Rolex Explorers I & II

The new Explorer I

From the very beginning, the Swiss company felt a connection with daring explorers and inquisitive researchers and has therefore always placed great importance on producing watches that are robust and can withstand all adversities. After Rolex supported the dangerous missions to climb the seemingly invincible Mount Everest in the 1950s and finally managed to climb it with a watch that was only later given the name Explorer, the Rolex Explorer I and II models became synonymous with a thirst for adventure and voyages of discovery. The modern Explorer I from Rolex, first introduced in 1953, proudly reflects on its considerable heritage. The case is made from a solid block of stainless steel and can withstand shocks and knocks and is also particularly corrosion-resistant. The solid material makes the luxury watch look simple and elegant and makes it easy to care for. The blue "Chromalight" luminous material on the hands and indices of the hand-crafted dial also enables perfect readability even in poor lighting and weather conditions. The otherwise very understated Rolex Explorer I also stands out due to the fact that only the numbers three, six and nine are displayed as digits. The inner workings of the Rolex Explorer I also impress with the precision of the movement with the caliber 3132 and a mechanism that can wind the luxury watch independently.

The Explorer II - a cult watch since 1971

In 1971, the Swiss watch brand presented another watch model in the Explorer category: the Rolex Explorer II. This was reissued in 2011 for the 40th anniversary and is also made of the robust stainless steel alloy that was used in both technical and chemical areas of industry and in the manufacture of the Rolex Explorer I. The mechanical movement of the Rolex Explorer II, caliber 3187, allows the use of a fourth hand in addition to the three usual hands. This orange hand made the first Explorer II from Rolex a cult watch. The fourth hand in the new model is also based on the shape and design of the original Explorer II and still takes twice as long to complete a revolution as a normal hour hand. This enables a running 24-hour display. In this way, the Rolex Explorer II can represent a second time zone and is highly valued by watch collectors and enthusiasts. The slightly larger brother of the Rolex Explorer I, with a diameter of 42 millimeters, also sets itself apart from the old Explorer II with a diameter of 40 millimeters. In addition, it even has a date display so that you never lose track of time on research trips all over the world.