Introduction
Inspired by the first-ever successful summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who wore a Rolex Oyster Perpetual, the Rolex Explorer has long been Rolex's ultimate adventure watch. Constructed entirely from Rolex's 904L steel, the Explorer's robust design ensures that it can always battle the elements. Featuring some of Rolex's most capable movements and a rich heritage to boot, the Explorer is another display of their timeless design as this icon of watchmaking has remained virtually untouched in its aesthetic since its inception. Identifiable by its signature 3-6-9 glossy black dial, a flat stainless steel bezel, and entirely satin-brushed stainless steel case and bracelet, the Rolex Explorer has become renowned for its understated class, sporty elegance, and capable construction.
Loupe This Scorecard
Grade
V 8.5
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Inner Box and Guarantee Certificate
Est. value range
$15,000 – $20,000
The Details
Brand
Rolex
Dimensions
36mm
Model
Explorer
Movement
Automatic cal. 1570
Reference
1016
Bracelet
Stainless steel Oyster bracelet
Year
1975
Condition
Excellent
Material
Stainless steel
Included
Watch, box and papers
Dial Color
Black
THE DIAL
Featuring a sleek black dial with large indices and Arabic numerals populating 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, the Explorer ref. 1016's popularity amongst collectors has aided in making the Explorer's dial design a true icon within Rolex's offering. Furthermore, this example's luminous markers have aged to feature a beautiful creamy yellow patina.
THE CONSTRUCTION
While its hollow end links and center links, acrylic crystal, and fold-over clasp provide a beautifully pure expression of what a vintage Rolex was like to wear back in its heyday, the ref. 1016's 36mm diamater was certainly not the norm when it was released, with it dwarfing most watches from the time.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
Watch is in overall excellent condition. The bezel is still very sharp, and the case is nice and full. The dial is near mint, with a very tiny mark/imperfection on the dial surface just right of the center post. It is otherwise immaculate, and has lightly aged luminous and matching hands. The later solid link oyster band (with the correctly shaped/fitted 580 endpieces) has 12 links, 2 of which are removable. There band shows no stretch.
Our Perspective
When I first started my collecting journey, the Explorer 1016 was the watch I coveted most. A functional yet straightforward timepiece, it is the epitome of what a rugged tool-watch should be, and this example is a beautiful expression of the Explorer's utilitarian design language.
Eric Ku
Co-founder
