Rolex Explorer I & II

With Rolex on the roof of the world. In 1953, after several failed attempts, Sir Edmund Hillary and his Nepalese partner Tenzing Norgay succeeded in climbing Mount Everest, at 8,848 meters the highest mountain on the planet. On his arm he wore a forerunner of Rolex's Explorer, a watch that even then withstood the extremes of cold and altitude. The modern Explorer proudly reflects on this not-so-little heritage. Made from a solid block of stainless steel, the case resists shock and impact and is also highly resistant to corrosion. The "Chromalight" luminous material on the hands and indexes also allows perfect readability even in poor light and weather conditions. The somewhat larger brother Explorer II, with a diameter of 42 millimeters, also has a date display and a 24-hour display to ensure that you never lose track of the time on research trips around the world.

The new Explorer I

From the very beginning, the Swiss company felt a connection with daring explorers and inquisitive researchers, so it has always placed great importance on producing watches that are robust and able to withstand all adversities. After Rolex supported the dangerous missions to climb the seemingly impregnable Mount Everest in the 1950s and finally succeeded in the ascent with a watch that only later came to be called Explorer, Rolex's Explorer I and II models became synonymous with adventure and voyages of discovery. First introduced in 1953, Rolex's modern Explorer I proudly reflects on its no small heritage. Made from a solid block of stainless steel, the case resists shock and impact and is also highly resistant to corrosion. The solid material nevertheless makes the luxury watch look simple and elegant and allows for easy maintenance. The blue "Chromalight" luminous material on the hands and indexes of the handcrafted dial also enables perfect readability even in poor light and weather conditions. The otherwise very discreet Rolex Explorer I also stands out due to the fact that only the numbers three, six and nine are displayed as numerals. The inner workings of the Rolex Explorer I also impress with the accuracy of the movement with the caliber 3132 and a mechanism that can independently wind the luxury watch.

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, which was reissued in 2011 for its 40th anniversary and was also made of the robust stainless steel alloy, used in both technical and chemical areas of industry, as well as in the manufacture of the Rolex Explorer I. The mechanical movement of the Rolex Explorer II of caliber 3187 allows the use of a fourth hand in addition to the usual three. This orange hand already made the first Explorer II from Rolex a cult watch. The new model's fourth hand is based on the shape and design of the original Explorer II, and it still takes twice as long to rotate as a normal hour hand. This allows for a 24-hour display that runs along with the watch. In this way, the Rolex Explorer II can display a second time zone and is highly valued by watch collectors and enthusiasts. At 42 millimeters in diameter, the Rolex Explorer I's slightly larger brother also sets itself apart from the old Explorer II with a diameter of 40 millimeters. Furthermore, it even has a date display so that you can never lose track of time during research trips around the world.