Tweet
Around in the 1940s-1950s lets not forget watches then were quite small compared with todays much larger watches.And the first Explorer type watch was the Rolex ref 6350 big bubbleback with the A296 auto movement from the early 1950s.Now Rolex had similar watches like this with the mixed Roman and Arabic dials in the 1940's.But expeditions like the Mount Everest one in 1953 thats what made the Explorer more popular,and with clever marketing by Hans of Rolex.Later the ref 6150 came along slightly bigger by 2mm and lasted until late 1959.After that it was replaced by the 6610 with the new Cal 1030 auto movement,but there were variations like the Airking Explorer 5500,and what they call the dress Explorers.And there were few all gold or S.Steel dial signed Explorer but then mainly for Canadian market plus the UK.
Now around 1963 the Explorer changed again with one of the finest IMO movements Rolex has ever made like the cal 1560.And model was renamed the 1016 now this is Rolex longest production model to date.It ran from 1963 to 1989 now the later models had the cal 1570 movement.Now this Cal 1570 was just a 1560 that now hacks stops second hand when you pull crown out.Now something very strange happened late 1989 the Explorer disappeared from the Rolex catalogues.But 6 months later it was back but now called the Explorer 14270,with a new case movement dial and Sapphire crystal.But the only thing it carried on from the 1016 was the hands and name.Now fitted with the new fast beat cal 3000,and the new up to date version with the model 114270
IMHO it was because of the Jackie Chan movies where he wears one in the movie.Now 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.And was changing hands for as much as double retail price and a bit more.Now with these new modifications it 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 value. A good collectors watch for the future the Explorer is as much as a Rolex icon IMHO as the Sub and is a huge part in Rolex history and a great watch.
Now around 1963 the Explorer changed again with one of the finest IMO movements Rolex has ever made like the cal 1560.And model was renamed the 1016 now this is Rolex longest production model to date.It ran from 1963 to 1989 now the later models had the cal 1570 movement.Now this Cal 1570 was just a 1560 that now hacks stops second hand when you pull crown out.Now something very strange happened late 1989 the Explorer disappeared from the Rolex catalogues.But 6 months later it was back but now called the Explorer 14270,with a new case movement dial and Sapphire crystal.But the only thing it carried on from the 1016 was the hands and name.Now fitted with the new fast beat cal 3000,and the new up to date version with the model 114270
IMHO it was because of the Jackie Chan movies where he wears one in the movie.Now 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.And was changing hands for as much as double retail price and a bit more.Now with these new modifications it 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 value. A good collectors watch for the future the Explorer is as much as a Rolex icon IMHO as the Sub and is a huge part in Rolex history and a great watch.
Comment