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Old 14 January 2023, 09:20 AM   #1
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Explorer 3-6-9 is a G-hook

Apologies if this is well established, but I hadn’t noticed it before. The 3-6-9 numerals on the 5 and 6 digit explorers seem to be in the shape of a G-hook - very common type of clasp on hiking, climbing, outdoors/recreational and tactical gear. Apple also drew inspiration from it too, it seems. Not sure if coincidence or intentional by Rolex, but fitting and appreciated either way!







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Old 14 January 2023, 10:22 AM   #2
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By golly-- you're right! I've never noticed this and now cannot unsee it-- cool!!
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Old 14 January 2023, 10:23 AM   #3
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Very well could be. The 14270 came out at Basel 1989.
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Old 14 January 2023, 11:38 AM   #4
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Wow, I never noticed this. Every time I see one now, I will think of the Explorer dial! Lol!
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Old 14 January 2023, 11:40 AM   #5
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Great observation. I’m sure it’s no coincidence
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Old 14 January 2023, 12:57 PM   #6
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Well, $#!t... Never noticed. Great observation! Now, Rolex will claim they did it on purpose.
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Old 14 January 2023, 03:06 PM   #7
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Now we need to figure out when the G hook was introduced.
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Old 14 January 2023, 07:22 PM   #8
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Great spot!
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Old 14 January 2023, 07:28 PM   #9
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Glad it’s not just me that never spotted this! That’s cool - thanks OP.
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Old 14 January 2023, 07:58 PM   #10
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I don't think so my PP aqua 5066 has the same style numbers
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Old 15 January 2023, 04:43 AM   #11
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I don't think so my PP aqua 5066 has the same style numbers
Can you post some pictures? All Aquanauts I’ve seen have very rounded numeral fonts.
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Old 15 January 2023, 04:44 AM   #12
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I really enjoy watch fonts, I think it is a huge contributor to character. I did a bit more digging and found some interesting things, summarized below.

First, here’s a 6610. It has 369 numerals that are slightly rounded, but flatter than what the 1016 had.



Similarly, an albino 6610 with flattened font:



After these, the 1016 of course had very rounded font (there are variants across the years and dials, but all rounded) and this held constant for 30 years, solidifying this design language as what we consider the explorer:







Looking back to the early days, we have several examples of VERY flat G-hook like font.

5500 Air King:



5500 Explorer:



5505 “Everest” (also note two tone for those concerned about the modern two tone explorer):





6082 Precision:




So what I gather from this, firstly, is that the update to the 14270 was actually NOT modernizing the font from the 1016 - in fact it was a retro to early pre-explorer designs 40 years prior. Is this one of the rare examples where Rolex has actually moved their design backwards in time to use a retro style in a new reference?

The flat fonts used for 3-6-9 in the 50’s were complete square type font. No rounding at all, and the 9 and 6 are open. This is an odd font style because it differs so much from the font used for the rest of the dial. I’m not sure if this font was typical for the late 40s/early 50s, but it seems so different from the rounded fonts Rolex was also using at the time that I’d think there must be a reason for one or the other.

So whether those old references were inspired by a G-hook or not I do not know, but it seems it’s been at least peripherally related to the Explorer design language since the beginning. Very cool to see the 5 digit and 6 digit dial fonts have some history behind them!
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Old 15 January 2023, 04:50 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by logo View Post
I really enjoy watch fonts, I think it is a huge contributor to character. I did a bit more digging and found some interesting things, summarized below.

First, here’s a 6610. It has 369 numerals that are slightly rounded, but flatter than what the 1016 had.

Similarly, an albino 6610 with flattened font

After these, the 1016 of course had very rounded font (there are variants across the years and dials, but all rounded) and this held constant for 30 years, solidifying this design language as what we consider the explorer:

Looking back to the early days, we have several examples of VERY flat G-hook like font.

So what I gather from this, firstly, is that the update to the 12470 was actually NOT modernizing the font from the 1016 - in fact it was a retro to early pre-explorer designs 40 years prior. Is this one of the rare examples where Rolex has actually moved their design backwards in time to use a retro style in a new reference?

The flat fonts used for 3-6-9 in the 50’s were complete square type font. No rounding at all, and the 9 and 6 are open. This is an odd font style because it differs so much from the font used for the rest of the dial. I’m not sure if this font was typical for the late 40s/early 50s, but it seems so different from the rounded fonts Rolex was also using at the time that I’d think there must be a reason for one or the other.

