Pre-Owned Rolex Explorer 40920741/AS05043

WHY WE LOVE IT

–

When it comes to design language, the Reference 14270 may be the most important Rolex of the contemporary era.

Launched in 1990, the 14270 was the follow-up successor to the iconic 1016, and featured a truly avant-garde design language. Moving away from the matte dial 1016, the 14270 features a glossy dial with stylized applied Arabic quadrant indices and a sapphire crystal which gives the watch a thoroughly modern and luxurious visual appeal that was initially a very polarizing departure for the model. With the benefit of hindsight, we can know understand that the 14270 was essentially a test-run for a new design language that would many years later become standard for numerous timepieces across the entire Rolex catalog.

This particular example, a U-serial dating to circa 1997, features an excellent Oyster case with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, a matching solid link Oyster bracelet with a signed fliplock clasp, and a transitional 'Tritinova' dial. These dials were produced for less than a year and are the result of Rolex applying Luminova to leftover dials marked with "SWISS - T < 25", which were originally produced to spec for earlier Tritium applications.

These timepieces are incredibly versatile for everyday use, and can easily be dressed-up for formal occasions or dressed-down and worn as a sporty everyday companion.

This one just has a bit of added 'if you know, you know.'

OVERALL CONDITION

The case is in excellent condition overall showing signs of normal wear consistent with age and use. Luminous gloss black 'Tritinova' dial is in equally excellent condition with matching handset. Signed crown.