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Rolex Explorer I Ref. 1016 - 'Gilt' Dial
SOLD
May 29, 1953
After an arduous journey starting on March 10th of 1953, and an extremely difficult assault on the summit, Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary became the first people to successfully summit Mt. Everest. On their wrist? NOT a Rolex Explorer.
Whoops.
Well, to be fair the Rolex Explorer wasn’t created yet. So why the hullabaloo about Sir Edmund Hillary? Well - he was wearing a Rolex. A Rolex Oyster Perpetual. After hearing of the success of this expedition and ruggedness of the watch - the decision was made to replace the Oyster Perpetual with a new model named in Hillary’s honor - The Explorer. Or so the story goes.
Either way, the Rolex Explorer I was introduced in 1953 but like many Rolex models, the first series was not considered ‘the best’ reference. For many collectors - the ultimate Explorer I is the reference 1016. It’s clean, highly legible and still tough enough for use in modern day wear. While using the same case as a Datejust, the smooth bezel and applied luminous Arabic 3,6,9 lend a more rugged and utilitarian aesthetic to the watch. Early models, like this, were made with gilt dials. Gilt dials are when the lettering and fonts are punched out of the dial so that the brass ‘gilt’ color shows through creating a golden text appearance. These are not very easy to produce and were ultimately discontinued by Rolex in the later half of the 1960s as they couldn’t be produced in the same quantity as a matte dial - but nothing shines and glows like a Rolex gilt dial.
This example, dating to circa 1966, is one of those gilt pieces. The case remains very strong, showing honest wear and sleeve polish throughout and with a few blemishes on both the right and left case profiles, with a smooth polished bezel showing matching wear. It's 'Type 6' glossy black dial shows a consistent deep black color throughout with its 'mirror' finishing well-preserved and only 3 small blemishes on the dial. One just above the 7 o'clock marker and 2 between the 3 o'clock position and the center post. The Tritium is in fantastic condition, showing even patina throughout with a matching handset.Paired with a period-correct Jubilee bracelet, this is well-rounded example of what many consider to be a perfect watch, and is fit for both a growing collection, or a 'one watch' to do it all.
That said, we wouldn't recommend taking it to summit Everest!
Condition Report & Details
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Rolex Explorer I Ref. 1016 - 'Gilt' DialSale price$24,850.00 USD Regular price
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