Rolex Explorer scales new heights
The iconic tool watch was developed with mountaineers in the Himalayas to tackle all sorts of extremes.
WITH the year-end festive season just around the corner, and countries lifting border restrictions to welcome international travellers once again, many Singaporeans are beginning to make holiday plans. And what better way to celebrate getting on a plane after almost 2 years than with an aptly named Rolex Explorer on the wrist.
The iconic Explorer collection has been given a makeover this year and the timing coincides with the Oyster Perpetual Explorer II's golden anniversary.
Subtle but practical changes have been made to that watch, as well as its predecessor the Explorer (or Explorer I, as it's common known), which was first introduced in 1953.
But the birth of the watch actually dates back all the way to the 1930s, when Rolex used the Himalayas as their lab and got professional mountaineers who were scaling the mountains there to push the timepiece to its limits at extreme altitudes.
The watch was fine-tuned until it was ready and it shared the headlines with Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay when the duo wore the Explorer to conquer Mount Everest in 1953.
The expedition's leader, Sir John Hunt, had nothing but praise for the watch his climbers wore and called it "an important part of high climbing equipment".
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That piece of history returns in this year's reissued Explorer I (S$8,840) as it is now back in the same 36 mm case size of the original from 1953. It replaces the outgoing 39 mm version that was introduced in 2010.
To the naked eye, the 3 mm case dimension difference is barely noticeable because of the redesigned Oyster case, lugs and sides on the new watch.
The more obvious upgrade would be the availability of a two-tone version; marking the first time that Rolex has introduced the Explorer I in a dressy and elegant yellow Rolesor (S$14,900).
Another reason the watch is such a stunner visually is that the black dial is also now lacquered so it looks bolder, while the underside of the crystal is treated with anti-reflective coating so legibility is vastly improved.
The Chromalight display also makes sure the new generation Explorer I glows longer in the dark and has a brighter white hue display.
Internally, the watch gets fitted with a new movement, the calibre 3230; and like all Rolex watches, it is Superlative Chronometer certified to guarantee excellent performance.
And if you plan to take it diving, rest assure the Twinlock winding crown will keep the watch waterproof to a depth of 100 metres.
Just like the Explorer I, the Explorer II also gets a minor nip and tuck for its 50th birthday.
The watch's distinctive orange second time zone hand and fixed brushed 24 hour display steel bezel have been retained and the case size remains unchanged at 42 mm.
That number might look bigger on paper when you compare it to other Rolex sports model but the new Explorer II (S$11,740) is also now slimmer and the widened bracelet gives it better proportions so it wears comfortably regardless of your wrist size.
Like the Explorer I, it also has Chromalight display so whether you pick the white or black dial, both will be easy to read in the bright and low lighting conditions.
The Explorer II also gets a new movement and the calibre 3285 is more efficient, robust and accurate because of Rolex's patented Chronergy escapement that gives it approximately 70 hours of power reserve.
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