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Jonny313 · 27 June 2019, 05:32 PM

I read somewhere that the Explorer was not the first watch on Everest and that it was the OP. So my question is why is the explorer known as the Everest watch.

Monte Cristo · 27 June 2019, 05:34 PM

Rolex marketing machine

Jonny313 · 27 June 2019, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monte Cristo

Rolex marketing machine

Isn’t that false advertising??

Old Expat Beast · 27 June 2019, 07:11 PM

Mercedes Gleitze didn't complete her English Channel swim, either....at least not the one when she was wearing a Rolex Oyster.

pearson1995 · 27 June 2019, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny313

Isn’t that false advertising??

I believe it was a prototype which was worn, which went on to become the oyster perpetual explorer...

Advertising is a weird one, missing out just a few key words etc and you can get away with a lot.

Monte Cristo · 27 June 2019, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny313

Isn’t that false advertising??

No.

The name Oyster Perpetual Explorer is the result of the Everest expedition.

Rolex sponsored numerous expeditions to the Himalayas and gave OPs to climbers for free, good publicity plus they could test them in those harsh conditions at the same time.

Rolex supplied Hillary with an OP in 1950, 3 years before his expedition, this was apparently a prototype of what would become the Explorer.

Now the kicker is,it has been confirmed his Sherpa wore an OP at the summit, but what’s not 100% known is if Hilary actually wore an OP himself.

This is what I have read, could be wrong.

Pete26 · 27 June 2019, 07:51 PM

The Explorer is a tribute watch to acknowledge the original expedition

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Dr. Robert · 27 June 2019, 07:55 PM

I’ve read that Hilary wore a Smiths watch on the famous climb.

padi56 · 27 June 2019, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

I’ve read that Hilary wore a Smiths watch on the famous climb.

That is 100% correct.

SeaAndSky · 28 June 2019, 12:20 AM

Here's an interesting article from Hodinkee. if one reads the comments it's noted that it was a different watch that was actually worn to the summit by Hillary. Although Norway appears to have reached the summit with the Rolex on.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/fo...e-pics-details

M45 · 28 June 2019, 12:22 AM

It’s like when Hollywood puts “inspired by actual events” on a movie.

mgsooner · 28 June 2019, 12:24 AM

Sigh. Do we have to do this again?

Born of a time where a watch needed little more than three hands, today's Explorer can trace its roots back to 1953 with a ground-breaking expedition to the world's highest peak. These earliest Explorer models were provided by Rolex for testing on the expedition that saw Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquer Mt. Everest on May 29, 1953. The "Explorer" branding was registered in Geneva earlier that same year and the watches were prototyped specifically for this Summit bid.

The specific and special watch in question was an early 50's reference 6098. Worn by Norgay, as Hillary was famously said to have worn a Smith's watch to the summit (both Rolex and Smiths were sponsors of the climb), this insanely important watch can be seen today at the Beyer Museum in Zurich, Switzerland (and in our Talking Watches with Mr. Réne Beyer himself).

While the Explorer has been in production since 1953, it took a few years for Rolex to land on the core design that we know today. The earliest models were based on Rolex Bubblebacks and there were several early Oyster models that said "Explorer" on the dial (though, you'll notice, the 6098 taken to the peak of Everest did not). While the genesis of the model is undoubtedly that original 6098, it would be a few more years and a few more references (including the 6150, the 6350, and a few oddballs like the Air-King Explorer 5500) before Rolex released the 6610 and established the format of the Explorer that we recognize today.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/ro...-214270-review

HogwldFLTR · 28 June 2019, 12:33 AM

Here is the Hillary watch that climbed Everest.

VonDutch · 28 June 2019, 12:42 AM

Hillary did NOT wear a Rolex to the summit, he wore a Smiths... end of!

RyanJ · 28 June 2019, 12:55 AM

Can't we just confirm this by looking at Sir Edmund Hillary's Instagram page geez..

That's where all the cool watch people are anyway!

Malak · 28 June 2019, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Here is the Hillary watch that climbed Everest.

Rolex OP

skkali168 · 28 June 2019, 04:50 AM

Love my explorer either way :)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

SeaAndSky · 28 June 2019, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VonDutch

Hillary did NOT wear a Rolex to the summit, he wore a Smiths... end of!