So whether those old references were inspired by a G-hook or not I do not know, but it seems it’s been at least peripherally related to the Explorer design language since the beginning. Very cool to see the 5 digit and 6 digit dial fonts have some history behind them!
Thank you for this thoughtful post
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Old 15 January 2023, 04:54 AM   #14
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Quote:
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thank you for this thoughtful post
+1.
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Old 15 January 2023, 05:58 AM   #15
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Thank you for this thoughtful post
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+1.
Always fun digging into the depths of the internet
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Old 16 January 2023, 10:54 AM   #16
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Have been wearing an explorer 1 for over a year! Never noticed that! Thank you so much for this insightful post!!!
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Old 16 January 2023, 11:32 AM   #17
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Good post thanks and yet another reason to love my Explorer!
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Old 16 January 2023, 09:25 PM   #18
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Can you post some pictures? All Aquanauts I’ve seen have very rounded numeral fonts.
I'm wrong I see now mine are rounded not square
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Old 17 January 2023, 01:30 AM   #19
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Have been wearing an explorer 1 for over a year! Never noticed that! Thank you so much for this insightful post!!!
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Good post thanks and yet another reason to love my Explorer!
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I'm wrong I see now mine are rounded not square
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Old 17 January 2023, 01:38 AM   #20
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That is a FANTASTIC catch!



PDG
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Old 17 January 2023, 03:41 AM   #21
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Here’s a link to a patent filed in 1904 showing a buckle with a G-hook shape. So the G-hook predates the Rolex font (interesting!): https://patents.google.com/patent/US779279A/en
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Old 17 January 2023, 11:09 AM   #22
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Good thread!
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Old 17 January 2023, 08:32 PM   #23
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Well spotted OP,,,
Nice one!
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Old 17 January 2023, 08:40 PM   #24
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Great observations and information here!
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Old 18 January 2023, 12:36 AM   #25
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Dang, this is like when someone pointed out the hidden arrow in the FedEx logo. Once it's pointed out, you'll always see it. Similiarly, a colleague recently pointed out that another colleague says "ya know" constantly. Now I have to go off camera when he's speaking because I'm laughing the whole time....ya know?
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Old 18 January 2023, 08:30 AM   #26
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Good thread!
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Well spotted OP,,,
Nice one!
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Originally Posted by travisb View Post
Great observations and information here!
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Originally Posted by MJ EXPLORER View Post
Dang, this is like when someone pointed out the hidden arrow in the FedEx logo. Once it's pointed out, you'll always see it. Similiarly, a colleague recently pointed out that another colleague says "ya know" constantly. Now I have to go off camera when he's speaking because I'm laughing the whole time....ya know?
Yes hard to unsee it once you see it. It would be cool if Rolex actually intended this. Nonetheless, the discovery of the flat font from the near-explorer models in the 50s/60s is also fascinating to me. One of the reasons that Rolex is so timeless by keeping designs current but with nods to the past. I always liked the 5/6 digit explorer fonts, but knowing there’s purpose and history behind the font choice is great.
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Old 18 January 2023, 08:56 AM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by logo View Post
I really enjoy watch fonts, I think it is a huge contributor to character. I did a bit more digging and found some interesting things, summarized below.

First, here’s a 6610. It has 369 numerals that are slightly rounded, but flatter than what the 1016 had.



Similarly, an albino 6610 with flattened font:



After these, the 1016 of course had very rounded font (there are variants across the years and dials, but all rounded) and this held constant for 30 years, solidifying this design language as what we consider the explorer:







Looking back to the early days, we have several examples of VERY flat G-hook like font.

5500 Air King:



5500 Explorer:



5505 “Everest” (also note two tone for those concerned about the modern two tone explorer):





6082 Precision:




So what I gather from this, firstly, is that the update to the 14270 was actually NOT modernizing the font from the 1016 - in fact it was a retro to early pre-explorer designs 40 years prior. Is this one of the rare examples where Rolex has actually moved their design backwards in time to use a retro style in a new reference?

The flat fonts used for 3-6-9 in the 50’s were complete square type font. No rounding at all, and the 9 and 6 are open. This is an odd font style because it differs so much from the font used for the rest of the dial. I’m not sure if this font was typical for the late 40s/early 50s, but it seems so different from the rounded fonts Rolex was also using at the time that I’d think there must be a reason for one or the other.

So whether those old references were inspired by a G-hook or not I do not know, but it seems it’s been at least peripherally related to the Explorer design language since the beginning. Very cool to see the 5 digit and 6 digit dial fonts have some history behind them!
Thanks for the vintage porn.
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Old 26 January 2023, 08:09 AM   #28
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Interesting bit of text from Rolex I found online after they updated to the 124270. “Emblematic” numerals, “evoking the determination and spirit of adventure”….

G hook!


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Old 26 January 2023, 08:12 AM   #29
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Never noticed. shame on me!
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