX series movements IMHO are still the finest Rolex has ever made well over engineered.And around 1989 the Explorer disappeared from the Rolex catalogue but around 6 months was reintroduced,the new Explorer bearing the model 14270, sported a new case, dial, movement, and crystal. IMHO it was because of the Jackie Chan movies where he wears one, the Japanese market when crazy for Explorers,very much like Daytona fever today.
And the Explorer at this time was very hard to get world wide just like Daytona today.At this time was changing hands for as much as double retail price.Now with these new modifications brought the Explorer in line with all the other Rolex models. And because the real cosmetics of the new watch was so much changed from that of the old one,like the 1016.Now the price in the vintage collectors market is going up and IMHO if you can get hold of a good 1016,IMO will only go up in serious value
And a few of the various names used by Rolex over the years Air Lion,Air Tiger,Airgiant,Airking,SpaceDweller,SkyRocket, Speedking,Falcon,Orchid,Observatory,Tridor,Athlete ,Commando,Turtle Timer,Canadian,Empire, Oyster Lipton, Rolex Scientific,Rolex Everest,Tudor Advisor,Oyster Junior Sport, Oyster Raleigh, Oyster Commander, Oyster Recorda, Oyster Edison, Oyster Grenfell, Oyster Shipmate and Oyster Standard,and there are a quite a few more that I cannot remember now.
Twenty six years without a much of a change ,the second version of the 1016 was really the second version of the 1560 calibre now called 1570 basically the same but now a hacking movement.Now these 15XX series movements IMHO are still the finest Rolex has ever made well over engineered.And around 1989 the Explorer disappeared from the Rolex catalogue but around 6 months was reintroduced,the new Explorer bearing the model 14270, sported a new case, dial, movement, and crystal. IMHO it was because of the Jackie Chan movies where he wears one, the Japanese market when crazy for Explorers,very much like Daytona fever today.
And the Explorer at this time was very hard to get world wide just like Daytona today.At this time was changing hands for as much as double retail price.Now with these new modifications brought the Explorer in line with all the other Rolex models. And because the real cosmetics of the new watch was so much changed from that of the old one,like the 1016.Now the price in the vintage collectors market is going up and IMHO if you can get hold of a good 1016,IMO will only go up in serious value
And a few of the various names used by Rolex over the years Air Lion,Air Tiger,Airgiant,Airking,SpaceDweller,SkyRocket, Speedking,Falcon,Orchid,Observatory,Tridor,Athlete ,Commando,Turtle Timer,Canadian,Empire, Oyster Lipton, Rolex Scientific,Rolex Everest,Tudor Advisor,Oyster Junior Sport, Oyster Raleigh, Oyster Commander, Oyster Recorda, Oyster Edison, Oyster Grenfell, Oyster Shipmate and Oyster Standard,and there are a quite a few more that I cannot remember now.
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