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. 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, however some variants have made their way into the collection that deviate from the typical aesthetic that the Explorer has become known for. While it typically features a black dial with a 3-6-9 arrangement, a flat stainless steel bezel and an entirely satin-brushed stainless steel case, the Rolex Explorer has also included models like this ref. 6298 in the past too. Offered with a two-tone construction with an 18kt yellow gold bezel and winding crown, this ref. 6298 also boasts an unusual champagne waffle dial with a dial arrangement that is quite different to the Explorer’s signature 3-6-9. Instead, it features all of the even numbers in applied Arabic numerals that are then punctuated by applied indices. Furthermore, this example swaps the Explorer’s typical Oyster bracelet for an extremely rare Rolex-signed beads of rice bracelet, showcasing the aesthetic diversity that can exist within even the most unchanging of Rolex collections.

Watch is in excellent overall condition. Case has scratches visible on lugs and case sides. The caseback engravings "ROLEX OYSTER CASE" are still visible along the lip. Waffle-textured dial in excellent condition with minor wear on the edges. Luminous dots on the dial are mostly intact with a few broken. Watch comes on a beads of rice bracelet signed Rolex on the clasp.

A stunningly rare piece thanks to its two-tone construction and unique waffle dial, this Explorer showcases the aesthetic diversity that has been a part of the Explorer collection since its debut in the 1950s.