Rolex Explorer Blackout

[Tonefree]

Hi… I’m new to the forum and wondered if anyone knows much about the Explorer “Blackout” from the early 1990s. I had no awareness of this model until very recently when I stumbled across a YouTube video on the Explorer in all its variants. It mentioned that the “Blackout” is one of the rarest sapphire sports watches. Unbeknownst to me I seem to have one which I’ve had since new - my first Rolex in fact. Just wondering if anyone knows how rare they really are and also are they very valuable. I read a thread that said there are only 30 examples although that seems very unlikely to me. Thanks and apologies for the long post.

[Haywood_Milton]

Silver text on the dial ?



They are indeed rare. I have one with box and papers, illustrated in these two pictures. While it would suit me if there were only 30, I can confirm that this claim is poppycock.



I have shops in the North West if you would like me to look at your watch or require any assistance, such as with service advice. There are things you don't want done to it!

There have been a few threads about these watches, such as : https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=475151

My evidence suggest that there were certainly hundreds made, at least.

Insta : haywood_milton_rolex

[Pete_mcC]

I’m a blackout owner. They are rare, but I can’t imagine they are 30 rare. They span late E and early X serial numbers across a couple of years when sports watches were easily available and as popular as ever. That said, they are very uncommon, much more so than any other standard modern ‘rare’ Rolex, and probably deserve that moniker as the rarest sapphire Rolex.

There are subtle variances within the span of the Blackout. The gilt print is flat white on some, metallic silver on others, also the lollipop on the second hand is set further out in some, standard length on others.

They are expensive when compared to a standard 14270, maybe three or four times a standard one. They do appear from time to time on C24 but not often and I’ve seen a few pop up in auction and do very well, especially in Asia. I firmly believe that these will be ones to watch in the future, they have been rising in recent years but I think their rarity will push them further

[Pete_mcC]

Nice, relatively recent, auction result for one

https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/HK080120/929

[Haywood_Milton]

The rarest sapphire glass Rolex?

No.

For example, consider a number of Comex variants, the Panama Canal 16610, SPAG 16600, arguably the unit-ordered watches like the SRR 16570 / RNCD 116660 etc, Omani Police 16800 and the Italian police diver 16600.



As a 14270 Blackout owner I have no wish to talk the model down. It is very rare, but not the rarest. Yes, it realises a premium but asking prices (for unsold watches) in this climate can be misleading. I fear that as a watch whose unique features are subtle, it struggles to realise the price difference which more conspicuous features might attract.

Insta: haywood_milton_rolex

[Pete_mcC]

Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton

The rarest sapphire glass Rolex?

No.

For example, consider a number of Comex variants, the Panama Canal 16610, SPAG 16600, arguably the unit-ordered watches like the SRR 16570 / RNCD 116660 etc, Omani Police 16800 and the Italian police diver 16600.

But are any of those standard production watches? I’m not suggesting that the rarity or price will ever be close to special order watches or unique outliers like those but there can’t be any standard production watches with a shorter run

And I specifically chose that auction as an indicator of a sold, achieved price rather than relying on C24 asking prices

[Haywood_Milton]

Originally Posted by Pete_McC

But are any of those standard production watches? I’m not suggesting that the rarity or price will ever be close to special order watches or unique outliers like those but there can’t be any standard production watches with a shorter run

Ah, but that changes the definition in question.

The original claim was merely "the rarest sapphire Rolex."

[Pete_mcC]

Fair enough, I was misleading.

But I wouldn’t include unique or special run watches that were never available to the public as comparators. Those beauties just stand alone in a special category of rarity and price madness

[Tonefree]

Originally Posted by Pete_McC

Fair enough, I was misleading.

But I wouldn’t include unique or special run watches that were never available to the public as comparators. Those beauties just stand alone in a special category of rarity and price madness

Firstly thanks to everyone who replied. Mine is a silver print watch... no idea if that makes it early or late, or more or less desirable. All somewhat academic as the sentimental value means I'd never sell anyway.

As to the rarity, the YT video I watched and my reference to it said it was 'one of the rarest' not the rarest. I am sure there are others more scarce.