2018 Rolex Explorer 1 39mm Discontinued MK2 214270
Ref: M214270-0003
Specification
Lugs :Â 20mm
Condition :Â Pre-Owned
Box & Papers :Â Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original Rolex box and original Rolex paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original 20mm Oyster bracelet with all links provided. The watch is from March 2018 and is sold in worn condition. Overall, however, the watch is in very good condition as you can see from the photos, a full case and bracelet refurb can be provided at an additional cost. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.
The Watch
Here we have a 2018 Explorer 1 MK2 214270 now discontinued, the 39mm case is made of corrosion-resistant 904l OysterSteel. On the right side is a triple-sealed Triplock screw-down crown, polished and brushed surfaces transition with crisp edges and a highly polished smooth bezel holds the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. A glossy black dial with an outer minute track, applied 3, 6, and 9 18ct white gold numerals filled with Chromalight lume alongside Baton indexes to mark the hours, elegant 18ct white gold Mercedes hands, with a sweeping second hand, filled with Chromalight lume. On the reverse, a coin-edged screw-down case back, inside we have the Rolex Caliber 3132 considered a very accurate automatic movement with Chronometer Certification of -2/+2 seconds a day, 31 jewels beating at 28,800 beats per hour. The use of a Parachrom hairspring for its speed, it’s 10 times more accurate, resistant to shocks, resistant to extreme temperatures, and unaffected by magnetic fields and gravity. The 20mm 904L OysterSteel bracelet is finished with subtle radial brushing to the upper segments while the outer links have been highly polished matching the bezel, it has the Oysterlock safety clasp with Easylink micro-adjustments up to 5mm extension and also comes with its Rolex presentation box and papers.
Personal Note
The now-discontinued Explorer 1, the first to be made in 39mm and potentially the last! I've always preferred the Explorer 1 in 36mm on my wrist but surprisingly I prefer how the 39mm looks on my wrist, the larger size adds for more wrist presence but it is still wonderfully proportioned and definitely doesn't look or feel too big on the wrist. If you are in the market for an Explorer 1 I would highly recommend you consider this and come and try it on if you are unsure.
The Brand
In 1905, German-born Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis set up a company in London that imported Swiss movements which are installed in British cases and sold to jewellers who put their names on the dials. Recognising the potential for their brand, Wilsdorf created the brand name Rolex in 1908. In 1910, a Rolex became the first wristwatch to carry the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, awarded by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne, Switzerland. Demand for Rolex watches rose swiftly, and British taxes on the Swiss movements Rolex used prompted Wilsdorf to move the business to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1919. With production costs lowered, Wilsdorf quickly set out to solve the age-old problem of moisture and dust entering a watch case and damaging the movement. The Rolex watchmakers came up with a fully sealed watch case, which Wilsdorf named the Oyster, and released to an appreciative audience in 1926. In 1931, Rolex introduced the first automatic winding wristwatch, giving it the legendary name Oyster Perpetual. In 1945, they released Datejust. The Datejust was the first watch to have the date jump instantaneously at midnight. The 1950s saw a whole lot of releases such as the Air-King (1958), the Explorer (1953), the Submariner (1953), the GMT Master (1955), the Day-Date (1956), the electromagnetic field resistant Milgauss (1956), the Lady-Datejust (1957) and the first Deep Sea model (1960). Wilsdorf’s death in 1960, saw ownership of Rolex S.A. (a collection of sub-companies) passed to the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation which was founded by Wilsdorf in 1945, the mission of which is simply to sustain Rolex S.A. indefinitely. The Rolex explorer came about after 20 years of development in extreme environments, starting back in the 1930s. The goal of the watch was to create the perfect mountaineer’s tool, keeping the perfect time at -50°C (-58°F) with 70% less oxygen than at sea level. Rolex announced at BaselWorld in 2016, Ref. 214270 which was again updated from the 36mm with lume-filled 3, 6, and 9 indexes. The handset is also slightly longer and thicker than the 36mm. Making it a much better-proportioned dial.