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Old 27 January 2012, 03:13 PM   #1
pdoukas
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Anyone know the truth?

I just read a statement in a sale ad that specified is was a Smiths manufactured watch and not a Rolex that Sir Edmund Hillary wore while conquering Everest. Is there any truth in this, urban legend, or bad sales ploy?

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Old 27 January 2012, 03:19 PM   #2
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I have heard that too but not sure:)
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Old 27 January 2012, 03:40 PM   #3
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The Clockmaker's Company Museum at the Guildhall has a Smiths Deluxe on display.
This watch was presented to the museum by Sir Edmund Hillary and was worn by him on his ascent of Everest in 1953.

Perhaps Tenzing was wearing a Rolex?
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Old 27 January 2012, 07:41 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by directioneng View Post
The Clockmaker's Company Museum at the Guildhall has a Smiths Deluxe on display.
This watch was presented to the museum by Sir Edmund Hillary and was worn by him on his ascent of Everest in 1953.

Perhaps Tenzing was wearing a Rolex?
Thats quite true later Smiths made a Everest watch and around that time Smiths had some great in-house movements.
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Old 27 January 2012, 10:02 PM   #5
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It is true,Smith`s was worn by Sir Edmund.
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Old 27 January 2012, 11:59 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by directioneng View Post
The Clockmaker's Company Museum at the Guildhall has a Smiths Deluxe on display.
This watch was presented to the museum by Sir Edmund Hillary and was worn by him on his ascent of Everest in 1953.

Perhaps Tenzing was wearing a Rolex?
That is my understanding as well. Tenzing wore the Rolex.
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Old 28 January 2012, 12:16 AM   #7
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Here's an article that you might find interesting:

http://www.qualitytyme.net/pages/rol...s/everest.html
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Old 28 January 2012, 12:18 AM   #8
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i read that the summit was reached with the "smith," and the rolex was along for the ride until that last push.
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Old 28 January 2012, 12:24 AM   #9
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Here's the truth.
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Old 28 January 2012, 12:26 AM   #10
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MonBK is that picture from the watch museum in Pennsylvania? If so I totally missed that! Thanks for showing us the "Truth"
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Old 28 January 2012, 12:38 AM   #11
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So if the "truth" is a Smith's watch was worn, why are so many people adamant that a Rolex was worn? It really makes no difference to me, and I'm not trying to stir up trouble, I just thought it would be interesting to know.

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Old 28 January 2012, 12:59 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pdoukas View Post
So if the "truth" is a Smith's watch was worn, why are so many people adamant that a Rolex was worn? It really makes no difference to me, and I'm not trying to stir up trouble, I just thought it would be interesting to know.

Pete
Because Smith didn't advertise but Rolex did. I don''t know if Rolex claimed Sir Edmund actualy wore one or not.
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Old 28 January 2012, 01:02 AM   #13
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I don't know the truth but I know what my Rolex-Loving heart tells me.

It was a beautiful Rolex Semi-BubbleBack that was worn on the first successful climb on Everest!
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Old 28 January 2012, 01:35 AM   #14
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From what I have read, the debate will never be settled as to which watch was the first to the top of Everest, or which brand Hillary was wearing. Tenzing was wearing an early Explorer, but as the two men swore never to reveal who was first to set foot on the summit, the truth died with them, whatever Rolex's marketing machine might say.

Smiths and Rolex were both suppliers to the expedition mounted by Brigadier Sir John Hunt, and Sir Edmund wrote a letter to Smiths stating 'I carried your watch to the summit. It worked perfectly'. Although it is a strange thing to use the verb 'carry' rather than 'wear'.

In fact, the watch that Hillary 'carried' was a 1215 DeLuxe model (12 lignes, 15 jewels), and immediately after the triumph, Smiths referred to the Deluxe line as 'the Everest model' in their advertising. It wasn't until the early 60s that a model was sold with the word 'Everest' on the dial.

Hard to believe today, but these movements and watches were built and assembled in England; Cheltenham to be precise.

Here is Hillary's actual watch, which he presented to the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and which is displayed today at their museum at the Guildhall (well worth a visit for anyone with an interest in horology). Photographs are strictly forbidden, but the attendant must have popped out of the room when this was taken........

This was one of the reasons, I bought a Smiths (Military in this instance from 1969) but also because it's MADE IN ENGLAND
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Old 28 January 2012, 01:37 AM   #15
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Who knows ? I always believed that it was a Rolex Exprorer
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Old 28 January 2012, 01:56 AM   #16
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To my knowledge, marine chronometers were firstly made in the UK due to the need to navigate.

And first Rolex weren' t made there too ?
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Old 28 January 2012, 03:51 AM   #17
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That is my understanding as well. Tenzing wore the Rolex.
Correct.
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Old 28 January 2012, 04:00 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DiamondJack View Post
From what I have read, the debate will never be settled as to which watch was the first to the top of Everest, or which brand Hillary was wearing. Tenzing was wearing an early Explorer, but as the two men swore never to reveal who was first to set foot on the summit, the truth died with them, whatever Rolex's marketing machine might say.

Smiths and Rolex were both suppliers to the expedition mounted by Brigadier Sir John Hunt, and Sir Edmund wrote a letter to Smiths stating 'I carried your watch to the summit. It worked perfectly'. Although it is a strange thing to use the verb 'carry' rather than 'wear'.

In fact, the watch that Hillary 'carried' was a 1215 DeLuxe model (12 lignes, 15 jewels), and immediately after the triumph, Smiths referred to the Deluxe line as 'the Everest model' in their advertising. It wasn't until the early 60s that a model was sold with the word 'Everest' on the dial.

Hard to believe today, but these movements and watches were built and assembled in England; Cheltenham to be precise.

Here is Hillary's actual watch, which he presented to the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and which is displayed today at their museum at the Guildhall (well worth a visit for anyone with an interest in horology). Photographs are strictly forbidden, but the attendant must have popped out of the room when this was taken........

This was one of the reasons, I bought a Smiths (Military in this instance from 1969) but also because it's MADE IN ENGLAND
Extremely informative, so to summarize the verdict is still up in the air and no one will truly know if Smiths or Rolex was first... Either way this makes for some great folklore... As I start to embark into the world of vintage these are the types of stories I am extremely interested in educating myself with. Thanks for this post
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Old 28 January 2012, 04:18 AM   #19
Welshwatchman
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It's great to see Edmund Hillary's actual Smiths "Everest" on display.

I wonder who currently owns Tenzing's Rolex Explorer. Is it also in a museum somewhere?
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Old 28 January 2012, 06:28 AM   #20
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It's great to see Edmund Hillary's actual Smiths "Everest" on display.

I wonder who currently owns Tenzing's Rolex Explorer. Is it also in a museum somewhere?
Not sure Paul but pulled this of the net......


Rolex Hillary Tenzing Explorer Charity Edition Sold for $ 104,568

MAASTRICHT, The Netherlands, May 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The special Rolex Hillary Tenzing Explorer number 88/88 was sold for $ 104,568 at the Christie's auction at Hotel des Bergues in Geneva. The revenues of the sale will go entirely to the Hillary and Tenzing family foundations.
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Old 28 January 2012, 06:51 AM   #21
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The Vintage Rolex Forum crowd have some interesting stuff

http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...orf+lost+dream


Not relating to 1953 but interesting
http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...ry+%281933%29-
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