Explorer 1 14270 Blackout - Seconds hand

[Per O]

How is the Explorer blackout different ? I am confused: I thought that only difference to "normal" 14270 was that blacking of number 3 - 6 - 9 and for some early E serial numbers also silver print on the dial.

But I come across a comment from Hemingway dated on 20th of Maj 2016:
The Blackout explorer is also more than just a dial– they have a unique seconds hand– the lume dot is further out compared to the 'normal' 14270 Explorer.

I have myself seen several Explorer "blackout" where seconds hand is no different then a "normal" 14270 - are the fake?. Can any one confirm or comment if an Explorer 1 is only regarded a genuine "blackout" if also seconds hand lume dot is further out vs. the "normal" 14270 or if the blackout Explorer also used the standard seconds hands?

Anyone out there expert in this area?

[Per O]

Originally Posted by Hemingway
Hi Per, thats a great question– there are no official statements made from Rolex on any of their models but from my database of Explorer blackouts I've been working on, it looks like:

The earliest E-serial silver-print 14270 blackouts have the special seconds hand with lume dot further out.

As the production continued they transitioned into the X-serials and began to run out of the silver-print dials so they switched to using the white-print dials from normal 14270s and applied black 3-6-9 indices.

Sometime around this switch they ran out of the special seconds hands and switched to normal 14270 second hands.

The final X-serial blackouts (X4+) would only have the black 3-6-9 and none of the special parts from the early blackouts (silver-print dial, special seconds hand).

Any blackout explorers sent back to Rolex for servicing or refurbishing over the years would have their parts replaced with the standard parts - which would explain seeing a silver-print dial with normal 14270 seconds hand.

Pretty cool and resourceful for them to continue producing blackouts which exhausting their supply of special parts.

I think from a collecting standpoint the earliest E0-serial are the ones to get.

[Xeer]

This has got me curious. I know about the silver print dials as I have one myself E89xxx.. but I've never heard of the special seconds hand. I think I need to take a closer look.

Do you have a pictorial comparison?

[Per O]

Sorry for the late reply.
I was also suprised myself when discovering different position of the lumen dot. If You have a look at the Explorer 1 with id7200669 posted on chrono24 You will see the further out position. I have below 10 posts an cannot therefore not insert the link directly.

As Hemmingway has suggested: An Explorer 1 ref. 14270 with black numbers, Silver text on dial and the lumen dot further out than later standard classifies a 100% Blackout. If dot in normal position it is a 90% Blackout and if also not the silver text one could say the watch is a 80% blackout.

Hope this input helps set the scene.

[saskmh]

Originally Posted by Xeer

This has got me curious. I know about the silver print dials as I have one myself E89xxx.. but I've never heard of the special seconds hand. I think I need to take a closer look.

Do you have a pictorial comparison?

Can you share a pic of yours? I love these Explorers!

[Per O]

Sorry no, I can only refer to picture for the listed item ID on chrono24. Being made aware about the dot detail I found that Explorer 1 Blackout with the dot in outer position on chrono24 but with an asking price of 12.000€ I stepped down.

[Xeer]

Originally Posted by saskmh

Can you share a pic of yours? I love these Explorers!

Can be found in this thread: https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=521742

[Blingtone]

I have had 3 (14270s & 1 114270) and still own 2 Explorers (14270 & 114270), one of which is the black filled 3-6-9 markers bought in 1990 - all came with the regular handset.
I also have an early blue dial 3-6-9 Oyster Perpetual (116000) with the original thinner hands - which for legibility reasons I had changed to a set of 'Mercedes' hands.
When I tried to order an Explorer handset from my ROLEX accreditted watch repairer (who has a ROLEX spares account) we were told emphatically by ROLEX that we needed to order 16610 Sub hands, since these are and have always been fitted to the following SS models : Sub 2 & 4 liner, Sub Date, GMT (5 digit models) Yacht Master, Explorer (14270 & 114270) Explorer II (Black dial) and Sea Dweller.
I'm pretty certain that there were no 'special' or different hands for the 'black' index Explorers and I'm always very skeptical with offerings on Chrono 24 as a couple of pals have had bad dealings with sellers on that site it's basically an eBay for watches, imho.

[gman5515]

I always wondered about the Explorer 1 black out model. I did take a quick look at C24, and though there's a slight difference in the position of the seconds hand(black out model is a bit closer to the outer diameter), the difference is not significant to the naked eye, unless you really take a closer look and compare. But significant enough differentiate from the normal Explorer 1s.

[Haywood_Milton]

I believe that two types of seconds hand were fitted.

While not strictly relevant to the specific enquiry of this thread, here are some macro images of my Blackout which might add interest.





Haywood

[Xeer]

That's an excellent macro shot @Haywood !

Now if we could find the same for the normal 14270 and have a side by side comparison!.

[Hemingway]

Sorry I just saw this post– here is a comparison photo for those interested.

Here is a side-by side photo of a normal X4-serial Explorer 14270 next to an early silver-print dial E0-serial Explorer blackout 14270.

Notice the lume dot on the seconds hand:

[Xeer]

Silver font E serial vs. White font X serial depiction.

Good for comparison.