explorer

Everest Explorer Sir Edmund Hillary's Rolex Collection Up for Auction

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping, Sports, Men's Style

Antiquorum's sale of Important Vintage and Modern Timepieces to be held Nov. 13 – 14 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva will include the personal collection of Rolex watches of the legendary 20th century explorer Sir Edmund Hillary, credited with being the first climber to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in 1953. These exceptional timepieces have been consigned for sale by Lady Hillary and all had special significance for Sir Edmund. The earliest model in the collection is a Rolex Oyster Perpetual, ref. 6084, dating from 1953 (above) which was presented to Sir Edmund by Rolex Bosecks of Calcutta, India after his descent from Everest.

It was then worn by him during the Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1955-1958 – the first overland crossing of Antarctica and the first expedition to reach the South Pole since Scott in 1912 – and as such it has immense historic significance. The watch, with a caseback engraved "Sir E. Hillary", is conservatively estimated to fetch up to about $20,000. Also part of the collection is a gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date, ref. 15238, purchased by the explorer on the 50th Anniversary of the day he reached the summit of Everest, estimated at about $10,000; as well as a 1972 Rolex Explorer I and a 1973 Explorer II also owned by the great adventurer.

Gallery: Sir Edmund Hillary's Rolex Collection

Tags: Antiquorum, auction, explorer, Geneva, India, Mt. Everest, Rolex, Rolex Explorer, Sir Edmund Hillary, Timepieces, watches

New Rolex Explorer Watch For 2010

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Big news this year here at Basel from Rolex. Most people are impressed by the new Rolex Submariner watches in all steel, but Rolex has also updated its popular Explorer model. The classic adventure watch has been upped to 39mm wide in steel, and features a slightly new dial. The case now comes in a better steel, which is grade 904L steel (most chemical and corrosion resistant). The dial has been ever so slightly updated. Newer hour markers and larger hands are most apparent.

The Rolex in-house made calibre 3132 movement is rock-solid and is COSC Chronometer certified. The watch has a sapphire crystal of course and is water resistant to 100 meters. Character of the watch is similar to the Submariner - but it is thinner, opts for a polished bezel instead of a rotating diver's bezel, and has a different style dial. The bracelet is very similar between the two, but the Explorer does not have a glide-lock clasp. For many, the Explorer is a simple, and less expensive Rolex that feels like a fantastic fit on many wrists. Surely fans will be excited as it has been a long time since the Rolex Explorer watch has been updated.

Click on the read more link below for technical specifications of the watch.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: New Rolex Explorer Watch For 2010