Pre-Owned Rolex Explorer 40921836/AS06612

WHY WE LOVE IT

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Few watches have captured the imagination the way the Rolex Explorer has.

At its core, the Explorer has always been an understated tool watch, its spartan appearance belying its hearty robustness. It is perhaps this, more than any other feature, that urges ever onward the spirit of adventure and humankind's unwillingness to accept defeat. The model traces its heritage back to the first successful summit of Everest in 1953, on which Sir Edmond Hilary and Tenzig Norgay were equipped with a Rolex Oyster Precision. This particular watch, with its 3-6-9 Arabic dial, inspired the newly minted Explorer.

In 2001, Rolex introduced the successor to the Explorer I reference 14270, the ref. 114270. Housed in a 36mm stainless steel case like that of its predecessors, it featured the upgraded Rolex Calibre 3130 automatic movement, an Oyster bracelet with solid end links and Fliplock clasp, and a glossy black dial with Super-LumiNova lume. The dial retained the layout of the ref. 14270, with a mix of modern Arabic, dash and triangular indices, as well as a Mercedes handset. A classic example of Rolex’s marginal and iterative approach to watch design, it was nonetheless succeeded in 2010 by the upsized 39mm 114270 — the first time an Explorer I featured such a large case.

This particular Y-serial example dates to circa 2002 and remains in fantastic overall condition and is accompanied by its boxes and papers.

The newest 36mm Explorer (ref. 124270) might be the hot ticket of the moment, but this 114270 was produced nearly 15 years before the debut of that model, making it the very definition of a contemporary classic!

OVERALL CONDITION

The case is in excellent condition overall showing normal signs of wear consistent with age and use. Luminous gloss black dial with applied indices is in as-new condition with matching handset. Signed crown.