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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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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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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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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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14 January 2023, 11:40 AM | #5 |
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Great observation. I’m sure it’s no coincidence
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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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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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14 January 2023, 07:22 PM | #8 |
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Great spot!
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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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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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15 January 2023, 04:43 AM | #11 |
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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! |
15 January 2023, 04:50 AM | #13 | |
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Quote:
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15 January 2023, 04:54 AM | #14 |
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126610LV//116508 Daytona YG Black/Champagne 116655 YM40 Everose Oysterflex//126622 YM40 Blue//126600 SD43 126710BLNR//126711CHNR 126334 DJ41 Rhodium/Diamonds//126331 DJ41 TT Wimbledon 124300 OP41 Green//126334 DJ41Mint Green |
15 January 2023, 05:58 AM | #15 |
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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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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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16 January 2023, 09:25 PM | #18 |
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17 January 2023, 01:30 AM | #19 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
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17 January 2023, 01:38 AM | #20 |
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That is a FANTASTIC catch!
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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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17 January 2023, 11:09 AM | #22 |
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Good thread!
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17 January 2023, 08:32 PM | #23 |
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Well spotted OP,,,
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17 January 2023, 08:40 PM | #24 |
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Great observations and information here!
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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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18 January 2023, 08:30 AM | #26 | |
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Quote:
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18 January 2023, 08:56 AM | #27 | |
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Quote:
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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! |
26 January 2023, 08:12 AM | #29 |
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Never noticed. shame on me!
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