2021 Smiths Everest PRS-25 Gilt Dial 36mm Oyster Automatic
Ref: PRS-25 Gilt
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original Smiths Box and paperwork. It comes paired with its 20mm brushed stainless steel Oyster-style bracelet with a signed folding twin-pusher release clasp; all links are provided. The watch is from July 2021 and is sold in worn condition, as you can see. It comes with our 12-Months Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Gzlbp40nHvfzYunvMCm2iyKeAB29qqVe?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 20:27 - https://youtu.be/uVfPnsgMgeQ
The Watch
The Smiths PRS-25 Everest is a homage to the Smiths De Luxe that clearly takes its inspiration from the iconic Rolex Explorer Ref. 6150 launched in 1953 to celebrate the courageous Everest climb. Borrowing elements of both these watches, its 36mm stainless steel Oyster style case with drilled tapered lugs has curves in all the right places, and a lug-to-lug length of 44mm and a case thickness of 11mm ensure a comfortable wrist fit. Polished and brushed surfaces transition with crisp edges, the sides are slightly convex, adding to the comfort, and on the right side is a screw-down signed crown. A polished bezel holds a hi-dome sapphire crystal AR coated on the inside. The satin black dial has an outer minute track in gilt with a lume-painted triangle at 12, Arabic numerals at 3, 6 and 9 coated in Superluminova X1-C3 luminescence with batons in between marking the hours. Gilt Mercedes hands are complemented by a lollipop centre seconds hand coated in X1-C3 Superluminova luminescence. The text is minimalist, with “SMITHS" and “DE LUXE” at 12 and “Everest" at 6, all in gilt. Just under the 6, “Great Britain” is printed, similar to the original that had "Made in England". All these vintage and unique touches make for an appealing timepiece. On the reverse is a screw-down case back with the Smiths motif inside, a representation of Everest in the centre, inside an automatic Miyota Cal. 9039, 24 jewels, 28,800 beats per hour, it has hand winding and hacking functionality, this movement belongs to the Miyota Premium Automatic range. The watch comes paired with its 20mm brushed stainless steel Oyster-style bracelet with a signed folding twin-pusher release clasp; all links are provided, and lug holes on the case make for easy strap swapping. The watch also comes with a Smiths presentation box and papers.
Personal Note
This Smiths Everest is a great and affordable homage to the Rolex Explorer 36mm, but from a brand with its own right to the history of Everest! If you're interested in the history of the brand and the claim to fame that they battle with Rolex, I'd highly recommend having a read online as there are so many great sources of information. But be warned, it will open your eyes to how amazing Smiths are and you'll be wanting one in your collection!
The Brand
Initially founded in 1851 by Samual Smith, he made automotive dials and cockpit instruments. He transitioned into clocks and, finally, wristwatches, which came to the fore during WW2. Famously, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953 carried a Smiths De Lux watch to the summit of Everest as well as the more famous Rolex. Since 1996, Timefactors.com has been manufacturing and selling homage and re-edition timepieces from Omega 300 to Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. They now own Smith's name and, therefore, sell many models from Smith's illustrious past.