Which Rolex has the 'best' History?

[Watch Explorer]

Which Rolex model has the best history in your opinion?

There are historic facts regarding models and many are groundbreaking, but It can also be a little subjective for you personally, say if you value James Bond or Jacque Cousteau connection more than James Cameron, Winston Churchill, Edmund Hilary, Ian Fleming, Mercedes Gleitze, science etc..

[Juclaq]

It has to be Sir Edmund Hillary climbing Mt Everst with Explorer

[Homo Sapien X]

Originally Posted by Juclaq

It has to be Sir Edmund Hillary climbing Mt Everst with Explorer

No. He wore Rolex Datejust . Lol. Go check it


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[Watch Explorer]

Didn't Edmund Hillary wear an Oyster Perpetual and a Smiths watch and the Explorer was created as a result of his achievement?

[AdamG]

Originally Posted by Watch Explorer

Didn't Edmund Hillary wear an Oyster Perpetual and a Smiths watch and the Explorer was created as a result of his achievement?

Yes, Smiths

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Watch Explorer

Didn't Edmund Hillary wear an Oyster Perpetual and a Smiths watch and the Explorer was created as a result of his achievement?

This is true, but Hillary in his own words stated that he carried the Smiths to the summit.

The ad is online.

The Explorer was introduced to commemorate the event.

As for the best history, I think that each has its own history of achievement and which is best is entirely subjective.

http://bezelandbarrel.com/the-truth-...nd-mt-everest/

[Explorer1nyc]

Sir Ed didn't wear an Explorer, there was no Rolex Explorer when he climbed Everest - it was an Oyster Perpetual.

The whole "Explorer was used to climb Everest thing" - one big marketing lie.

I wear an Explorer, great watch. Nothing to do w/ that Everest climb.

Now the submariner - that's got history...

[Chewbacca]

Turn-o-Graph aka Thunderbird

Without it, no submariner, no gmt or any rotating bezel models, no 2t tool watch and it was also a Datejust.

[mmmmp]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

Turn-o-Graph aka Thunderbird

Without it, no submariner, no gmt or any rotating bezel models, no 2t tool watch and it was also a Datejust.

You beat me to it, but yeah - that's some history for ya! Makes wonder even more why that watch, in two iterations, really didn't catch on.

I'm on the lookout for a 2nd gen. Blue dial with S-jubilee.

Mark

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[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

Turn-o-Graph aka Thunderbird

Without it, no submariner, no gmt or any rotating bezel models, no 2t tool watch and it was also a Datejust.

https://www.timepiecechronicle.com/f...x-turn-o-graph

[pandrew]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

https://www.timepiecechronicle.com/f...x-turn-o-graph

Thank you Sir, this is a great reference.

[Homo Sapien X]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

Turn-o-Graph aka Thunderbird

Without it, no submariner, no gmt or any rotating bezel models, no 2t tool watch and it was also a Datejust.

Agreed. Rolex thunderbird or turnograph was the 1st pilot watch and a spin off to 6202 before it evolve to a the 1st Submariner.



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[Portland]

Has to be the Rolex diver line. Sub, SeaDweller, and DeepSea.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by Portland

Has to be the Rolex diver line. Sub, SeaDweller, and DeepSea.

I tend to agree, the sub is more of a tag along though once the technology of the SeaDweller took hold.

[droptopman]

Submariner.

[Watch Explorer]

What about the humble Oyster perpetual? First waterproof wristwatch.

[Explorer1nyc]

Originally Posted by Watch Explorer

What about the humble Oyster perpetual? First waterproof wristwatch.

i would agree, but the sub has more "history" - used in military, the first Bond watch (on film), the real steve mcqueen watch.

the OP has been around longer, no argument there.

[Watch Explorer]

Good point Explorer1nyc.

What would you say the top 3 ranking models in terms of historical significance would be?

[Explorer1nyc]

Originally Posted by Watch Explorer

Good point Explorer1nyc.

What would you say the top 3 ranking models in terms of historical significance would be?

Thanks

Top 3 HISTORICAL - not ICONIC (that's a diff list) -

Sub
GMT
Explorer

[Timeguy123]

Datejust has more history than the sub or Daytona.

[Explorer1nyc]

Originally Posted by Timeguy123

Datejust has more history than the sub or Daytona.

That's fine, but tell us why it has more history, i.e. "the sub was used in the military, the first Bond watch (on film,) etc

The Datejust has been around, sure - but what's the HISTORY behind it that makes it more Historic?

Iconic, yes - the DJ & the Sub are tied neck & neck in that dept

[Mephist]

Originally Posted by Explorer1nyc

That's fine, but tell us why it has more history, i.e. "the sub was used in the military, the first Bond watch (on film,) etc

The Datejust has been around, sure - but what's the HISTORY behind it that makes it more Historic?

Iconic, yes - the DJ & the Sub are tied neck & neck in that dept

The Datejust was the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch to display the date in a small window at 3 o’clock on the dial. It was once considered to be the flagship of Rolex, lots of historical figures who changed the world wore a Datejust, I do not think I even need to mention what these figures did, because everyone in the western world can thank them for our freedom. Sir Winston Churchill, President of USA, Five star General and Supreme Commander of NATO Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Henri Guisan, Dr Martin Luther King, Dalai Lama, Pope John Paul II and the list goes on and on and on... they all used a Datejust.

And wean it comes to movies Clint Eastwood is one of the more known movie stars to sport a TT Datejust trough out the years. I remember Marlon Brando using a Datejust, Richard Gere, if you like James Bond then Pierce Brosnan used a Datejust, those are the once I remember of the top of my mind. So Datejust got an extremely rich history.

