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Juggernaut · 24 February 2024, 05:36 AM

Hello everyone.
I've always loved the marketing from the earlier days of Rolex which I truly believe extends it's influence into the instruction manuals/booklets. The horse rider on the cover of the Datejust book, the airline pilots on the GMT Master booklet and of course, the deep sea scuba diver representing the Submariner...

However, my all-time favorite is the photos used on the Explorer booklet....

https://imgur.com/gallery/inh3DNR/comment/2381445789
I would stare at this image and just imagine stories behind this scene. First of all, the photography is fantastic. The framing, the zoomed-out vantage point, almost like a spy shot from afar.
And check out that mysterious light coming from in front of the adventurer. To me, it looks like he's wearing a wet suit, but I might be wrong. It looks like there's a hint of a regulator hose on the right side and that looks like a hood on his/her head.
I always imagined that this scene depicts a scuba diver experienced in cave diving who came up through an underwater channel into this mysterious hidden world and is now "exploring" on foot (not sure if those are fins or maybe swim shoes). I just think of this person coming up into this undiscovered cavern saying "wow....where am I?...let me look around a bit"...."This is the kind of situation we made your Explorer watch for"....

(Not sure why my photo is not displaying...let me work on this...)

Juggernaut · 24 February 2024, 01:36 PM

Photo:

expy2 · 25 February 2024, 06:48 AM

Absolutely!

jlovda · 25 February 2024, 07:02 AM

That picture belongs on an Explorer II cover. A mountain climber belongs on an Explorer cover.

Juggernaut · 26 February 2024, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlovda

That picture belongs on an Explorer II cover. A mountain climber belongs on an Explorer cover.

Very valid point…

Juggernaut · 26 February 2024, 04:58 AM

Since I couldn’t embed the photo properly, (Imgur has become a mess IMO), I just posted on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/7kUWyX7RfdQ?si=2mx1uoGgS6VosViA
Please continue the discussion here….

Dan S · 26 February 2024, 05:14 AM

I can see the photo in the second post, very cool pic my droog.

expy2 · 26 February 2024, 06:13 AM

If I remember, that booklet covers both explorer I and II...?

Juggernaut · 29 February 2024, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by expy2

If I remember, that booklet covers both explorer I and II...?

I've seen some books that cover both Exp and Exp II and others that are specific to the Exp II. I'm not even sure if there's one that is specific to the Exp I...I don't currently have a booklet for my 114270, but I'm might pick one up.

24 February 2024, 05:36 AM	#1
Juggernaut "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 901	Vintage Explorer booklet photo Hello everyone. I've always loved the marketing from the earlier days of Rolex which I truly believe extends it's influence into the instruction manuals/booklets. The horse rider on the cover of the Datejust book, the airline pilots on the GMT Master booklet and of course, the deep sea scuba diver representing the Submariner... However, my all-time favorite is the photos used on the Explorer booklet.... https://imgur.com/gallery/inh3DNR/comment/2381445789 I would stare at this image and just imagine stories behind this scene. First of all, the photography is fantastic. The framing, the zoomed-out vantage point, almost like a spy shot from afar. And check out that mysterious light coming from in front of the adventurer. To me, it looks like he's wearing a wet suit, but I might be wrong. It looks like there's a hint of a regulator hose on the right side and that looks like a hood on his/her head. I always imagined that this scene depicts a scuba diver experienced in cave diving who came up through an underwater channel into this mysterious hidden world and is now "exploring" on foot (not sure if those are fins or maybe swim shoes). I just think of this person coming up into this undiscovered cavern saying "wow....where am I?...let me look around a bit"...."This is the kind of situation we made your Explorer watch for".... (Not sure why my photo is not displaying...let me work on this...)

26 February 2024, 05:14 AM	#7
Dan S 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 6,272	I can see the photo in the second post, very cool pic my droog. __________________ @oldwatchdan on IG

25 February 2024, 06:48 AM	#3
expy2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: England Posts: 204	Absolutely!

25 February 2024, 07:02 AM	#4
jlovda "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2009 Real Name: John Location: Midwest Watch: 5513,1675,216570 Posts: 1,505	That picture belongs on an Explorer II cover. A mountain climber belongs on an Explorer cover.

26 February 2024, 04:58 AM	#6
Juggernaut "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 901	Since I couldn’t embed the photo properly, (Imgur has become a mess IMO), I just posted on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/7kUWyX7RfdQ?si=2mx1uoGgS6VosViA Please continue the discussion here….

26 February 2024, 06:13 AM	#8
expy2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: England Posts: 204	If I remember, that booklet covers both explorer I and II...?

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