2014 Rolex Explorer 1 39mm Discontinued MK1 214270
Ref: 214270

Points of Mention

This watch is sold with its original Rolex box and original Rolex paperwork. The watch comes paired on its original stainless steel Oyster bracelet with all links provided. The watch is from December 2014 and is sold in worn condition. Overall, however, the watch is in very good condition as you can see from the photos The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

The Watch

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 it 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 perfect time at -50°C (-58°F) with 70% less oxygen than at sea level. In 2010 the 214270 was fitted out with the black dial and 18kt white gold 3, 6, 9 indexes. The case is made of corrosion-resistant 904L Stainless Steel. On the right side is a double-sealed screw-down crown. A highly polished smooth bezel holds the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. A glassy black dial with an outer minute track. Applied White Gold numerals (not lumed) and Baton indexes mark the hours. Elegant 18kt White Gold Mercedes hands, with a sweeping second hand, filled with lume. The hands are short on this dial not quite reaching the minute track and were later changed by Rolex with the MKII announced at BaselWorld in 2016, making this MKI dial rare and sought after.

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 904L Stainless Steel bracelet is finished with subtle 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 comes with its Rolex presentation box and papers.

Personal Note