[Mephist]

The Oyster Perpetual has the longest history and a very impressive one. However the Datejust has a much richer and greater history wean it comes to achievements of those wearing a Rolex then any other Rolex line in my view.

So I would say either the Oyster Perpetual because it was so revolutionary and it was the source of all the other Rolex lines. Or the Datejust because of what the historical figures wearing a Datejust achieved, however Even the Datejust is an Oyster Perpetual Datejust.

[R!$]

Originally Posted by Mephist

The Datejust was the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch to display the date in a small window at 3 o’clock on the dial. It was once considered to be the flagship of Rolex, lots of historical figures who changed the world wore a Datejust, I do not think I even need to mention what these figures did, because everyone in the western world can thank them for our freedom. Sir Winston Churchill, President of USA, Five star General and Supreme Commander of NATO Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Henri Guisan, Dr Martin Luther King, Dalai Lama, Pope John Paul II and the list goes on and on and on... they all used a Datejust.

And wean it comes to movies Clint Eastwood is one of the more known movie stars to sport a TT Datejust trough out the years. I remember Marlon Brando using a Datejust, Richard Gere, if you like James Bond then Pierce Brosnan used a Datejust, those are the once I remember of the top of my mind. So Datejust got an extremely rich history.

100%. The datejust was worn by the best of us.

[Texasjim]

Wow, good question. Truthfully I would have to ponder the history of a particular reference. I would say though, I am sure there are a ton of stories that can be told from those people who were wearing a Rolex when they did something historical. Fun topic!

[superstarmar]

Sub!!! Divers models...

[Watch Explorer]

What about tenzing norgay?

What makes the Explorer have so much historical significance if it wasn't the watch worn on Everest (Credit to the Oyster Perpetual and Smiths here)? Are there other significant achievements of the Explorer that it has to it's credit?

[Explorer1nyc]

Originally Posted by Watch Explorer

What about tenzing norgay?

What makes the Explorer have so much historical significance if it wasn't the watch worn on Everest (Credit to the Oyster Perpetual and Smiths here)? Are there other significant achievements of the Explorer that it has to it's credit?

He was the sherpa. The history/facts of who wore what or which watch was carried or worn - this is all stuff we can't confirm.

A Smith watch & a Rolex OP were w/ them - that's what we know. what was on the wrists of those men at the summit - up for dispute.

As far as why the Explorer has "history" - it was built for expeditions such as the Everest climb. it was built to withstand extreme temperatures and built to take hard knocks.

The original Explorers - I forget original ref, but let's include the 1016 here - were actually used by Explorers. The same way the sub is known as the first Bond watch (on film), the Explorer is known as the watch Ian Flemming wore and many say he had Bond wear the same watch in the books, which, i can say, having read the books, it's never addressed as an Explorer, but the description is close enough.

It's essentially considered the first Bond watch (in books).

The Explorer was designed for tough situations - you could say history was built into it. Many famous expeditions and explorers wore an Explorer (the web can back this up).

The OP's weren't really used in these expeditions, nor were the Datejusts.

The gmt was a candidate to go to the moon, but lost out to the Speedmaster, prob mostly due to the crystal which, if it shattered in zero gravity, well, floating shards of glass is no good.

However, the gmt did eventually make it to the moon, which in my opinion gives the gmt serious history props.

[Watch Explorer]

Originally Posted by Explorer1nyc

He was the sherpa. The history/facts of who wore what or which watch was carried or worn - this is all stuff we can't confirm.

A Smith watch & a Rolex OP were w/ them - that's what we know. what was on the wrists of those men at the summit - up for dispute.

As far as why the Explorer has "history" - it was built for expeditions such as the Everest climb. it was built to withstand extreme temperatures and built to take hard knocks.

The original Explorers - I forget original ref, but let's include the 1016 here - were actually used by Explorers. The same way the sub is known as the first Bond watch (on film), the Explorer is known as the watch Ian Flemming wore and many say he had Bond wear the same watch in the books, which, i can say, having read the books, it's never addressed as an Explorer, but the description is close enough.

It's essentially considered the first Bond watch (in books).

The Explorer was designed for tough situations - you could say history was built into it. Many famous expeditions and explorers wore an Explorer (the web can back this up).

The OP's weren't really used in these expeditions, nor were the Datejusts.

The gmt was a candidate to go to the moon, but lost out to the Speedmaster, prob mostly due to the crystal which, if it shattered in zero gravity, well, floating shards of glass is no good.

However, the gmt did eventually make it to the moon, which in my opinion gives the gmt serious history props.

Good post

Does an OP have still have similar potential to be an 'Explorers' watch (extreme temperatures etc.) given that a 36mm OP has the same '3130' movement as a 114270? Both have Oyster cases and OP has fully lumed dial like new Explorers etc.

[Explorer1nyc]

Originally Posted by Watch Explorer

Good post

Does an OP have still have similar potential to be an 'Explorers' watch (extreme temperatures etc.) given that a 36mm OP has the same '3130' movement as a 114270? Both have Oyster cases and OP has fully lumed dial like new Explorers etc.

A modern OP?

I would say yes, b/c a modern Rolex is built like a tank and can take whatever you can give it.

I can't say if the OP's have the shock absorber (paraflex) that the 214270 has, that's out of my league - but if you were to take a modern 36mm OP to Antarctica I'd bet it would hold up just fine.