Explorer 3-6-9 is a G-hook

[logo]

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!

[EmpireCity]

By golly-- you're right! I've never noticed this and now cannot unsee it-- cool!!

[joe100]

Very well could be. The 14270 came out at Basel 1989.

[Bxtek]

Wow, I never noticed this. Every time I see one now, I will think of the Explorer dial! Lol!

[Marcjvr]

Great observation. I’m sure it’s no coincidence

[AF_Rob]

Well, $#!t... Never noticed. Great observation! Now, Rolex will claim they did it on purpose.

[joe100]

Now we need to figure out when the G hook was introduced.

[Number3]

Great spot!

[Mr Ben]

Glad it’s not just me that never spotted this! That’s cool - thanks OP.

[George58]

I don't think so my PP aqua 5066 has the same style numbers

[logo]

Originally Posted by George58

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.

[logo]

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!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by logo

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

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by brandrea

thank you for this thoughtful post

+1.

[logo]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Thank you for this thoughtful post

Originally Posted by Robf52

+1.

Always fun digging into the depths of the internet

[Casper.Z]

Have been wearing an explorer 1 for over a year! Never noticed that! Thank you so much for this insightful post!!!

[Watchsprings]

Good post thanks and yet another reason to love my Explorer!

[George58]

Originally Posted by logo

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

[logo]

Originally Posted by Casper.Z

Have been wearing an explorer 1 for over a year! Never noticed that! Thank you so much for this insightful post!!!

Originally Posted by Watchsprings

Good post thanks and yet another reason to love my Explorer!

Originally Posted by George58

I'm wrong I see now mine are rounded not square

[Ferrari308]

That is a FANTASTIC catch!



PDG

[logo]

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

[GradyPhilpott]

Good thread!

[jaySL350]

Well spotted OP,,,
Nice one!

[travisb]

Great observations and information here!

[MJ EXPLORER]

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?

[logo]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Good thread!

Originally Posted by jaySL350

Well spotted OP,,,
Nice one!

Originally Posted by travisb

Great observations and information here!

Originally Posted by MJ EXPLORER

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.

[AF_Rob]

Originally Posted by logo

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.

[logo]

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!

[173rdabn]

Never noticed. shame on me!