Yep, seek and ye shall find. Hillary wore a Smith's that day. Norgay was wearing the Rolex. Norgay has stated Hillary was first to the top. Facts.

27 June 2019, 05:32 PM	#1
Jonny313 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: London Posts: 16	The Everest watch I read somewhere that the Explorer was not the first watch on Everest and that it was the OP. So my question is why is the explorer known as the Everest watch.

27 June 2019, 05:34 PM	#2
Monte Cristo "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sydney Watch: ing you... Posts: 3,775	Rolex marketing machine __________________ 'I am easily satisfied with the very best' - Winston Churchill

27 June 2019, 07:11 PM	#4
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Far East Watch: Golden Tuna Posts: 28,826	Mercedes Gleitze didn't complete her English Channel swim, either....at least not the one when she was wearing a Rolex Oyster. __________________ _______________________

27 June 2019, 07:55 PM	#8
Dr. Robert 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Bob Location: U.S.A. Watch: 1655 Posts: 64,294	I’ve read that Hilary wore a Smiths watch on the famous climb. __________________ Founder & Card Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons

28 June 2019, 12:33 AM	#13
HogwldFLTR 2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Real Name: Lee Location: 42.48.45N70.48.48 Watch: Too many to list! Posts: 33,697	Here is the Hillary watch that climbed Everest. __________________ Troglodyte in residence! https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=808599

27 June 2019, 07:51 PM	#7
Pete26 Banned Join Date: Oct 2005 Real Name: Peter Location: Australia Posts: 603	The Explorer is a tribute watch to acknowledge the original expedition Sent from my SM-J120ZN using Tapatalk

28 June 2019, 12:20 AM	#10
SeaAndSky "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wild Blue Yonder Watch: 116710 LN Posts: 1,613	Here's an interesting article from Hodinkee. if one reads the comments it's noted that it was a different watch that was actually worn to the summit by Hillary. Although Norway appears to have reached the summit with the Rolex on. https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/fo...e-pics-details

28 June 2019, 12:22 AM	#11
M45 Banned Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: East Bay Area Posts: 551	It’s like when Hollywood puts “inspired by actual events” on a movie.

28 June 2019, 12:24 AM	#12
mgsooner "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Real Name: Matthew Location: Tulsa, OK, USA Posts: 1,949	Sigh. Do we have to do this again? Born of a time where a watch needed little more than three hands, today's Explorer can trace its roots back to 1953 with a ground-breaking expedition to the world's highest peak. These earliest Explorer models were provided by Rolex for testing on the expedition that saw Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquer Mt. Everest on May 29, 1953. The "Explorer" branding was registered in Geneva earlier that same year and the watches were prototyped specifically for this Summit bid. The specific and special watch in question was an early 50's reference 6098. Worn by Norgay, as Hillary was famously said to have worn a Smith's watch to the summit (both Rolex and Smiths were sponsors of the climb), this insanely important watch can be seen today at the Beyer Museum in Zurich, Switzerland (and in our Talking Watches with Mr. Réne Beyer himself). While the Explorer has been in production since 1953, it took a few years for Rolex to land on the core design that we know today. The earliest models were based on Rolex Bubblebacks and there were several early Oyster models that said "Explorer" on the dial (though, you'll notice, the 6098 taken to the peak of Everest did not). While the genesis of the model is undoubtedly that original 6098, it would be a few more years and a few more references (including the 6150, the 6350, and a few oddballs like the Air-King Explorer 5500) before Rolex released the 6610 and established the format of the Explorer that we recognize today. https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/ro...-214270-review

28 June 2019, 12:42 AM	#14
VonDutch "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: UK Posts: 76	Hillary did NOT wear a Rolex to the summit, he wore a Smiths... end of!

28 June 2019, 12:55 AM	#15
RyanJ "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Atlantis Posts: 1,448	Can't we just confirm this by looking at Sir Edmund Hillary's Instagram page geez.. That's where all the cool watch people are anyway!

28 June 2019, 04:50 AM	#17
skkali168 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Real Name: RP Location: irvine Watch: 116689 Posts: 1,222	Love my explorer either way :) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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